CommLaw Monitor

News and analysis from Kelley Drye’s communications practice group

FTC Testimony Signals Possible Increase in “Made in USA” Advertising Scrutiny

On November 27, the FTC Commissioners testified on a range of issues before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security. One excerpt that caught our attention was their…

Judge Upholds FTC Staff Opinion that Avatar Calls are Prerecorded Messages under TSR

Yesterday, a D.C. district court upheld a recent opinion letter issued by FTC staff that extended robocalling restrictions to telemarketing calls that use so-called soundboard technology or “avatars.” This technology…

California Last State to Join Multistate Settlement of Western Union Fraud Schemes

Last week, California became the 50 th state to join the multistate settlement with Western Union over its alleged complicity in fraud-induced wire transfers. This followed Western Union’s $5 million agreement with 49…

New FTC Acting Chair Maureen Ohlhausen Offers Insight into Consumer Protection Priorities

Just over one week after being named acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Maureen Ohlhausen delivered the keynote address at the American Bar Association’s biennial Consumer Protection Conference in…

FTC Cries Foul On Breathometer Accuracy Claims

The FTC recently announced a settlement with Breathometer, Inc ., a company that marketed a smartphone accessory that it claimed could detect blood alcohol levels. Users could simply plug the accessory into the…