The FTC has been active across both consumer protection and competition spaces in the past two weeks. In the consumer protection space, the agency announced several proposed settlements with companies and individuals, resolving complaints of alleged deceptive marketing, consumer privacy violations, and false advertising. In the competition space, the FTC and DOJ’s Antitrust Division launched a joint public inquiry into the effectiveness of the updated HSR premerger notification form. Operationally, the FTC was also engaged on several fronts, including testifying before the Joint Economic Committee, submitting its FY 2027 budget request to Congress, and announcing its five-year strategic plan. These stories and more after the jump.

Continue Reading FTC Updates (March 23 – April 3, 2026)

The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) marked the most significant expansion of FDA’s authority over cosmetics in 80 years — and the agency is putting that authority to work. From the launch of a new adverse event reporting tool to forthcoming rules on fragrance allergens and good manufacturing practices (GMP), FDA is reshaping the regulatory landscape for manufacturers, packers, and distributors of cosmetic and personal care products. Click here to continue reading the full version of this alert.

Register now to join Crowell & Moring for “Between the Lines: What CPSC Enforcement Data Reveals for 2026 and Beyond” to explore the latest regulatory enforcement trends and gain a forward-looking perspective on what 2026 and beyond may bring. The webinar will take place on Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET.

Continue Reading Register Now! Between the Lines: What CPSC Enforcement Data Reveals for 2026 and Beyond

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for failing to protect kids from child exploitation on its platforms and ordered the company to pay $375 million in damages for consumer-protection violations. The next day, a California jury found Meta and YouTube liable for platform features that cause children to become addicted to their websites and applications, resulting in mental health distress. Click here to continue reading the full version of this alert.

(World Map Courtesy of NASA: https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=55167)

On March 23, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its Covered List—a list of communications equipment and services deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety and security of U.S. persons—to include consumer-grade routers produced in a foreign country, absent an exemption granted by the U.S. Departments of War (DoW) or Homeland Security (DHS). This designation effectively prohibits the import of all consumer routers that are not produced in the United States. Click here to continue reading the full version of this alert.

The White House’s National AI Policy Framework sets out seven priorities for Congress to codify into federal law, including the preemption of state AI regulations in favor of a unified national standard; age-assurance requirements and stronger parental controls to protect children; deference to the courts on intellectual property questions arising from AI training on copyrighted material; and support for AI infrastructure development while shielding ratepayers from higher electricity costs. The framework carves out important exceptions to preemption, preserving generally applicable laws that protect children, prevent fraud, and protect consumers. The framework faces an uncertain future, and companies will need to continue to navigate a fragmented and evolving patchwork of state and federal AI regulations. Click here to continue reading the full version of this alert.

The Federal Trade Commission continued its active enforcement posture in late March 2026, with significant developments spanning healthcare, franchise regulation, competition, and consumer financial protection. The Commission distributed more than $10.9 million to consumers harmed by a credit repair pyramid scheme, while the FTC secured a record-breaking franchise settlement. Chairman Ferguson also launched a new Healthcare Task Force to coordinate agency-wide enforcement efforts in the healthcare sector. These stories and more after the jump.

Continue Reading FTC Updates  (March 16-20, 2026)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was active in the consumer protection space, announcing two Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The focus was on deceptive pricing, particularly with housing and automobiles. The FTC issued an ANPRM to address unfair or deceptive fee practices in the rental housing market, distributed checks to consumers negatively impacted by a landlord, and sent warning letters to auto dealership groups across the country. These stories and more after the jump.

Continue Reading FTC Updates (March 9-13, 2026)

The FTC had a relatively quiet week, with only one notable update from the agency. On March 5, Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Christopher Mufarrige delivered remarks at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, outlining the FTC’s ongoing enforcement priorities—including fair ticketing practices, payment system integrity, and actions to stop deceptive negative option subscriptions. More on these enforcement priorities after the jump.

Continue Reading FTC Updates (March 2-6, 2026)

On February 12, 2026, a bipartisan group of legislators in Maryland proposed the Maryland Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act. This proposed legislation would amend the Maryland Consumer Protection Act to establish a sweeping regulatory framework for AI-enabled toys sold in the state, covering any device that uses machine learning, conversational AI, behavioral modeling, or similar computational processes and is marketed to or primarily used by children. This proposed legislation adds to a growing trend of increasing efforts, at both the federal and state levels, to regulate the use of AI in products and services used by children.  

Continue Reading Maryland’s Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act: State-Level Regulation Fills the Federal Void on AI in Children’s Products