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)
As the year concludes, the FTC has been quite busy. Not only has the upcoming leadership transition meant the FTC has been working on a variety of matters, the transition has also highlighted stark differences in the Commissioners’ perspectives on enforcement. For example, Commissioners Holyoak and Fergusons published strong dissenting statements regarding the withdrawal of the Collaboration Among Competitors guidance and the first Robinson-Patman Act matter in nearly a quarter century. All this and more –Continue Reading FTC Updates (December 9 – 13, 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)
The FTC’s activity in the leadup to Thanksgiving and Black Friday involved, appropriately enough, numerous consumer protection updates. The agency called funeral homes, investigated smart device manufacturers’ websites, and expanded a telemarketing rule to target tech support scammers. The Commission also announced an online workshop about predatory pricing, and reached a settlement related to an AI-powered security screening system. More information on these stories after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (November 18-29, 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)
The FTC updates include highlights from the FTC’s final amendment to its “click-to-cancel” rule and its proposed order against a company that allegedly violated the Franchise Rule. All this and more after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (October 14 – October 18, 2024)
In the beginning of October, the FTC announced it is compensating consumers deceived by bait-and-switch advertising for vision correction procedures. The FTC also outlined the threats to competition posed by AI. More on these updates after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (September 30 – October 4, 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 focused its week on consumer protection. The Commission announced a tentative agenda for its upcoming open meeting, sent warning letters to adoption intermediaries for purportedly misleading consumers, and issued refunds to consumers deceived by 1Health.io about its privacy and security practices. More on these stories after the jump.Continue Reading FTC Updates (September 9 – 13, 2024)