States Urge FTC to Strengthen Protections for Children

States Urge FTC to Strengthen Protections for Children

by | Mar 13, 2024 | Regional News

Nessel Email Header
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 12, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel, Coalition of 43 States Urge FTC to Strengthen Online Privacy and Safety Protections for Children

LANSING – In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a bipartisan coalition of 43 state attorneys general to urge the federal government to update and strengthen the rules technology companies must follow under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

The rules governing online privacy protections for children up to age 13 have not been updated in over a decade. At the same time, the digital world has evolved rapidly — with smartphones, social networks, and connected devices becoming an even greater part of our lives.

Congress enacted COPPA in 1998 for the purpose of giving parents more control over information collected online from their children. The legislation directed the FTC to establish regulations for operators of websites or online services regarding how they collect, use, and share personal information of children under 13 years of age.

The FTC is proposing changes to the COPPA Rule that would place new restrictions on the use and disclosure of children’s personal information and further limit the ability of companies to condition access to services on monetizing children’s data.

Among other things, the attorneys general are urging the FTC to expand the definition of “personal information” to include biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, retina and iris patterns, a DNA sequence, and data derived from voice data, gait data, and facial data, as well as avatars generated from a child’s image and likeness.

The attorneys general also ask the FTC to adopt a comprehensive framework for determining whether services qualify for a proposed parental consent exception and to prohibit operators from abusing the multiple-contact exception in COPPA with engagement-maximizing push notifications.

“I remain committed to doing all we can to protect the online safety and privacy of children,” Nessel said. “We must have more robust rules under the COPPA to ensure that technology companies comply with stringent data protection standards to safeguard the well-being of children. I wholeheartedly join with my colleagues in urging the FTC to take decisive action to enhance COPPA regulations.”

By statute, both the FTC and state attorneys general are empowered to enforce COPPA. Since the COPPA Rule became effective, state attorneys general, on their own and in partnership with the FTC, have pursued multiple actions for violations of the COPPA Rule.

Late last year, state attorneys general sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for violations of state consumer protection laws and COPPA. The complaint alleges Meta knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms that purposefully addict children and teens. All the while, Meta falsely assured the public that these features are safe and suitable for young users. The case is ongoing.

Led by the attorneys general of Oregon, Illinois, Mississippi, and Tennessee, with assistance from Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and North Carolina, the comment letter to the FTC regarding amendments to COPPA was joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Whitmer Proclaims March 12, 2024 as Equal Pay Day

Whitmer Proclaims March 12, 2024 as Equal Pay Day

by | Mar 12, 2024 | Regional News

Governor Whitmer Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2024

Contact: [email protected]   

 

Governor Whitmer Proclaims March 12, 2024 as Equal Pay Day

March 12th marks the number of days into the year that women would need to work to match what men made last year

 

LANSING, Mich.  – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed March 12th as Equal Pay Day to bring attention to the Michigan women who experience unequal pay at all levels of work.

 

“Women in Michigan and across the nation deserve equal pay for equal work,” said Governor Whitmer. “Women who work full-time are paid 84 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts, and women of color make even less. This discrepancy has ripple effects across our economy and impacts nearly every Michigan family. Fair pay is about making sure Michigan is place where anyone can work hard and build a good life. I’m proud of every Michigan woman working hard to provide for themselves and their families. I want you to know that I’m going to keep fighting for you.”

 

Women in the U.S. who work full-time, year-round are typically paid only 84 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. Based on today’s wage gap, a woman who works full-time, year-round could lose $399,600 over a 40-year career, a gap that only grows when examined by race and ethnicity. Nationally, for every dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women are paid only 93 cents, Black women are paid only 69 cents, Native women are paid only 59 cents, and Latinas are paid only 57 cents. This wage gap typically means an annual loss of $22,120 for Black women, $30,450 for Latinas, $28,747 for Native women, and $4,690 for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women.

 

Governor Whitmer’s Record to Support Women

In 2023, Governor Whitmer increased the Working Families Tax Credit to put an average of $3,150 into Michiganders’ pockets and assisting more than 700,000 Michigan households. She has also proposed statewide paid family and medical leave to help workers, especially women, care for loved ones, bond with newborns, and recover when they’re sick. During her first term, Governor Whitmer awarded grants to community-based organizations that help women understand and exercise their rights and benefits in the workplace. Governor Whitmer has appointed more than 1,280 women to boards, commissions, and full-time positions.

 

Last year, Governor Whitmer signed the Reproductive Health Act to decriminalize abortions and ensure access to reproductive healthcare. This helped to build on the momentum in expanding abortion access across the state. Through Governor Whitmer’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Initiative, Michigan became one of the first states to support expecting mothers by covering doula services, so that they receive the care they need for a healthy pregnancy and support for interventions that are proven to increase health outcomes for women and their children.

 

To view the full proclamation, click here.
“Slam the Scam” During National Consumer Protection Week

“Slam the Scam” During National Consumer Protection Week

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Regional News

Nessel Email Header
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 7, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Advises Consumers To “Slam the Scam” During National Consumer Protection Week

LANSING – As part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) National Consumer Protection Week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is encouraging residents to “Slam the Scam” on March 7.

“Slam the Scam” Day was initiated five years ago by the Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General to educate the public on how to recognize government imposter scams, especially Social Security-related imposter scams, which are the most common type of imposter scams reported to the FTC.

According to the FTC, government imposter scams resulted in over $617 million in consumer losses in 2023 alone. To combat this alarming trend, Nessel urges residents to join the effort on March 7 by sharing information about scams on social media platforms using #SlamTheScam.

Scammers know that calls, emails, text messages, social media posts, and U.S. mail from government officials are more likely to be opened, read, and obeyed, helping them achieve their number one goal: to steal money from unsuspecting consumers. When bad actors impersonate government entities, they typically offer grants and special medication prices, or request updated personal information. In more confrontational forms of the scam, the imposter will demand money and threaten arrest for nonpayment.

The Attorney General’s Government Imposter Scams alert advises consumers who have received communications from imposters to protect themselves from these scams by:

  • Blocking the text, email, or calls;
  • Not clicking links or opening attachments;
  • Reporting the text or email as spam; and
  • Deleting the text or email from their device.

“I encourage everyone to ‘Slam the Scam’ and hang up if you think you are on the phone with a scam caller,” said Nessel. “My department has resources online that everyone should avail themselves to so that they can identify a scam before they become a victim.”

The Attorney General’s alert also reminds consumers that government agencies will not:

  • Promise to increase benefits or fix an issue if a fee is paid;
  • Threaten arrest or legal action unless money is sent immediately; or
  • Demand payment in the form of gift cards, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, or cash sent by mail.

Scammers may also attempt to win trust by presenting fictitious documents or by using the name of a real government official. Just last month, Nessel issued a warning about an IRS scam being perpetrated in her name using a similar tactic.

Consumers can Slam the Scam by simply hanging up the phone on predators and deleting suspicious emails or text messages without responding. A response only lets the scammers know their information is accurate and they may try again.

The Department of Attorney General provides a library of resources for consumers to review anytime on a variety of topics.

To file a complaint with the Attorney General, or get additional information, contact:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
Beware of Obituary Pirates after Death of Loved One

Beware of Obituary Pirates after Death of Loved One

by | Mar 6, 2024 | Regional News

Nessel Email Header
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 6, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Warns Residents to Beware of Obituary Pirates after Death of Loved One

LANSING – During National Consumer Protection Week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning Michigan residents of the latest frontier for scammers: death. As a recent article on the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) website cautions, posting online death notices heavy with personal information about the deceased could put that person, as well as their survivors, on the radar of fraudsters and opportunists.

In an obituary scam, the victim is targeted by scammers because they are either deceased or emotionally vulnerable from the grief of losing a loved one. In either case, the individuals are unlikely to be monitoring their accounts for unauthorized activity.

The details about a lost loved one that family and friends share online can be easily gathered by criminals to purchase even more personal data – like the deceased person’s address and social security number – from the dark web. Armed with that information, criminals can open bank accounts, obtain loans, secure health insurance, or file false tax returns in the deceased person’s name.

“It is almost beyond belief that there are people who are so unethical that they would exploit another’s loss for profit,” Nessel said. “Because these individuals do exist, we need to be mindful that the impulse to share special traits about a deceased loved one online can open up avenues for deception and scams. My office is prepared to prosecute fraudsters and offer helpful resources to their victims.”

Additionally, a grieving person can be more susceptible to manipulation from scammers masquerading as representatives of government agencies, collection agencies, or insurance companies. Scammers may also pose as long-lost friends, relatives, or romantic partners who contact the deceased’s survivors out of the blue to reminisce. But this is yet another tactic to acquire personal information to use for nefarious purposes. Some criminals might call the funeral home to stealthily obtain financial information about the deceased person or their family.

As the AARP article advises, to avoid a loved one becoming the subject of a scam, or becoming a victim of an obituary scam yourself, survivors should be on the lookout for red flags like:

  • Bills or credit card activity for expenses accrued after your loved one’s death.
  • Calls from government agency imposters, debt collectors, or insurance brokers about outstanding taxes, unpaid bills, or unfinished business supposedly left by the deceased.
  • Callers who pressure you to pay immediately by wire transfer, gift card, or reloadable cash card.

Family members may be contacted by the deceased person’s legitimate creditors, subject to limitations on who and for what purpose. Loved ones should look to the Federal Trade Commission’s article, Debts and Deceased Relatives, for advice on responding to these queries.

Another twist on the obituary scam has “obituary pirates” scouring newspapers and websites for details about the deaths of strangers, fabricating additional details, and posting the fake obituaries as clickbait on blogs or video sites to generate views and ad revenue. In some cases, the pirates simply record themselves reading a summary of the obituary and then upload it to their chosen social media platform. Each click earns income for the poster. If the online obituary site has a donation link, those funds may not reach their intended destination but could end up in the hands of a fraudster.

Obituary pirates prey on the vulnerability of grieving families, exploiting personal information for their own gain. Though generally not illegal, obituary piracy can lead to the frauds and scams mentioned above. Michigan residents are advised to share loved ones’ obituaries as soon as possible to avoid having a fake one confused with the real thing. Families are also urged to remain wary of suspicious online activities related to a loved one’s passing.

By remaining vigilant and verifying the legitimacy of online obituaries and donation requests, individuals can protect themselves and their families from falling victim to these scams.

Michigan residents whose deceased loved one has been the target of obituary pirates or fraud can contact the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
New Members of Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class for 2024

New Members of Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class for 2024

by | Mar 6, 2024 | Regional News

County Executive Coulter Hails the New Members of Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class for 2024

Post Date:03/05/2024 10:17 AM
  • This is the 12th class spotlighting talented young professionals living and working in Oakland County.
  • Their work and service to the community align with County Executive Dave Coulter’s Oakland Together vision for the future.
  • Information about the Class of 2024 is available at oakgov.com/40Under40.

Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter announced today the new members of the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2024, which includes a Michigan Supreme Court justice and the star of Bassquatch Hunter, a popular fishing and adventure show which airs on Discovery Channel.

The 12th Oakland Together 40 Under 40 class honors young professionals who live and/or work in Oakland County. These individuals exemplify Oakland Together, Coulter’s vision for a community working together to leverage its strengths, address its challenges, and find value in working with regional partners.

“I am thrilled to announce the exceptional individuals selected for the 2024 class of the Oakland Together 40 Under 40,” Coulter said. “This diverse group of young leaders embodies the spirit of innovation, resilience, and community engagement. Their contributions are shaping the future of our region, and I am proud to celebrate their accomplishments and commitment to making a positive difference in our county.”

More than 290 candidates, born after Dec. 31, 1983, applied for the recognition. A panel of independent judges selected the new class which includes a teacher, mental health professionals, physicians, non-profit leaders, university professors, lawyers, diversity consultants, and automotive supplier employees:

Among the members are:

Kyra Harris Bolden

Bolden, 35, of Farmington Hills, is the first woman of color to serve as a Michigan Supreme Court justice. Prior to her appointment to the high court, she served as a state representative in the Michigan House of Representatives where she advocated for criminal justice reform and crafted and passed bipartisan legislation to protect survivors of sexual violence. She is an active member of the Oakland County Bar Association, Wolverine Bar Association, Straker Bar Association, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, National Congress of Black Women-Oakland County, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Mike McKinstry

McKinstry, a 39-year-old West Bloomfield resident, produces and hosts Bassquatch Hunter on Discovery Channel. His website says he quit his career seven years ago to follow his passion for fishing and inspiring others to take a risk and try new things to find a career that makes them happy. In each episode, he takes out guests that usually are brand new to kayaks and fishing. The only thing the guests and he have in common is that they both do what makes them happy for a career and want to inspire others to do new things and take risks to find their happiness.

Donovan Jackson

Jackson, 29, of Royal Oak Township, is the director of parks and recreation for his hometown and coach of the Ferndale High School football team, his alma mater. A former Division 1 football player at Morgan State University, he serves as vice president of the Semaj Morgan Foundation, which connects players at University of Michigan to kids in the community who look up to them. The non-profit has a variety of programs which include reading literacy, math development, and sport camps.

Yuliya Malayev

Malayev, 37, of West Bloomfield, is no ordinary obstetrician-gynecologist. She has improved access to lifesaving procedures to improve the quality of life of women suffering from chronic pain and endometriosis. She advocates for maternal health before and after pregnancy, pushing for better support within the community for breastfeeding, anxiety, depression, and child well-being. She also engages in projects and initiatives to reduce maternal death rates.

Below is a complete list of the members of the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2024. They will be honored at a reception preceding Coulter’s State of the County address on April 4. For more information, click on oakgov.com/40Under40:

  • William Aldridge Jr, 35, of Wixom, detective for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
  • Joe Bamberger, 36, of Bloomfield Hills, managing partner of Emerge
  • Jared M Barnett, 31, of Auburn Hills, community health worker at Honor Community Health
  • Kyra Harris Bolden, 35, of Farmington Hills, Michigan Supreme Court justice
  • Tequion M. Brookins, 33, of Southfield, CEO and founder of TeQuionBrookins LLC
  • Myka S. Burley, 34, of Southfield, associate director, skills at Michigan Central
  • Ernesto Chavez, 38, of Waterford, CEO and co-founder of Founder of Bright Loritos
  • Jun Chen, 38, of Novi, assistant professor at Oakland University
  • Jessica Cortez, 36, of Bloomfield Hills, licensed Master of Social Work and founder of Bloomfield Child & Family
  • Mike Cousins, 38, of Farmington Hills, partner & GIS practice leader for OHM Advisors
  • Caress A. Dean, 35, of Clinton Township, associate professor, Master of Public Health program director, and chair of the Department of Public and
  • Environmental Wellness at Oakland University
  • Peggy Du, 35, of Farmington Hills, executive director and accounting manager of the Association of Chinese Americans
  • Na’Jeray Elam, 29, of Pontiac, lead fourth grade teacher at University Prep Academy-Ellen Thompson Campus
  • Jose L. Flores, 34, of Rochester Hills, CEO of Ancor Automotive
  • Michelle Foster, 39, of Ferndale, executive director of National Association of State and Local Equity Funds
  • Sairy Garcia, 35, of Royal Oak, business forward consultant at Oakland Thrive
  • Angela Gill, 34, of Oxford, emergency foods program manager at Lighthouse
  • Eric W. Gregory, 37, of Troy, partner at Dickinson Wright PLLC
  • Alan Hejl, 33, of Ferndale, founder of Spark Access
  • Ashley A. Hinton, 32, of Southfield, eligibility coordinator for Oakland County
  • Donovan Jackson, 29, of Royal Oak Township, director of parks & recreation at Royal Oak Township
  • Emily Karlichek, 36, of Farmington Hills, senior product marketing manager for Snap One
  • Joshua Lumsden, 29, of Waterford, investigator for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • Yuliya Malayev, 37, of West Bloomfield, physician for Metro OB-GYN
  • Randall Mansour, 38, of Troy, partner at Disability Law Group
  • Mike McKinstry, 39, of West Bloomfield, executive producer and host of Bassquatch Productions LLC
  • Lydia Michael, 36, of West Bloomfield, founder and owner of Blended Collective
  • Jon Ong, 38, of Bloomfield Township, director of transportation operations at RXO
  • Dev M. Oza, 34, of West Bloomfield, associate dentist at Royal Dental Center
  • Tim Paré, 38, of Southfield, CEO and artistic director of Michigan Stage
  • Jeffrey Polkowski, 34, of Waterford, director of development services for Waterford Township
  • Erin Quetell, 33, of Farmington Hills, chief sustainability officer for Oakland County
  • Ashley Sansom 30, of Waterford, licensed Master of Social Work and youth mental health liaison for Oakland Community Health Network
  • Brooke Scott, 25, of Oxford, analyst for compliance and economic development at Magna
  • Christopher Sim, 33, of Auburn Hills, program manager, diversity supplier development at Stellantis
  • Jaclyn Sivers, 36, of Clarkston, senior assistant prosecuting attorney, Juvenile Justice Division of the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office
  • Daniel Snyder, 32, of Royal Oak, senior strategic buyer for AGC Automotive Americas
  • Hemanth Tadepalli, 22, of Troy, cybersecurity compliance engineer at May Mobility
  • Marissa Antonio Wiesen, 37, of Birmingham, assistant attorney general at Michigan Department of Attorney General
  • Christian J. Williams, 31, of Farmington Hills, owner of CJW Consulting Group LLC and professional development consultant & supplier diversity consultant at Henry Ford Health
Delivering free books to elementary school students

Delivering free books to elementary school students

by | Mar 6, 2024 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2024

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Michigan Education Trust partners with Lansing TV station, Scripps Howard Fund to deliver free books to elementary school students

Giveaway reinforces MET’s message that it’s never too early  to prepare for your child’s educational future

LANSING — In keeping with its mission to help prepare children for their educational futures, the Michigan Education Trust (MET) joined WYSM Fox 47 and the Scripps Howard Fund Monday in delivering free books to a Lansing elementary school.

The books were delivered during a book fair at Vivian Riddle Elementary School, 221 Huron St., in Lansing, as part of a book donation effort that began last fall. The school currently also houses students from Willow Elementary while a new school is under construction.

At the book fair, which coincided with National Reading Month in March, each student received five free books from the Scripps Howard Fund and its partnership with MET and WYSM.

MET Marketing Manager Heather Barthelmes, who attended the event with MET’s mascot, Whoodini, congratulated the Scripps Howard Fund for its work and for reaching a milestone last year in its “If you give a child a book” campaign by distributing its 1 millionth book.

“Michigan Education Trust has been a proud sponsor of this campaign with WYSM and Scripps Howard,” Barthelmes said. “We look forward to helping the Scripps Howard Fund team lean into distributing another million books moving forward.”

MET Deputy Director Megan Patino called the partnership a “perfect pairing with MET’s underlying mission, which is to prepare children for their future educational needs.”

“Having books on the shelves in your home lays the groundwork for your child’s educational future in the same way that saving money for school does,” Patino said.

For 35 years, MET has been providing families peace of mind as they work, plan and save to help provide their children with a debt-free start to pursue their dreams by letting people purchase future educational needs at today’s prices.

MET, the nation’s first 529 prepaid tuition plan, has helped tens of thousands of families since 1988 with an affordable way to save for their education by prepurchasing tomorrow’s tuition at today’s rates. Signed into law in December 1986, it was the first prepaid tuition program in the nation.

Patino noted that anyone can contribute to a child’s tuition savings plan, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and others. Once a plan is opened, contributions can be as low as $25.

“MET has many flexible options and — just like with books — there is a MET plan for everyone,” Patino said. “We encourage all Michiganders to open a book and open a MET account to unlock the potential of our children now and throughout their lives.”

More information about MET can be found at SETwithMET.com or by calling 800-MET-4-KID.

Contributions to an existing account can be made at any time during the year through MET’s secure online pay site. MET gift declarations also allow contributors to print out certificates of their contributions designed for holidays, birthdays, graduations and more that can be put in a card or gift wrapped.

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