FTC

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FTC Sues to Block Massive Grocery Merger

Kroger and Albertsons want to merge in the biggest such deal in US history

(Newser) - The Federal Trade Commission sued to block a proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, reports the AP , saying the $24.6 billion deal would eliminate competition and lead to higher prices for millions of Americans. The FTC filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Oregon on Monday....

Rite Aid Banned From Using Facial Recognition Tech

For the next 5 years, at least

(Newser) - Due to what the Federal Trade Commission calls Rite Aid's "reckless" use of facial recognition technology in hundreds of stores from 2012 to 2020, the drugstore chain is now prohibited from using it for five years. The ban is part of Rite Aid's settlement with the FTC...

FTC Issues Warning on QR Code Scams
FTC: Beware of QR Code Scams
Dec 11, 2023 2:40 PM CST

FTC: Beware of QR Code Scams

Agency says squares can conceal 'harmful links'

(Newser) - QR codes have become ubiquitous, especially since the pandemic, but the Federal Trade Commission says consumers shouldn't let their guard down. In a blog post , the FTC warns that scammers can use the jumbles of black-and-white squares to hide harmful links and steal personal information. The agency says scammers...

Her 2017 Academic Paper Previewed Big Amazon Fight
Her Academic Paper Set
Stage for Epic Amazon Fight
the rundown
Sep 26, 2023 12:41 PM CDT

Her Academic Paper Set Stage for Epic Amazon Fight

FTC chief Lina Khan is going after Jeff Bezos' company as a monopoly

(Newser) - The feds and 17 states are going after Amazon in a long-anticipated legal fight that could take years to play out. And for Federal Trade Commission chief Lina Khan, the fight is a long time coming. As the New York Times notes, she first came to national attention as a...

Feds, States Bring Huge Monopoly Suit Against Amazon

FTC, 17 states say Jeff Bezos' company is an illegal operation

(Newser) - The Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon on Tuesday, alleging the e-commerce behemoth uses its position in the marketplace to inflate prices on other platforms, overcharge sellers, and stifle competition. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Western District of...

FTC Slaps Record Fine on Epic Games Over 'Dark Patterns'
Fortnite Players, Parents
Can Now Claim Refunds
UPDATED
Sep 20, 2023 4:16 PM CDT

Fortnite Players, Parents Can Now Claim Refunds

Company has agreed to pay back $245M in surprise charges for in-game purchases

(Newser) - The Federal Trade Commission says it has started contacting 37 million to let them know they can apply for refunds for in-game purchases in Fortnite. Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million in refunds as part of $520 million settlement last year for breaching children's privacy and tricking people...

FTC Makes Its First Move Against ChatGPT

Agency wants answers about the AI tool generating false information about people, other matters

(Newser) - The FTC has gotten aggressive about the potential dangers of ChatGPT . The consumer agency has opened what the Washington Post describes as an "expansive" investigation into the artificial intelligence tool made by OpenAI. Specifically, the agency is demanding answers in a 20-page investigative document that CNN likens to an...

Judge Rejects FTC Move to Halt $69B Microsoft-Activision Deal

With clock ticking to get the deal closed, court hands Microsoft a major victory

(Newser) - A federal judge has handed Microsoft a major victory by declining to block its looming $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard. US District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said in a ruling that the Federal Trade Commission "has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its...

FTC Wants a Steep Crackdown on Phony Online Reviews

Proposed new rules include steep fines

(Newser) - The Federal Trade Commission says it wants to "level the playing field for honest companies" with a crackdown on fake online reviews. The FTC has proposed new rules that include heavy penalties for companies using dodgy reviews to boost their products, the Washington Post reports. Offenders could be fined...

FTC: 'Manipulative' Amazon Tricked Millions Into Prime

Company 'knowingly complicated the cancellation process,' to boot, agency says

(Newser) - The FTC isn't letting up on Amazon , alleging in a new lawsuit that the world's largest online retailer knowingly tricked "millions of consumers" into signing up for its paid Prime service, then made them jump through hoops in order to cancel . The company "trapped people into...

Amazon Fined $25M in Child Privacy Case

Company also has to pay refunds over Ring privacy issues

(Newser) - Amazon agreed Wednesday to pay a $25 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kids' voice and location data recorded by its popular Alexa voice assistant. Separately, the company agreed to pay $5.8 million...

FTC Warns of 'Terrifying' Phone Scam Driven by AI

Agency says voice cloning can make caller sound like a loved one begging for money

(Newser) - Many of us have heard of the old hoax in which victims receive phone calls from "police" or a "doctor" (actually scammers) saying that a loved one is in trouble and needs money sent stat. Now, in what NPR says "sounds like a plot from a science...

Egg Producers' 'Egregious Profits' Raising Some Eyebrows

Farm Action wants Cal-Maine investigated over possible price gouging

(Newser) - A US senator has joined farmers in calling for an investigation to crack the problem of soaring egg prices . Government data shows the national average retail price for a dozen eggs reached $4.25 in December, for a 138% increase from the $1.79 average a year earlier, though the...

'Pharma Bro' Is Making Headlines Again

FTC wants Martin Shkreli held in contempt for impeding probe into ban on working in industry

(Newser) - It's been awhile since Martin Shkreli dominated the headlines, but he appears to be making somewhat of a comeback after his release from prison last year. In January 2022, the former pharmaceuticals executive deemed "Pharma Bro" by the media was ordered by a federal judge to return nearly...

FTC Sues to Block Microsoft's Takeover of Activision Blizzard

But Microsoft has good shot of winning a legal challenge

(Newser) - The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday it is suing to block Microsoft’s planned $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard, saying it could suppress competitors to its Xbox game consoles and its growing games subscription business. The FTC voted 3-1 to issue the complaint after a closed-door...

Security, Compliance Executives Quit Twitter

FTC warns company, which risks violating consent decree

(Newser) - Federal regulators expressed alarm Thursday after several privacy and security executives resigned from Twitter. Those leaving include the chief information security officer, chief privacy officer, and chief compliance officer, the Washington Post reports. The news was met with a warning from the Federal Trade Commission, which said it could take...

FTC: Pro-Trump Firm's 'Made in USA' Apparel Made in China

Agency fines Lions Not Sheep, owner $200K for phony labels

(Newser) - If you're going to put "Made in USA" labels on your products, you'd better make sure they're actually made in the USA. That's the message the Federal Trade Commission hopes to convey to one pro-Donald Trump apparel company that it just fined more than $200,...

FTC Sues Intuit: Stop Saying TurboTax Is Free

FTC says ads mislead consumers

(Newser) - The Federal Trade Commission is suing TurboTax maker Intuit, saying its ads for “free” tax filing misled consumers, the AP reports. Intuit says it will fight the suit. The consumer protection agency said Tuesday that millions of consumers cannot actually use the free tax-prep software option—two-thirds of tax...

FTC Orders Walmart, Amazon to Explain 'Sky-High Prices'

9 companies asked to turn over information on supply chain woes

(Newser) - Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger will have 45 days to answer to the Federal Trade Commission for their "empty shelves and sky-high prices." With the holiday shopping season now underway, the FTC has ordered nine large retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers including Procter & Gamble Co., Tyson Foods, Kraft Heinz...

Apple Flips on Right to Repair, Will Sell Parts to Consumers

Program to start with iPhone 12 and 13 next year, then add Macs

(Newser) - In a victory for the right-to-repair movement, as well as owners of Apple products, the company soon will permit DIY repairs. Apple announced Wednesday that it will provide instructions on home repairs, as well as start selling more than 200 parts and the necessary tools, the Verge reports. Until now,...

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