In light of continued rapid changes in technology, the Federal Trade Commission is seeking comment on the effectiveness of the amendments the agency made to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA Rule) in 2013 and whether additional changes are needed. The COPPA Rule, which first went into effect in 2000 to implement the Children’s […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
FTC Imposes $5 Billion Penalty and Sweeping New Privacy Restrictions on Facebook
NOTE: The FTC hosted an IN-PERSON press conference at FTC Headquarters, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington D.C., on July 24, 2019. Watch archival video of the press conference. Participants included: FTC Chairman Joe Simons, FTC Commissioners Noah Joshua Phillips and Christine S. Wilson, and Gustav W. Eyler, Director of the Department of Justice Civil Division’s […]
FTC Sues Cambridge Analytica, Settles with Former CEO and App Developer
The Federal Trade Commission filed an administrative complaint against data analytics company Cambridge Analytica, and filed settlements for public comment with Cambridge Analytica’s former chief executive and an app developer who worked with the company, alleging they employed deceptive tactics to harvest personal information from tens of millions of Facebook users for voter profiling and […]
FTC Imposes Conditions on Quaker Chemical Corp.’s Acquisition of Houghton International Inc.
Chemical companies Quaker Chemical Corp and Houghton International Inc. have agreed to divest certain products and related assets to a subsidiary of French multinational corporation Total S.A., to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that Quaker’s proposed $1.4 billion acquisition of Houghton would violate federal antitrust law. The FTC’s complaint alleges that the proposed acquisition would […]
Equifax to Pay $575 Million as Part of Settlement with FTC, CFPB, and States Related to 2017 Data Breach
NOTE: The FTC hosted an IN-PERSON press conference at FTC Headquarters, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington D.C., on July 22, 2019. Watch archival video of the press conference. Participants included: FTC Chairman Joe Simons, CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger, and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh. Equifax Inc. has agreed to pay at least $575 million, and […]
FTC Sends $68,000 in Refund Checks to Consumers Who Bought Lights of America LED Light Bulbs and Filed a Claim
The Federal Trade Commission is sending a second round of refund checks, totaling more than $68,000, to consumers who bought Lights of America LED light bulbs and filed a claim. The FTC sued Lights of America Inc. and related defendants for violating federal law by misrepresenting the light output and life expectancy of their LED […]
FTC Chairman Supports Common Understanding of G7 Competition Authorities on Competition and the Digital Economy
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joseph J. Simons has issued the following statement about the Common Understanding of G7 Competition Authorities on Competition and the Digital Economy, which France’s competition authority, the Autorité de la Concurrence, released today following the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Chantilly, France. The FTC worked with its […]
FTC Returns More than $708,000 to Consumers and Businesses Tricked Into Paying for Unordered Light Bulbs and Cleaning Supplies
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 3,615 checks totaling $708,586 to small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other consumers who were tricked into paying for overpriced office supplies—including light bulbs and cleaning supplies—that they did not order. The average refund amount is $196. The refunds are the result of a court order obtained against Lighting X-Change […]
FTC Approves Stipulated Order Settling Charges against Gerber Products Company
The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in October 2014 alleging that Gerber Products Company, also doing business as Nestlé Nutrition, deceptively advertised that feeding Good Start Gentle formula to infants with a family history of allergies prevents or reduces the risk that they will develop allergies, and misrepresented that its Good Start Gentle formula […]
FTC to Host Half-Day “Nixing the Fix” Workshop Focusing on Repair Restrictions Tomorrow in Washington, DC
WHAT: The Federal Trade Commission is hosting Nixing the Fix: A Workshop on Repair Restrictions, to examine how manufacturers may limit repairs by consumers and repair shops and whether those limitations affect consumer protection. WHEN: Tuesday July 16, 12:30 pm to 4:45 pm EDT WHERE: Constitution Center, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC WHO: FTC […]