For Immediate Release   
March 1, 2010    jeff@democraticmedia.org      
Center for Digital Democracy    www.democraticmedia.org     


CDD Asks Food and Drug Administration to Investigate
Digital Marketing of Drugs and Health Products

Urges FDA to Develop Rules to Address Behavioral Targeting and to Protect Consumer Privacy


Washington, DC: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was urged today to protect the health of U.S. consumers by conducting a comprehensive investigation into the use and impact of digital health marketing techniques and technologies. Pharmaceutical and health marketers are already using an array of digital advertising techniques, including behavioral targeting, social media marketing, online video and mobile. The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), a leading nonprofit group based in Washington, DC, that specializes in consumer protection for the online marketplace, made its requests in Comments filed in the FDA’s proceeding on the Promotion of Food and Drug Administration-Regulated Medical Products Using the Internet and Social Media Tools.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2007

Contact: Kathryn Montgomery, American University202-494-1501
Jeff Chester, Center for Digital Democracy, 202-494-7100

Statement from
Kathryn Montgomery, PhD
Professor, American University

Co-author, “Interactive Food & Beverage Marketing:
Targeting Children and Youth in the Digital Age”
Available from www.digitalads.org

Note to Journalists covering tomorrow’s FTC/HHS Forum on Marketing, Self-Regulation, & Childhood Obesity: Professor Kathryn Montgomery of American University is a panelist who will summarize her recent research on digital food marketing targeting children and youth. In the expectation of several industry announcements, she is releasing this statement: