FTC

Grubhub to pay $25M for ‘deceptive’ practices against customers, drivers

Apps /

Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul over unlawful practices, including misleading customers about delivery costs, deceiving drivers about potential earnings, and listing restaurants on its platform without their permission. The agencies claim that Grubhub hid the true cost of its delivery […]

Grubhub to pay $25M for ‘deceptive’ practices against customers, drivers Read More »

FTC bans hidden junk fees in short-term lodging, live-event ticket prices

Government & Policy /

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission passed a rule on Tuesday banning hidden “junk fees” for live events, hotels, and vacation rentals. The agency says the new rule prohibits “bait-and-switch pricing,” and other practices that hide total prices and bury junk fees in the live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries, noting that these “unfair and deceptive”

FTC bans hidden junk fees in short-term lodging, live-event ticket prices Read More »

FTC distributes $72M to Fortnite customers tricked into making unwanted purchases

Gaming /

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Monday announced that it’s sending the first round of payments to consumers tricked by Fortnite maker Epic Games into making unwanted purchases, with refunds totaling over $72 million. The settlement, first announced in December 2022 and finalized in March 2023, fined the game $245 million for its “counterintuitive, inconsistent,

FTC distributes $72M to Fortnite customers tricked into making unwanted purchases Read More »

FTC bans two data brokers from collecting and selling Americans’ sensitive location data

Security /

Two U.S. data brokers have agreed not to collect private location data on Americans as part of a pair of settlements with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which accused the companies of unlawfully tracking millions of people near to sensitive locations like healthcare facilities and military bases. The two settlements, announced Tuesday, will prohibit Virginia-based

FTC bans two data brokers from collecting and selling Americans’ sensitive location data Read More »

FTC fines online retailer Goat $2M over deceptive ‘Instant’ and ‘Next Day’ orders

Government & Policy /

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered Goat, an online marketplace for sneakers and apparel, to pay more than $2 million to consumers over illegal shipping practices. The FTC also alleges that Goat fails to honor its “Buyer Protection” policies. In a complaint, the agency outlined that Goat has failed to ship many orders

FTC fines online retailer Goat $2M over deceptive ‘Instant’ and ‘Next Day’ orders Read More »

FTC reportedly opens antitrust investigation into Microsoft

Government & Policy /

The FTC has launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft, according to multiple reports that corroborate earlier reporting by the Financial Times. The agency is said to be looking into whether Microsoft violated antitrust law in multiple segments of its business, including its public cloud, AI, and cybersecurity product lines. Of particular interest to the FTC

FTC reportedly opens antitrust investigation into Microsoft Read More »

Uber’s subscription service reportedly target of FTC probe

Transportation /

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Uber over whether it broke consumer protection laws by allegedly automatically signing people up for its Uber One subscription service and making it hard to cancel, according to Bloomberg News. The investigation was opened earlier this year after the FTC received customer complaints. Uber told Bloomberg that its cancellation

Uber’s subscription service reportedly target of FTC probe Read More »

FTC finds that smart device makers fail to make clear how long their products will be supported

Hardware /

A new paper from the Federal Trade Commission found that many smart device makers fail to disclose to consumers how long they will provide software updates for their products. The agency looked at 184 different smart devices, ranging from hearing aids to security cameras, and found that nearly 89% of them don’t provide buyers with

FTC finds that smart device makers fail to make clear how long their products will be supported Read More »

FTC reportedly begins investigating Microsoft’s cloud business practices

Government & Policy /

The FTC is reportedly readying an investigation into whether Microsoft used anti-competitive tactics to maintain a dominant position in the cloud market. According to the Financial Times, the agency is looking into allegations that Microsoft imposed punitive licensing agreements to prevent customers from moving data off its platforms. Sources told FT that the FTC is

FTC reportedly begins investigating Microsoft’s cloud business practices Read More »