The operators of two purported sham charities have agreed to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorneys General of Missouri and Florida that they deceived donors with false claims that their organizations helped disabled police officers and military veterans. The operators of both schemes are permanently banned from charitable solicitations or otherwise […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
FTC Staff Testifies in Favor of Repealing Alaska Laws that Limit Competition in the Health Care Sector
Federal Trade Commission staff has recommended that Alaska pass Senate Bill 1, which would repeal its certificate-of-need (CON) law. Alaska’s CON law requires healthcare providers to obtain state approval before expanding, establishing new facilities or services, or making certain large capital expenditures. On March 27, 2019, FTC staff Daniel J. Gilman and David R. Schmidt […]
Office Depot and Tech Support Firm Will Pay $35 Million to Settle FTC Allegations That They Tricked Consumers into Buying Costly Computer Repair Services
Office Depot, Inc. and a California-based tech support software provider have agreed to pay a total of $35 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that the companies tricked customers into buying millions of dollars’ worth of computer repair and technical services by deceptively claiming their software had found malware symptoms on the customers’ computers. […]
FTC Chairman Releases 2018 Annual Highlights
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joe Simons released the agency’s 2018 Annual Highlights today, highlighting the FTC’s ongoing efforts to protect the interests of consumers and promote a competitive marketplace. “The FTC has continued to focus on areas that have the greatest consumer impact, including health care, technology, and consumer products and services,” said Chairman Simons. […]
FTC Seeks to Examine the Privacy Practices of Broadband Providers
The Federal Trade Commission issued orders to seven U.S. Internet broadband providers and related entities seeking information the agency will use to examine how broadband companies collect, retain, use, and disclose information about consumers and their devices. The orders seek information about the companies’ privacy policies, procedures, and practices. The orders were sent to: AT&T Inc., […]
FTC Crackdown Stops Operations Responsible for Billions of Illegal Robocalls
Four separate operations responsible for bombarding consumers nationwide with billions of unwanted and illegal robocalls pitching auto warranties, debt-relief services, home security systems, fake charities, and Google search results services have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated the FTC Act and the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), including its Do Not […]
FTC Describes its Oversight of Consumer Reporting Agencies’ Data Security Practices In Testimony before House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee
Testifying before a House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee, the Federal Trade Commission described its role in overseeing the data security practices of consumer reporting agencies (CRAs). In testimony before the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, the FTC described its experience enforcing data security laws against CRA, as part of the agency’s broader efforts over […]
FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority to Strengthen Consumer Protection Enforcement Cooperation
The Federal Trade Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to strengthen enforcement cooperation on consumer protection matters. The MOU was signed by FTC Chairman Joe Simons and the CMA Chairman, the Rt. Hon. Lord Tyrie. It supersedes a previous agreement between the FTC and U.K. […]
FTC Announces Agenda for Privacy Hearing, the 12th Session of the FTC’s Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century
The Federal Trade Commission announced the agenda for the 12th session of its Hearings Initiative, which will occur on April 9-10, 2019 and focus on the FTC’s approach to consumer privacy. FTC Chairman Joe Simons will deliver opening remarks to kick-off the two-day session. Commissioners Noah Joshua Phillips and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter will also deliver […]
FTC Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century Continue with Discussion of the FTC’s Role in a Changing World
What: The Federal Trade Commission will host the 11th session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century. When: Monday, March 25, 9:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., and Tuesday, March 26, 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Where: FTC Headquarters600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580Room 432The event is free and open […]