FTC

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digitpatrox1 week ago
25

FTC warns of online task job scams hooking victims like gambling

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns about a significant rise in gambling-like online job scams, known as “task scams,” that draw people into earning cash through repetitive tasks, with the promises of earning more if they deposit their own money. Although this type of scam was nearly non-existent in 2020, with the FTC receiving zero reports, the agency documented 5,000…
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digitpatrox2 weeks ago
23

Trump’s pick for FTC chair promises to go after ‘censorship’ from tech companies

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Andrew Ferguson to be the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission. Ferguson will take over for Lina Khan, who has earned praise from Vice President-elect J.D. Vance for her efforts to fight big tech. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great…
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digitpatrox2 weeks ago
21

FTC distributes $72 million in Fortnite refunds from Epic Games

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $72 million in Epic Game Fortnite refunds for the company’s use of dark patterns to trick players into making unwanted purchases. This is part of the record-breaking $245 million settlement the agency reached with the game publisher in December 2022. The settlement addressed allegations that Epic Games used “dark patterns” to trick players…
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digitpatrox3 weeks ago
32

Microsoft facing FTC antitrust probe over cloud, AI competition concerns

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating Microsoft over antitrust issues, according to sources cited in multiple reports. While the reports suggest the FTC is examining multiple facets of Microsoft’s business, including AI, Office, and security, the focus appears to be cloud computing and how its Azure services are bundled with its other products and services. According to the…
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digitpatrox3 weeks ago
28

FTC opens antitrust investigation into Microsoft’s cloud, AI, and cybersecurity practices – Computerworld

Focus on market dominance and security practices The investigation centers on Microsoft’s bundling of office productivity and security software with its cloud services, a practice critics argue disadvantages competitors in the authentication and cybersecurity markets. The FTC is particularly examining Microsoft Entra ID, its user authentication service, amid complaints that licensing terms and integration with its cloud offerings impede rival…
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digitpatrox3 weeks ago
31

FTC changes its telemarketing rules to cover growing ‘tech support scam’ calls

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized amendments to its Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), making it easier to protect consumers who are tricked into paying scam tech support companies. The FTC could already go after these fraudster companies if they initiated calls to people — now, they can do the same thing if people call the scammers too. Fake tech…
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digitpatroxNovember 17, 2024
43

The FTC says spam call complaints are way down since 2021

Complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls have dropped for the third straight year, the Federal Trade Commission announced yesterday. Reports of such calls have fallen by over 50 percent versus 2021, according to the FTC — a decline that could be thanks in no small part to stepped-up government efforts to fight irritating telemarketing and phone scams. There were about 33,000…
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digitpatroxNovember 16, 2024
158

FTC eyes Microsoft’s cloud practices amid anti-trust scrutiny – Computerworld

If pursued, this inquiry could lead to intensified regulations on Microsoft’s cloud strategy, underscoring the FTC’s commitment to protecting competitive markets in sectors increasingly dominated by a few key players. Neither the FTC nor Microsoft has publicly commented on the matter. “Moving forward, all hyperscalers should commit to the interoperability of their cloud solutions in both intent and practice,” Jain…
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digitpatroxNovember 16, 2024
157

FTC reports 50% drop in unwanted call complaints since 2021

On Friday, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that the number of consumer complaints about unwanted telemarketing phone calls has dropped over 50% since 2021, continuing a trend that started three years ago. This year, the FTC has received 1.1 million reports regarding robocalls, down from 1.2 million one year before 2023 and from more than 3.4 million in 2021. According…
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digitpatroxNovember 13, 2024
50

Meta must face FTC trial that could separate Instagram and WhatsApp

Meta must face the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit that accuses the company of dominating the social media industry through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, a DC District Court Judge ruled on Wednesday. Meta once again asked the court to dismiss the FTC’s case in April. Boasberg has now ruled largely in favor of the FTC, though he dismissed a claim…
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