The Death of Consumer Protection: How Tech Giants Bypass Regulatory Oversight
The $33 billion merger between X and xAI demonstrates how powerful tech companies now operate beyond meaningful regulatory control. This watershed moment, following the dismantling of net neutrality, signals a troubling future where corporate oversight becomes increasingly performative rather than protective.
FTC Bans GM from Selling Driver Data Following Privacy Investigation
General Motors faces a five-year ban on selling customer driving data after an FTC investigation revealed unauthorized data collection and sharing through its OnStar program. The settlement requires explicit consent for data collection and easier opt-out options for vehicle tracking.
FTC Takes on John Deere in Landmark Right-to-Repair Battle
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against John Deere over restrictive repair policies that force farmers to use only authorized dealerships for equipment repairs. The legal action aims to provide farmers access to repair tools and documentation, potentially revolutionizing how agricultural equipment is maintained.
Location Data Broker's Massive Breach Exposes Privacy Vulnerabilities Following FTC Action
A catastrophic data breach at Gravy Analytics compromised 17 terabytes of sensitive location data from millions of mobile devices, occurring shortly after FTC mandated privacy reforms. The incident exposes widespread collection of user location data through popular apps and raises concerns about industry security practices.
Major Privacy Breach: Data Broker Exposes Location History of Millions Through iPhone App Tracking
A significant security breach at Gravy Analytics has compromised sensitive location data from millions of iPhone and Android users through popular apps. The incident, occurring shortly after FTC restrictions on the company, raises alarming concerns about data broker practices and personal privacy protection.
The Hidden Cost of Targeted Ads: How Real-Time Bidding Enables Mass Surveillance
Every online ad auction broadcasts personal data about billions of users to thousands of companies, creating a massive surveillance backdoor. From data brokers to government agencies, this system enables widespread tracking and profiling with serious privacy and national security implications.
Federal Court Overturns FCC's Net Neutrality Authority in Landmark Ruling
A federal appeals court has invalidated the FCC's authority to impose net neutrality regulations, ruling that broadband providers fall outside the agency's jurisdiction. The decision, influenced by the Supreme Court's reversal of Chevron deference, effectively ends federal efforts to regulate internet service providers through administrative action.
FTC Cracks Down on AI-Powered Weapons Scanner Maker for Misleading Claims
The Federal Trade Commission orders Evolv Technologies to stop exaggerating its AI-based weapons detection system's capabilities after revealing it performs similarly to standard metal detectors at higher costs. The settlement particularly impacts educational institutions, allowing them to cancel contracts following performance issues and misrepresented claims.
FTC Investigates Microsoft's Federal Cybersecurity Contract Practices for Potential Antitrust Violations
The Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into Microsoft's cybersecurity dealings with federal agencies, examining potential antitrust violations in contract procurement. The probe focuses on how Microsoft's free security offerings following the SolarWinds attack led to costly subscription lock-ins for government departments.
Gaming the System: Job Task Scams Drain $220M from Americans in Massive Fraud Wave
The FTC reports a surge in sophisticated job scams using game-like tasks, costing Americans $220M in early 2024 alone. Starting with small payments before pressuring victims to invest, these scams have exploded from zero cases in 2020 to 20,000 complaints this year.