FTCWatch
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July 11, 2023
Law requires online marketplaces to monitor high-volume sellers
Online marketplaces will have to vet high-volume sellers under a law that took effect in late June.
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July 11, 2023
California AG Bonta, others support click-to-cancel rule, with modifications
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, with 25 other attorneys general, expressed support for the Federal Trade Commission’s regulations surrounding automatically renewing subscriptions. But the AGs also seek clarifications.
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July 11, 2023
On the Shelf: Recommendations for becoming less hooked on technology
While technology has provided many societal benefits, the addictive nature of some products is, to say the least, problematic. Many people complain about how easy it is to get hooked, but those who propose solutions often don’t focus on things that have a reasonable chance of being implemented.
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July 11, 2023
Biden nominates two Republicans to fill FTC seats
President Joe Biden nominated two solicitors general, Melissa Holyoak of Utah and Andrew Ferguson of Virginia, to serve as Republican members of the Federal Trade Commission on July 3.
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July 11, 2023
Kanter says DOJ reshaping bank merger oversight
The Department of Justice plans to turn over to banking regulators the decision-making on merger remedies in that sector but will reserve the right to challenge those deals, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter said in a June 20 speech. The agency will also revive a reporting practice designed to advise financial regulators.
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July 11, 2023
Advocacy groups seek to document online harms
Free Press and the Disinfo Defense League have collected citizens’ testimony about online disinformation, misinformation, fraud and scams to turn over to the Federal Trade Commission.
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July 11, 2023
People
Albrecht walks away from Big Law partnership
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July 11, 2023
FTC defends ethics official who held Meta stocks amid controversy over Khan’s recusal
The Federal Trade Commission came to the defense of an ethics official who was revealed to have owned stocks in Meta Platforms while recommending that agency Chair Lina Khan recuse herself from a merger challenge involving the company.
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July 11, 2023
Privacy Corner: College student helps change the way youth, tech interact
As a young child, Emma Lembke loved the theater and music but became frustrated with the obsessive nature of certain technology products. She’s channeled those skills and political passions into her work as an advocate and activist.
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July 11, 2023
Fraud investigators learn how to spot liars
A renowned psychotherapist coached the largest global network of anti-fraud professionals on how to tell if someone is lying.
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July 11, 2023
FTCWatch coverage cited in senator’s probe of Khan
Senator Ted Cruz has cited two FTCWatch articles on staff morale in his efforts to establish a basis to launch an investigation of Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan’s management of the agency.
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July 11, 2023
Neil Averitt commentary: The veterans of the 1980 revolution made their mark
What has become of the people who fought in the 1980 revolution in antitrust law and economics?
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June 20, 2023
Calendar
Sept. 7 — The Federal Trade Commission is hosting a workshop on proposed changes to the Funeral Rule. It will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Constitution Center in Washington, DC. For more information, go to: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events/2023/09/funeral-rule-workshop.
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June 20, 2023
Meta, Amazon gain ammunition in disputes with FTC with disclosure that Khan didn’t follow ethics recommendation on recusal
Meta Platforms and Amazon, which are in the crosshairs of litigation and investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, gained ammunition in their battles against the agency with revelations that Chair Lina Khan chose to not follow an FTC ethics official’s recommendation that she recuse herself from a recent failed merger challenge involving Meta.
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June 20, 2023
Microsoft, Activision face experienced US judge in fight with FTC
Microsoft and Activision are dealing with an experienced federal judge in their court fight with the Federal Trade Commission.
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June 20, 2023
FTC kicks off search for chief diversity officer
The Federal Trade Commission is hiring its first chief diversity officer. The agency has posted an opening for the director of its new Office of Workplace Inclusivity and Opportunity on usajobs.gov.
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June 20, 2023
State health data privacy bills reshaping US privacy landscape
US state legislatures lived up to their reputation as laboratories of democracy this year, proposing dozens of privacy bills, from comprehensive consumer proposals to more targeted bills aimed at protecting children’s privacy.
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June 20, 2023
ABA launches diversity program
The American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section announced awardees of its first diversity program for law students.
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June 20, 2023
DOJ enhancing efforts to crack down on cartels, Kumar says
The Department of Justice’s antitrust division is “laser-focused” on “increasing the risk that cartel conduct will be detected” to help maintain the incentives for a wrongdoer to seek leniency, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar said in a June 7 speech.
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June 20, 2023
Garfield memorial gets nod from Khan
Signoff from Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan for a memorial to assassinated President James Garfield brings the project, which is intended for a spot near the agency’s headquarters, one step closer to fruition.
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June 20, 2023
Foundation’s lawsuit challenges FTC authority
The Childhood Leukemia Foundation’s lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission will test whether the agency’s authority extends to nonprofits.
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June 20, 2023
Motor Vehicle Trade rule would cost time, money, study says
The Federal Trade Commission’s proposed rule affecting car dealerships would add two hours to the vehicle purchase process and increase consumer costs, a Center for Automotive Research study found.
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June 20, 2023
FTC is often target of congressional investigations
When a House panel launched an investigation of Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan’s actions, she joined a long tradition of agency heads who’ve incurred the wrath of lawmakers.
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June 20, 2023
Neil Averitt commentary: Mail call with the House Judiciary Committee
The new GOP majority in the House of Representatives clearly has the Federal Trade Commission in its sights. The oversight panel has already announced an investigation of Lina Khan’s stewardship of the agency. But what will the still more powerful House Judiciary Committee do in the year ahead?
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June 20, 2023
People
Mahan takes antitrust expertise to Sidley