Security Bloggers Must Disclose Payments & Freebies

In a 4-0 decision, the FTC announced new rules today that will require all bloggers to disclose any freebies or payments they receive for reviewing or endorsing products.

This decision will be especially important to the security industry with its relatively few analysts and commentators. There is a desperate need for quality, yet unbiased, writing and research in this space -- one where good information can quite literally be the difference between life and death.

The FTC said that violators of the new policy, that goes into effect December 1 of this year, will be subject to fines of up to $11,000...per violation.

However, the commissions did not address how bloggers should disclose such 'conflicts of interest.' To meet the new guidelines, I'd suggest that my security blogging compatriots simply list out the names of any companies or individuals that they have received payments or "freebies" from in the previous 12 months.

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Steve's paychecks come from 3VR and everyone should know that he is hopeless biased in that area.