13 August 2002 Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Federal Register: August 13, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 156)] [Notices] [Page 52723-52724] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13au02-44] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION [File No. 012 3240] Microsoft Corporation; Analysis to Aid Public Comment AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission. ACTION: Proposed consent agreement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint that accompanies the consent agreement and the terms of the consent order--embodied in the consent agreement--that would settle these allegations. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 9, 2002. ADDRESSES: Comments filed in paper form should be directed to: FTC/ Office of the Secretary, Room 159-H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580. Comments filed in electronic form should be directed to: consentagreement@ftc.gov, as prescribed below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Howard Beales, III, FTC, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326-3240. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46(f) and section 2.34 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is hereby given that the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order to cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to final approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the allegations in the complaint. An electronic copy of the full text of the consent agreement package can be obtained from the FTC Home Page (for August 8, 2002), on the World Wide Web, at ``http://www.ftc.gov/ os/2002/08/index.htm.'' A paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public Reference Room, Room 130-H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, either in person or by calling (202) 326-2222. Public comments are invited, and may be filed with the Commission in either paper or electronic form. Comments filed in paper form should be directed to: FTC/Office of the Secretary, Room 159-H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580. If a comment contains nonpublic information, it must be filed in paper form, and the first page of the document must be clearly labeled ``confidential.'' Comments that do not contain any nonpublic information may instead be filed in electronic form (in ASCII format, WordPerfect, or Microsoft Word) as part of or as an attachment to e-mail messages directed to the following e-mail box: consentagreement@ftc.gov. Such comments will be considered by the Commission and will be available for inspection and copying at its principal office in accordance with section 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Commission's rules of practice, 16 CFR 4.9(b)(6)(ii)). Analysis of Proposed Consent Order to Aid Public Comment The Federal Trade Commission has accepted, subject to final approval, an agreement containing a consent order from Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Corporation (``Microsoft''). The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for thirty (30) days for receipt of comments by interested persons. Comments received during this period will become part of the public record. After thirty (30) days, the Comments received, and will decide whether it should withdraw from the agreement and take appropriate action or make final the agreement's proposed order. Microsoft develops, manufacturers, license, and supports a myriad of software products, sells hardware devices, provides consulting services, trains and certified system developers, and offers a variety of online services. This matter concerns allegedly false or misleading representations made in connection with three related Microsoft services: the Passport Single Sign-In service (``Passport''); Passport Express Purchase (generally referred to as ``Passport Wallet''); and Kids Passport (referred to collectively as the ``Passport services''). Passport is an online authentication service that allows consumers to sign in at multiple Web sites with a single username and password. Passport Wallet and Kids Passport are add-on services that provide online purchasing and parental consent services. The Commission's proposed complaint alleges that Microsoft misrepresented: (1) that it maintained a high level of online security by employing sufficient measures reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to maintain and protect the privacy and confidentiality of personal information obtained from or about consumers in connection with the Passport and Passport Wallet services; (2) that purchase made at a Passport Express Purchase site with Passport Wallet are safer or more secure than purchases made at the same Passport [[Page 52724]] Express Purchase site without using the Passport Wallet; (3) that Passport did not collect any personally identifiable information other than that described in its privacy policy, when, in fact, Passport collected, and maintained for a limited period of time, a personally identifiable record of the sites to which a Passport user signed in, along with the dates and times of sign in, which customer service representatives linked to a user's name in order to respond to a user's request for service; and (4) that the Kids Passport service provides parents with control over the information their children could provide to participating Passport sites and the use of that information by such sites. The proposed consent order applies to the collection and storage of personal information from or about consumers in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of Passport, Kids Passport, Passport Wallet, any substantially similar product or service, or any multisite online authentication service. It contains provisions designed to prevent Microsoft from engaging in practices similar to those alleged in the complaint in the future. Specifically, Part I of the proposed order prohibits misrepresentations regarding Microsoft's information practices, including:what personal information is collected from or about consumers; the extent to which respondent's product or service will maintain, protect or enhance the privacy, confidentiality, or security of any personally identifiable information collected from or about consumers. the steps respondent will take with respect to personal information it has collected in the event that it changes the terms of the privacy policy in effect at the time the information was collected; the extent to which the service allows parents to control what information their children can provide to participating sites or the use of that information by such sites; and any other matter regarding the collection, use, or disclosure of personally identifiable information. Part II of the proposed order requires Microsoft to establish and maintain a comprehensive information security program in writing that is reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal information collected from or about consumers. The security program must contain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to Microsoft's size and complexity, the nature and scope of its activities, and the sensitivity of the personal information collected from or about consumers. Specifically, the order requires Microsoft to: designate an employee or employees to coordinate and be accountable for the information security program; identify material internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of customer information that could result in the unauthorized disclosure, misuse, alteration, destruction, or other compromise of such information, and assess the sufficiency of any safeguards in place to control these risks. At a minimum, this risk assessment will include consideration of risks in each area of relevant operation, including: (1) employee training and management; (2) information systems, including network and software design, information processing, storage, transmission and disposal; and (3) prevention, detection, and response to attacks, intrusions, or other systems failures; design and implement reasonable safeguards to control the risks identified through risk assessment, and regularly test or monitor the effectiveness of the safeguards' key controls, systems, and procedures; and evaluate and adjust its information security program in light of the results of testing and monitoring, any material changes to its operations or business arrangements, or any other circumstances that Microsoft knows or has reason to know may have a material impact on its information security program. Part III of the proposed order requires that Microsoft obtain within one year, and on a biannual basis thereafter, an assessment and report from a qualified, objective, independent third-party professional, using procedures and standards generally accepted in the profession, certifying that: (1) Microsoft has in place a security program that provides protections that meet or exceed the protections required by Part II of this order; and (2) Microsoft's security program is operating with sufficient effectiveness to provide reasonable assurance that the security, confidentiality, and integrity of consumer's personal information has been protected. Parts IV through VII of the proposed order are reporting and compliance provisions. Part IV requires Microsoft's retention of materials relating to its privacy and security representations and to its compliance with the order's information security program. Part V requires dissemination of the order now and in the future to persons with responsibilities relating to the subject matter of the order. Part VI ensures notification to the FTC of changes in corporate status. Part VII mandates compliance reports within sixty (60) days after service of the order and at such other times as the Federal Trade Commission may require. Part VII is a provision ``sunsetting'' the order after twenty (20) years, with certain exceptions. The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the agreement and proposed order or to modify their terms in any way. By direction of the Commission. C. Landis Plummer, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 02-20473 Filed 8-12-02; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6750-01-M