After Data Leak, FTC Orders Firm to Fix Security

Julie O’Neill spoke to Healthcare Info Security about the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed settlement for SkyMed International, a company that provides medical emergency travel services, which must revamp its security practices following its exposure of personal information in an unsecured cloud database.

The proposed settlement with SkyMed “is consistent with other FTC actions where the agency has alleged that companies have advertised their endorsement by organizations where there has been no such endorsement,” Julie said.

She added that in future cases, she expects the FTC may seek to hold companies’ leadership and other key individuals responsible for alleged violations.

“The two current Democratic commissioners…have expressed interest in individual liability as a remedy in privacy and data security enforcement actions,” Julie said.

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