On November 13, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) sent warning letters to the American Beverage Association (AmeriBev), The Canadian Sugar Institute, and a dozen dietitians and influencers promoting the safety of artificial sweetener aspartame or the
Consumer Protection Connection
Consumer Protection Connection, published by Keller Heckman, focuses on legal developments and regulatory updates related to consumer protection. The blog covers topics such as compliance with state and federal consumer product safety laws, privacy regulations including children’s online privacy, environmental and recycling fee requirements for consumer products, false advertising and sustainability claims, and emerging issues in product labeling and marketing. It serves businesses and legal professionals seeking to understand evolving consumer protection obligations, enforcement trends, and legislative changes affecting product safety, privacy, and environmental compliance.
Latest from Consumer Protection Connection - Page 9
Youth Online Safety in the Crosshairs with NTIA Comment Request and Joint AG Meta Complaint
Children’s and teen’s online privacy and safety – particularly their mental health – continues to be an area of intense scrutiny for lawmakers, regulators, and enforcers. Last May, the Biden administration announced the creation of a new task force focused…
PFAS in Consumer Products: CPSC Requests Input
Joining a growing number of state and federal agencies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) is seeking information on uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. In addition to work it began last year…
California’s AB1305: New Carbon Offset Disclosure Requirements
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law AB1305, another in the line of bills that reflect California’s efforts to tackle climate change. AB1305 amends California’s Health and Safety Code to require certain disclosures from companies that affect claims such…
FTC Proposes New Rule Targeting “Junk Fees”
“Service fees.” “Convenience fees.” Whatever a business calls them, consumers don’t like them, and neither does President Biden. The President has repeatedly pledged to end the practice of imposing what he calls “junk fees.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has…
CA Court Blocks Enforcement of Controversial Children’s Online Privacy Law
On September 18, 2023, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction to NetChoice, a tech umbrella group, against California Attorney General Rob Bonta from enforcing the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA).…
The FTC and the Mere Mention of AI
By Katie Bond & Samuel Butler
The FTC recently announced an enforcement action involving generative artificial intelligence (AI). The most interesting part: it hardly involves AI at all. There is no alleged misuse of AI, and not even allegations of AI actually being used. Rather, the…
SEC Finalizes New Data Breach Reporting Rule; NIST Releases Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
How should companies respond to and report data security breaches nationally? What cybersecurity practices and procedures reflect current best practices? Two federal agency actions provide new rules and guidance and show that the cybersecurity landscape is changing. First, the U.S.…
Ninth Circuit Affirms State Privacy Law Claims Not Preempted by COPPA
On July 13, 2023, a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel denied Google’s challenge of its earlier decision in Jones v. Google, which held that state privacy law claims in a putative class action are not preempted by the federal Children’s…
FTC Seeks Comments on Proposed Facial Age Mechanism under COPPA
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule (COPPA Rule) requires that online sites and services directed to children under 13 obtain parental consent before collecting or using children’s personal information and lists existing methods for such consent. Now the Federal…