Federal Trade Commission
U.S. Government: Agencies/Departments/Divisions | Federal Agencies
Recent News About Federal Trade Commission
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Chair Lina M. Khan appeared before the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government for a budget hearing. The session was held to discuss the Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Federal Trade Commission. The event took place at the Capitol Complex, 2359 RHOB, Washington, DC.
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina M. Khan testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government today, discussing the agency's FY 2025 budget request and its ongoing work to promote open, competitive markets while protecting American consumers and businesses from fraud.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published its Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report, providing an overview of the agency's efforts to safeguard consumers and foster competition. FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the organization's commitment to ensuring that American consumers, workers, and entrepreneurs can benefit from fair and free markets.
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The advent of connected cars has brought with it a wealth of conveniences, such as the ability to unlock vehicles using an app or play internet radio stations. However, this connectivity also enables these vehicles to gather substantial amounts of data about their users. This data, which can include sensitive information like biometric details and location, poses potential threats to consumers' privacy and financial well-being.
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The Federal Trade Commission will host an online compliance webinar on May 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET to provide an overview of the FTC’s final rule banning noncompetes, which will include information on how to comply with the rule after its effective date.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is set to host an online compliance webinar, aimed at providing an overview of the FTC’s final rule banning noncompetes. The session will include information on how to comply with the rule after its effective date. Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the webinar by emailing asknoncompete@ftc.gov.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it is disbursing over $180,000 in refunds to consumers who were deceived by false Made in USA claims made by Cycra, a manufacturer of motocross and ATV parts. According to the FTC's complaint filed in June 2023, from 2019 until at least May 2022, Cycra falsely claimed on its website, social media platforms, and product packaging that its products were manufactured in the United States. These claims included a web banner stating, “Proudly designed, developed and manufactured in Lexington, North Carolina,” and product labels...
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About 800,000 people will begin receiving notices today that they are eligible for refunds stemming from the Federal Trade Commission’s 2023 settlement with BetterHelp related to allegations that the online therapy firm used and shared consumers’ health data, including sensitive information about their mental health, with third parties for advertising.In response to the settlement, BetterHelp agreed to pay $7.8 million to settle the charges brought by the FTC. The commission accused BetterHelp of using and disclosing sensitive consumer data for advertising purposes...
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be hosting an online compliance webinar on May 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the final rule banning noncompetes. According to the FTC, the rule prohibits the use of noncompetes for the majority of workers nationwide, with exceptions for existing noncompetes involving senior executives.The FTC's final rule states, "Employers are banned from entering into or attempting to enforce any new noncompetes, even if they involve senior executives." However, existing noncompetes for senior executives can still be enforced. Employers must...
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The Federal Trade Commission has taken action to address antitrust concerns related to Exxon Mobil Corporation’s acquisition of oil producer Pioneer Natural Resources by preventing former Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield from joining Exxon's board of directors or serving in an advisory role at the company. The move aims to safeguard competition in the oil market and protect consumers from potential price manipulation.In a statement, Kyle Mach, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, emphasized the necessity of barring Sheffield from Exxon's board, stating, “Mr....
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced an extension of the deadline for public comments on a tri-agency Request for Information (RFI) regarding the impact of corporate greed in health care. The new deadline for submissions is now June 5, 2024.According to the announcement, the cross-government inquiry aims to delve into how certain health care market transactions could lead to increased consolidation and profits for corporations while potentially...
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The Federal Trade Commission has taken decisive action against digital marketing and data aggregator InMarket, finalizing a settlement that prohibits the company from selling or sharing precise location data. This move follows allegations of unlawful collection and use of consumers' location data for advertising and marketing purposes.According to the FTC, InMarket was found to have collected location information about consumers without fully informing them of how it would be used. This data, which includes sensitive details about where individuals live, work, and...
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against Aqua Finance, Inc. (AFI), resulting in a settlement that will provide significant financial relief to consumers affected by deceptive sales tactics. The settlement includes $20 million in refunds and $23.6 million in debt forgiveness for consumers harmed by AFI's misleading financing practices.According to Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, AFI and its dealers employed deceptive tactics, including the use of misleading teaser rates, to entice consumers into signing up for loans,...
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The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against payment processing company BlueSnap, Inc., along with its former CEO Ralph Dangelmaier and senior vice president Terry Monteith, charging them with knowingly processing payments for deceptive and fraudulent companies. “Companies like BlueSnap that knowingly process payments for scammers are breaking the law and making it easier to cheat consumers,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.The FTC charged that BlueSnap and its officers processed millions of dollars in credit card...
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have jointly called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider the competitive risks associated with common ownership. This call comes as part of their assessment of acquisitions that involve less than a controlling interest in competing firms. Currently, FERC is inviting public comments as it reviews its existing policy on investment company ownership of electric utilities.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expanded its efforts to combat the improper listing of patents in the Food and Drug Administration’s Orange Book, targeting over 300 questionable listings for diabetes, weight loss, asthma, and COPD drugs. One of the drugs under scrutiny is Novo Nordisk Inc.’s popular weight-loss medication, Ozempic.FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the negative impact of bogus patent listings on drug prices, stating, “By filing bogus patent listings, pharma companies block competition and inflate the cost of prescription drugs, forcing Americans to...
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have solidified their collaboration on consumer protection matters through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In response to the FCC's recent decision to restore net neutrality, the agencies aim to work closely together in safeguarding consumers.FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, "The FTC is squarely focused on protecting Americans from illegal business tactics... We look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with the...
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The Federal Trade Commission announced today that Razer, Inc., the sellers of the Zephyr face mask, will pay over $1.1 million to provide full refunds to consumers nationwide and a civil penalty for misrepresenting the performance and efficacy of the supposed "N95-grade" masks. The complaint alleged that Razer falsely marketed the Zephyr masks as N95-grade without submitting them for testing to the FDA or NIOSH, leading to the deceptive claims being halted only after negative press coverage and consumer outrage."These businesses falsely claimed, in the midst of a global...
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has enacted a final rule that prohibits noncompete clauses nationwide. The FTC maintains that this measure will safeguard workers' ability to switch jobs, stimulate innovation, and foster the creation of new businesses.
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Washington, D.C. — In a landmark decision that could reshape the American workplace, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has scheduled a virtual Open Commission meeting on April 23, 2024, to finalize a rule that would ban noncompete clauses, a move seen as a significant boost to economic liberty and worker mobility.