Tag Archives: FTC

FTC And State AGs Hit Facebook With Antitrust Suit

The Wall Street Journal reports: The Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan group of state attorneys general sued Facebook Inc. on Wednesday, bringing broad antitrust allegations that the social-media giant engaged in a yearslong campaign to buy up or freeze out nascent tech firms that one day might have become rivals. CNBC reports: The FTC alleges that Facebook engaged in …

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Trump Mulls Panel On “Left-Wing Bias” By Social Media

The Wall Street Journal reports: President Trump is considering establishing a panel to review complaints of anti-conservative bias on social media, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that would likely draw pushback from technology companies and others. The plans are still under discussion but could include the establishment of a White House-created commission that would examine …

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FTC May Block Facebook From Bundling Its Apps

Business Insider reports:  The Federal Trade Commission is mulling whether to file an injunction against the social networking giant that could block it from its plans to stitch together its WhatsApp messaging service with the chat features of Instagram and those of its core Facebook app. The injunction could also block the company from enforcing its rules about how apps …

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Feds Sue Tinder Parent For Catfishing Free Accounts

CNBC reports: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sued Match Group, the online dating service company that owns Tinder, OKCupid and other dating sites, alleging that it used fake love interest advertisements to trick consumers into buying paid subscriptions. Shares of Match Group dropped as much as 7% on the news, before recovering to be down around 3%. Match …

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FTC Fines Google $170M For Collecting Data On Kids

CNBC reports: Google’s YouTube will pay $170 million to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission and the New York attorney general that it earned millions by illegally collecting personal information from children without their parents’ consent. The settlement, announced Wednesday, was passed in a 3-2 vote by the commissioners along party lines. The two Democrats voted against it, saying …

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Facebook Settles Federal Privacy Probe For $5 Billion

The Verge reports: The Federal Trade Commission formally announced its $5 billion settlement with Facebook on Wednesday morning, which is the culmination of a years-long investigation into the Cambridge Analytica scandal and other privacy breaches. In the agreement filed today, the FTC alleges that Facebook violated the law by failing to protect data from third parties, serving ads through the …

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Facebook Reaches $5B Privacy Settlement With FTC

The Verge reports: Facebook has reportedly reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over repeated privacy violations, The Wall Street Journal reports. According to the Journal, the FTC voted this week to approve a $5 billion settlement, which has now moved to the Justice Department’s civil division for review. It is unclear how long the review will take. The …

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FOIA Request Reveals Federal Fraud Investigators Were Stunned To Learn Of Matt Whitaker’s Ascent At DOJ

The New York Times reports: As Federal Trade Commission lawyers investigated a Miami company accused of defrauding thousands of customers, they were stunned to learn last year about a new job for a figure in their inquiry, Matthew G. Whitaker: He had been named chief of staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “You’re not going to believe this… Matt Whitaker …

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FTC Shuts Down $100 Million “Trumpcare” Scam

The Miami Herald reports: A South Florida company that collected more than $100 million in premiums selling sham health insurance “for smart people” through a network of deceptive websites, including one called trumpcarequotes.com, was ordered by a federal judge to temporarily shut down following consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission. Simple Health Plans, based in Hollywood, lured “tens of …

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GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch Sics The FTC On Google

The Hill reports: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate whether Google’s search and digital advertising practices are stifling the marketplace. Hatch sent a letter to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons expressing concern about reports in recent years ranging from Google restricting competing advertising services to collecting data from users’ Gmail inbox contents. “Needless …

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FLOTUS Spox Gets Pissy About Plagiarism Chatter From “Opposition Media”: You Should “Be Best” Yourselves

Just in from Melania’s communications director: Yesterday, First Lady Melania Trump unveiled Be Best, her initiative meant to support children and the many issues they are facing today. After giving a strong speech that was met with a standing ovation and positive feedback, the focus from opposition media has been on an educational booklet, “Talking with Kids About Being Online” …

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FTC Launches Probe Into Facebook Data Scandal

USA Today reports: The Federal Federal Trade Commission says it’s officially investigating the potential misuse of the personal information of as many as 50 million Facebook users by Trump-connected data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica. The agency’s action comes after it began a probe last week into the social network’s admission that it had suspended Cambridge Analytica, which had worked for …

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Whole Foods Shareholders OK Amazon Takeover

CNBC reports: Whole Foods shareholders have at last voted to advance Amazon’s acquisition of the grocery chain, moving the proposal one step closer to reality. Gathered at Whole Food’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, the retailer’s shareholders approved a merger with the internet giant on Wednesday morning. Amazon shareholders don’t need to sign off on the deal. Now, completion of the …

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Ex-Gay Torture Industry Group Files FTC Complaint Alleging “Fraudulent Testimony” By Their Own Victims

Back in early 2016 the SPLC filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against the New Jersey-based ex-gay torture group People Can Change, alleging that the group’s practices constitute consumer fraud. It’s not clear why it’s taken them so long, but this week the ex-gay torture industry filed an answering complaint. From the anti-LGBT hate group C-FAM: A complaint …

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Cancer Charities Hit With Fraud Charges, Feds Say They Stole $187M From Donors

Via USA Today: Charities that claimed their funds were helping patients fighting cancer but were actually spending the bulk of donations on vacations, concerts and other luxurious perks are facing federal charges that they stole more than $187 million from consumers in one of the biggest charity fraud cases ever filed. The Federal Trade Commission, along with law enforcement officials …

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US Rep. Ted Lieu To Introduce Bill To Ban “Ex-Gay” Torture As Fraudulent Practice

Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: On Tuesday morning, Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California will introduce a federal bill to ban commercial efforts to change people’s sexual orientation or gender identity — often called conversion therapy. “The public views conversion therapy as quackery, as something that harms people,” Lieu told BuzzFeed News on Monday afternoon, just after landing back in …

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Feds Fine Online Dating Company For Scamming Money Via Fake Profiles

Via The Hill: England-based company JDI Dating and its owner, Mark Thomas, were the target of the $616,165 fines. The settlement forbids the company from misrepresenting facts about the service or its cancellation policy in the future. “JDI Dating used fake profiles to make people think they were hearing from real love interests and to trick them into upgrading to …

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Feds Crack Down On Scam Diets

A total of $34M in fines, but the products can stay on the market.  Sensa Products, LLC was also cited for compensating consumers who endorsed Sensa. The consumers received between $1,000 and $5,000 and free trips to Los Angeles for their statements. Sensa Products part-owner and creator Dr. Alan Hirsch, who provided expert opinion, was also said to make statements …

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FTC Hits Google With Largest Fine Ever

The Federal Trade Commission has fined Google $22.5M for secretly placing tracking cookies on the users of Apple’s Safari browser after telling them that they wouldn’t. It’s the largest tech fine in FTC history. In its complaint, the FTC charged that for several months in 2011 and 2012, Google placed a certain advertising tracking cookie on the computers of Safari …

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FTC Rules Pom Wonderful As Deceptive

Continuing their campaign against food items falsely claiming to bring good health, the Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint against the makers of Pom Wonderful for “making false and unsubstantiated claims that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.” The FTC complaint alleges that POM Wonderful’s heart disease claims are false and unsubstantiated …

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