Since updating its Endorsement Guides in 2015 to keep pace with the meteoric rise of social media and influencers in marketing, the FTC has placed a significant emphasis on the need to disclose material connections between advertisers and endorsers. Through its Guides, informal business guidance, blog posts, warning letters, and multiple enforcement actions, the FTC has deployed virtually all of the tools in its proverbial tool box to combat what it…

On September 20, 2018, the FTC and Utah Department of Commerce held a symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah, discussing, among other things, how the two work together to combat consumer fraud in various areas. The panels provided a unique insight into how law enforcement agencies coordinate and their respective priorities. Below are two key takeaways from the various panels. State and Federal Agencies Are Working Together Although it may seem like no one is…

Back in February we blogged about Acting Chair Ohlhausen’s first keynote address in which she outlined her three consumer protection priorities. Consistent with those priorities, in April, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its agenda to eliminate wasteful, unnecessary regulations and processes. Within the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, the FTC’s goals included an effort to streamline demands for information in investigations and improve transparency in its investigations. Last week, the FTC announced process reforms…

In this issue we discuss that under the cloud of speculation hanging over the CFPB they continue to launch supervisory examinations and enforcement investigations, and also held a public event on June 22 discussing the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program. Also in this issue is commentary around a top state regulator issued a reminder to obtain prior approval of acquisitions or changes in control, the division between the courts on the ALJ Appointments issue and…

Lots of folks were wondering whether at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) it was “School’s Out” with a shortage of Commissioners and a new administration in the White House. A recent case involving the telemarketing of student loan debt relief services makes clear that, at least in certain areas, school is still in session. The case also highlights the growing regulatory scrutiny on the student loan space. In obtaining a temporary restraining order…

A circuit split regarding the SEC’s administrative law judges, an internal CFPB playbook and memo on their examination process, and a recent field hearing on small business lending are at the forefront of the May 18 edition of Venable’s Consumer Financial Services Digest. In this issue, we highlight the circuit split between the Tenth Circuit and the D.C. Circuit regarding the status and appointment of the SEC’s administrative law judges. We take a look at the CFPB’s…

Despite facing significant legal challenges and a shifting political landscape, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is virtually unrestrained in its ability to launch investigations and threaten enforcement actions. We’ve obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request the most recent official CFPB Enforcement Policies and Procedures Manual Version 2.0. The Enforcement Policies and Procedures Manual “is the source for policies governing the work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Enforcement.” As…