The FTC has been active in the weeks leading up to a change in administration. The Commission has ordered that companies and the individuals who run them pay refunds paid to consumers they have allegedly misled, doubled down on enforcement against companies attempting to enforce no-hire agreements, and approved revisions to thresholds under Section 7 and 8 of the Clayton Act. These stories and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (December 30 – January 10, 2025)
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)
Between announcing a joint public inquiry with the DOJ seeking information on serial acquisitions and roll-up strategies and Chair Lina Khan’s remarks at the 2024 American Economic Liberties Project Anti-Monopoly Summit, the FTC was active with regard to antitrust issues this week. The FTC provided a glimpse into the markets, in which it is currently interested in, for potential anticompetitive practices, and refunded consumers millions for false country of origin claims. These stories and more after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (May 13 – May 24, 2024)
As we move forward our clocks to adjust for daylight saving time and enter the season of spring, the FTC is keeping quite busy. The FTC held multiple events, proposed various settlement orders, and issued new rules covering a host of industries and topical areas, including healthcare, privacy, and telemarketing. Most importantly, the FTC welcomed Commissioners Ferguson and Holyoak.Continue Reading FTC Updates (February 26 – March 11, 2024)
Europe’s biggest online fashion retailer, Zalando, recently agreed to dramatically and rapidly overhaul its sustainability marketing in the face of pressure by the European Commission. This is yet another example of why companies need to be extremely careful when making environmental claims in their advertising. Such claims are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny and activist litigation in the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere around the globe.Continue Reading Scrutiny of Green Claims is in Fashion: Zalando Forced to Overhaul Sustainability Claims
The FTC was active in privacy and security related matters this week. The agency submitted a letter to the House Judiciary Committee related to a social media platform’s data sharing practices with third-parties. It also announced a multi-million dollar settlement with a software company over its data collection and selling practices. Additionally, this week’s updates include the FTC filing an administrative complaint against a major tax preparation company for its advertising and marketing tactics. All this, and more, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (February 19-23, 2024)
The FTC has been active despite being in the midst of the holiday season. The Commission and the DOJ released its 2023 Merger Guidelines as well as a FY 2022 report detailing data on the HSR Premerger Notification Program. The Bureau of Consumer Protection was also active this week. It announced a new report summarizing key takeaways from an October 2023 roundtable examining the impact of generative artificial intelligence. The Commission also announced a new notice of proposed rulemaking and an extension to an existing proposed rulemaking related to consumer protection issues. These stories and more after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (December 18 – December 29, 2023)
This week the FTC highlighted its report on the prevalence of fraudulent business practices directed at older adults. It also announced that the Agency is seeking public comment on the existing Alternative Fuels Rule. More on these actions, as well as an update on student debt related actions, after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Blog Updates Oct 16-Oct 20
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)
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