Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen Announces Departure from the FTC

Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen announced her departure from the Federal Trade Commission upon the expiration of her term Sept 25. Ohlhausen was sworn in as a Commissioner on April 4, 2012, and served as Acting Chairman of the agency from January 25, 2017 to May 1, 2018. Commissioner Ohlhausen previously served the FTC in various capacities, including four years as the Director of the Office of Policy Planning.  During her time leading the agency, the FTC was highly active in efforts to protect consumer privacy and promote data security. The agency brought 20 actions, including significant cases against the ride-sharing company Uber, the first connected toys case against VTech Electronics, as well as actions against computer manufacturer Lenovo, peer-to-peer payment service Venmo, and the revenge porn website MyEx.com. The FTC also increased enforcement of the European Union-United States Privacy Shield framework, settling charges against three US companies for misleading consumers about their participation in the framework. In addition, Commissioner Ohlhausen convened an Informational Injury Workshop to examine injuries to consumers from the use and exposure of their personal information, and issued a report recommending steps mobile device manufacturers can take to enhance security for users.