FTC Consumer Protection Enforcement in the Digital Economy

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the nation’s leading consumer protection agency.  During its long history, the FTC has used its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act to prosecute unfair or deceptive acts and practices in advertising, consumer finance, and other important areas of the economy.  The FTC has made it clear that the basic standards of Section 5 apply to online, but putting this view into practice can be a challenge.  A single online marketing campaign can raise issues of deceptive advertising, insufficiently disclosed sponsorship or endorsement connections, privacy, and data security.  As the relationships between companies and their consumers, business partners, and service providers grow more complicated, so does complying with Section 5.  

This program, presented by Aaron Burstein, a partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, addresses these issues with a cross-cutting look at the FTC’s recent enforcement actions in the areas of online advertising, privacy, and data security.  The program also reviews recent FTC guidance on endorsements and “native” advertising.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Gain an understanding of how broadly Section 5 of the FTC Act applies to the digital economy
2. Learn about the FTC’s recent enforcement actions against deceptive online advertising (including endorsements and native advertising), privacy, and data security
3. Become familiar with liability under the FTC Act for the acts of business partners
4. Get acquainted with FTC guidance on native advertising and endorsements