Third Court of Appeals Ryules FTC Can Proceed with Lawsuit

A Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel of judges ruled Aug. 24 that the FTC could proceed with its lawsuit against hotel chain Wyndham Worldwide Corp. The suit claims the company violated the FTC Act's unfair business practice provisions when it took inadequate security measures to protect consumer data. As a result, the FTC claims, Wyndham had data breaches that between 2008 and 2009 exposed more than 619,000 payment cards and other consumer information.

Legal experts says the court's decision essentially affirms the FTC's right to oversee and fine U.S. companies for cybersecurity missteps that result in the compromise of personal information and payment.

Based on the court's decision, "it is even clearer that the FTC is the leading agency in the U.S. for data breach matters," says cybersecurity attorney Chris Pierson, who serves as chief security officer of payments provider Viewpost. "Challenging the FTC's authority to regulate unfair/deceptive acts and practices is unlikely to be fruitful in court. The Wyndham case is a seminal case for the FTC for the proposition that the FTC has the power and ability to oversee cybersecurity breach issues as the nation's default regulator."

Featured

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities