Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

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According to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) most recent regulatory agenda, it plans to finalize a proposed rule that would make significant changes to requirements applicable to educational institutions that enroll students utilizing VA benefits, such as under the extremely popular Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill and Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) programs, both of which pay tuition and fees directly to schools. The new regulations, which are expected to become final in April and go into effect shortly thereafter, will implement the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. As the Congressional Research Service explained, that bill made “a number of changes to educational benefits.”

Most products with an online marketing presence generally have “customer reviews.” However, today’s consumers cannot always trust that those reviews are from real purchasers or provide honest feedback about the quality of a product. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sought to address these concerns, proposing a new rule aimed at stopping marketers from using illicit review and endorsement practices, including using fake reviews, suppressing honest negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews. Proponents of the rule argue these types of practices deceive consumers who are looking for honest feedback on a product or service.

This article was originally published on September 18, 2023 in Westlaw Today and is republished here with permission.

Ketan Bhirud, Drew Mann and Trey Smith of Troutman Pepper discuss the Federal Trade Commission’s role in competition enforcement, contextualize the FTC’s analysis of the generative AI industry and provide key takeaways for stakeholders to consider during a period of regulatory uncertainty.

A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general (AGs) representing each state and Washington D.C. joined forces with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). They have announced their unified commitment to an initiative known as ‘Operation Stop Scam Calls,’ which has already made a significant impact. Illinois AG Kwame Raoul — a fervent advocate for consumer rights — underscored this commitment, saying, “[c]ompanies responsible for these illegal, annoying calls must be held accountable.”

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) raises important competition concerns, prompting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to analyze potential risks and propose solutions. In its recent June 29 blog post, the FTC highlighted the need for proactive measures to address competition issues in the evolving generative AI industry. This article analyzes the FTC’s blog post, summarizing its key points and offering insights into the potential implications for stakeholders.

On June 2, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced modifications to its in-house adjudicative proceedings of agency challenges to mergers and acquisitions by reducing the decision-making power held by administrative law judges (ALJs). This change will affect how the agency’s antitrust challenges are decided. Even though the previous process had been in place for decades, the FTC was not required to receive public comment because the change affects only internal procedures.

On June 7, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a request for information (RFI) to gain additional insight into how it can optimize joint enforcement with state attorneys general (state AGs) to protect consumers from fraud. The announcement signals a growing trend of cooperation between the FTC and state AGs, which we have also seen between the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the state regulators.

The Federal Trade Commission seems poised to regulate hidden fees in services from a range of industries, joining state attorneys general and the CFPB to act on behalf of consumers, Troutman Pepper attorneys Clayton Friedman, Chris Carlson, and Namrata Kang say. They advise companies to take steps now to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

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Enacted in 2020, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) nationalized the regulation of the horseracing industry. HISA delegates power to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (Authority) — a private entity that operates under the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) oversight — to establish new rules, issue subpoenas, and enforce regulations with civil sanctions or…