On July 14, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against a group of companies and individuals operating under the “Accelerated Debt” brand, alleging they...more
7/24/2025
/ Advertising ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Debt Relief ,
Elder Abuse ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Fraud ,
FTC Act ,
Gramm-Leach-Blilely Act ,
Scams ,
Telemarketing ,
Telemarketing Sales Rule ,
Veterans
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with NextMed parent company Southern Health Solutions, Inc., in response to allegations that the telemedicine platform offered deceptive claims and fake...more
7/18/2025
/ Advertising ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
EFTA ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Failure To Disclose ,
Fake Reviews ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fees ,
FTC Act ,
Hidden Fees ,
Medicare ,
Online Reviews ,
Section 5 ,
Settlement ,
Telehealth ,
Testimonial Statements ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On June 24, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against Mercury Marketing, LLC, and several affiliated entities and individuals alleging that the...more
7/1/2025
/ Advertising ,
Affiliates ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Drug Treatment ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Lead Generators ,
Marketing ,
Scams ,
Substance Abuse ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
In a development that underscores the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) growing scrutiny of the “merchant of record” model, the commission announced a $5 million settlement with UK-based Paddle.com Market Limited (Paddle),...more
6/23/2025
/ Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Know Your Customers ,
Payment Systems ,
ROSCA ,
Settlement ,
Subscription Services ,
Telemarketing ,
Telemarketing Sales Rule ,
UK ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairman Andrew Ferguson has promised vigorous law enforcement under his leadership. Consistent with that promise, on June 10, 2025, the Commission announced a $1.9 million settlement with...more
6/16/2025
/ Advertising ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Marketing ,
Opioid ,
Settlement ,
Telemarketing
On May 15, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairman Andrew Ferguson testified before the House Appropriations Committee in support of the FTC’s budget request. His testimony provides insight into the agency’s downsizing and...more
5/27/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Congressional Committees ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Budget ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Online Safety for Children ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Robocalling ,
Scams ,
Small Business ,
Strategic Enforcement Plan ,
Subscription Services ,
Veterans
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed order requiring Workado, a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) detection tools, to stop advertising the accuracy of its AI detection tools...more
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit in federal court against rideshare and delivery company Uber for allegedly deceptive subscription practices, including making it unreasonably difficult to cancel....more
4/25/2025
/ Automatic Renewals ,
Cancellation Rights ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Negative Option Rule ,
Ridesharing ,
Subscription Services ,
Uber ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
In one of the first settlements since the new administration took office, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a $17 million monetary judgment with Cleo AI to resolve allegations that Cleo violated Section 5 of the...more
4/2/2025
/ Automatic Renewals ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FinTech ,
Mobile Apps ,
Popular ,
ROSCA ,
Settlement ,
Subscription Services ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Ending speculation and uncertainty about whether new leadership at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would repeal or continue to defend the agency’s Negative Option Rule, which regulates offerings such as autorenewal of...more
3/21/2025
/ Auto-Renewal ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Negative Option Rule ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Subscription Services ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
State attorneys general (AGs) have long played a significant role in consumer protection enforcement, often acting as frontline regulators alongside federal agencies. For consumer financial services companies, an AG...more
Venable's AdLaw Symposium is back!
Please join us in our Washington, DC, headquarters for this highly anticipated event focused on providing you with the information you need to promote your brand with confidence....more
3/7/2025
/ Advertising ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Auto-Renewal ,
Best Practices ,
Beverage Manufacturers ,
Chief Compliance Officers ,
Data Privacy ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Events ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fees ,
Food Manufacturers ,
Greenwashing ,
Legal Ethics ,
Marketing ,
NAD ,
Pricing ,
Privacy Laws ,
Risk Mitigation ,
State Regulators ,
Subscription Services
We’ve written previously about the Trump administration’s effort to increase his influence over independent agencies such as the FTC and to review regulations promulgated by these agencies. The White House is also reportedly...more
3/4/2025
/ Administrative Agencies ,
Consumer Fraud ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Involuntary Reduction in Force ,
Online Platforms ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Section 5 ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
With much of the administrative state in turmoil, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) appears to be holding steady and continuing to litigate its current cases. We previously discussed the FTC’s lawsuit against Grand Canyon...more
This week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Combatting Auto Retail Scams (CARS) rule....more
2/3/2025
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Appeals ,
Automotive Industry ,
CARS Rule ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Final Rules ,
FTC Act ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices ,
Vacated
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the New York attorney general announced a settlement with Handy Technologies, Inc. to resolve allegations that the company engaged in an array of unfair and deceptive...more
1/10/2025
/ Advertising ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Employee Rights ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Gig Economy ,
Section 5 ,
Settlement ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an enforcement action against Evolv Technologies, alleging that the company made deceptive claims about the capabilities of its AI-powered security screening system,...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) isn’t the only regulator in town when it comes to endorsements and testimonials. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates investment adviser marketing under its “Marketing...more
11/7/2024
/ Advertising ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Endorsements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Endorsement Guidelines ,
Investment Adviser ,
Marketing ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Testimonial Statements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a “sweep” targeting AI-related conduct this week. The cases provide insight into how the agency may approach AI-related issues going forward and illustrate differences among the...more
During the dog days of August, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brought two complaints against auto companies involving alleged deceptive and discriminatory price advertising....more
9/4/2024
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Advertising ,
Choice-of-Venue ,
Consent ,
Discrimination ,
Disparate Impact ,
ECOA ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Marketing ,
Race Discrimination ,
Section 5
In a surprising ruling, a federal district court in Arizona has held that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cannot prosecute claims under the FTC Act against a nonprofit educational institution.
Late last year, the FTC...more
This summer the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has turned up the heat on two companies that provide extended car repair coverage, CarShield and American Auto Shields, for deceptive and misleading advertising and telemarketing...more
8/6/2024
/ Advertising ,
Celebrity Endorsements ,
Consumer Contracts ,
Consumer Insurance Products ,
Endorsements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Influencers ,
Service Contracts ,
Social Media ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
In July, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brought a complaint against Career Step LLC for targeting servicemembers with misrepresentations concerning Career Step’s ability to match its customers with jobs in the healthcare...more
Last month, in a joint effort with the Department of Labor (DOL), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled an action against Arise Virtual Solutions, Inc. related to charges that the company regularly used misleading...more
8/2/2024
/ Advertising ,
Business Opportunity Laws ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Gig Economy ,
Independent Contractors ,
Job Ads ,
Misleading Statements ,
Section 5 ,
Statutory Violations
In a landmark decision issued last week, SEC v. Jarkesy, the Supreme Court held that the Seventh Amendment guarantees a defendant a jury trial when the SEC seeks civil penalties against the defendant for committing securities...more
7/8/2024
/ Administrative Authority ,
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Administrative Proceedings ,
Article II ,
Article III ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Judicial Authority ,
Jury Trial ,
SCOTUS ,
SEC v Jarkesy ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Regulation ,
Seventh Amendment