Search Results for agency_names:"Federal Trade Commission"

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced updated thresholds for the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. These thresholds determine when companies must notify the FTC and the Assistant Attorney General about mergers or acquisitions and wait before finalizing the deal. The revisions are made annually based on changes in the gross national product. While the notification thresholds are adjusted, the fees associated with filing these notifications have not been updated for inflation in over ten years.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public feedback on its proposal to extend the clearance for collecting information related to its administrative activities for another three years, as per the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This involves responding to applications under the Commission's rules, managing consumer reporting systems, and evaluating the FTC's programs. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments by March 12, 2021, and encouraged to do so online to avoid mail delays. The FTC ensures that no sensitive personal or confidential information is submitted in the comments, as all comments will become part of the public record.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent agreement with Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary Venntel for allegedly violating federal laws by engaging in unfair practices. The companies, which are data brokers, were accused of selling sensitive geolocation data without proper consent, potentially allowing tracking of individuals to places like medical facilities and religious sites. The proposed order aims to prevent future misconduct by prohibiting them from misrepresenting their data practices and from selling location data associated with sensitive locations unless under specific legal circumstances. Members of the public can comment on this agreement until January 6, 2025.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted a proposed consent agreement to address anticompetitive practices by Guardian Service Industries, Inc. The company was found to have used "No-Hire Agreements" that prevented other businesses from hiring its employees, which the FTC claims are unfair methods of competition under federal law. The proposed consent order will make these agreements void and includes measures to inform affected parties. Some FTC commissioners have expressed dissent, arguing that there was insufficient evidence of antitrust violations. The public can submit comments on this proposed agreement until January 6, 2025.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent agreement with Amazon regarding allegations of misappropriated driver tips through its Amazon Flex program. Between late 2016 and August 2019, Amazon allegedly withheld nearly a third of tips that customers intended for drivers, amounting to approximately $61 million, despite claiming to pass 100% of tips to drivers. The agreement requires Amazon to pay back the full amount withheld and prohibits the company from changing its tipping practices without driver consent. The proposal is open for public comments until March 12, 2021, before final approval by the FTC.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public comments on a proposed consent agreement with GoDaddy Inc. due to alleged violations of federal law regarding deceptive practices. The FTC claims that GoDaddy falsely advertised their data security measures as robust while failing to implement adequate security practices, leading to unauthorized access to customers' websites and data breaches. The proposed agreement requires GoDaddy to enhance its data security measures, undergo regular third-party assessments for 20 years, and report additional data incidents to the FTC. These measures aim to prevent future violations and protect consumers' personal information.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent order with Everalbum, Inc. to address allegations that the company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices. The FTC claims that Everalbum misled users about the use of facial recognition technology and the deletion of user data upon account deactivation. The proposed order requires Everalbum to delete certain data and obtain user consent for processing biometric information. The order is open to public comments until February 24, 2021, after which the FTC will decide whether to make it final.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a supplemental notice requesting public comments on proposed changes to a rule that prohibits impersonating government and business entities. This notice included the option for interested parties to voice their opinions at an informal hearing, which focuses on whether to broaden the rule to also ban the impersonation of individuals. Nine organizations have been given the opportunity to present their statements at the upcoming hearing on January 17, 2025. The FTC has chosen not to move forward with a proposal that would hold parties accountable if their goods or services are used in impersonation schemes.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it received a petition for rulemaking from the American Apparel & Footwear Association. The petition requests changes to allow digital labeling of apparel, pursuant to the authority under the Wool Act and Fiber Act. The FTC has published the petition online and is inviting public comments until April 18, 2025. The comments will help the FTC decide whether to take further action on the petition.

The Federal Trade Commission has announced updated thresholds for the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. These changes are required by updates in section 7A of the Clayton Act and the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The revised thresholds pertain to both the jurisdictional limits for mergers or acquisitions and the required filing fees. These updates will take effect 30 days after their publication in the Federal Register.