Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction over federal civil antitrust law enforcement with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. The agency is headquartered in the Federal Trade Commission Building in Washington, DC.
federal-trade-commission

Some of the key events about Federal Trade Commission

  • 1914
    Established to prevent unfair methods of competition in commerce
  • 1914
    Failed to prevent the formation of U.S. Steel, allowing the creation of the world's first billion-dollar corporation
  • 1920
    Criticized for ineffective enforcement of antitrust laws during the post-World War I merger wave
  • 1935
    Faced accusations of overstepping its authority in attempting to regulate the insurance industry
  • 1938
    Granted authority to protect consumers against unfair and deceptive trade practices
  • 1950
    Issued guidelines for proper use of "Made in USA" labels
  • 1969
    Criticized for inadequate consumer protection measures during the rise of cigarette advertising
  • 1975
    Created the Bureau of Consumer Protection to enforce consumer protection laws
  • 1979
    Implemented the Used Car Rule, requiring dealers to provide warranty information
  • 1980
    Accused of lax enforcement of antitrust laws during the Reagan administration
  • 1998
    Launched the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls
  • 1998
    Failed to prevent the merger of Exxon and Mobil, creating one of the world's largest oil companies
  • 2003
    Enacted the CAN-SPAM Act to regulate commercial email practices
  • 2006
    Criticized for not doing enough to protect consumers from identity theft and data breaches
  • 2009
    Introduced rules to protect consumers from unfair credit card practices
  • 2010
    Implemented the Red Flags Rule to combat identity theft
  • 2011
    Faced criticism for settling with Google over privacy violations without imposing significant penalties
  • 2013
    Failed to prevent the merger of American Airlines and US Airways, reducing competition in the airline industry
  • 2019
    Imposed a $5 billion penalty on Facebook for violating users' privacy
  • 2019
    Criticized for imposing a relatively small $5 billion fine on Facebook for privacy violations

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

Federal Trade Commission Latest news

FTC Sues Major Pharmacy Benefit Managers Over Alleged Insulin Price Inflation

FTC Sues Major Pharmacy Benefit Managers Over Alleged Insulin Price Inflation

September 20 2024, 05:28 PM  •  160 views
FTC Slams Tech Giants for Inadequate User Privacy and Child Safety Measures

FTC Slams Tech Giants for Inadequate User Privacy and Child Safety Measures

September 19 2024, 01:14 PM  •  473 views
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Global Crypto Firms Navigate Complex Labor and Securities Laws

August 27 2024, 04:08 PM  •  549 views
Care.com Agrees to $8.5M Settlement Over FTC Charges of Deceptive Practices

Care.com Agrees to $8.5M Settlement Over FTC Charges of Deceptive Practices

August 26 2024, 04:59 PM  •  944 views
Kroger-Albertsons Merger Faces Federal Scrutiny: What's at Stake?

Kroger-Albertsons Merger Faces Federal Scrutiny: What's at Stake?

August 26 2024, 12:07 PM  •  998 views
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Independent Grocers Face Pricing Challenges Amid Market Consolidation

August 25 2024, 12:11 PM  •  5096 views
Democrats Accept Food Industry Donations Amid Price Criticism

Democrats Accept Food Industry Donations Amid Price Criticism

August 23 2024, 10:15 AM  •  565 views
D.C. Court Revives Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon's Pricing Policies

D.C. Court Revives Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon's Pricing Policies

August 22 2024, 05:02 PM  •  3795 views
Texas Judge Overturns FTC's Noncompete Ban, Affecting Millions

Texas Judge Overturns FTC's Noncompete Ban, Affecting Millions

August 20 2024, 10:21 PM  •  345 views
Texas Judge Blocks FTC Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements

Texas Judge Blocks FTC Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements

August 20 2024, 09:28 PM  •  424 views
Harris's Price Gouging Ban Proposal Sparks Debate and Clarification Efforts

Harris's Price Gouging Ban Proposal Sparks Debate and Clarification Efforts

August 20 2024, 07:21 PM  •  2610 views
Google's Monopoly Ruling: A Turning Point in Tech Regulation?

Google's Monopoly Ruling: A Turning Point in Tech Regulation?

August 16 2024, 07:22 PM  •  819 views
NLRB Prosecutor Intensifies Stance Against Noncompete Agreements

NLRB Prosecutor Intensifies Stance Against Noncompete Agreements

NLRB's top lawyer seeks increased worker compensation for noncompete agreements, arguing they violate labor laws. The move aligns with broader efforts to expand worker protections amid legal challenges.

Business, Politics • October 7 2024, 09:24 PM  •  328 views
Supreme Court Rejects Shkreli's Appeal on $64.6 Million Penalty

Supreme Court Rejects Shkreli's Appeal on $64.6 Million Penalty

The U. S. Supreme Court declined to hear Martin Shkreli's appeal against a $64.6 million penalty for drastically increasing a vital drug's price. Shkreli's lifetime ban from the pharmaceutical industry remains unchallenged.

Society, Business, Economics • October 7 2024, 05:00 PM  •  1963 views
Global M&A Deals Surge in Value Despite Fewer Transactions, Law Firms Report

Global M&A Deals Surge in Value Despite Fewer Transactions, Law Firms Report

Top law firms see larger but fewer M&A deals in 2024, with global value reaching $2. 3 trillion. Experts remain optimistic despite market headwinds and upcoming U.S. elections potentially impacting Q4 activity.

Business, Economics • October 3 2024, 10:43 PM  •  483 views
Texas AG Sues Insulin Giants and PBMs Over Alleged Price Inflation Scheme

Texas AG Sues Insulin Giants and PBMs Over Alleged Price Inflation Scheme

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files lawsuit against major insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of collaborating to artificially inflate insulin prices. The action targets both producers and intermediaries.

Business, Economics, Politics • October 3 2024, 05:46 PM  •  471 views
FTC's Antitrust Case Against Amazon Advances in Federal Court

FTC's Antitrust Case Against Amazon Advances in Federal Court

A federal judge allows the FTC's monopoly case against Amazon to proceed, marking a significant step in the agency's efforts to regulate Big Tech. The ruling sets the stage for a landmark legal battle in e-commerce.

Business, Economics, Politics • October 2 2024, 09:43 AM  •  17 views
Snapchat Under Fire: New Mexico AG Unveils Damning Internal Messages

Snapchat Under Fire: New Mexico AG Unveils Damning Internal Messages

New Mexico's Attorney General exposes Snapchat's alleged negligence in addressing child safety concerns. Unredacted complaint reveals internal communications highlighting platform's struggles with user protection.

Society, Business • October 1 2024, 11:24 PM  •  485 views
OpenAI's $150 Billion Valuation Amid Leadership Shifts and Restructuring Plans

OpenAI's $150 Billion Valuation Amid Leadership Shifts and Restructuring Plans

OpenAI faces leadership changes and considers restructuring while pursuing a $150 billion valuation. The AI giant grapples with rapid growth, antitrust scrutiny, and the challenge of balancing its nonprofit roots with investor interests.

Business, Economics, Science • September 29 2024, 02:05 PM  •  439 views
UK Watchdog Approves Amazon's $4 Billion AI Partnership with Anthropic

UK Watchdog Approves Amazon's $4 Billion AI Partnership with Anthropic

Britain's competition regulator clears Amazon's collaboration with AI firm Anthropic, citing insufficient market impact. The deal faces ongoing scrutiny in the US amid concerns over Big Tech's AI dominance.

Business, Science • September 27 2024, 03:48 PM  •  751 views
Harris's McDonald's Job Claim Sparks Debate on Political Backgrounds

Harris's McDonald's Job Claim Sparks Debate on Political Backgrounds

Vice President Kamala Harris's assertion of working at McDonald's in 1983 faces scrutiny from Donald Trump. The controversy highlights the role of personal histories in political narratives.

Society, Politics • September 27 2024, 10:26 AM  •  49 views
Novo Nordisk CEO Defends Drug Pricing Amid Senate Scrutiny

Novo Nordisk CEO Defends Drug Pricing Amid Senate Scrutiny

Novo Nordisk's CEO faced tough questions from senators about high US drug prices. He cited complex healthcare system and rebates, while senators pushed for lower list prices.

Business, Economics, Politics • September 24 2024, 05:53 PM  •  432 views
FTC Sues Major Pharmacy Benefit Managers Over Alleged Insulin Price Inflation

FTC Sues Major Pharmacy Benefit Managers Over Alleged Insulin Price Inflation

The U. S. Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against the three largest pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of artificially inflating insulin costs. The action targets companies controlling 80% of the market.

Business, Economics, Politics • September 20 2024, 05:28 PM  •  160 views
FTC Slams Tech Giants for Inadequate User Privacy and Child Safety Measures

FTC Slams Tech Giants for Inadequate User Privacy and Child Safety Measures

FTC report criticizes major tech companies for insufficient user privacy protection and child safety measures. The study reveals widespread data collection practices and lack of user control over personal information.

Society, Business • September 19 2024, 01:14 PM  •  473 views
Kroger-Albertsons Merger Faces Triple Legal Challenge in Antitrust Battle

Kroger-Albertsons Merger Faces Triple Legal Challenge in Antitrust Battle

Kroger's $25 billion bid to acquire Albertsons encounters legal hurdles in three states. Regulators and state attorneys general argue the merger could increase grocery prices and impact workers.

Business, Economics, Politics • September 17 2024, 03:21 PM  •  3481 views
Chicago Judge Upholds NLRB Structure, Rejects Medical Center's Challenge

Chicago Judge Upholds NLRB Structure, Rejects Medical Center's Challenge

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled against Alivio Medical Center's attempt to challenge the National Labor Relations Board's structure, affirming the agency's independence and allowing a case against the center to proceed.

Business, Politics • September 16 2024, 05:30 PM  •  877 views
Indian Watchdog Finds Amazon and Flipkart Violated Competition Laws

Indian Watchdog Finds Amazon and Flipkart Violated Competition Laws

Indian antitrust probe reveals Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart breached competition laws by favoring select sellers. Companies deny allegations as e-commerce market in India continues rapid growth.

Business, Economics • September 12 2024, 03:57 PM  •  444 views
Las Vegas Man Admits to Multimillion-Dollar Charity Fraud Scheme

Las Vegas Man Admits to Multimillion-Dollar Charity Fraud Scheme

Richard Zeitlin pleaded guilty to defrauding donors through fake charities and political action committees. He faces up to 13 years in prison and agreed to forfeit $8.9 million in ill-gotten gains.

Society, Business, Politics • September 10 2024, 09:10 PM  •  716 views
Google's Antitrust Lawyer Joins Freshfields Amid Legal Challenges

Google's Antitrust Lawyer Joins Freshfields Amid Legal Challenges

Kevin Yingling, a 15-year Google veteran, moves to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as an antitrust partner. The shift occurs as Google faces significant antitrust scrutiny and legal battles.

Business • September 9 2024, 12:17 PM  •  322 views
Key Economic Indicators and Corporate Earnings on Tap This Week

Key Economic Indicators and Corporate Earnings on Tap This Week

Upcoming reports from Dave & Buster's and Kroger, along with the August inflation data, are set to provide insights into consumer spending and economic trends in the United States.

Business, Economics • September 9 2024, 09:23 AM  •  523 views
Company Seeks $5.4M in Fees After Defeating FTC Lawsuit

Company Seeks $5.4M in Fees After Defeating FTC Lawsuit

American Future Systems requests $5. 4 million in legal fees after winning a case against the FTC. The company claims the agency's lawsuit lacked evidence and posed a threat to its business.

Business, Politics • September 4 2024, 08:49 PM  •  632 views
CSX's Antitrust Lawsuit Against Norfolk Southern Dismissed by Appeals Court

CSX's Antitrust Lawsuit Against Norfolk Southern Dismissed by Appeals Court

A U. S. appeals court rejected CSX's lawsuit against Norfolk Southern over access to a major East Coast marine terminal, citing untimely filing under antitrust law. The decision upholds a previous ruling.

Business, Economics • August 29 2024, 09:46 PM  •  606 views
Global Crypto Firms Navigate Complex Labor and Securities Laws

Global Crypto Firms Navigate Complex Labor and Securities Laws

Virtual cryptocurrency companies face unique challenges in complying with diverse labor and securities regulations across jurisdictions. Experts advise on key issues including employee classification and token compensation.

Business, Economics • August 27 2024, 04:08 PM  •  549 views
Care.com Agrees to $8.5M Settlement Over FTC Charges of Deceptive Practices

Care.com Agrees to $8.5M Settlement Over FTC Charges of Deceptive Practices

Care. com, an in-home care services platform, settles FTC accusations of inflating job numbers and complicating membership cancellations. The $8.5 million settlement awaits federal court approval in Austin, Texas.

Society, Business • August 26 2024, 04:59 PM  •  944 views
Kroger-Albertsons Merger Faces Federal Scrutiny: What's at Stake?

Kroger-Albertsons Merger Faces Federal Scrutiny: What's at Stake?

Kroger and Albertsons' proposed $24. 6 billion merger faces legal challenges from the FTC and several states. The outcome could significantly impact grocery prices, store availability, and working conditions for millions of Americans.

Business, Economics • August 26 2024, 12:07 PM  •  998 views
Independent Grocers Face Pricing Challenges Amid Market Consolidation

Independent Grocers Face Pricing Challenges Amid Market Consolidation

RF Buche's struggle to keep prices competitive at his Pine Ridge Reservation supermarket highlights the broader challenges faced by independent grocers in rural America, amidst market consolidation and rising food costs.

Society, Business, Economics • August 25 2024, 12:11 PM  •  5096 views
Democrats Accept Food Industry Donations Amid Price Criticism

Democrats Accept Food Industry Donations Amid Price Criticism

Democratic lawmakers increasingly accept donations from food companies they criticize for high prices. The trend raises questions about political integrity as food costs remain a top voter concern.

Economics, Politics • August 23 2024, 10:15 AM  •  565 views
D.C. Court Revives Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon's Pricing Policies

D.C. Court Revives Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon's Pricing Policies

An appeals court in Washington, D. C. has reinstated a lawsuit against Amazon, claiming the company's pricing policies potentially harm competition. The case, initially dismissed, now moves forward with renewed scrutiny.

Business, Economics • August 22 2024, 05:02 PM  •  3795 views
Texas Judge Overturns FTC's Noncompete Ban, Affecting Millions

Texas Judge Overturns FTC's Noncompete Ban, Affecting Millions

A federal judge in Texas has invalidated the FTC's ban on noncompete agreements, citing the agency's lack of authority. The ruling impacts an estimated 30 million US workers across various industries.

Business, Economics, Politics • August 20 2024, 10:21 PM  •  345 views
Texas Judge Blocks FTC Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements

Texas Judge Blocks FTC Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements

A federal judge in Texas has barred an FTC rule prohibiting non-compete agreements, citing the agency's lack of authority. The decision follows a challenge by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and tax firm Ryan.

Business, Politics • August 20 2024, 09:28 PM  •  424 views
Harris's Price Gouging Ban Proposal Sparks Debate and Clarification Efforts

Harris's Price Gouging Ban Proposal Sparks Debate and Clarification Efforts

Vice President Kamala Harris's proposal to ban price gouging in certain sectors has ignited controversy. While facing criticism, her allies argue the plan is a targeted expansion of existing state powers, not sweeping price controls.

Economics, Politics • August 20 2024, 07:21 PM  •  2610 views
Google's Monopoly Ruling: A Turning Point in Tech Regulation?

Google's Monopoly Ruling: A Turning Point in Tech Regulation?

A landmark court decision declares Google a search monopoly, sparking debates on tech regulation. The ruling could reshape the digital landscape and challenge other tech giants' market dominance.

Business, Economics, Politics • August 16 2024, 07:22 PM  •  819 views
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