Apple Sony Laptop Battery Recall

Name of Product: Rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries with cells manufactured by Sony for certain previous iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 notebook computers only.

Units: About 1.1 million battery packs (an additional 700,000 battery packs were sold outside the U.S.)

Battery Cell Manufacturer: Sony Energy Devices Corp., of Japan

Computer Manufacturer: Apple Computer Inc., of Cupertino, Calif.

Hazard: These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two reports of minor burns from handling overheated computers and other reports of minor property damage. No serious injuries were reported. Read more

Magazine Seller Will Pay More Than $7 Million

Banned from Telemarketing for Five Years

A federal judge has ordered a magazine subscription seller to pay a civil penalty of more than $5.4 million and give up more than $1.6 million of his ill-gotten gains for violating a 1996 Federal Trade Commission consent order and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). This is the largest civil penalty the Federal Trade Commission has ever obtained for a violation of a consent order in a consumer protection matter.

“The FTC expects full compliance with its orders, period,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This case demonstrates that the Commission will prosecute those who flout its orders and deceive consumers.” Read more

Xanga.com to Pay $1 Million for Violating Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule

Civil Penalty Against Social Networking Site Is Largest Ever for a COPPA Violation

Social networking Web site operators Xanga.com, Inc. and its principals, Marc Ginsburg and John Hiler, will pay a $1 million civil penalty for allegedly violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and its implementing Rule, under the terms of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission announced today.

According to the FTC, Xanga.com collected, used, and disclosed personal information from children under the age of 13 without first notifying parents and obtaining their consent. The penalty is the largest ever assessed by the FTC for a COPPA violation, and is more than twice the next largest penalty. Read more

Court Halts Illegal Billing Scheme

Small Businesses, Non-Profits Charged for Web Sites They Did Not Order or Want

A U.S. district court has entered an order barring unlawful activities by an operation that allegedly crammed unauthorized charges on the phone bills of small businesses or nonprofits for Web site services that, in many cases, they didn’t know they had and didn’t request. The court has appointed a receiver to oversee the business operations and frozen defendants’ assets, pending trial. At trial, the Federal Trade Commission will seek a permanent halt to the operation’s activities and ask the court to order consumer redress for thousands of consumers who were illegally billed. Read more

FTC Closes Door on Spyware Operation

An operation that placed spyware on consumers’ computers in violation of federal laws will give up more than $2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges.

Under a stipulated final judgment and order, the defendants are permanently prohibited from interfering with a consumer’s computer use, including but not limited to distributing software code that tracks consumers’ Internet activity or collects other personal information, changes their preferred homepage or other browser settings, inserts new advertising toolbars or other frames onto their browsers, installs dialer programs, inserts advertising hyperlinks into third-party Web pages, or installs other advertising software code, file, or content on consumers’ computers. Read more

Bermuda Travel Announcement

This Public Announcement is being issued to alert U.S. citizens of the potential impact Tropical Storm Florence may have on the island of Bermuda, and advise U.S. citizens to postpone travel to Bermuda until the storm has passed.

According to National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Florence is tracking toward Bermuda and is expected to reach the island in the early morning hours on Monday, September 11.  Some strengthening is expected during the next twenty-four hours, possibly to low-grade hurricane strength.  U.S. citizens in Bermuda should monitor reports from the Bermuda Weather Service and local weather offices, and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.  Visitors should be familiar with their hotel evacuation plans and carry their travel documents (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) with them at all times or secure them by placing them in a safe waterproof location. Read more

Chad Travel Warning

This Travel Warning reminds American citizens of ongoing rebel activity in Chad, and notes that travelers entering Sudan by land from Chad without a visa or proper documentation run the risk of detention and arrest by Sudanese authorities.  This supersedes the Travel Warning of July 6, 2006.  

The Department of State continues to urge American citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to Chad, due to continued threats of rebel activity on Chad’s borders with Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR).  Americans should exercise caution when traveling in Chad, including within the capital, N’Djamena.  Americans not affiliated with humanitarian relief efforts should avoid travel to eastern Chad and the Chad/CAR border. Read more

Sudan Travel Warning

This Travel Warning for Sudan reminds U.S. citizens of the continued threat of terrorism in Sudan and stresses the importance of obtaining proper travel documents before attempting entry into any part of the country.  This supersedes the Travel Warning issued for Sudan on February 6, 2006.

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against all travel to Sudan, particularly in the Darfur area where there is a continuing buildup of Government and rebel military forces and where violence has increased significantly.  The Department continues to remind travelers that the U.S. Government has received indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests in Sudan.  Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, or kidnappings.  U.S. citizens should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets in public places, which include tourist sites and locations where westerners are known to congregate, and commercial operations associated with U.S. or Western interests.  As physical security remains high at official facilities, terrorists may turn towards softer targets, such as residential compounds. Read more

Algeria Travel Warning

This Travel Warning is being updated to alert Americans to ongoing security concerns in Algeria.  The security environment in rural and remote areas continues to pose a significant security risk.  This supersedes the Travel Warning of February 15, 2006.

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens who travel to Algeria to evaluate carefully the risk posed to their personal safety while in-country.  Although Algiers and most urban centers have not experienced terrorist activity in over a year, sustained small-scale attacks including bombings, false roadblocks, kidnappings, ambushes, and assassinations occur in rural and remote sections of the country.  Overland travel between major cities should be avoided at night. Read more

Mexico Travel Announcement

This Public Announcement is being issued to inform U.S. citizens of Hurricane John, which is expected to make landfall on the Baja Peninsula Friday, September 1.

According to National Hurricane Center projections, Hurricane John, a category 3 storm, is likely to make landfall on the Baja Peninsula near Cabo San Lucas, a major resort destination some time on Friday, September 1.  U.S. citizens in that region should immediately head to higher ground and/or identify shelter, monitor local media reports, and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.  Visitors should be familiar with their hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans.  U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture ID's, etc.) with them at all times or secure them by placing them in a safe waterproof location.  Americans in the areas affected by Hurricane John may wish to contact family or friends to update them on their status. Read more

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