High insulin prices spur a federal lawsuit against three pharmacy benefit managers
The federal government is suing some pharmacy benefit managers over a system of drug rebates that regulators say has made the price of insulin soar for patients.
FTC report: Social media, streaming companies engaged in mass surveillance, failed to protect kids
A new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reveals that major social media and video streaming services are collecting and monetizing vast amounts of user data, often without adequate protections, especially for children and teens.
Kroger and Albertsons make a final pitch for their merger before a judge decides whether to block it
Kroger and Albertsons have made their final argument in federal court in support of their proposed merger.
FEMA, FTC offer free weather emergency, fraud prevention webinar next week
The federal government is providing a free webinar next week as part of National Preparedness Month to help people stay up-to-date with safety plans in a potential weather emergency or disaster.
Bitcoin ATM scams skyrocket tenfold from 2020 to 2023, FTC says
Cryptocurrency scams are booming, and some scammers are now tapping into Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) to increase their returns after the machines have been popping up in convenience stores, gas stations and other high-traffic areas for years.
CEOs of Albertsons and Kroger says shoppers would see lower prices after merger
The chief executive officers of Kroger and Albertsons have insisted that merging would allow the two supermarket companies to lower prices and more effectively compete with retail giants like Walmart and Amazon.
Scammers working to trick students, parents into paying tuition they donโt owe
College classes may have already begun for most students, but thatโs not stopping scammers from trying to trick students and parents into thinking they havenโt paid their tuition.
Kroger and Albertsons defend merger plan in federal court against US regulators' objections
A lawyer for supermarket chain Albertsons has told a federal judge that the company might have to lay off workers and close stores if its planned merger with Kroger isnโt allowed to proceed.
FTC's bid to ban noncompete agreements rejected by federal judge in Texas
A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission that would have made it easier for employees to quit a job and work for a competitor.
Shopping for college essentials online? Avoid scams with these tips
College students are heading back to classes soon, and many will shop for essentials online to score deals. But those who arenโt taking precautions may run into scammers along the way.
The US government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button
In the name of consumer protection, a slew of U.S. federal agencies are working to make it easier for Americans to click the unsubscribe button for unwanted memberships and recurring payment services.
FTC orders 8 companies to provide information on 'surveillance pricing' practices
The Federal Trade Commission has ordered information from eight companies that the agency says offer products and services that use personal data to set prices based on a shopperโs individual characteristics.
KSAT Money: How to prepare your finances before a natural disaster
Financial readiness is critical before any potential natural disaster to protect your hard-earned money, important documents and possessions. Here are some tips to help get you started.
Keep an eye out! Tips to help you spot severe weather scams, prevent them
Hurricane Beryl continues moving toward Mexico, and scammers could be watching closely to take advantage of disaster situations. The FTC is warning people about what to look out for after a weather emergency to help people avoid scams.
FTC says gig company Arise misled consumers about how much money they could make on its platform
The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against a gig work company, saying it misled people about the money they could make on its platform.
FTC unanimously moves to block Tempur Sealy's purchase of Mattress Firm
The Federal Trade Commission has unanimously voted to bring a lawsuit against mattress maker Tempur Sealy to block its $4 billion acquisition of Mattress Firm, saying the deal would allow the worldโs largest mattress supplier to suppress competition that would result in higher prices for shoppers.
Federal Trade Commission refers complaint about TikTok's adherence to child privacy law to the DOJ
The Federal Trade Commission has referred a complaint against TikTok and its Beijing-based parent company to the Department of Justice.
US antitrust enforcers will investigate leading AI companies Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI
U.S. antitrust enforcers have decided to investigate the roles Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI have played in the artificial intelligence boom, according to people familiar with the pending actions.
Schumer, Democrats urge Justice Department to prosecute alleged oil industry collusion, price-fixing
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and 22 other Democratic senators are calling on the Justice Department to prevent and prosecute alleged collusion and price-fixing in the oil industry.
ConocoPhillips buying Marathon Oil for $17.1 billion in all-stock deal as energy prices rise
ConocoPhillips is buying Marathon Oil in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $17.1 billion as energy prices soar and big oil companies reap massive profits.
KSAT Money: How to avoid & protect yourself from spam texts, emails
Here are some tips to prevent scammers using spam emails and texts from tricking you into giving up sensitive information, such as passwords, bank account numbers and Social Security numbers.
FTC sends $5.6 million in refunds to Ring customers as part of video privacy settlement
The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $5.6 million in refunds to consumers as part of a settlement with Amazon-owned Ring, which was charged with failing to protect private video footage from outside access.
How US changes to 'noncompete' agreements and overtime pay could affect workers
For millions of American workers, the government took two actions this week that could bestow potentially far-reaching benefits.
New federal rule would bar 'noncompete' agreements for most employees
U.S. companies would no longer be able to bar employees from taking jobs with competitors under a rule approved by a federal agency, though the rule is sure to be challenged in court.
Key lawmakers float new rules for personal data protection; bill would make privacy a consumer right
Two lawmakers from opposing parties are floating a new plan to protect the privacy of Americans' personal data.
TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit
A person familiar with the matter says the Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices.
Reddit reveals FTC inquiry into deals licensing its users' data for AI training
Reddit says the Federal Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into the social media platform's sale, licensing or sharing of user posts and other content to outside organizations for use in training artificial intelligence models.
Paying for too many online subscriptions? Here is how to find, cancel them.
Are you paying for many online subscriptions you no longer use or want? Canceling them is not always quick and easy. Here's how to find and cancel them and save money.
Microsoft engineer sounds alarm on AI image-generator to US officials and company's board
A Microsoft engineer is sounding an alarm about offensive and harmful imagery he says is too easily made by the companyโs artificial intelligence image-generator tool.
KSAT Money: How to spot red flags during your job search
Help wanted signs are popping up around town and through job posting websites, giving San Antonians many options to find a new gig. But sometimes, looks can be deceiving if you miss the red flags on a job bulletin.
US sues to block merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, saying it could push prices higher
The Federal Trade Commission is suing to block a proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons.
State governments looking to protect health-related data as it's used in abortion battle
State governments across the U.S. are adopting or considering laws that would block the sale of personal health data or information about who visits sensitive sites such as sexual health facilities.
TurboTax maker Intuit barred from advertising 'free' tax services without disclosing who's eligible
U.S. regulators have barred TurboTax maker Intuit Inc. from advertising its services as โfreeโ unless they are free for all customers, or if eligibility is clearly disclosed.
FTC proposes strengthening children's online privacy rules to address tracking, push notifications
The Federal Trade Commission is proposing sweeping changes to a decades-old law that regulates how companies can track and advertise to children, including turning off targeted ads to kids under 13 by default.
Rite Aid banned from facial recognition tech use for 5 years after faulty theft targeting in stores
Rite Aid has been banned from using facial recognition technology for five years over allegations that a surveillance system it used incorrectly identified potential shoplifters, especially Black, Latino, Asian or female shoppers.
Amazon asks federal judge to dismiss the FTC's antitrust lawsuit against the company
Attorneys for Amazon have asked a federal judge to dismiss the Federal Trade Commissionโs antitrust lawsuit against the e-commerce giant.
FTC opens inquiry of Chevron-Hess merger, marking second review this week of major oil industry deal
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Chevronโs acquisition of Hess oil company, the second inquiry the independent agency has opened this week of a major oil industry merger.
Federal Trade Commission is investigating ExxonMobil's $60B deal to acquire a Texas oil company
Security filings show the Federal Trade Commission is investigating ExxonMobilโs $60 billion deal to acquire a Texas oil company, potentially one the largest energy industry mergers in two decades.
Facebook parent Meta sues the FTC claiming โunconstitutional authorityโ in child privacy case
The parent company of Instagram and Facebook has sued the Federal Trade Commission in an attempt to stop the agency from reopening a 2020 privacy settlement with the company that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18.
FTC warns food industry trade groups and influencers about disclosures on paid social media posts
The Federal Trade Commission says it issued warnings to two food and beverage industry groups, as well as to a dozen online influencers and dieticians for failing to adequately disclose paid social media posts that promoted a sweetener and sugary products.
Amazon used an algorithm to essentially raise prices on other sites, the FTC says
A newly unredacted portion of the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon says the company used a secret algorithm that essentially helped the company raise prices on other online sites.
The White House has proposed cracking down on junk fees. Here's how to avoid them
The Biden administration has proposed increasing transparency around junk fees, which are hidden or misleading charges that increase the total cost of concert tickets, hotel rooms, and other goods and services.
Schumer and other Senate Democrats call for a federal probe of huge oil deals by Exxon and Chevron
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic senators are urging federal regulators to investigate multibillion-dollar acquisitions by oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron, saying the deals could lead to higher prices at the gas pump.
Biden says the FTC's proposed ban on junk fees will help families and 'honest' businesses
The National Apartment Association says President Joe Biden's proposed rule to ban hidden and bogus junk fees could end up increasing the cost of rental housing.
The Amazon antitrust lawsuit is likely to be a long and arduous journey for the FTC
The Federal Trade Commissionโs long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Amazon is the most aggressive move it has taken yet to tame the market power of a company thatโs become synonymous with online shopping and fast deliveries.
Amazon sued by FTC and 17 states over allegations it inflates online prices and overcharges sellers
The Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.
Did your kids buy gear in Fortnite without asking you? The FTC says you could get a refund
The Federal Trade Commission announced late last year that Epic Games would pay $520 million in penalties and refunds to settle complaints revolving around childrenโs privacy and its payment methods that tricked players into making unintended purchases.
US says Elon Musk should not be immune to testifying about the former Twitter
The U.S. government says the former Twitterโs request to end oversight of its data privacy and security practices is โmeritlessโ and owner Elon Musk should not be immune to testifying about the company since he has โfirst-hand knowledgeโ of the conduct being investigated.
Children's advocates ask FTC to investigate Google for targeting ads to kids
Children's advocacy groups including Fairplay and Common Sense Media are asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google, saying the tech giant serves personalized ads to kids on YouTube despite federal law prohibiting the practice.
Investment scams are everywhere on social media. Here's how to spot one
Social media is full of scammers promising guaranteed returns on investment, and consumers lost $3.8 billion to them last year just in the U.S., according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Twitter seeks end to US oversight of data use as FTC's Lina Kahn goes before House committee
Twitter wants a federal court to end an order imposed by the Federal Trade Commission that limits its data security practices.
FTC appeals judge's ruling that would allow Microsoft's Activision Blizzard takeover
The Federal Trade Commission says it it appealing a judgeโs ruling that would have allowed Microsoft to close its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard.
House Republicans interrogate FTC's Khan over regulation of Big Tech
The chair of the Federal Trade Commission has defended her aggressive legal strategy toward the countryโs biggest technology companies as she appeared before the House Judiciary Committee.
Microsoft can move ahead with record $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, judge rules
A federal judge has handed Microsoft a major victory by declining to block its looming $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard.
Amazon is accused of enrolling consumers into Prime without consent and making it hard to cancel
The Federal Trade Commission is suing Amazon for what it calls a yearslong effort to enroll consumers without consent into Amazon Prime and making it difficult for them to cancel their subscriptions.
Microsoft's planned Activision Blizzard merger temporarily blocked by US judge
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Microsoftโs planned $69 billion purchase of video game company Activision Blizzard.
FTC sues to block Microsoft's takeover of video game maker Activision Blizzard
The Federal Trade Commission has sued to block Microsoft from completing its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard, the latest antitrust challenge to the proposed merger but one that could hasten its conclusion.
Microsoft will pay $20M to settle U.S. charges of illegally collecting children's data
Microsoft will pay a fine of $20 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it illegally collected and retained the data of children who signed up to use its Xbox video game console.
Amazon to pay $31 million in privacy violation penalties for Alexa voice assistant and Ring camera
Amazon has agreed to pay a $25 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kidsโ voice and location data recorded by its Alexa voice assistant.
Monopoly concerns push FTC to sue to block Amgen's more than $26B deal for Horizon
Federal regulators are suing to block biotech drug developer Amgenโs more than $26 billion deal for Horizon Therapeutics.
US officials seek to crack down on harmful AI products
The federal government will โnot hesitate to crack downโ on harmful business practices involving artificial intelligence, the head of the Federal Trade Commission warned Tuesday in a message partly directed at the developers of widely-used AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Have trouble canceling a membership? FTC is trying to make is easier
Do you have more trouble leaving a subscription than joining one? Well, the Federal Trade Commission is trying to make that easier for consumers.
FTC probes Twitter data practices after Elon Musk's layoffs
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Elon Muskโs mass layoffs at Twitter and trying to obtain his internal communications as part of ongoing oversight into the social media companyโs privacy and cybersecurity practices, according to documents described in a congressional report.
BetterHelp shared users' sensitive health data, FTC says
The online counseling service BetterHelp has agreed to return $7.8 million to customers to settle with the Federal Trade Commission for sharing with companies including Facebook and Snapchat health data it had promised to keep private.
FTC fines GoodRx for unauthorized sharing of health data
The Federal Trade Commission has imposed a $1.5 million penalty on telehealth and prescription drug discount provider GoodRx Holdings Inc. for sharing usersโ personal health data with Facebook, Google and other third parties without their consent.
Former AT&T customers with unlimited data plans could be eligible for refund
The Federal Trade Commission sued AT&T after claiming the company unfairly reduced data speeds for customers with unlimited data plans and AT&T agreed to settle.
Twitter leak exposes 235 million email addresses from hack
Personal emails linked to 235 million Twitter accounts hacked some time ago have been exposed according to Israeli security researcher Alon Gal โ making millions vulnerable to having their accounts compromised or identities exposed if they have used the site anonymously to criticize oppressive governments, for instance.
Correction: FTC-Noncompete Clauses story
In a story published January 6, 2023, about the Federal Trade Commission's proposed rule to ban employers from imposing noncompete clauses on workers, The Associated Press misspelled the name of an organization.
Microsoft will fight US over $68.7B Activision Blizzard deal
Microsoft is headed for a battle with the Federal Trade Commission over whether the U.S. will block the tech giantโs planned takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard.
Fortnite maker to pay $520M for privacy, e-commerce abuses
The maker of the popular Fortnite video game will pay $520 million in penalties and refunds to settle complaints revolving around childrenโs privacy and its payment methods that tricked players into making unintended purchases.
FTC didn't stop Facebook-Instagram. How about Meta-Within?
Facebook parent Meta is sparring with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over its pending acquisition of virtual reality fitness company Within Unlimited in federal court in San Jose, California.
FTC sues to block Microsoft-Activision Blizzard $69B merger
The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued to block Microsoftโs planned $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard, saying it could suppress competitors to its Xbox game consoles and its growing games subscription business.
Senators to FTC: Probe Twitter security, take needed action
A group of Democratic senators have asked federal regulators to investigate any possible violations by Twitter of consumer-protection laws or data-security commitments.
Meta hits back in fight with FTC over VR company acquisition
Facebook parent Meta struck back in its legal battle with federal regulators over its proposed acquisition of virtual-reality company Within Unlimited and its fitness app Supernatural.
Former Uber security chief guilty of data breach coverup
The former chief security officer for Uber has been convicted of trying to cover up a 2016 data breach in which hackers accessed millions of customer records from the ride-hailing service.
Insider Q&A: Privacy advocate sees growing public alarm
Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, has advocated in Washington for privacy protection over the last 25 years, warning U.S. lawmakers and regulators about growing threats to Americansโ online privacy.
FTC investigating Amazon's $3.9B purchase of One Medical
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Amazonโs $3.9 billion acquisition of the primary health organization One Medical, a move that could delay the completion of the deal.
Walmart seeks to dismiss lawsuit by FTC over money transfers
Walmart has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission that accuses the retailer of allowing its money-transfer services to be used by scam artists.