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☆ Supreme Court rebuffs challenge to job protections for consumer watchdog leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Supreme Court is visible on July 29, 2024 in Washington, DC. In an op-ed in The Washington Post, U.S. President Joe Biden laid out his proposed reforms to the Supreme Court including 18 year term limits for Supreme Court Justices and a new code of ethics for the court ahead of a speech tonight at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. Lawyers for Democratic President Joe Biden's administration had urged the Supreme Court to turn away the appeal, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked the required legal standing to sue the agency and that their claims are foreclosed by Supreme Court precedent. The current Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of presidential powers in recent years and has shown skepticism toward broad authority for federal agencies. This case gives the conservative justices a chance to rein in or depart from Humphrey's Executor.

Persons: Joe Biden, Lyndon, Joe Biden's, Jeremy Kernodle, Donald Trump, Kernodle's, Franklin Roosevelt's, Ted Cruz, Darrell Issa Organizations: Washington Post, Supreme, Johnson Presidential, The U.S, Consumers, Research, U.S . Consumer Product Safety Commission, Consumers ' Research, Democratic, Republican, Circuit, Appeals, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Republican U.S Locations: Washington , DC, Washington, Washington Post , U.S, Austin , Texas, The, Texas, United States of America, New Orleans, United States

☆ Business Insider Subscriptions: Enjoy Premium News Stories
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

It isn't an accident that people who want to cancel a subscription often have to navigate a web of bureaucracy and confusion. "Actual affirmative consent from a consumer," Witte said, would establish trust between the consumer and the company, boosting loyalty. Along with litigation from the CFPB, state attorneys general have pursued legal action against big companies over hard-to-cancel subscriptions. Last year, Letitia James, New York's attorney general, sued SiriusXM over claims that the radio company trapped customers in subscriptions and maintained a complicated and burdensome cancellation process. AdvertisementIndustries have mastered techniques to maximize their profits by crafting their business models in confusing ways that can lure customers into a subscription without realizing it.

Persons: Doug Mattison, Mattison, —, he'd, I've, Florencia Marotta, Wurgler, Erin Witte, Witte, you've, TransUnion, Cuban, hadn't, it's, Rachel VonSiebenhoven, VonSiebenhoven, I'm, we've, Letitia James, SiriusXM Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, New York University, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Association of National, FTC, Cuban, Companies, Industries Locations: Ohio, Colorado, New

☆ These dividend-paying stocks could be in the 'early innings' of a rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"As evidenced by XLV [Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund], price is back through the 50 day [moving average] on this relief rally," he said. "Not yet overbought, it looks to us like the early innings of a reacceleration back towards the highs. XLV YTD mountain Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund year to date On top of that rally is the added benefit of dividend payouts on many health care stocks. At least 51% of the Wall Street analysts who cover each stock rates it a buy, according to FactSet data. CI YTD mountain Cigna year to date Cigna beat earnings and revenue estimates in its second quarter when it reported results in August.

Persons: Rob Ginsberg, Abbott, Robert Ford, Dickinson, Cigna, Lina Khan, Merck Organizations: Wolfe Research, SPDR, CNBC Pro, Wall Street, nab, Abbott Laboratories, Company, Cigna's, Federal Trade Commission, CVS Health, UnitedHealth, Merck, Co Locations: . Connecticut

The Federal Trade Commission is announcing a finalized rule to make it easier for people to cancel subscriptions and memberships they just don’t want anymore. When the proposed rule was announced last year, Khan said, the agency got about 16,000 comments expressing how canceling subscriptions had become a headache at best. Khan and the FTC have already taken legal action against Amazon’s Prime division over accusations that it is luring customers into subscriptions that the FTC alleges are extraordinarily difficult to cancel. “Some members have the ability to cancel their membership online based on their membership type and location of their home club,” it said. Nelson said she’d be grateful for the changes Khan and the FTC are proposing.

Persons: Lina Khan, Khan, we’ve, “, ” Khan, that’s, ”, Haley Nelson, didn’t, Nelson, she’d, it’s Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, “, FTC, Amazon’s, Amazon, NBC News, Fitness Locations: U.S, Minnesota

☆ The government steps in to make it easier to cancel your subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule designed to make canceling subscriptions easier. The rule targets "negative option" programs, such as auto-renewing subscriptions. AdvertisementThe government has had it with companies making it difficult for consumers to cancel their subscriptions. The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday announced a final "click to cancel" rule requiring companies to make canceling subscriptions just as easy as signing up for them. Related storiesThe agency said its rule aimed to address common problems with these types of subscriptions, such as companies obscuring the terms of their subscriptions, customers getting billed when they didn't agree to pay, and companies making it difficult or impossible to cancel subscriptions.

Persons: —, Lina Khan Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Service, Wednesday, Federal

☆ The federal government just made it much easier to cancel your gym membership
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The FTC unveiled its final “click-to-cancel” rule, which requires businesses provide a way for consumers to cancel their subscriptions that is just as easy as it is to sign up. That includes everything from gym memberships to digital streaming and e-commerce to cable TV service. “Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription,” said Commission Chair Lina Khan in statement by the FTC. Other times they might’ve been able to sign up online, but in order to cancel they had to call and talk to a representative. Other kinds of memberships required them to actually show up in person to cancel their subscription,” Brett said.

Persons: ”, Lina Khan, Laura Brett, Brett, you’ve, ” Brett, Natnan, ABCmouse, Brian Fung, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Federal, National Advertising Division, BBB

☆ Biden is going after corporate giants for being too big. Here's who he's targeted so far.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . "This is definitely a different agenda than previous presidents," Rebecca Allensworth, an antitrust expert at Vanderbilt University, told Business Insider. AdvertisementHere are some of the biggest companies Khan and Biden have targeted. "I think there's a reason why they have one big monopolization case, at least, against each of the four major American tech companies," Allensworth told BI.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, —, Joe Biden, Rebecca Allensworth, Kamala Harris, Lina Khan, Khan, Rafael Henrique, Merrick Garland, Alain Jocard, Sundar Pichai, Justin Sullivan, Jeff Bezos, EMMANUEL DUNAND, WhatsApp, Allensworth, it's Organizations: Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Service, Vanderbilt University, Big Tech, Federal Trade Commission, Nvidia, OpenAI, Department of Justice, The New York Times, FTC, Getty, Justice Department, Nation Entertainment, Prosecutors, DOJ, The, Department, Amazon, Tech, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Albertsons Companies Locations: OpenAI

☆ Pharmacy deserts are appearing across U.S. as drug stores closures spread
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Kevin Williams | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

"As long as the big three PBMs go unchecked, more pharmacy deserts will appear," Rochol said. Between 2023 and 2024, independent pharmacies in the CVS Caremark pharmacy network were reimbursed 67.5% higher on average than CVS Pharmacy locations, and 51.9% higher than other chain pharmacies in the state. The CVS spokesman also said that CVS pharmacies are not all serviced by Caremark, working with over 70 different PBMs. "There are unfortunately many factors for pharmacy closures in rural areas, including population declines and the growing use of online pharmacies." But Banas believes the pharmacy deserts will only grow, and lead to an increase the number of apps and digitization.

Persons: Rochol, Miranda Rochol, Health —, —, Joyce Dingman, wasn't, Nickerson, David Nickerson, Tim Wentworth, Greg Lopes, Steven C, Anderson, Colin Banas, Banas, it's, Tamera Hughes, Hughes, Rob Anderson Organizations: FTC, Health, Federal Trade Commission, Aids, Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, Cigna, Walgreens Boots, CVS Pharmacy, Caremark, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, National Community Pharmacists, National Association of Chain Drug, U.S, Congress, Amazon, University's, of Pharmacy, Pharmacists, Aid Locations: United States, PBMs, New Lebanon, Ohio, Dayton, New Lebanon's, Rust, New Lebanon , Ohio, Georgia, NACDS

☆ Behind the scenes of the Trump movie Trump doesn't want you to see
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

That's because of a twisty backstory involving gun-shy Hollywood studios, a fledgling producer, and his father-in-law: Dan Snyder, a billionaire Trump supporter who initially bankrolled the movie. Related storiesYou got a Trump supporter to fund this movie, which in no way is a movie a Trump supporter would want to see, let alone fund. And so indirectly, a Republican Trump donor's money was paying for the production of this movie. The nightmare scenario would be that we shoot this movie and then Dan Snyder hates the movie and somehow is able to block it. AdvertisementThis will sound pretty cavalier from me, but: It seems like if there's an "unseeable Trump movie" that is going to immediately make people demand to see it.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman, —, Donald Trump, Gabriel Sherman, Sherman, Roy Cohn, Trump, Sebastian Stan, Bucky Barnes, Cohn, Succession's, Jeremy Strong, you'd, Dan Snyder, humanizes Trump, I've, humanize Donald Trump, I'm, Roger Ailes, It's Donald Trump's, Mark Rapaport, He's, Snyder, Ivana, Dan, who've, unseeable, Jeff Bezos, doesn't, mishegoss, Time Warner Organizations: Trump, Service, Marvel, Hollywood, Fox News, YouTube, Republican, Washington NFL, NFL, Republican Trump, Cannes, Telluride Film, MGM, Washington Post, FCC, Justice Department, Time Warner, CNN, Time, DOJ Locations: New York City, Cannes, French, France, America, Hollywood

☆ What internet data brokers have on you — and how you can start to get it back
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Barbara Booth | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +17 min

Inside data brokers' massive vaultCybersecurity experts estimate that data brokers collect an average of 1,000 data points on each individual with an online presence. Little oversight around data privacyThe lack of comprehensive regulation around data privacy allows data brokers to operate with little oversight, unlike the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. Opt-out links and instructions are readily available for most of the major data brokers: ExperianTransUnionLexisNexisEpsilon But data privacy experts says reclaiming or deleting your data from brokers can be a deliberately complex process that is not only time-consuming but frustrating. "With AI, data brokers will create even more detailed and predictive profiles, incorporating everything from biometric data to behavioral tracking," Abed said. Until regulation steps in, data brokers will continue to collect as much data as possible.

Persons: Pew, Arjun Bhatnagar, Roger Grimes, Jeff Chester, Chester, I'm, Bruno Kurtic, Chris Henderson, Chelsea Magnant, Rob Hughes, Kurtic, Cloaked's Bhatnagar, Henderson, Javad Abed, Abed Organizations: Pew Research, Social, LexisNexis, Epsilon, OneRep, Center for Digital Democracy, D.C, Bedrock Security, National Security Agency, CNBC, Data Protection, European Union, NYU's Center for Global Affairs, Brunswick, RSA, U.S, Consumers, Consumer, Engage, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Locations: Washington, California, U.S, Chester

☆ Judge's ruling against Google in Epic Games case highlights a shift in antitrust law
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A law professor said the ruling shows how antitrust law is used against Big Tech companies. Management and law experts told Business Insider the ruling highlights how antitrust law is being used against Big Tech companies — and could cost Google billions of dollars in lost revenue. Historically, he said, liberal judges tended to favor antitrust law more than conservative ones. When Epic Games' case against Apple was similarly appealed, the Supreme Court denied requests to hear it, leaving Apple with its partial victory. AdvertisementRepresentatives for Epic Games directed Business Insider to a public thread about the Google ruling, posted on X by the company's CEO, Tim Sweeney.

Persons: —, James Donato's, Peter Cohan, Cohan, Apple, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Eric Chaffee, Chaffee, Alden Abbott, Abbott, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney Organizations: Google, Apple, Big Tech, Service, Management, Epic Games, Northern, Northern District of, Babson College, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Epic, DOJ, Business, Mercatus Center Locations: California, Northern District, Northern District of California, United States

☆ AOC promises an 'out-and-out brawl' if Harris removes FTC chair Lina Khan as president
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Alice Tecotzky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AOC tweeted in response to Mark Cuban saying Harris shouldn't keep Khan on as chair of the FTC. AdvertisementRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made it clear that when it comes to economic regulation, Vice President Kamala Harris can't please everyone. AOC took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to respond to comments from billionaire and Harris surrogate Mark Cuban. AdvertisementThroughout the election, Harris has leaned on her California roots to woo business and tech leaders, including Cuban, Reid Hoffman, and Laurene Powell Jobs. Should Harris win the election in less than a month, it remains unclear how she'll handle the looming Khan question.

Persons: Mark Cuban, Harris shouldn't, Harris, hasn't, —, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Kamala Harris, Lina Khan, wouldn't, Semafor, Harris hasn't, Khan —, Gary Gensler, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs Organizations: Service, Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Cuban, Wall Locations: Alexandria, California

☆ CVS, UnitedHealth say FTC should take Lina Khan and two commissioners off drug middlemen case
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group are demanding Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan and two other commissioners recuse themselves from a lawsuit accusing the companies and other drug middlemen of boosting their profits while inflating insulin costs for Americans. In separate motions filed Tuesday night with the FTC, CVS and UnitedHealth argued that all three commissioners have an extensive track record of making public statements that indicate "serious bias" against the companies' so-called pharmacy benefit managers. CVS said those statements demonstrate that the commissioners have "prejudged this matter," so their participation in the case "violates due process." The FTC filed the suit last month against the three largest PBMs, CVS Health's Caremark, UnitedHealth Group 's Optum Rx and Cigna 's Express Scripts. The FTC has been investigating PBMs and their role in insulin prices since 2022.

Persons: Lina Khan, UnitedHealth, Khan, Alvaro Bedoya, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, PBMs Organizations: Financial Services, General Government, Federal Trade Commission, CVS Health, UnitedHealth, Federal Trade, CVS, Amazon, FTC, Zinc Health Services, GPO, Emisar Pharma, OptumRx Locations: Rayburn, U.S, Caremark

☆ Justice Department, FTC warn consumers of fraud, price gouging risks ahead of Hurricane Milton
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As Hurricane Milton approached landfall in western Florida on Wednesday, the Biden administration warned consumers and businesses of the heightened risk of potential fraud, price gouging and collusion that accompanies major natural disasters. Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan said the FTC is "hearing troubling reports of price gouging for essentials that are necessary for people to get out of harm's way — from hotels to groceries to gas." "Companies are on notice: do not use the hurricane as an excuse to exploit people through illegal behavior," said Manish Kumar, a deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. Most states have laws intended to curb price gouging, with many of these restrictions tied to declared states of emergency. Several major airlines and retailers have told CNBC in recent days that they froze prices in advance of the storm.

Persons: Hurricane Milton, Biden, Ronald C, Gathe Jr, Lina Khan, Patrick De Haan, Manish Kumar Organizations: Hurricane, U.S, Middle, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department's Antitrust, CNBC Locations: Florida, Middle District, Louisiana

☆ Supreme Court rejects Martin Shkreli fine appeal
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Supreme Court in rejecting that request did not explain its reason for doing so. Shkreli's request that the Supreme Court take his appeal of federal court decision was his last chance to overturn the penalty related to the drug Daraprim . People pass outside the U.S. Supreme Court on October 7, 2024 in Washington, DC. Shkreli in June asked the Supreme Court to hear his appeal of that ruling, but only as it applied to the financial penalty. The attorney said that the Supreme Court should hear Shkreli's appeal to resolve the so-called circuit split on the question of a defendant's financial liability.

Persons: Martin Shkreli, Benjamin Brafman, Shkreli, pharma bro, Shkreli's Organizations: U.S, CNBC, Federal Trade Commission, pharma, Supreme, Vyera Pharmaceuticals, FTC, Circuit, Appeals Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, U.S, Washington ,, Manhattan, Shkreli, disgorgement

☆ How a teenager used a spoof cell tower to steal personal information from thousands of people
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A New Zealand teenager sent thousands of scam texts using a fake cellphone tower before he was caught. It uses a so-called SMS Blaster to trick cellphones. The FBI and FTC have warned of rising smishing scams in the US. The Federal Trade Commission says that most "smishing" scams in the United States also involve people posing as banks. In 2022, the bureau warned that large-scale smishing campaigns delivered "hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands" of text messages in a matter of hours mimicking the IRS.

Persons: —, Smishing Organizations: FBI, FTC, Service, Police, New Zealand police, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Zealand, New Zealand, United States

☆ Amazon just won a partial victory against the FTC
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon won partial dismissal of an FTC lawsuit alleging illegal monopoly practices. AdvertisementAmazon just won a partial dismissal of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit that accused it of operating an illegal monopoly. In September 2023, the FTC sued Amazon for stifling competition by punishing vendors who sell their items cheaper on rival platforms and for forcing sellers to use Amazon's own fulfillment service. On Monday, a federal judge in Seattle partially granted Amazon's earlier motion to dismiss the case, Reuters reported, citing court records. Last year, the agency sued Amazon in another case, saying it lured unwitting customers into Prime subscriptions and created a "labyrinthine" process to cancel it.

Persons: Biden, — Organizations: Amazon, FTC, Big Tech, Service, Federal Trade Commission, Reuters, Google, Nvidia, Justice, Bloomberg, DOJ, Apple, Activision Blizzard Locations: Seattle, Washington

☆ FTC clears Chevron-Hess deal, bans John Hess from board
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

John Hess, chief executive officer of Hess Corp., speaks at the 2024 CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, US, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The Federal Trade Commission has banned Hess Corp . CEO John Hess from Chevron 's board as a condition for the oil companies' $53 billion merger to move forward. Hess Corp. and Chevron, however, have agreed that they will not appoint Hess to the board in order to facilitate the completion of the merger, according to the companies. The FTC voted 3 to 2 in favor of the order banning Hess from Chevron's board.

Persons: John Hess, Hess, Lina Khan, Andrew Ferguson, Hess's, Ferguson, Scott Sheffield Organizations: Hess Corp, P Global, Federal Trade Commission, Chevron, FTC, ., Exxon Mobil, Exxon, Democratic, Natural Resources, OPEC Locations: Houston , Texas, Chevron, Guyana, U.S

☆ 2024 Election: Crypto Bros Could Swing Votes Toward Kamala or Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Trump and Harris have different reasons to try to attract the crypto community — donors, voters, the fact that the former president likes anyone who flatters him, etc. All of Trump's courting of the crypto industry is possible because Democrats left open an opportunity for him to pounce. In September, he unveiled his own crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. The crypto industry doesn't mind the attention it's getting from policymakers. What Harris or Trump will actually do on crypto is unclear, but that's not really the point right now.

Persons: cryptocurrency, Crypto, Sen, Katie Porter, Jamaal Bowman, Sherrod Brown's, Bernie Moreno, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Trump, Harris, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Andreessen Horowitz, Cameron, Tyler Winklevoss, He's, Adam Kovacevich, Joe Biden's, Gary Gensler, Lina Khan, Biden, Sheila Warren, Brian Hughes, Elizabeth Warren, Jon Tester, Bernie Sanders, Barron, it's, Robert Weissman, he's, She's, Chuck Schumer, Jared Polis of, Anthony Scaramucci, Mark Cuban, Ron Conway, Sherrod Brown, Kamala, she's, Rachael Horwitz, " Horwitz, Harris hasn't, Molly White, Horwitz, It's, There's, Weissman, Dan Cassino, Khan, Warren, that's, Emily Stewart Organizations: Democratic, Sherrod Brown's Republican, Gemini, Facebook, Trump, GOP, Republican, of, Democrats, Securities and Exchange, Federal Trade Commission, Crypto, Innovation, Liberty Financial, Public Citizen, Financial Times, Politico, Gov, Jared Polis of Colorado, Wall Street, Haun Ventures, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Capitol Hill, SEC, FTC, Chamber, Business Locations: Ohio, Wisconsin, Nashville, United States, Silicon Valley, That's, California, New York, America, bitcoin, Washington

☆ Why Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Are Courting the Crypto Crowd
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Trump and Harris have different reasons to try to attract the crypto community — donors, voters, the fact that the former president likes anyone who flatters him, etc. All of Trump's courting of the crypto industry is possible because Democrats left open an opportunity for him to pounce. Related storiesWhile Molly White, a crypto researcher and critic, described Harris' recent statements about crypto as "middle of the road," she said she thought the crypto industry was "definitely taking an optimistic view." The crypto industry doesn't mind the attention it's getting from policymakers. What Harris or Trump will actually do on crypto is unclear, but that's not really the point right now.

☆ Why not everyone is on board with a government crackdown on deceptive online AI products
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FTC is targeting companies that use AI tools or make claims about AI for deceptive practices. The crackdown includes firms that sell AI tools for fake reviews or misleading services. AdvertisementThe Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on companies selling AI tools that it says harm consumers. One company claimed to sell AI "lawyer" services, and multiple companies deceptively claimed to sell AI tools to help build online stores. Related storiesAs annoying as fake reviews can be, not everyone is on board with the FTC crackdown.

Persons: —, Neil Chilson, Chilson, Melissa Holyoak Organizations: FTC, Service, Federal Trade Commission, Abundance Institute, Bloomberg, Rytr, Commission

☆ FTC announces crackdown on 'deceptive AI' businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The alleged schemes included promoting an AI tool that enabled customers to create fake reviews, advertising an AI lawyer that couldn't live up to real-world attorneys and failing to deliver on promises made about AI-assisted e-commerce businesses. "Using AI tools to trick, mislead, or defraud people is illegal," FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in a statement. One of the companies singled out by the FTC, DoNotPay, claimed to offer an AI service billed as the "world's first robot lawyer." The FTC also filed a complaint against an online company that provides AI writing assistance tools. Khan, the FTC Chair, said that by going after companies that use unfair or deceptive AI tools, the FTC "is ensuring that honest businesses and innovators can get a fair shot and consumers are being protected."

Persons: Lina M, Khan, DoNotPay, Ecom Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Builders

☆ FTC cracks down on DoNot Pay, others for 'deceptive AI claims and schemes'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday announced a crackdown on what the regulator called "deceptive AI claims and schemes" by three business opportunity ventures and two companies, including the legal services firm DoNotPay. "Using AI tools to trick, mislead, or defraud people is illegal," FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. "The FTC's enforcement actions make clear that there is no AI exemption from the laws on the book," Khan said. In a complaint, the FTC said that DoNotPay, which touted its AI service as "the world's first robot lawyer," failed to live up to that claim. "Since about 2023, Defendants' deceptive sales pitch has said their business model is powered by artificial intelligence ("AI")," the suit says.

Persons: Lina Khan, Khan, DoNotPay, William Basta, Kenneth Leung Organizations: Financial Services, General Government, Federal Trade Commission, Wednesday, FTC Locations: Rayburn, CapVentures, Los Angeles

☆ Promises of 'passive income' on Amazon led to death threats for negative online review, FTC says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The sender said Sanford, who lives in Springfield, Missouri, would only only be safe if he removed a negative online review. Months earlier, Sanford had left a scathing review for an e-commerce "automation" company called Ascend Ecom on the rating site Trustpilot. The FTC is seeking monetary relief for Ascend customers and to prevent Ascend from doing business permanently. The FTC has also pledged to go after companies that try to suppress negative reviews online as part of new rules issued this year targeting fake reviews. Formed in 2021, Ascend has done business under several entity names with operations registered in states including Texas, Wyoming and California.

Persons: Jamaal Sanford, Sanford, it's, Will Basta, Jeremy Leung Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, YouTube Locations: Robbinsville , New Jersey, Russian, Springfield , Missouri, dropshipping, Texas , Wyoming, California

☆ The biggest single-family home landlord in the US is poised to pay $48 million in settlement with FTC
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Invitation Homes is poised to pay over $48 million in a settlement with the FTC. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe country's largest single-family home rental company is poised to pay more than $48 million as part of a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations that it deceived and overcharged consumers.

Persons: — Organizations: FTC, Service, Federal Trade Commission, Invitation, Business Locations: California

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