BBB National Programs' Dona Fraser Reacts to App Developer HyperBeard, Inc.'s Settlement with FTC

Arlington, VA, June 5, 2020 – Dona Fraser, Vice President of BBB National Programs’ Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) today issued the following statement:

“Yesterday’s announcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding HyperBeard, Inc.’s alleged violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule (COPPA Rule) demonstrates that when companies choose not to follow self-regulatory principles and procedures, they open the door to significant consequences with a regulatory agency such as the FTC. 

Certainly, when companies find themselves caught in the crosshairs of an investigation by one of BBB National Programs’ self-regulation programs, as HyperBeard did in March 2019, it is not our desire to be punitive in nature, but instead to help them align their practices with established standards for the benefit of their stakeholders. 

Our mission at BBB National Programs is to help such companies adopt best practices to enhance consumer trust. We find that companies respect and participate in the self-regulatory process because they understand that the U.S. economy is built on a fair and transparent marketplace. Our monitoring and enforcement actions within the mobile app environment are a key part of maintaining a level playing field for all businesses, upholding established best practices for data privacy, and ensuring a trustworthy environment for consumers, especially children.  

We are thankful to the FTC for its continued collaboration across CARU, the Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP) and all BBB National Programs’ self-regulatory and dispute resolution efforts.”