“The Federal Trade Commission [FTC] has approved a final order resolving the Commission’s complaint against TRUSTe, Inc. for deceiving consumers about its privacy seal program”as posted on the FTC website on March 18, 2015.  FTC also stated that the Order the FTC will have oversight for 20 years and in particular making sure that Truste complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA):

…requires the company in its role as a COPPA safe harbor to provide detailed information about its COPPA-related activities in its annual filing to the FTC, as well as maintaining comprehensive records about its COPPA safe harbor activities for ten years. Each of these provisions represents an increase in the reporting requirements laid out under the COPPA Rule for safe harbor programs.

Our privacy is not what it appears given Truste’s confession and payment of the $200,000 fine, and it is unfortunate that so many have relied on Truste’s privacy promises.

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