This week, the FTC announced activity focused on junk fees, companies deceiving and misleading consumers in negative options, and consumer background reporting. These stories and more after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (October 09 – October 13, 2023)
Focusing on engagement with the public and other agencies, the FTC had its hands full last week commenting on regulations and hosting events on hot-button issues like the impact of AI on creative industries and the July 2023 Draft Merger Guidelines. More on these actions, as well as an update on student debt related actions, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates Oct 2-Oct 6
The FTC is in feedback-seeking mode, looking for input on topics ranging from the draft Merger Guidelines to privacy. The agency also collaborated with the CFPB on an amicus brief regarding the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and entered into a cooperation agreement with several Latin American countries. More on this, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (September 25-29, 2023)
As the summer closes and fall arrives, the FTC has been busy resolving a variety of actions within both the Bureau of Consumer Protection and Bureau of Competition, related to either purported false advertising or anticompetitive mergers. This and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (August 28 – September 8, 2023)
After a slower start in August, the FTC has been busy with actions taken to protect everyday consumers who have been the victims of organized schemes intended to mislead them. The FTC also announced the appointment of a new Director of the Bureau of Competition This and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (August 7-25, 2023)
While the long-awaited update to the Merger Guidelines made the biggest waves in the legal news as of late, the FTC has engaged in several other activities of note, including a crackdown on robocalls, a potential update to COPPA, and cautionary letters to multiple healthcare entities. More on this, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (July 10-21, 2023)
The FTC has remained active this summer, concluding June with two major notices of proposed rulemaking. One related to the Premerger Notification Rule from the Bureau of Competition and the other related to the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials from the Bureau of Consumer Protection. These stories and more regarding specific matter updates ranging from “Made in USA” advertising to deceptive Delta-8 THC advertising after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (June 27 – July 7, 2023)
New considerations have emerged for advertisers who publish reviews or endorsements. On June 29, 2023, the FTC finalized its updated Endorsement Guides, which provide insights to businesses on how the use of reviews and endorsements might be considered unfair or deceptive in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. Over the past several months, the FTC sought public comments on proposed updates to the Endorsement Guides to accurately reflect the modern landscape of advertising, which includes reliance on social media and content creators.Continue Reading Reviews and Endorsements Say What? FTC Finalizes Updates to Endorsement Guidelines
The FTC is taking no breaks this summer with an active first half of June. The FTC released two annual reports regarding refunds and consumer finance and credit protection activity as well as initiating a request for public information on collaboration efforts with State Attorneys General. These stories and more regarding specific matter updates, ranging from false advertising to data privacy, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (June 5 – June 16, 2023)
This week, the FTC filed a lawsuit to block a large biopharmaceutical acquisition, launched a refund claims process for aggrieved consumers, and issued a warning that increasing use of biometric identifier technologies raises significant consumer privacy and data security concerns. These stories and more after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (May 15 – May 19, 2023)