On November 10, 2026, President Trump nominated Peter A. Feldman to serve as Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and to serve another seven-year term as Commissioner. The nominations signal the administration’s intent to maintain continuity of leadership at the CPSC during a period of heightened regulatory activity. Click here to read the full version of this alert.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Dollar General over alleged pricing discrepancies and Toast over alleged hidden fees and subscription practices, warned healthcare plan marketers and lead generators about deceptive advertising, and highlighted its enforcement efforts against impersonation scams. The FTC also partnered with states to take action against a payment processor and property manager for deceptive billing and other practices. More on these stories after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (October 26 – November 6, 2026)
A recent wave of lawsuits filed in Washington, D.C., represents the latest attempt by consumer advocacy groups to use state consumer protection laws to pursue manufacturers, importers, distributors, and online sellers of consumer products for alleged violations of product safety laws. Consumer Advocacy Institute (“CAI”), a consumer advocacy group formed in March 2026, has used the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (“CPPA”) to file more than 200 lawsuits in D.C. Superior Court. These so-called private attorney general lawsuits provide an alternate route for enforcement alongside actions by federal agencies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). They can also have the effect of drawing additional attention and scrutiny from those agencies.
Continue Reading D.C. Consumer Advocacy Group Files Over 200 Lawsuits Against Consumer Products Companies: What You Need to Know
On October 29, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and attorneys general from Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Utah, joined by Los Angeles County Counsel and the San Francisco City Attorney, sued Toast over allegedly deceptive advertising, hidden fees, and cancellation barriers. The bipartisan lawsuit shows that federal, state, and local regulators continue to work together on consumer protection, including claims involving business customers. Click here to read the full version of this alert.
As of November 4, 2026, the state attorney general elections point to increased enforcement in 2027, particularly in consumer protection, antitrust, AI, health care, and data centers. Businesses should prepare for more investigations under existing laws and proposals for new legislation or rules. Campaign commitments indicate priorities, but their timing and implementation remain uncertain. Click here to read the full version of this alert.
Join Crowell & Moring partners Pete Condron and Monty Cooper as they explore the evolving science, regulation, and litigation surrounding microplastics, joined by Dr. Steven Boomhower, Principal Toxicologist at Gradient Corporation, and Rachel Zajac-Fay, Senior Scientist at Geosyntec Consultants.
Continue Reading Register Now! Webinar on Microplastics: Science, Regulation, and Legal Risk
The Federal Trade Commission focused on combating fraud and deceptive practices this week, suing the operators of an alleged government impersonation scheme targeting consumers seeking passport and visa services. The agency also highlighted a court victory permanently banning a debt relief operation from the industry and imposing a $108.6 million judgment, and issued its annual report to Congress documenting sharply rising fraud losses among older adults. These stories and more after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (October 19-23, 2026)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took steps this week to enforce consumer protection across health care, advertising, and entertainment. The FTC targeted the operator of a sextortion relief scheme for allegedly defrauding consumers out of millions of dollars through false promises and deceptive practices. Additionally, the FTC sued a ticket broker that allegedly unlawfully purchased millions of tickets to live events, depriving consumers of access to reasonably priced tickets. These stories and more, after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates (October 12-16, 2026)
The Federal Trade Commission continued its active enforcement agenda this week, targeting deceptive pricing practices across the healthcare, automotive, and retail sectors. The agency also took action against a martial arts franchisor for misleading earnings claims, secured a Robinson-Patman Act resolution involving wholesale T-shirt distributors, and distributed millions of dollars in consumer refunds stemming from prior settlements. These stories and more after the jump.
Continue Reading FTC Updates (October 5 – October 9, 2026)
Key Takeaway #1 California’s new AI chatbot law — “Adam’s Law” (SB 1119) — requires companion chatbot operators to conduct mandatory independent child safety audits and annual risk assessments, implement crisis protocols for queries involving self-harm, and notify parents when children disable safety settings. Non-compliance exposes businesses to significant civil liability.
Key Takeaway #2 Assembly Bill 1709 prohibits social media platforms from offering addictive features to users under 16, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmically personalized feeds. Social media companies found to have negligently harmed children through their platforms face civil penalties of up to $1 million per child under Assembly Bill 2.
Key Takeaway #3 SB 867 prohibits companies for four years from selling or manufacturing toys for children under 16 that include chatbots, further restricting the deployment of AI companionship features in consumer products directed at minors.
Continue Reading California Signs Nation-Leading AI Chatbot and Social Media Laws: What Businesses Need to Know