The New York and Pennsylvania state attorneys general recently led a bipartisan coalition of 26 state AGs in a letter, supporting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s proposed rule amending the Negative Option Rule.
FTC Comment Request Signals Joint Enforcement With State AGs Will Continue Increasing
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.
Prepare for Renewed FTC Regulatory Focus on Hidden and Junk Fees
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.
Fifth Circuit Sides With AG Paxton, Finding the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act Unconstitutional
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
AGs Support FTC’s Potential Commercial Surveillance and Data Security Crackdown
On November 17, 33 state attorneys general (AGs) submitted a comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), supporting its contemplated new efforts in the corporate surveillance and data security space. The AGs’ public support for the FTC’s anticipated rulemaking suggests the AGs will continue to focus on data security issues in the coming new
FTC and CFPB Provide Guidance on Buy Now, Pay Later Products After State AGs Urge CFPB for Oversight
In March 2022, state attorneys general provided comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) concerning the CFPB’s inquiry into companies that offer consumers the opportunity to divide the cost of their purchases into multiple installments, also referred to as “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) products. In response, the CFPB issued a report in September
FTC Releases Second Report on E-Cigarette Sales and Advertising in the US
In a recent press release, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its second e-cigarette report, analyzing domestic sales and marketing trends for the years 2019 and 2020. While FTC has issued a similar report for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products since 1967 and 1987, respectively, it only recently decided to analyze this type
FTC and Six States Sue Roomster Over Alleged Deception, Including Fake Reviews
The FTC and six states allege violations of the FTC Act and various state statutes, prohibiting deceptive trade practices (state UDAP statutes) at a cost of over $27 million to consumers.
Roomster Corp. (Roomster) operates a website and app that can be used, in exchange for payment, to find and connect with roommates or rooms/properties
FTC Makes Good on Its Promise to Ramp up Right-to-Repair Enforcement
This article was originally published in Westlaw Today and is republished here with permission.
As detailed in our articles[1] earlier this year, the “right to repair” movement has gained significant steam in the last year. The right to repair movement is an effort focused on ensuring that consumers and aftermarket businesses have the ability
CFPB Issues Interpretive Rule Bolstering Enforcement Efforts by States
On May 19, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) issued an interpretive rule, describing states’ authorities to pursue companies and individuals that allegedly violate any of the federal consumer financial laws enforced by the CFPB.
CFPB Director Rohit Chopra described this action as “promoting state enforcement, not suffocating it.” It openly invites