FTCWatch
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October 07, 2025
South Dakota farmers meet with DOJ’s Slater, other officials
Farmers from South Dakota met with officials from the Department of Justice, including antitrust chief Gail Slater, in September to discuss agricultural issues.
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October 07, 2025
Amazon settlement in ‘dark patterns’ case has long-term implications
Amazon’s $2.5 billion settlement to resolve Federal Trade Commission allegations that it tricked customers in offering its flagship Prime subscription ended a yearslong legal fight that has attracted unwanted public attention for the world’s most successful e-commerce company, but the changes it committed to are likely to have a sizable long-term impact on its business.
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October 07, 2025
On the Shelf: A caustic critique of Big Tech
There’s no shortage of books by liberal critics of what they see as the excesses of big technology companies and the failure of government to regulate them effectively.
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September 23, 2025
Tech industry engaged as FTC is set to enforce Take It Down Act, official says
The tech industry and advocates are committed to helping the Federal Trade Commission enforce the Take It Down Act, which requires websites to take down nonconsensual sexual images, said Kate White, deputy director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
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September 23, 2025
HSR transactions in US grew in fiscal 2024, report says
The Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department saw an increase in Hart-Scott-Rodino Act reportable transactions in the 2024 fiscal year, as well as an increase in large deals, according to the agencies’ annual report.
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September 23, 2025
Calendar
Oct. 16 — The 2025 James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Lecture in Economic Inequality will be delivered by former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan at Harvard Kennedy School. For more details, go to: https://inequality.hks.harvard.edu/event/2025-stone-lecture-economic-inequality-lina-khan.
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September 23, 2025
People — Dasgupta, former FTC general counsel, joins Orrick
The Federal Trade Commission’s former general counsel arrived at the agency three years ago with four degrees, including a doctorate in history, but despite her erudition, what ultimately surprised her was what she didn’t know.
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September 23, 2025
FTC order to study chatbots draws praise at ABA event
The Federal Trade Commission’s recent action authorizing an investigation into several technology companies’ chatbots that use artificial intelligence received acclaim at an American Bar Association event this month despite the agency’s authority on the action being questioned.
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September 23, 2025
FTC, seven states sue Ticketmaster and Live Nation for ‘deceptive acts’
The Federal Trade Commission and seven states sued Ticketmaster and its parent entity, Live Nation Entertainment, for deception in the company’s ticket pricing practices, alleging a “bait and switch approach” designed to boost sales, among other tactics.
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September 23, 2025
Mufarrige says FTC will be aggressive but avoid overreach
The Federal Trade Commission plans to balance aggressive consumer protection while not overburdening businesses with too much regulation, according to Consumer Protection Bureau Director Christopher Mufarrige.
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September 23, 2025
Meador vows tougher stance against antitrust violations
Federal Trade Commission member Mark Meador appeared at George Washington University to reiterate his desire to make antitrust enforcement more aggressive while noting his disagreements with the approach taken by the Biden administration.
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September 23, 2025
Neil Averitt commentary: Two dueling antitrust conferences
On Sept. 15-16, Washington, DC, was treated to the sight of two dueling, overlapping conferences on antitrust enforcement. The sheer separateness of the conferences was as interesting as the remarks coming out of them.
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September 23, 2025
Seafood executive pleads guilty to price-fixing scheme
Dennis Dopico, the vice president of a Miami-based seafood wholesaler, pleaded guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix prices for stone crab claws and spiny lobsters in Florida, the Department of Justice said.
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September 23, 2025
Lawmakers back regulatory probe targeting AI chatbots
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie and ranking member Frank Pallone applauded the Federal Trade Commission’s investigation targeting artificial intelligence chatbots that act as companions.
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September 23, 2025
Suit against Temu is FTC’s first under 2022 online marketplace law
The Federal Trade Commission this month, for the first time, used its authority under the 2022 INFORM Consumers Act to address the transparency of online marketplaces and deter the sale of stolen, counterfeit or unsafe products, taking action against online giant Temu.
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September 23, 2025
On the Shelf: Civics and other lessons with Amy Coney Barrett
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s background and philosophy make her a subject of fascination, adulation and frustration.
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September 09, 2025
Workado, FTC settle case over misleading AI claims
The Federal Trade Commission approved an order against Workado after accusing the company of providing misleading claims about its AI detection product.
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September 09, 2025
Calendar
Oct. 16 — The 2025 James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Lecture in Economic Inequality will be delivered by former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan at Harvard Kennedy School. For more details, go to: https://inequality.hks.harvard.edu/event/2025-stone-lecture-economic-inequality-lina-khan.
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September 09, 2025
Privacy Corner: DOGE data access goes against FTC’s principles, Harrington says
The Federal Trade Commission is the country’s leading authority on data privacy. That’s why Eileen Harrington, its former executive director, is criticizing the commission for letting the Department of Government Efficiency access sensitive data.
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September 09, 2025
Former FBI Director Webster, who warned of elder fraud, dies
He messed with the wrong one. That phrase applies to the 20-something who, in an attempt to obtain $50,000 in a 2014 lottery scam, called the nonagenarian William Webster, the only person to lead the CIA and FBI.
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September 09, 2025
National security rationale for HPE-Juniper didn’t persuade Biden, Trump enforcers
Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks told Biden and Trump administration antitrust enforcers that their deal should be favored for its benefits to national security. Ultimately, the Trump administration used that rationale to justify its decision to allow the merger.
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September 09, 2025
Neil Averitt commentary: That big railroad deal, an opportunity and a threat
The proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern has been widely condemned as anticompetitive. It should be blocked. But even bad situations sometimes create an opportunity. If this merger is approved even after full consideration of its faults, the remedial provisions could allow us to test a new and perhaps better approach to future regulation.
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September 09, 2025
With public inquiry, FTC takes aim at noncompetes but ditches rule
After two court losses involving the rule banning noncompetes, the Federal Trade Commission is launching a public inquiry. The move will determine how extensive the agreements are and help staff develop plans for possible enforcement actions.
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September 09, 2025
FTC independence at stake in Slaughter litigation
The ultimate result of the back-and-forth federal court decisions on the job status of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter will determine the future of the independence of the Federal Trade Commission.
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September 09, 2025
Federal regulators step up fight against robocalls
Federal regulators took steps to reduce robocall scams as the Federal Trade Commission resurfaced an instructional video and the Federal Communications Commission blocked more than 1,200 voice service providers in August.