Avast to Pay $16.5M Fine for Selling Consumer Browsing Data

The FTC fined Avast $16.5 million for deceptively collecting and selling identifiable users’ web browsing data—via its Jumpshot subsidiary—to over 100 third parties despite marketing claims of preventing tracking; the order bars misrepresentations, requires affirmative express consent before any sale, mandates deletion of data shared with Jumpshot, obliges consumer notifications, and compels implementation of a comprehensive privacy program.