FTC Receives Second AOL Complaint

Just one day after the Electronic Frontier Foundation complained to the Federal Trade Commission over AOL’s release of search data, another interest group followed suit, telling the FTC that AOL’s breach was intentional. The San Diego, Calif. based World Privacy Forum alleged in its complaint that AOL was deceptive and engaged in unfair business practices with the release of the data.

The complaint demands that the FTC launch an investigation and fine the company. In its response to the latest action, AOL has defended itself by repeating its earlier claims that the release was a mistake and the fault of a careless researcher. The company has said it has launched an internal investigation to ensure that in the future information is vetted before it's posted publicly. The FTC has not announced whether it intends to investigate AOL.