Archives: FTC

Subscribe to FTC RSS Feed

2023 DSIR Report Deeper Dive: Privacy at the FTC – What Are the Hot Topics Almost Two Years Into the Khan Administration?

Photo of Daniel KaufmanBy Daniel Kaufman on Posted in FTC
It has been almost two years since Lina Khan was designated the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair, and it has been an eventful few years. One of the many questions being asked is “Where do things stand at the FTC on privacy?” Congress has yet to pass comprehensive privacy legislation, and the FTC continues … Continue Reading

With New Enforcement Action, FTC Warns Against Health Information Being Used for Advertising Purposes

Photo of Daniel KaufmanPhoto of Aleksandra VoldBy Daniel Kaufman and Aleksandra Vold on Posted in FTC
If the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent pursuits did not make clear the agency’s deep concerns about the use of health information for advertising purposes, a new enforcement action brought by the FTC against BetterHelp – to the tune of $7.8 million – should leave no uncertainty. Factual Allegations BetterHelp provides online counseling services and … Continue Reading

Latest FTC Health Privacy Case Sheds Light on Agency Health Privacy Approaches

Photo of Aleksandra VoldPhoto of Daniel KaufmanBy Aleksandra Vold and Daniel Kaufman on Posted in FTC
Health privacy has been a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) priority for decades, and indeed, one of its very first privacy cases, in the early 2000s, involved the inadvertent sharing of user health data. Fast-forward a few decades, and health privacy remains a major concern. Case in point: The latest FTC privacy enforcement action focuses on … Continue Reading

The FTC’s Latest Staff Report on Dark Patterns: A Warning for Marketing Teams and UX Designers

Photo of Andreas KaltsounisBy Andreas Kaltsounis on Posted in FTC
The Federal Trade Commission issued a detailed [staff report] on September 15 addressing Dark Patterns (or what some more descriptively call “manipulative design,” but Dark Patterns seems to be sticking). Regulators are focusing increased attention on these manipulative designs and it’s critical for marketing, user experience and design teams to understand this topic.… Continue Reading

Recent FTC Post Commits to Protecting Sensitive Health Data After White House Issues Related Executive Order

Photo of Aleksandra VoldPhoto of Daniel KaufmanBy Aleksandra Vold and Daniel Kaufman on Posted in FTC
On July 8, 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, the president signed an executive order that called on a number of federal agencies to take steps to protect reproductive rights. He specifically asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to “consider taking steps to protect consumers’ privacy when seeking information about and provision of … Continue Reading

Why Everyone Is Talking About a Rarely Invoked Rule – the FTC’s Health Breach Notification Rule

Photo of Daniel KaufmanBy Daniel Kaufman on Posted in Advertising, Enforcement, FTC, HHS, HIPAA/HITECH, Privacy
Back in September, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued (by a 3-2 vote) a policy statement (the Statement) regarding the oft-forgotten Health Breach Notification Rule (the Rule). I was at the FTC when the Statement was released and have since joined BakerHostetler. Around the time I joined BakerHostetler, my new colleague Melissa Hewitt published an … Continue Reading

FTC Puts 700+ Companies on Notice to Expect to Pay Penalties for Any Endorsement Violations

Photo of Linda A. GoldsteinPhoto of Amy Ralph MudgePhoto of Randal M. ShaheenPhoto of John P. FerryPhoto of Matthew RenickBy Linda A. Goldstein, Amy Ralph Mudge, Randal M. Shaheen, John P. Ferry and Matthew Renick on Posted in Advertising, FTC
By: Linda Goldstein, Amy Mudge, Randy Shaheen, Jack Ferry and Matt Renick The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) announced on Oct. 13 a widespread enforcement action against deceptive endorsement practices. The Commission sent a Notice of Penalty Offenses to more than 700 companies, notifying them that conduct related to fake or misleading endorsements and … Continue Reading

FTC Issues Statement Warning Health Apps to Notify Consumers About Data Breaches

Photo of Melissa HewittBy Melissa Hewitt on Posted in Data Breaches, Enforcement, FTC, HIPAA/HITECH
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a policy statement on Sept. 15, 2021, warning that the decade-old Health Breach Notification Rule (the rule) – which applies to companies that handle personal health records or collect health data –  to notify consumers, the FTC and, in some cases, the media about data breaches. “In practical … Continue Reading

SEC Scrutinizes Use of Fintech by Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers

Photo of Teresa Goody GuillénPhoto of Jonathan A. FormanPhoto of Madison GaudreauBy Teresa Goody Guillén, Jonathan A. Forman and Madison Gaudreau on Posted in FinTech, FTC, SEC
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently issued a request for information and public comment on the use of new and emerging technologies by investment advisers and broker-dealers that suggests potential regulatory action to come.[1] According to its release, the SEC is seeking to understand how registrants — whether online brokerages, robo-advisers, internet investment advisers, … Continue Reading

COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act Shows Alternative Path to Monetary Remedies

Photo of Randal M. ShaheenPhoto of John P. FerryBy Randal M. Shaheen and John P. Ferry on Posted in FTC
A recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action demonstrates how the FTC has pivoted toward enforcement actions based on specific acts of Congress and rules in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in AMG Capital. Congress passed the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act in December 2020, which made deceptive acts or practices involving the treatment, cure, prevention, … Continue Reading
LexBlog