Consumer protection

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Firm will be Banned from Disclosing Health Data for Advertising to Settle FTC Charges that It Shared Data Without Consent

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 12, 2024
GoodRx, Consumer protection, Accountability Act, District court, Meta, Social media, Blog, News, Disclosure, DOJ, Commission, HIPAA, Complaint, Data collection, Advertising, IP, Justice, BetterHelp, API, File, Monument, Privacy, Government, Physician, IDS, Federal Trade Commission, FTC

The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against an alcohol addiction treatment service for allegedly disclosing users’ personal health data to third-party advertising platforms, including Meta and Google, for advertising without consumer consent, after promising to keep such information confidential.

Key Points: 
  • The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against an alcohol addiction treatment service for allegedly disclosing users’ personal health data to third-party advertising platforms, including Meta and Google, for advertising without consumer consent, after promising to keep such information confidential.
  • As part of a proposed order settling the FTC allegations, New York-based Monument, Inc. will be banned from disclosing health information for advertising and must obtain users’ affirmative consent before sharing health information with third parties for any other purpose.
  • “This action continues the FTC’s work to ensure strict limits on how firms handle sensitive health data, rather than putting the onus on consumers to protect themselves,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
  • Monument used these pixels and APIs to track “standard” and “custom events,” meaning instances in which consumers interacted with Monument’s website.
  • If the company is found to have misrepresented its finances, it will be required to pay the full amount.
  • The Commission voted 3-0 to refer the complaint and stipulated final order to the Department of Justice for filing.
  • The DOJ filed the complaint and stipulated order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

SEC Seeks Candidates for Investor Advisory Committee

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Disclosure, Commission, Committee, Consumer protection, Letter, Security (finance)

Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2024) - The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking five candidates for appointment to the Investor Advisory Committee to help protect investors and improve securities regulations.

Key Points: 
  • Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2024) - The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking five candidates for appointment to the Investor Advisory Committee to help protect investors and improve securities regulations.
  • The Committee was established under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to advise the Commission, protect investor interests and promote the integrity of the securities marketplace.
  • "The Investor Advisory Committee and its diverse and talented members are key to ensuring a wide array of investor perspectives are represented in SEC policymaking," said SEC Chairman Gary Gensler.
  • "I look forward to working with the members of the Investor Advisory Committee to continue to uphold the SEC’s mission of providing transparent and fair markets for all investors."

FTC Announces Winners of Voice Cloning Challenge

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Communication, Speech, Consumer protection, Algorithm, Pindrop, Computer science, Social media, Blog, News, Pindrop Security, Engineering, Ear, Human voice, Mouth, Fraud, Rutgers University, Federal Trade Commission, Human, FTC, Mobile phone

The Federal Trade Commission has chosen four winning submissions for its Voice Cloning Challenge to promote the development of ideas to protect consumers from the misuse of artificial intelligence-enabled voice cloning for fraud and other harms.

Key Points: 
  • The Federal Trade Commission has chosen four winning submissions for its Voice Cloning Challenge to promote the development of ideas to protect consumers from the misuse of artificial intelligence-enabled voice cloning for fraud and other harms.
  • “Tapping American ingenuity is critical to solving big abuses like deceptive voice cloning,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
  • “We’re recognizing people who are pushing science forward and proposing different options to ensure a robust landscape of solutions,” said Stephanie T. Nguyen, the FTC’s Chief Technologist.
  • The technology evaluates each incoming phone call or digital audio in two-second chunks and flags those that are potential deep fakes.
  • The four winning submissions demonstrate the potential for cutting edge technology to help mitigate risks of voice cloning in the marketplace.
  • Voice cloning technology offers potential benefits by, for example, providing new ways for those who have impaired speech to communicate in their own voice with the help of technology.
  • For example, scammers have used voice cloning technology to impersonate business executives in order to fraudulently obtain money or valuable information.

Angeion Group Welcomes Maria José Azar-Baud as Global Collective Actions Expert

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Comparative law, European Parliament, Associate, Research, Paris-Saclay University, Assas, University, Sorbonne University, Doctor of Philosophy, European, Consumer protection, University of Paris, Management

PHILADELPHIA, March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeion Group, a global provider of settlement administration and legal noticing services, proudly announces the appointment of Maria José Azar-Baud as Global Collective Actions Expert.

Key Points: 
  • PHILADELPHIA, March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeion Group, a global provider of settlement administration and legal noticing services, proudly announces the appointment of Maria José Azar-Baud as Global Collective Actions Expert.
  • Maria José Azar-Baud, born in Argentina, brings a distinguished background to her role as Global Collective Actions Expert at Angeion Group.
  • Throughout her career, Maria José has authored over 80 contributions in multiple languages, focusing on class actions, collective actions, and group actions across various legal domains.
  • "We are thrilled to welcome Maria José Azar-Baud to Angeion Group as our Global Collective Actions Expert.

FTC Releases 2023 Privacy and Data Security Update

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Online, GoodRx, Consumer, Global Tel Link, Employment, Consumer protection, Algorithm, Rite Aid, Amazon Alexa, School, Epic Games, Social media, Tenant, Policy, Blog, News, AI, Fortnite, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Privacy, Insurance, Commission, CafePress, Housing, BetterHelp, Intelligence, Machine learning, COPPA, TransUnion, Edmodo, Collection, Parent, Advertising, FCRA, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Cryptocurrency
Key Points: 

FTC To Convene Advisory Group to Fight Scams Against Older Adults April 2

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Consumer protection, Research, Social media, Blog, News, Federal Trade Commission, FTC

|WHAT:||The Federal Trade Commission will host an online meeting of the Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group on April 2, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • |WHAT:||The Federal Trade Commission will host an online meeting of the Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group on April 2, 2024.
  • The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize.
  • Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.

FTC Action Leads to Ban for Owners of Automators AI E-Commerce Money-Making Scheme

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Consumer protection, Amazon, Intelligence, District court, Social media, Artificial intelligence, Policy, Blog, News, AI, Judgement, Commission, Walmart, Federal Trade Commission, FTC

In addition, all the businesses and two of their owners face a lifetime ban on selling business opportunities or coaching programs involving ecommerce stores.

Key Points: 
  • In addition, all the businesses and two of their owners face a lifetime ban on selling business opportunities or coaching programs involving ecommerce stores.
  • The FTC alleged, however, that the vast majority of the defendants’ clients did not make the promised earnings or even recoup their sizable investment.
  • If the defendants are found to have lied to the FTC about their financial status, the full judgment would be immediately payable.
  • Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.

FTC Testifies in Support of Colorado’s Right-to-Repair Law

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Consumer protection, Congress, Letter, Labour, Social media, Blog, News, Commission, Fix, Legislation, Federal Trade Commission, FTC

It also detailed key takeaways from the agency’s May 2021 “Nixing the Fix” report to Congress on repair restrictions.

Key Points: 
  • It also detailed key takeaways from the agency’s May 2021 “Nixing the Fix” report to Congress on repair restrictions.
  • Agency officials have expressed support for other proposed state legislation tackling the issue of parts pairing.
  • The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize.
  • Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.

FTC and Partners Kick Off National Consumer Protection Week 2024

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Anne Arundel County, Maryland, IRS, Consumer protection, Organization, Spokane County, Washington, Refugee, Veteran, BBB, Consumer Action, City, Social media, Blog, News, Consumer, USPIS, CFPB, Student, Identity theft, Fraud, Central Avenue, Bainbridge Island, Washington, State, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Online shopping

As part of National Consumer Protection Week (NPCW), the Federal Trade Commission and its partners, including consumer organizations, national advocacy organizations, and other federal, state, and local government agencies will participate in several virtual and in-person events on issues such as avoiding scams, protecting people against identity theft, and reporting fraud for people in all communities.

Key Points: 
  • As part of National Consumer Protection Week (NPCW), the Federal Trade Commission and its partners, including consumer organizations, national advocacy organizations, and other federal, state, and local government agencies will participate in several virtual and in-person events on issues such as avoiding scams, protecting people against identity theft, and reporting fraud for people in all communities.
  • During the week of March 2-8, 2024, the FTC and NCPW partners will host and participate in social media events, podcasts, webinars, and other events to help people understand their consumer rights and avoid fraud, scams, and identity theft.


Saturday, March 2 & Sunday, March 3
Monday, March 4
Tuesday, March 5
Wednesday, March 6
Thursday, March 7
Friday, March 8
For information on how to get involved, visit ftc.gov/NCPW.