FTC Cases on Data Privacy (2018–2024): A Comprehensive Analysis

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding consumer data privacy in the United States. It serves as a key enforcer of data privacy in the US, setting a uniform standard for businesses across all states. As technological advancements rapidly evolve, businesses increasingly collect, process, and share personal data, creating significant risks for privacy violations and data misuse.

This whitepaper comprehensively analyzes FTC cases on data privacy from 2018 to 2024, highlighting the agency's pivotal role in safeguarding consumer data and enforcing compliance with privacy principles. Drawing from an extensive database of enforcement actions, this paper identifies key trends, recurring patterns of non-compliance, and critical lessons for organizations operating in an increasingly regulated landscape.

Key findings reveal that the FTC targets unauthorized data collection, misleading practices, poor security, and children’s privacy violations. A key concern is using sensitive health and geolocation data for ads without consent. The FTC emphasizes global compliance, foreign entity oversight, and emerging technologies like AI.