Penalty Amount
$16,500,000
Consumers Affected
3,690,813
The FTC settled with Avast for deceiving customers by claiming its antivirus software blocked tracking while secretly collecting and selling browsing data. Avast must pay $16.5 million in refunds and is banned from such practices. The FTC is now processing claims for affected consumers.
Avast is required to pay $16.5 million to a refund fund, is permanently banned from selling or licensing browsing data for advertising purposes and from misrepresenting data practices, and must comply with other requirements.
In-house legal teams should review all customer-facing agreements for antivirus/security software (end-user license agreements, terms of service) and vendor contracts where data is shared with third parties (e.g., analytics, advertising partners). Key clauses to scrutinize include: (1) data collection and use descriptions, ensuring they explicitly disclose if browsing data will be sold/licensed for advertising; (2) consent mechanisms, verifying they obtain affirmative, informed consent for such sales; (3) privacy policy representations, cross-checking marketing claims against permitted data practices; (4) data sharing permissions with subsidiaries or affiliates; and (5) data retention and deletion schedules. Changes may be needed to add clear, conspicuous disclosures about data sales, implement granular opt-out/opt-in consent, prohibit re-identification of data, and restrict advertising use of data from security products.
Entity
Avast
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/02/ftc-announces-refund-claims-process-avast-customers-impacted-deceptive-privacy-claims
ftc order will ban avast selling browsing data advertising p
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/02/ftc-order-will-ban-avast-selling-browsing-data-advertising-purposes-require-it-pay-165-million-over
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"Avast"
"pay $16.5 million"
"deceived users by claiming that its software would protect consumers’ privacy by blocking third party tracking, but it failed to adequately inform consumers that it would collect and sell their detailed, re-identifiable browsing data."
"February 2024"
The FTC referred a complaint against REPS & Company Inc. and company executives, alleging they bypassed ticket-issuer security controls and purchasing limits to acquire millions of tickets for resale. The complaint was filed by the Department of Justice, and the case will be decided by the court; the press release does not report a penalty or other remedy imposed.
The FTC sued Digital Forensics Corporation LLC and affiliated defendants, alleging they misled sextortion victims with promises of investigative and monitoring services that often were not provided, and used fake positive reviews. A federal court granted the FTC’s request to temporarily halt the defendants’ activities; the complaint remains for the court to decide.
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The FTC sent warning letters to 24 large healthcare services companies, cautioning that incomplete, inaccurate, or untimely pricing information for scheduled medical care may be unfair or deceptive. The letters urge recipients to review their price-disclosure practices and take corrective action; they announce no fine or formal order.
$1.9M
The FTC alleged that Premier Franchising Group LLC and Franchise Fastlane LLC made deceptive and unsubstantiated claims about the Premier Martial Arts franchise opportunity and violated the Franchise Rule. The proposed settlements require the companies to pay a combined $1.85 million to compensate franchisees, prohibit certain misrepresentations, and require Franchise Rule compliance; certain franchisees may also cancel their agreements without penalty.
The FTC, Utah, and Nevada sued Lens.com Inc., alleging that it advertised artificially low contact lens prices while hiding mandatory checkout charges and misleading consumers about its AutoRefill subscription. The complaint seeks to stop the alleged practices; the court has not yet decided the case, and no penalty or remedy has been imposed.