FTCWatch
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February 11, 2025
‘Weaponization’ accusation in part reflects FTC’s history with Musk
Leading Republicans have accused the US government of targeting conservatives, and in connection with that charge, an executive order on “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government” explicitly calls out the Federal Trade Commission.
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February 11, 2025
Privacy Corner: Phoenix Technologies innovates with help from Swiss privacy laws
Switzerland’s historically neutral political stance and its privacy laws have enabled Phoenix Technologies to thrive as a sovereign Swiss cloud and AI platform, executives from the company told FTCWatch in a recent interview.
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February 11, 2025
Fashion Nova customers to receive $2.4 million in refunds
Customers of retailer Fashion Nova will soon receive refunds totaling $2.4 million from the Federal Trade Commission over the company’s deceptive review practices.
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February 11, 2025
Two New York companies come under scrutiny for ‘Made in USA’ claims
Two New York companies received warnings about “Made in the USA” labeling, warning about the need to justify that claim.
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February 11, 2025
FTC issues alert on ‘brushing’ scams, unsolicited packages
In the 14th century, the author Chaucer penned the sentiment that all that glitters isn’t gold. Seven centuries later, those receiving unsolicited parcels and requests would do well to heed that wisdom.
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February 11, 2025
Neil Averitt commentary: Presidential sway over the antitrust agencies
The issue of presidential influence looms over the federal government this month. President Donald Trump has been firing career attorneys at the Justice Department who had once investigated him. At the Federal Trade Commission, his new chairman, Andrew Ferguson, has been signaling that his views on competition issues will be closely aligned with Trump’s.
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February 11, 2025
FTC unsure about impact of federal employee buyout offer
The impact of the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer to employees at the Federal Trade Commission remains unclear as a federal judge postponed the deadline in light of a lawsuit challenging the offer’s legality.
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February 11, 2025
People — DOJ’s Duffy moves to Baker Botts
A Department of Justice official who helped stop the merger between airlines JetBlue and Spirit has moved into the private sector.
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February 11, 2025
As data breach notices proliferate, feds share tips on preventing identity theft
More than a billion notices were sent to people last year informing them their data had been breached, according to a new report from the Identity Theft Resource Center.
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February 11, 2025
On the Shelf: A mostly full-throttle defense of bureaucrats
President Donald Trump is trying to reshape the government and its civil service in his image, causing consternation among political opponents. Now, the debate over the government’s role is once again front and center.
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January 28, 2025
DOJ antitrust officials issue 10-year stats report
The Department of Justice’s antitrust division released its 10-year workload statistics report, noting enforcement actions from 2015 through 2024.
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January 28, 2025
Calendar
Feb. 20 — Federal Trade Commission member Melissa Holyoak is participating in a fireside chat at WilmerHale’s Washington, DC, office. The event also has a virtual option. For more information, go to: https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/events/20250220-fireside-chat-with-ftc-commissioner-melissa-holyoak.
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January 28, 2025
Ferguson instructs staff to report efforts to ‘disguise’ diversity efforts
Andrew Ferguson, the Federal Trade Commission’s new chairman, sent a memo to staff last week advising that the agency would close all diversity, equity and inclusion offices and warning of potential “adverse consequences” if other DEI activity isn't reported in a timely fashion.
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January 28, 2025
‘Right to repair’ suit vs. Deere aims to provide relief to farmers
On a farm 10 miles west of the federal courthouse in Rockford, Illinois, John Mitchell is making sure his cows are milked.
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January 28, 2025
FTC calls for public comments on Enbridge petition
The Federal Trade Commission wants public comments on a petition by Enbridge. The energy giant is requesting that the agency reopen and set aside a final consent order.
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January 28, 2025
Ferguson faces internal, external challenges as tenure begins
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson begins his tenure without a majority to enact his agenda, facing renewed efforts by congressional Republicans to strip the agency of its antitrust power, and getting pressure from the White House to make major changes in personnel and working conditions.
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January 28, 2025
On the Shelf: How two culprits transformed business
Too many books about business and economics written by academics are excessively arcane and a chore to read.
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January 28, 2025
Feds weigh in on scam about unpaid road tolls
State transportation agencies and the Federal Trade Commission are warning drivers to beware of unpaid toll scams.
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January 28, 2025
FTC AI chief Gray talks agency’s tech use
While the Federal Trade Commission has scrutinized the latest investments and partnerships involving artificial intelligence companies, the use of the technology is not new at the agency.
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January 28, 2025
FTC in-house court reviews impersonation rule change covering individuals
A Federal Trade Commission judge held an informal hearing this month on a rule expansion designed to protect individuals from fraud by impersonation in the commercial realm.
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January 28, 2025
People — House antitrust panel chair seeks changes in enforcement strategies
Scott Fitzgerald, the new chairman of the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, didn’t seek the job.
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January 28, 2025
Small retailers, FTC laid groundwork for Robinson-Patman Act
This is the fifth in a series of articles marking the 110th anniversary of the Federal Trade Commission’s founding.
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January 28, 2025
Neil Averitt commentary: Bringing Robinson-Patman cases under Ferguson
The Robinson-Patman Act is poised to make a comeback at the Federal Trade Commission. At first glance, this is surprising because President Donald Trump’s designee as the new agency chairman, Andrew Ferguson, has just finished dissenting from the agency’s first R-P complaints in decades. But in the course of his dissents, Ferguson also described the kind of price discrimination case that he thinks the agency has an obligation to bring.
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January 14, 2025
Privacy Corner: A talk with free speech champion Marchese
Chris Marchese took free speech protections for granted most of his life until bureaucratic policies at Boston College lit a fire within him. Now, he advocates for First Amendment protections on behalf of the country’s largest tech firms as the director for NetChoice’s litigation center.
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January 14, 2025
Calendar
Feb. 25 — The Federal Trade Commission is holding a virtual workshop on “The Attention Economy: Monopolizing Kids’ Time Online.” For more details, go to: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-announces-virtual-workshop-attention-economy-monopolizing-kids-time-online?utm_source=govdelivery.