The Walt Disney Co. will pay a $10 million fine to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging it allowed personal data to be collected on kids under 13, violating federal law. The FTC said Tuesday Disney violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, which requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parents' consent before collecting personal information of children under 13. According to the complaint, Disney failed to properly label some videos that it uploaded to YouTube as "Made for Kids." The mislabeling allowed Disney, through YouTube, to collect personal data from children under 13 viewing child-directed videos and use that data for targeted advertising to children, the FTC said. That's because, since the videos weren't labeled as being for kids, they included targeted advertising.
Rudy Giuliani is recovering from a fractured vertebrae and other injuries following a car crash in New Hampshire, a spokesperson for the former New York City mayor said Sunday. read more
At least five people have been killed and 30 others injured in shootings across Chicago over Labor Day weekend, including a drive-by attack that left seven victims wounded late Saturday night, according to police. The violent holiday weekend came as President Donald Trump renewed threats to send federal agents and National Guard troops to Chicago over the objections of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Trump on Saturday sent a warning to the Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in a post on his social media platform, referencing recent crime in Chicago and saying Pritzker "better straighten it out, FAST, or we're coming!" Illinois Gov. Pritzker, a Democrat, responded in a news conference a week ago to an earlier Trump threat to "straighten out Chicago, just like we did D.C.," by saying that the president's plan was "unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal, it is unconstitutional, it is un-American."
Hostess has recalled some chocolate Ding Dongs due to potential mold contamination. In a statement on its website, Hostess confirmed that it had "initiated a voluntary recall of select lots of Hostess Ding Dongs products due to the potential for the presence of mold." ... Certain lots of Ding Dongs were recalled because they may grow or contain mold due to an issue which occurred during the manufacturing process.
Six more states were granted waivers from the Department of Agriculture to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits, or SNAP, from being used on certain processed food and beverages. read more
Secret Service protection for a former Vice Presidents ends six months after their term ends. Another LWN episode of as their TDS turns.