CNET report:::::::::

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has notified nearly 100 organizations that data from their networks has been found on peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, the agency said on Monday.

The FTC notices went to private and public entities, including schools and local government agencies and organizations with as few as eight employees to as many as tens of thousands, the FTC said in a statement. The sensitive information about customers and employees that was leaked could be used to commit identity fraud, conduct corporate espionage, and for other crimes.

Full CNET Article

FTC Statement: Widespread Data Breaches Uncovered by FTC Probe

Excerpt:……..“Unfortunately, companies and institutions of all sizes are vulnerable to serious P2P-related breaches, placing consumers’ sensitive information at risk. For example, we found health-related information, financial records, and drivers’ license and social security numbers–the kind of information that could lead to identity theft,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “Companies should take a hard look at their systems to ensure that there are no unauthorized P2P file-sharing programs and that authorized programs are properly configured and secure. Just as important, companies that distribute P2P programs, for their part, should ensure that their software design does not contribute to inadvertent file sharing.”

FTC’s P2P Guide: Peer-to-Peer File Sharing: A Guide for Business

We did not know true value and the timely insight of David Shonka, Esq., of the FTC (Discover Webinar Here) during our Best Practice Webinar last week. It was such an eDiscovery harbinger.  The subsequent litigation proceedings and eDiscovery ramifications of these leaks are staggering.

–JDM

David Shonka, Esq., Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission

Due to audience demand at LegalTech, EMC SourceOne eDiscovery – Kazeon announces a repeat performance by “David Shonka, Esq., of the Federal Trade Commission Talks eDiscovery.”  Reserve your seat today for this limited attendance event!

Wednesday, February 17th 2010 at 10:00 am PST


“Dave’s work for over three decades has played a leading role in making the Office of General Counsel one of the best law offices in the federal government,” Chairman Kovacic said. “His service to this agency is unsurpassed. The Commission is most fortunate to enlist someone of such outstanding accomplishment and judgment to serve as Acting General Counsel.”

David C. Shonka is the Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission and he heads the FTC’s E-Discovery Steering Committee.  Before becoming the Principal Deputy, he served as the Assistant General Counsel for Litigation at the FTC from 1993.  Before joining the FTC, Mr. Shonka was an associate in a Washington D.C. law firm and a litigator in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice.  In his career at the FTC, Mr. Shonka has tried and argued competition and consumer protection cases in the federal district courts; tried cases in administrative proceedings, represented the Commission in numerous appellate cases; and contributed to the government’s briefs in several Supreme Court cases.  He has spoken at numerous E-Discovery conferences, and has been an instructor in deposition, trial, and motion practice courses.  Besides having been an active litigator, Mr. Shonka has advised the Commission on the entire range of legal and policy issues that have come before the Commission; and he has represented the Commission in several international programs.

David Shonka, Esq. is Deputy General Counsel of the FTC and chair of the FTC’s E-discovery Steering Committee for government law enforcement investigations.  In  our next webinar, David discusses the eDiscovery, Federal Trade and the future of both.

Will the FTC control eDiscovery law?  Join us to find out!

Accolades for David’s work with the FTC:  “Dave’s work for over three decades has played a leading role in making the Office of General Counsel one of the best law offices in the federal government,” Chairman Kovacic said. “His service to this agency is unsurpassed. The Commission is most fortunate to enlist someone of such outstanding accomplishment and judgment to serve as Acting General Counsel.”

Register for this Webinar