FTC Warns Companies on False APEC Participation Claims

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warning letters
to 28 unnamed companies that allegedly represent themselves as
participants in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative (APEC) Cross
Border Privacy Rules system despite failing to meet the requirements
underlying that claim. According to FTC, certification is granted based
on the following data privacy principles: (i) preventing harm, (ii) notice,
(iii) collection limitation, (iv) use choice, (v) integrity, (vi) security
safeguards, (vii) access and correction, and (viii) accountability. The
FTC warning letters instructed the companies to remove the APEC
certification claims from their websites and notify the agency of
completion or provide documentation supporting the claims. See FTC
Press Release, July 14, 2016.

Issue 611