The FTC closed out the year with significant developments in rulemaking, consumer protection enforcement actions, and priority setting for the new year. From issuing the much-anticipated final Junk Fees Rule, to announcing its potential largest monetary judgment against an auto dealer, to further developing its Operation AI Comply initiative, the Commission ended 2024 on a busy note. These stories, and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (December 16 – December 27, 2024)
To kick off the last full month of the current presidential administration, the Federal Trade Commission’s activity included numerous consumer protection updates. Privacy and cybersecurity and online retailers (especially home security systems) were a focus, including announced court orders and consumer payments for shipping practices, improper use of artificial intelligence, collecting and selling consumer location data, and obtaining financing for unqualified customers. On the competition side, the FTC issued its 2024 Report on Ethanol Market Concentration and proposed a consent order for a no-hire agreement. All this and more after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (December 2-6, 2024)
As Fall continues, the FTC reflects on 2024, reaches a proposed settlement with H&R Block, and continues to enforce consumer protection laws in the loan and telemarketing sectors. All this, and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (November 11-15, 2024)
The end of October brought refunds for tens of thousands of consumers harmed by deceptive credit offers and auto sales practices as well as the temporary shutdown of operations allegedly scamming millions of dollars from consumers enticed to sell goods online. All this and more after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (October 28 – November 1, 2024)
As fall approaches, the FTC continues to enforce actions on the consumer protection front against deceptive practices in the cash advance, e-commerce, and telemarketing sectors. All this, and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (September 16-27, 2024)
The FTC’s activity this week centers around data analysis. The agency released reports analyzing Bitcoin ATM scam data, followed by a report compiling issues with income disclosure statements from multi-level marketing (“MLM”) businesses. The Commission also sent a report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on its activity related to fighting debt collection-related fraud against consumers. More information on these stories after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (September 2-6, 2024)
The FTC stayed busy during the beginning of August. The agency announced a host of proposed settlements with companies and individuals engaged in deceptive and fraudulent business schemes. All this and more after the jump:Continue Reading FTC Updates (August 5-9, 2024)
Call it the summer of junk fees and drip pricing. In July, California’s new drip pricing law went into effect and in August the federal government announced further proposed rules into junk fees and subscription services. Regulators say these proposed price transparency laws and regulations are consumer protection tools that will save consumers money, help them avoid hidden fees and enable them to cancel recurring charges and subscriptions.
As we’ve previously reported, FTC practitioners and businesses alike have been anxiously awaiting details about the rule that will prohibit purportedly deceptive practices in connection with reviews and testimonials. Our readers likely recall the FTC’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking from November 2022, the notice of proposed rulemaking from June 2023, and the informal hearing on the proposed rule which occurred in February 2024. The wait is finally over: just yesterday, August 14, 2024, the agency announced the “Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials” (the “Rule”). The final Rule, which the Commissioners unanimously approved, is a formal step to address alleged ongoing non-compliance with Section 5 of the FTC Act and the agency’s Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (the “Endorsement Guides”), particularly in the consumer review space.Continue Reading Final Rule Announced: The FTC Strengthens Its Enforcement Capacity Against “Deceptive” Reviews and Testimonials
As we proceed through July, the FTC continues to bring the summer heat in cracking down on the advertising practices of cannabis manufacturers, and on the possible anti-competitive effects of serial acquisitions and roll-up strategies. All this, and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (July 15-19, 2024)