The Accountability Studio Archives - BBB National Programs

The digital frontier is reshaping the way we resolve disputes. Join Juan Herrera, the head of the nation’s largest and longest-running vehicle warranty and lemon law dispute resolution program, BBB AUTO LINE, and Colin Rule, CEO of Mediate.com, as they explore how cutting-edge technologies are transforming online dispute resolution (ODR) across industries. Whether you’re a legal professional, a mediator, or simply curious about the future of conflict resolution, this podcast will equip you with insights on the tech journey ODR has been on, and where ODR is headed. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Guest Background: Juan Herrera welcomes Colin Rule, pioneer in online dispute resolution. 01:24 – What is ODR?: How technology transformed dispute resolution. 02:50 – Scaling Disputes at eBay: Building systems to handle millions of cases. 06:28 – Adapting for Complex Cases: Tailoring processes for high-value disputes. 09:56 – Pandemic Shift to Online Mediation: How COVID-19 changed the field. 14:24 – AI in Dispute Resolution: Current uses and future potential. 22:19 – Smart Contracts & Trust Tech: Blockchain’s role in resolving disputes. 26:16 – Ethics & Fairness in AI: Setting guardrails for trustworthy systems. 30:19 – Closing Thoughts: Colin’s vision for the future. The post The Impact of Emerging Tech on ODR appeared first on BBB National Programs.

The Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA) grants important data rights to Connecticut residents and solidifies critical privacy obligations for covered businesses. The Global Privacy Control or “Universal Opt Out Control” provision of the Act is intended to help consumers regain contol over their own data, and shifts that responsibility to businesses. BBB National Programs’ Vice President, Global Privacy Division and Privacy Initiatives Operations, BBB National Programs is joined by Jordan Levin, Assistant Attorney General, Privacy Section, Office of the Connecticut Attorney General, to discuss how the CTDPA changes the game when it comes to a consumer’s data privacy rights, how the process has been streamlined, but also how businesses are impacted by these changes. Resources: – Dona + Michele convo – Enforcement Report: Attorney General Tong Releases Updated Report on Connecticut Data Privacy Act – Connecticut Data Privacy Act FAQs – For consumers: How to Opt Out from Ad Tracking with Global Privacy Control? A Guide for Web Users – For businesses and web publishers The post The CTDPA’s Universal Opt Out Control: Data Rights & the Impact on Business appeared first on BBB National Programs.

It is not uncommon to hear that a child wants to be a content creator – making a living by sharing their hobbies, likes, and interests with a following on a social media platform like YouTube. A common business model for successful content creators is to work in paid partnership with a brand to market a product or service. How does that business model work when the influencer is a child? In this episode of In the Sandbox, our host Rukiya Bonner, Director of the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), speaks with Pocket.Watch’s Julia Moonves and Angela Tiffin (a former CARU attorney) about the business of child influencers. Together, they break down the state laws protecting these young content creators – such as the Coogan law and the new Illinois child influencer law – as well as the role of a parent in the business and the special considerations that come into play when working with a young creator.  Key Takeaways: Clear and conspicuous disclosures are essential in influencer videos to protect children and comply with advertising guidelines. When partnering with creators, it is important to consider their established audience, content quality, and aligned values. Influencer laws, such as the Coogan law, help protect child creators by requiring a percentage of their earnings to go into a trust account. AI-generated children may impact content creation, but human creators offer authenticity and a connection that AI lacks. Pocket.Watch prioritizes the well-being of child creators and works to minimize their involvement in commercial aspects of the work. Chapters: [00:00] Introduction and Overview [01:03] Concerns about Influencer Videos and Disclosures [02:52] Pocket.Watch: A Modern Kids Media Company [04:15] Angela Tiffin’s Role and Experience at K.R.U. [06:07] The Rise of Child Creators and Finding Partners [09:30] Protecting Child Creators and Vetting Families [12:49] Influencer Laws: Coogan Law and Related Legislation [15:37] Providing Disclaimers and Protecting Creators [17:34] The Impact of AI-Generated Children on Content Creation [19:01] Prioritizing the Well-being of Child Creators [20:24] Conclusion and Call to Action Mentioned in this episode: CARU Finds YouTube Channel “Vlad and Niki” in Violation of its Advertising Guidelines; Recommends Disclosure Modifications Subscribe to the Online Archive CARU’s Advertising Guidelines Compliance Warning: AI in Child-Directed Advertising and Data Collection   The post Protecting Child Influencers appeared first on BBB National Programs.

For the last 50 years, companies marketing to children have held each other to a higher standard. In 1974 the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) was established as the U.S. mechanism of independent self-regulation to protect children under age 13 from deceptive or inappropriate advertising. Over the years and as technology evolved, CARU expanded to address new media platforms, new advertising techniques, and to ensure that children’s data is collected and handled responsibly online. Join Rukiya Bonner, Director, CARU, BBB National Programs and her guest, former CARU attorney Katie Goldstein, now the Global Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at SuperAwesome, as they take a trip down memory lane and revisit memorable child-directed commercials, discuss how advertising has changed over the years, identify some of CARU’s most impactful self-regulatory guidelines, and explain CARU’s role in helping ensure that as technology has changed, children remain protected. In this episode, the host and guest discuss the history and impact of the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) in self-regulation and protecting children in the advertising space. Rukiya and Katie highlight the guidelines and cases that have shaped the industry over the past 50 years, including the importance of safety, diversity, and avoiding deceptive advertising practices. They also mention the role of pre-screening services, discuss the intersection of advertising and privacy, and conclude with a reminder that CARU’s guidelines still apply in the evolving landscape of AI and the metaverse. Key Takeaways: (4:22) The guidelines have evolved to address changing technology and advertising practices. Its evolving guidelines demonstrate adaptability to technological advancements and shifts in advertising methods, ensuring continued relevance and effectiveness. (6:14) Safety, diversity, and avoiding deceptive practices are key priorities in children’s advertising. Advertisers have special responsibilities toward children and should recognize the power of advertising to promote positive change. Safety, diversity, and the prevention of deceptive practices stand as foundational pillars in CARU’s approach to children’s advertising, prioritizing the well-being and informed consumption of young viewers. (10:19) Pre-screening services help ensure compliance with CARU guidelines. Through pre-screening services, CARU fortifies adherence to its guidelines, bolstering confidence in the ethical conduct of advertisers targeting children. (19:01) CARU’s guidelines still apply in the evolving landscape of AI and the metaverse. Even in the emergent realms of AI and the metaverse, CARU’s guidelines maintain their applicability, serving as essential guardrails in navigating the evolving landscape of digital advertising. By upholding these standards, CARU fosters a safer and more transparent advertising environment for children, regardless of technological advancements.   The post The Evolution of Advertising in the Children’s Space appeared first on BBB National Programs.

As the drumbeat to modernize the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) continues, all components of the 1998 law have come under scrutiny, particularly the Safe Harbor provision. Under COPPA, the FTC has the ability to approve industry groups to administer self-regulatory programs implementing the protections for children outlined in the rule. Recently, some lawmakers have raised concerns that Safe Harbors are not an effective complement to the COPPA rule and might even be allowing for the rubberstamping of businesses that take advantage of Safe Harbors. To answer this question of whether or Safe Harbors are effective, Mamie Kresses, Vice President of the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), hosted a discussion with two people who have been very involved in COPPA compliance from different perspectives: Sheila Millar, Partner at Keller and Heckman, and Daniel Kaufman, Partner at Baker Hostetler and former Deputy Director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection. Listen in to hear these experts’ thoughts on the value of the Safe Harbor provision, whether it should remain a part of the rule going forward, and ways the provision can be modernized and improved. For more information about this episode, read the show notes here.  Love what you’ve heard? Tell us how we can deliver you more great conversations. Share your insights and suggestions for future episodes.  The post COPPA Questions: Are Safe Harbors Effective? appeared first on BBB National Programs.

In this episode of The Accountability Studio, host Cobun Zweifel-Keegan is joined by two industry professionals for a deep-dive into one company’s innovative approach to data privacy, accountability, and trust. Listen in to hear Josh Harris, BBB National Programs’ Director of Global Privacy Initiatives, and Harvey Jang, Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer at Cisco discuss how Cisco developed its privacy program and how he and his team made privacy a business imperative for the company. For more information about this episode, read the show notes here.  Love what you’ve heard? Tell us how we can deliver you more great conversations. Share your insights and suggestions for future episodes.  The post Data Privacy Accountability in Practice: A Case Study of Cisco appeared first on BBB National Programs.

Despite this generation’s comfort navigating digital spaces today, they still face the same cognitive limitations – and therefore, vulnerabilities – that they always have. This reality is just one of the reasons that BBB National Programs’ Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) recently issued revised guidelines to assure that advertising directed to children is not deceptive, unfair, or inappropriate for its intended audience. In this episode of the Accountability Studio, Mary Engle, Executive Vice President of Policy at BBB National Programs and Mamie Kresses, Vice President of CARU talk through the most significant revisions to the guidelines and explain what these changes mean for advertisers. Tune in to learn how advertisers can help shrink the gap between a child’s needs online and the safeguards in place to protect them. For more information about this episode, read the show notes here.  The post What Do CARU’s Revised Guidelines Mean for Advertisers? appeared first on BBB National Programs.

In this episode of The Accountability Studio, Moderator Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, Deputy Director of Privacy Initiatives at BBB National Programs, is joined by two industry professionals for an informative conversation on the cross-border privacy rules (CBPR) system, a voluntary framework with a global impact. BBB National Programs Director of Global Privacy Initiatives Josh Harris,  and Sam Schofield, International Trade Specialist, Global Data Privacy, share their knowledge on the purpose and vision of the multi-layered Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CBPR system. For more information about this episode, read the show notes here.  The post The Past and Future of Privacy Accountability: Is CBPR a Model? appeared first on BBB National Programs.

In the inaugural episode of The Accountability Studio, moderator Mary Engle, Executive Vice President, Policy poses a fundamental question to the leadership of BBB National Programs: Does independent, industry self-regulation really work? Program leaders responded with an empathic ‘yes,’ but also laid out the numerous factors that can contribute to the success or failure of a self-regulatory initiative. Tune in to hear them discuss the problems in the marketplace that led to the creation of each of their programs, how their programs work, and what they think the future of independent industry self-regulation will look like. Laura Brett, Vice President, National Advertising Division Maureen Enright, Vice President, Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative Dona Fraser, Senior Vice President, Privacy Initiatives Peter Marinello, Vice President, Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Moderator: Mary Engle, Executive Vice President, Policy For more information about this episode, read the show notes here.  The post With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility appeared first on BBB National Programs.

Many privacy professionals see the depletion of third-party cookies, paired with several technological, political, and cultural factors, as the perfect storm for privacy and adtech – one that will bring about fundamental changes to the advertising industry and the broader digital marketplace. In this episode, Colin O’Malley, Founder of the Lucid Privacy Group, Christy Harris, Director of Technology & Privacy Research at the Future of Privacy Forum, and Ayaz Minhas, former Data Privacy Manager for BBB National Programs, discuss the challenges and opportunities this ‘perfect storm’ is creating. The post The Perfect Storm for Privacy and Adtech: How the End of the Cookie Era Will Reshape the Digital Marketplace appeared first on BBB National Programs.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the digital environment, online engagement has increased across user demographics. In this episode, authors of the BBB National Program’s paper Risky Business: The Current State of Teen Privacy in the Android App Marketplace join us to provide insight into the importance of protecting teenage users. Listen in to hear … Continue reading Why Teens Need Unique Privacy Protections → The post Why Teens Need Unique Privacy Protections appeared first on BBB National Programs.

When speaking about the importance of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council’s (DSSRC) recently published guidelines, President of the Direct Selling Association Joe Mariano said, “It’s time not just for evolution, but revolution.” In this episode, Joe Mariano speaks with Tom Cohn, Interim General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of New Avon, Brian Muir, Vice President and Head of … Continue reading Time for Revolution in the Direct Selling Industry → The post Time for Revolution in the Direct Selling Industry appeared first on BBB National Programs.

. Joe Rohrlich, Chief Revenue Officer at Bazaarvoice, breaks down the power of reviews in this week’s podcast. From explaining the digital landscape that incites a sense of urgency for businesses to have ratings to the lasting negative impact fake reviews can have on a companies revenue and reputation, Rohrlich provides insight that you won’t … Continue reading The Confidence and Perception Behind Online Reviews → The post The Confidence and Perception Behind Online Reviews appeared first on BBB National Programs.

How close are we from entering into a world where cash is no longer accepted? Do we truly understand the benefits and implications of completely going cashless and relying solely on financial transactions that are intimately connected with our data? Dr. Shelle Santana, Associate Professor at the Harvard University Business School, answers these questions and … Continue reading A Cashless Future →

After years of debate, discussion, and revisions, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) — a law that gives consumers a wide range of rights and creates a series of obligations for businesses — finally began enforcement on July 1st. Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, Deputy Director of BBB National Programs’ Privacy Initiatives, joined Julian Flamant, Associate at Hogan … Continue reading CCPA Enforcement Begins: What We’re Learning →

COVID-19 has left millions of Americans unemployed and seeking new solutions to help them navigate the tough road ahead. Some have turned to the direct selling industry, chasing claims of financial freedom. Peter Marinello, Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) Vice President, and Howard J. Smith, one of the DSSRC’s attorneys, help us explore the unique world … Continue reading Direct Selling in the Age of a Pandemic →

Philip Garrity, Editor of The Freelancer, stops by to explain the complexity of the California AB5 law. It said to protect gig workers. However, the very people it’s meant to guard say, “No, thanks!” Is the help required to keep the gig economy and its workers safe? Hear what Philip has to say.

The side hustle has evolved into the full-blown, full-time gig economy. How, where, and when they work is all in the gig worker’s hands. However, the state of California believes help is required in ensuring this remains the case. Philip Garrity, Editor of The Freelancer, stops by to explain. Get a sneak peek of the … Continue reading Preview: Does the Gig Economy Require Regulation? →

Look back six months, and none of us would have guessed we’d have to manage a pandemic. One thing we can learn from this is that being prepared for any surprise is imperative. Bob Mellinger of Attainium Corp shares insights on how to plan for the unexpected. Don’t miss his timely advice.

Businesses have learned over the last couple of months to expect the unexpected. So, how do you plan for the unknown? Attainium Corp’s CEO, Bob Mellinger, shares all that is involved in planning well. Preview a clip from the up and coming May 27th episode.