Despite only having two active Commissioners, the FTC has remained busy. The Commission resolved a long-running litigation related to sensitive consumer location data, announced a workshop on developments in the financial services industry, and approved a merger with divestiture conditions. These stories and more after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (May 3 – 8, 2026)
Register now to join Crowell partners Joanna Forster, Toni Michelle Jackson, and Jordan Ludwig for a focused discussion on surveillance pricing — what it means for your business, the risks it creates, and the concrete steps you can take now, from reviewing your pricing practices and privacy policies to building a proactive risk management strategy. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EDT.
Continue Reading Register Now! The Next Frontier — Surveillance & Personalized Pricing Webinar
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) closed out April and opened May with activity across both consumer protection and competition bureaus. This past week, the agency released new data showing the scale of social media-driven fraud, targeted allegedly deceptive multi-level marketing earnings claims, urged the Tennessee Supreme Court to reduce its reliance on ABA law school accreditation, and required divestitures to resolve competition concerns in a foodservice technology merger. More on these stories after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (April 27-May 1, 2026)A New Jersey consumer products company was sentenced this week to pay a criminal fine of $8 million plus an additional $395,786 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to willfully failing to report dangerously defective air conditioners to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The case illustrates the staggering civil and even criminal consequences that can flow from failure to satisfy the Consumer Product Safety Act’s (CPSA) mandatory reporting requirements, especially the willingness of federal prosecutors to pursue criminal charges.
Continue Reading Criminal Sentencing in Royal Sovereign Case Underscores Staggering Consequences for Defective Product Reporting Failures
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that a company’s president and CEO must pay a $140 million judgment based on participation in a timeshare exit scheme. The FTC also took action that backed Chairman Ferguson’s prioritization of healthcare fraud with the establishment of a Healthcare Task Force in March. More on these stories after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (April 20-24, 2026)
In a Law360 article published today, “How Food, Beverage Claims May Preview Cosmetic Litigation,” Crowell attorneys argue that class action litigation trends from the food and beverage industry — including lawsuits over “natural” labeling claims, deceptive packaging (slack-fill), and greenwashing — are directly foreshadowing, and providing a strategic roadmap for, the wave of similar litigation now targeting cosmetics and personal care product companies. Click here to read the full article.
A new lawsuit alleging that major gaming platforms deliberately use psychological techniques to addict minors reflects a broader litigation trend in video games and mirrors social media addiction cases already yielding significant jury verdicts. Click here to continue reading the full version of this alert.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was especially active in the consumer protection space this past week, including announcing three separate enforcement actions based on earnings claims and three more for Made in USA claims. On the competition side, the FTC took action against noncompete agreements. These stories and more after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (April 13 – 17, 2026)
A new bill introduced in the California legislature proposes to overhaul the state’s product recall liability framework—and depending on where you sit in the supply chain, the consequences could be far-reaching. Assembly Bill 2462 would amend the state’s Product Recall Safety and Protection Act to redefine who qualifies as a “manufacturer,” broaden the scope of cost-free recall obligations, and dramatically increase penalties for violations. Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin on February 20, 2026, the bill’s provisions would apply across the consumer product supply chain, touching manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and, most notably, brand licensors.
Continue Reading The Hidden Recall Risk in Your Licensing Agreement: What California’s Assembly Bill 2462 Could Mean for Your Business
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2026–2030, setting out the agency’s enforcement priorities and operational objectives for the next five years under Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson. The plan reaffirms the FTC’s commitment to vigorously enforcing the nation’s antitrust and consumer protection laws “without fear or favor.” Critically for businesses, the plan returns the phrase “without unduly burdening legitimate business activity” to the agency’s mission statement, signaling a commitment to ending what the agency characterizes as overregulation of businesses that compete fairly and deal honestly with consumers. Despite this business-friendly framing, the plan signals robust enforcement across consumer protection, antitrust, and emerging technology — areas that will directly affect in-house counsel’s compliance planning over the coming years. Expect vigorous consumer protection enforcement — especially in tech, privacy, and children’s online safety. Click here to continue reading the full article.