Federal Trade Commission
Recent News About Federal Trade Commission
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Fireside chat with FTC Chair Lina M. Khan to be held on June 27
The Fireside Chat with FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, hosted by the ABA Antitrust Law Section of Young Lawyer Representatives, will take place on June 27, 2024. During the event, Chair Khan will discuss her background in antitrust law, her experience at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and offer advice for younger attorneys interested in pursuing careers in antitrust and consumer protection law.
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FTC halts student loan debt relief scheme; $20 million defrauded
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has intervened in a student loan debt relief scheme that defrauded consumers of more than $20.3 million, marking its first enforcement under the Impersonation Rule. The scheme, which falsely claimed affiliations with the Department of Education, has been temporarily halted by a federal court, which also froze its assets at the FTC's request.
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FTC finalizes order with Avast over web browsing data misuse
The Federal Trade Commission has finalized an order banning software provider Avast from selling, disclosing, or licensing any web browsing data for advertising purposes. This action settles charges that the company and its subsidiaries sold such information despite promising that its products would protect consumers from online tracking. Avast is also required to pay $16.5 million, which is expected to be used to provide redress to consumers.
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FTC announces final updates to Eyeglass Rule promoting competition
Concluding a comprehensive multi-year review, the Federal Trade Commission today announced final updates to its Ophthalmic Practice Rules, known as the Eyeglass Rule, aimed at promoting competition and consumer choice.
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FTC bans three individuals from operating sweepstakes after massive scam
As a result of a Federal Trade Commission case, the operators of a sweepstakes scam that cost consumers millions have agreed to settlements that permanently ban them from operating sweepstakes or making claims to consumers about prizes they have won or may win.
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Seventeenth annual microeconomics conference scheduled by FTC in November
The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Economics and the Tobin Center for Economic Policy at Yale University will host the 17th Annual FTC Microeconomics Conference on November 14 and 15, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The event aims to gather scholars focused on antitrust, consumer protection, and public policy issues pertinent to the FTC’s mission. The conference will be held in person with a live stream available for remote viewers.
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FTC returns over $324 million in consumer refunds during 2023
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) law enforcement actions resulted in more than $324 million in refunds to consumers in 2023, the agency reported in its annual summary on refunds.
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Commission to hold closed meeting on June 20, 2024
The Commission will hold a closed meeting on June 20, 2024, to consider a nonpublic law enforcement matter. The meeting is scheduled for 12:30 PM EDT and will be conducted via Zoom.
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FTC refers TikTok complaint to DOJ following unanimous vote
The Commission has issued a statement regarding its referral of a complaint against TikTok, the successor to Musical.ly, and its parent company ByteDance Ltd., to the Department of Justice. The Commission vote authorizing the issuance of the statement was 3-0-2, with Commissioners Ferguson and Holyoak recused.
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FTC supports USPTO rule on disclosing patent settlements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has submitted a comment supporting a proposed rule by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) regarding the disclosure of patent settlement agreements.
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FTC files complaint against Adobe over hidden fees
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking action against Adobe and two of its executives, Maninder Sawhney and David Wadhwani, for allegedly deceiving consumers by hiding early termination fees for its most popular subscription plan and making it difficult for consumers to cancel their subscriptions.
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FTC reports surge in cash payments lost to government imposters
New Federal Trade Commission data reveals that government impersonation scammers are targeting consumers for payments in cash, with the amount of cash reported lost to these scams nearly doubling from 2022 to 2023.
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FTC hosts inaugural Technology Forum with global competition agencies
In March, the Federal Trade Commission hosted the inaugural Technology Forum by the International Competition Network (ICN) in Washington, D.C. The event gathered 21 competition agencies from countries including Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and Sweden.
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FTC Chair Lina Khan to speak at TechCrunch event in Washington, D.C
Chair Lina M. Khan will participate in a moderated conversation at the TechCrunch Strictly VC event in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2024. Videos of the event will be available the following day on TechCrunch's YouTube channel.
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FTC Chair to speak at American Constitution Society Annual Conference
Chair Lina M. Khan will deliver the opening plenary comments at the American Constitution Society Annual Conference 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. The event will take place at the Westin Peachtree Plaza.
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FTC approves changes to horseracing racetrack safety rule
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued an order approving a proposed modification from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to its Racetrack Safety Rule. The modification includes changes aimed at improving racetrack safety and enhancing the welfare of both horses and individuals involved in horseraces.
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FTC issues $2.4 million refunds over deceptive business coaching scheme
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $2.4 million in refunds to consumers who were misled by Lurn’s business consulting programs. The FTC filed a lawsuit against Lurn in September 2023, accusing the online business coaching company of making unsubstantiated claims to sell its various money-making programs.
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FTC amends amplifier rule to enhance consumer comparison of home entertainment products
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued final amendments to its Amplifier Rule, aimed at aiding consumers in making direct comparisons of home entertainment amplifiers. The Amplifier Rule, which regulates power output claims for these devices, was initially enacted by the FTC in 1974 to address misleading advertisements and testing methods. It was last reviewed in 2008.
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Lina M. Khan to speak at 2024 CNBC CEO Summit
Chair Lina M. Khan will participate in a fireside chat at the 2024 CNBC CEO Summit, scheduled to take place at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, DC.
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Commissioner Holyoak speaks at CEI Summit in Edinburgh
Commissioner Melissa Holyoak served as the keynote speaker at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) Summit in Edinburgh. The event, held at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh's Greyfriars Hall, featured discussions titled "Rediscovering Adam Smith: An Inquiry into the Rule of Law, Competition, and the Federal Trade Commission" and "Leadership in Tumultuous Times at The Federal Trade Commission."