Spanish DPA issues Eur 1.2 million fine to Facebook

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On September 11, 2017, the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) issued a closing resolution against Facebook deeming that the company doesn’t process data in accordance with EU data protection law. According to the AEPD, Facebook “collects data on ideology, sex, religious beliefs, personal preferences or browsing activity without clearly informing about how and for what purpose it will use these data”. These data are processed, among others, for advertising purposes without the express Read more [...]

Private: FTC’s first-ever complaint against Social Media Influencers settled

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On September 7, 2017, the FTC announced that Trevor “TmarTn” Martin and Thomas “Syndicate” Cassell - two social media influencers widely followed in the online gaming community – settled the first complaint that the FTC has ever served against individual social media influencers. The FTC investigated TmarTn and Syndicate for having deceptively endorsed the online gambling service, CSGO Lotto, while failing to disclose they jointly owned the company. With the order settling the charges, Read more [...]

German Parliament approves law sanctioning social media operators that do not delete hate speech

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On June 30, 2017, the German Parliament, the Deutscher Bundestag, approved the Telemedia Act, Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz (NetzDG), which obligates the operators of Internet social media platforms to remove posts within 24 hours that violate German law and have been reported by other users.   “Effective sanctions” shall apply to the social media platforms that do not react promptly enough to the reports received. The Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz is available (in German) at   http://www.bundestag.de...   Originally Read more [...]

Misrepresentation in attorney’s LinkedIn profile leads to ethics sanctions

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On December 19, 2016, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an order accepting a recommendation from the State’s Disciplinary Board to suspend an attorney for one year and one day for engaging in unauthorized practice of law. Among other counts, the Respondent allegedly maintained a LinkedIn profile representing to the public to: (i) be an attorney at a firm located in Pennsylvania, (ii) have represented clients in Pennsylvania, (iii) be licensed to practice Read more [...]

Lawyer who ignored client’s Facebook inquiries about his case received a 90-day suspension

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On April 27, 2017, the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered the suspension of an attorney from the practice of law for a period of 90 days followed by 1 year’s monitored probation. The Counsel for Discipline of the Nebraska Supreme Court filed formal charges against the attorney. According to the charges, the attorney had taken over a personal injury case and “failed to adequately answer the client’s questions and adequately explain what was happening regarding the status of the client’s Read more [...]