FTCWatch
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September 09, 2025
Calendar
Sept. 10 — “The Antitrust Revolution,” a Latham & Watkins Forum, will feature a discussion between Federal Trade Commission member Mark Meador and NYU Law professor Daniel Francis. The event will be held on campus. For more details, go to: https://www.law.nyu.edu/events/latham-watkins-forum-antitrust-revolution.
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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
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
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
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
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
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.
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September 09, 2025
Slater creates task force to counter problematic tactics
Efforts to evade the antitrust legal process and hamper probes by the Department of Justice will be dealt with using the full range of penalties, as well as creating a task force, according to Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater.
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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
On the Shelf: The ABCs of antitrust
Antitrust textbooks don’t always make for the most scintillating reading. But the newest edition of “Antitrust: Principles, Cases, and Materials” is an exception to that rule.
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September 09, 2025
People — Hesse takes reins of ABA’s Antitrust Section
Renata Hesse is the new chair of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section. The veteran antitrust enforcer is taking over at a challenging time for the section.
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September 09, 2025
Even without click-to-cancel rule, FTC sues LA Fitness
Treadmills are among the amenities at California-based gym chain LA Fitness, but a recent complaint against the company from the Federal Trade Commission indicates canceling a membership is more difficult than simply pressing a “stop” button.
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August 19, 2025
Nation’s largest landlord settles with DOJ, but state price-fixing suits continue
At least three states continued their claims in court against the nation’s largest landlord on allegations of algorithmic price-fixing even after the Department of Justice agreed to a proposed settlement with the company.
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August 19, 2025
Calendar
Sept. 10 — “The Antitrust Revolution,” a Latham & Watkins Forum, will feature a discussion between Federal Trade Commission member Mark Meador and NYU Law professor Daniel Francis. The event will be held on campus. For more details, go to: https://www.law.nyu.edu/events/latham-watkins-forum-antitrust-revolution.
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August 19, 2025
Trump enforcers distance themselves from Biden-era antitrust enforcement
Gail Slater and the rest of the Trump administration are charting a path in antitrust enforcement that is becoming increasingly clear.
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August 19, 2025
Amid tariffs and talk, FTC chairman pushes ‘Made in the USA’ rule
In a recent Oval Office presentation to the president, Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted that even the box containing an American-made gold-based gift was made in the US. When companies make similar claims on ads, however, those are subject by law to a Federal Trade Commission standard.
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August 19, 2025
People — Frazier joins Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights Under Law
In many ways, Leah Frazier’s departure from the Federal Trade Commission and arrival at the Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights Under Law represents a return, picking up her passion and producing a new path forward.
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August 19, 2025
Antitrust probe into ‘Clean Truck Partnership’ ends
The Federal Trade Commission closed its investigation into whether several truck and engine companies and their trade association violated antitrust laws by entering into the “Clean Truck Partnership” with the California Air Resources Board.
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August 19, 2025
State AGs, FCC, senators seek to address robocalls
Attorneys general from throughout the country, via their Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, have sent notices to 37 phone service providers this month in an effort to crack down on the routing of fraudulent robocalls.
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August 19, 2025
App reform measure gets Democratic backer
Legislation giving the Federal Trade Commission more enforcement powers to improve consumer choice for app users has gained a second sponsor. Now efforts to pass it will be led by House members from different parties.
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August 19, 2025
DOJ weighs antitrust risks of news fact-checking policies
News organizations that evaluate facts for their veracity are protected by the First Amendment. But if they coordinate these efforts, their actions could raise antitrust issues, according to the Department of Justice.
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August 19, 2025
Match agrees to pay $14 million over deceptive practices
Match Group, the owner and operator of online dating services Match.com, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish, The League, and other dating sites, agreed to a $14 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
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August 19, 2025
DOJ seeks divestitures in UnitedHealth’s buyout of Amedisys
The Department of Justice is seeking divestitures to settle its lawsuit over UnitedHealthGroup’s $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys.
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August 19, 2025
Asset managers’ Big Tobacco moment looms as US antitrust case over ESG advances
BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street’s failure to stop a controversial antitrust lawsuit brought by Republican state attorneys general has opened the door for litigation driven by a long-dormant economic theory challenging the core business model of companies managing trillions of dollars in assets.