FTC

Last week, the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (“GPEN”)—a global network of over 30 national data protection authorities—announced the launch of its annual privacy sweep. The purpose of the sweep is to examine how websites and mobile applications commonly used by children handle minors’ personal information. Members of GPEN include regulators who have long prioritized protections for children and teens, such as the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the California Attorney General, the California Privacy Protection Agency, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, the French Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (“CNIL”), and the Irish Data Protection Commission.

Continue Reading Global Privacy Regulators Launch Enforcement Sweep Focused on Children’s Data Protection

On September 17, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and seven states – Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia – sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster for violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (“BOTS Act”). Additionally, each state Attorney General alleges violation of various state consumer protection laws, including the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Nebraska Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, and Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act.   

Continue Reading FTC Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster for Deceptive Pricing Tactics

On August 20, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) sued Fitness International, LLC and Fitness & Sports Club LLC – the parent companies of LA Fitness and other gym chains – for  violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (“ROSCA”) in connection with alleged practices that make it difficult for their customers to cancel their gym memberships and other add-on services. The FTC seeks a court order prohibiting the allegedly unfair and unlawful conduct and restitution to consumers harmed by the difficulty in cancelling memberships.

Continue Reading FTC Sues LA Fitness Operators for Unfair Gym Cancellation Policies

In August, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a $14 million settlement with Match Group, Inc. and Match Group, LLC (collectively, “Match”), the parent companies of online dating platforms Match.com, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish, and other dating sites. In addition to monetary relief, the settlement includes significant injunctive provisions aimed at addressing alleged deceptive marketing and unfair billing practices. This resolution marks a significant development in the FTC’s ongoing efforts to monitor and regulate subscription-based services in the digital space.

Continue Reading FTC Secures $14 Million Settlement with Match Group Over Deceptive Subscription Practices

On August 7, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a $45 million settlement with online lead generator MediaAlpha, Inc. and its subsidiary QuoteLab, LLC (collectively, “MediaAlpha”), resolving allegations that the companies misled consumers seeking health insurance products. According to the FTC, MediaAlpha tricked consumers into sharing sensitive personal information under the guise of offering health insurance options through their lead generation sites. MediaAlpha allegedly then used that data for abusive telemarketing, including calling numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. The FTC also alleged that MediaAlpha auctioned off consumers’ information to third-party lead generators and telemarketers, who similarly used that data to make illegal telemarketing calls.

Continue Reading FTC Takes Aim at Online Lead Generator

Autorenewal regulation has been a recent focus of both federal and state regulators. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently vacated the FTC’s Negative Option Rule on procedural grounds, but businesses need to remain vigilant of state regulatory requirements, including new ones that will take effect starting in September. Some of these regulations impose requirements similar to those in the FTC’s now-vacated rule. However, they also impose additional requirements, including regular subscription reminders and price increase notices. Below is a brief update on forthcoming requirements in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York that will impact subscription providers.

Continue Reading States Press Forward with Automatic Renewal Laws Amidst Vacating of the FTC’s Negative Option Rule

In July, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced that telemedicine company NextMed agreed to pay $150,000 to settle charges that it deceptively advertised its GLP-1 weight-loss membership programs to consumers. The FTC’s complaint alleged a host of deceptive practices under Sections 5 and 12 of the FTC Act, including making unsubstantiated weight-loss claims, disseminating fake testimonials and consumer reviews, failing to adequately disclose the terms of its memberships, and purposefully making it difficult for consumers to cancel their memberships.

Continue Reading FTC Targets Weight-Loss Membership Program

With the Trump administration’s renewed focus on American manufacturing, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson’s recent declaration that July 2025 is “Made in the USA” Month appears to signal a renewed emphasis on Made in USA enforcement.  The FTC has a long history of scrutinizing these claims and the more recently-issued Made in USA Rule sets strict compliance standards with the threat of significant monetary penalties for non-compliance.  And while Chairman Ferguson’s statement nods to the importance of preventing deception in this area, it emphasizes that advertisers should be making Made in USA claims whenever they are appropriate.

Continue Reading FTC Declares July as “Made in the USA” Month

On July 23, the White House released its AI Action Plan, outlining the key priorities of the Trump Administration’s AI policy agenda.  In parallel, President Trump signed three AI executive orders directing the Executive Branch to implement the AI Action Plan’s policies on “Preventing Woke AI in…

Continue Reading Trump Administration Issues AI Action Plan and Series of AI Executive Orders

On July 8, 2025, the Eighth Circuit issued a per curiam decision that vacated the FTC’s revised Negative Option Rule in its entirety.  The opinion will become effective when the court issues its mandate, which should happen within seven weeks unless the FTC seeks further review.

Continue Reading Eighth Circuit Vacates FTC Negative Option Rule