FTC sues Amazon for illegally maintaining monopoly power: /1bit.ly/46nITha Amazon’s ongoing pattern of illegal conduct blocks competition, allowing it to wield monopoly power to inflate prices, degrade quality, and stifle innovation for consumers and businesses /2

We’re live! Watch: #FuneralsFTC kvgo.com/ftc/funeral-ru…

https://twitter.com/FTC/status/1699773293245378963

Commissioner @RKSlaughterFTC is giving introductory remarks. #FuneralsFTC

FTC says Ring employees illegally surveilled customers, failed to stop hackers from taking control of users' cameras. Under proposed order, Ring will be prohibited from profiting from unlawfully collected consumer videos, pay $5.8M in consumer refunds: bit.ly/3qm0J4A /1 FTC charged home security camera company Ring with compromising customers’ privacy by allowing any employee or contractor to access customers’ private videos /2

#BREAKING: FTC seeks to block Microsoft Corp.’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc.: bit.ly/3VGqSWA /1 Agency alleges that maker of Xbox would gain control of top video game franchises, enabling it to harm competition in high-performance gaming consoles and subscription services by denying or degrading rivals’ access to its popular content /2

FTC announces tentative agenda for Dec. 14 Open Commission Meeting: bit.ly/3W175AI #FTCMeeting /1 Business Before Commission:
1. Regulatory Review of Guides for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims: Commission will vote on whether to publish an FRN commencing a regulatory review of Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, or the “Green Guides.” #FTCMeeting /2

#BREAKING: @FTC launches inquiry into prescription drug middlemen industry. Agency to scrutinize impact of vertically integrated Pharmacy Benefit Managers on the access and affordability of medicine: bit.ly/3mlNH1J #PBMs /1 FTC will launch an inquiry into the prescription drug middleman industry, requiring the 6 largest #PBMs to provide information and records regarding their business practices. /2

ICYMI: FTC looks to modernize its guidance on preventing digital deception. As companies wrongly invoke the guide to justify deception, agency seeks public input on possible revisions around #DarkPatterns & other deceptive tactics: bit.ly/3aIT6gK #marketing #advertising FTC staff is seeking comment on the following:
- use of sponsored and promoted advertising on social media;
- advertising embedded in games and virtual reality and microtargeted advertisements; /2

New: FTC sues Intuit for its deceptive Turbotax “free” filing campaign. Commission seeks an immediate halt to Intuit’s deceptive ads for “free” products: bit.ly/3NGDVUm Commission alleges the company’s ubiquitous advertisements touting their supposedly “free” products—some of which have consisted almost entirely of the word “free” spoken repeatedly—mislead consumers into believing that they can file their taxes for free with TurboTax. /2

Starting soon! @FTC and @JusticeATR will hold the first listening session on the effects of #mergers and acquisitions in food and agriculture markets. More: bit.ly/3Dqh1M7

Watch here: kvgo.com/ftc/doj-merger… #MergerForums And...we’re live for the first listening forum on the firsthand effects of #mergers and acquisitions. Today's session is on food and agriculture markets. Watch here: kvgo.com/ftc/doj-merger… #MergerForums

FTC charges HomeAdvisor, Inc. with cheating small businesses seeking leads for home improvement projects. Since 2014, Angi affiliate has misrepresented the quality, source of leads, and likelihood they would result in actual jobs, agency alleges “Gig economy platforms should not use false claims and phony opportunities to prey on workers and small businesses,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

FTC and @JusticeATR seek to strengthen enforcement against illegal mergers. Agencies launch joint public inquiry aimed at modernizing merger guidelines to better detect and prevent anticompetitive deals: bit.ly/3IfiWEr /1 Recent evidence indicates that many industries across the economy are becoming more concentrated and less competitive – imperiling choice and economic gains for consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. /2

#BREAKING: @FTC today sued Facebook (FB), alleging that the company is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct: go.usa.gov/xAqQs 1/12 Complaint alleges FB engaged in a systematic strategy—including its 2012 acquisition of Instagram, its 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers—to eliminate threats to its monopoly: go.usa.gov/xAqQM 2/12

Reports about the release of #COVID19 vaccines by the end of the year are promising, but plans for distribution are still being worked out. Know that COVID-19 vaccines are in the pipeline and scammers won’t be far behind. More: go.usa.gov/x7hnM #COVID19Vaccine

1/4 Remember these tips to avoid COVID-19 vaccine scams:

❌You can't pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.

THAT'S A SCAM!

#COVID19Vaccine #COVID19

2/4

#Breaking: FTC announces settlement with @zoom_us requiring the company to implement a robust information security program, settling allegations it engaged in deceptive and unfair practices that undermined the security of its users: go.usa.gov/x7NaE 1/6 Zoom agreed to establish and implement a comprehensive security program, is prohibited from making privacy and security misrepresentations, and must implement other detailed and specific relief. 2/6

#BREAKING: FTC to examine past acquisitions by large tech companies. Agency issues 6(b) orders to Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Apple Inc., Facebook, Inc., Google Inc., and Microsoft Corp.: go.usa.gov/xdXEG 1/7 FTC has issued special orders to 5 large tech firms, requiring them to provide information about prior acquisitions not reported to the antitrust agencies under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. 2/7

The @FTC is accepting public comments on topics for the Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century through 8/20/18. Submit your comments today: ftc.gov/policy/advocac… Topics available for public comment include:

The state of #antitrust and consumer protection law and enforcement, and their development, since the Pitofsky hearings: regulations.gov/docket?D=FTC-2…