ASA investigates Opodo flight prices
Online travel agent Opodo quoted prices for flights that included a pre-applied discount which was only available using pre-pay Visa card Entropay. Was this misleading? Jude King reports.
All Articles in Transparency
CMA probes cloud consumer services
Cloud storage is used by growing numbers of UK consumers to store photographs, music and documents. Following complaints, the Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into whether service providers are in breach of consumer laws. Ben Dunham investigates.
Did US-style native ad disclosures work for Dylon ad on BuzzFeed?
“14 Laundry Fails we’ve all experienced” was the headline, then appeared “Brand Publisher” and a Dylon logo, but the style was of a BuzzFeed editorial. Was the ad obviously identifiable as such? Stephen Groom reports on the ASA decision.
Asset purchase deal irks Bavarian data regulator
The Bavarian Data Protection Authority has imposed a five figure fine on both seller and purchaser over alleged unlawful transfers of customer email addresses in an asset purchase deal. Barney Sich reports.
Fast food wars as In-N-Out Burger sues DoorDash in California
US chain In-N-Out Burger has sued take-out middleman “DoorDash” alleging it is using In-N-Out’s trade marks and selling its food in breach of the chain’s rights. Jamie Heatly reports on a case with interesting implications given the burgeoning takeaway delivery market.
CMA investigates fake reviews
Following a wide review of online advertorials, estimating that online reviews potentially influenced £23bn of consumer spending a year, the CMA is now investigating selective publication of reviews and lack of transparency around those that are published. Ben Poole reports.
Ryanair calls on Google to take more action to protect consumers from alleged “lookalike” screenscraper sites such as eDreams
Budget airline Ryanair has called on Google to take more action to protect consumers from “lookalike” screenscraper sites. eDreams is one of the sites Ryanair has named, but eDreams denies any wrongdoing. Thomas Spanyol reports.
The ICO sounds a warning on public wi-fi and privacy
Following a spot check of the data collection practices of High Street wi-fi services, the UK data regulator’s blog has recently advised the public to be wary of how much personal data the providers of such services collect. George Garrard reports.
Fife-based cabling firm Brand-Rex Ltd pays £212,800 bribery settlement after the abuse of its “Brand Breaks” incentive programme for UK distributors and installers
Fife-based cabling business Brand-Rex Ltd ran a “Brand Breaks” incentive programme for its distributors and installers, but one installer abused the programme and Brand-Rex reported itself under the Bribery Act 2010. Ben Dunham reports.
FTC reviews kids’ apps for privacy progress
Three years since the FTC last surveyed apps targeted at children, the US consumer protection body has checked back with 364 child-directed apps to see if there has been an improvement in data collection practices. Chloe Deng reports.
Testimonials under ASA scrutiny
In three recent ASA adjudications, against Timeshare Solutions, Hospital Medical Group and Essex Pamper Parties, customer testimonials were the subject of complaint upheld findings. Thomas Spanyol reports with a reminder of the rules that apply.
Video game promoter Machinima settles with FTC over endorsement videos
A California-based online entertainment network has agreed to settle FTC charges that it engaged in deceptive advertising in You Tube videos endorsing an online game system. Would the same conduct here have also irked our regulators? Jamie Heatly reports.
