HHS and FTC Announce Expansion of Operations to Tackle Challenges in Cybersecurity, Technology, and Privacy

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the expansion of operational areas of their organizations that are dedicated to enforcement of laws and regulations related to technology, privacy, and cybersecurity.

On February 17, 2023, the FTC announced the creation of a new Office of Technology to “strengthen the FTC’s ability to keep pace with technological challenges in the digital marketplace,” including to “strengthen and support law enforcement investigations and actions.” The Office of Technology will be headed by Stephanie T. Nguyen, who highlighted FTC’s need to develop “in-house skills…to fully grasp evolving technologies and market trends…to tackle unlawful business practices and protect Americans.”

On February 27, 2023, HHS announced the rebranding and reorganization for divisions within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The Health Information Privacy Division (HIP) will be rebranded as the Health Information Privacy, Data, and Cybersecurity Division (HIPDC) to better align with OCR’s “work and role in cybersecurity.”