FTC Regulation
FTC Announces Settlement with Chegg for $7.5 Million over its Cancellation Practices
The FTC has recently announced that it has reached a settlement with Ed Tech provider Chegg, a Silicon Valley-based business, for $7.5 million over its cancellation practices. The Complaint charged that Chegg violated ROSCA, 15 U.S.C Sections 8401-8405 by failing to provide simple mechanisms for consumers to cancel their subscriptions. According to the Complaint, Chegg…
Read MoreFTC Secures Order Against Match Group for $14 Million Over Subscription
The FTC has recently announced that it has secured a $14 million order against Match Group on a variety of claims, including misleading users about guarantees and making it difficult for customer to cancel subscriptions. While Match Group businesses are a unique class of dating app businesses, the facts of this case resulting in the $14 million order…
Read MoreFTC Sues LA Fitness Over Recurring Membership Practices
The FTC recently sued nationwide gym chain LA Fitness over its recurring membership and cancellation practices, based on alleged violations of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”), 15 U.S.C. Section 45(a) and Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (“ROSCA”). Although this case involves a gym membership rather than a SaaS…
Read MoreFTC Settles with Amazon over Deceptive Subscriptions
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has just obtained a $2.5 billion settlement against Amazon over its “deceptive” subscription practices. To view the announcement by the FTC click here. Amazon will be required to pay a $1 billion civil penalty, provide $1.5 billion in refunds back to affected consumers, and cease its unlawful enrollment and cancellation practices.…
Read MoreFTC Announces Settlement with Twitter Over Deceptive Use of Account Security Data
The Federal and Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced today a settlement with Twitter, Inc. (“Twitter”) in which Twitter agreed to pay $150 million for its alleged misuse of user account security data, specifically email addresses and phone numbers, for advertising purposes. The government alleged that the misuse of account data was in violation of a 2011…
Read MoreVIZIO Settles with FTC and New Jersey over Data Tracking Practices
VIZIO has settled a case with the FTC and State of New Jersey for $2.2 million, which alleged that the data tracking of smart TVs, which occurred without viewer’s informed consent was “unfair and deceptive” in violation of the FTC Act and New Jersey consumer protection laws. VIZIO to Pay $2.2 Million to FTC
Read MoreShould FTC Regulation Increase Over Commercial Use of Data?
Should the Federal Trade Commission be doing more to regulate how businesses are using consumer data? The LA Times just ran a column by David Lazarus where he took that position and argued that U.S. privacy laws should be more like European privacy laws, where there is a “right to be forgotten.” He makes…
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