Tag archives: FTC

FTC on crypto scammers and plans to modernize guidance to prevent digital deception

By Susan Ross (US) and Paul Guirguis (US) on June 15, 2022 Posted in Fraud

As a follow up to our previous posts on digital assets and social media, the Federal Trade Commission recently published a Consumer Protection Data Spotlight on June 3, 2022. In the post, the FTC provides insights on the fraud reports submitted to the FTC from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. According to the … Continue reading

FTC, celebrity influencers, and health claims

By Susan Ross (US) on June 17, 2020 Posted in General

As the world struggles to move forward, our thoughts and support are with our readers and we hope for their good health and improving situations. Today’s post involves an FTC settlement that was announced just as New York was going into “lockdown” mode and so we wanted to make sure it did not escape your … Continue reading

Pixels + Social Media Influencers – Authenticity = Virtual Influencers

By Kajon Pompey (US) on February 26, 2020 Posted in General

Social media influencer marketing has had a significant impact in the way brands reach consumers worldwide. Social media influencers are very important to platforms such as YouTube and Instagram and even more so to brands. As independent contractors, social media influencers garner more outreach than any company’s advertising team could ever hope to accomplish. From … Continue reading

Social media influencers and FTC disclosures

By Susan Ross (US) on December 5, 2019 Posted in General

On November 4, 2019, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued guidance for social media influencers to help them comply with FTC requirements relating to endorsements and disclosures. We have previously covered FTC action and guidance (including advisory letters) in this area, but the FTC has refined and updated its advice a bit:… Continue reading

Deception sells: The current theme in the age of social media

By Kajon Pompey (US) on November 26, 2019 Posted in Fraud

In this age of social media, companies and brands have faced countless criticisms for their lack of transparency, copyright infringements disguised in the form of “flattery or inspiration” and we can’t forget the many inclusivity flops. Brands, including beauty brands, are now dedicating more of their marketing budgets to paying influencers for their “honest” reviews … Continue reading

The Right to Write

By Caleb Segrest (US) on July 2, 2019 Posted in General

How important are online reviews in your shopping experience? Many rely heavily on consumer reviews in order to generate business. But what happens when instead of providing customers the candid information that they deserve, companies try to silence their critics in order to improve their online reputation? In recent years, companies selling products and services … Continue reading

Celebrity Endorsements, Cryptocurrencies, and Initial Coin Offerings

By Susan Ross (US) on November 15, 2017 Posted in General

Our readers may recall that 2017 brought warning letters from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to celebrities who had posted some photos on Instagram and the FTC has recently taken action regarding some undisclosed “material connections.” A post on our sister blog, Regulation Tomorrow, describes the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s recent warnings about celebrity … Continue reading

FTC and Social Media Influencer Endorsements

By Susan Ross (US) on September 19, 2017 Posted in General

On September 7, 2017, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it had entered into a proposed consent agreement with two individuals and their company that allegedly ran an online gaming community website that allowed users to gamble virtual currency. According to the FTC complaint, the two individuals promoted the gaming site and not … Continue reading

FTC, Instagram Posts, and Endorsement Guides

By Susan Ross (US) on May 25, 2017 Posted in General

On May 4, 2017, the public received access to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) advisory letters to approximately 45 companies and 45 celebrities/bloggers relating to potential “endorsements” on Instagram. As a result, we now have some additional guidance on the FTC’s expectations with respect to its Endorsement Guides.… Continue reading

Advertising on the Internet – What Makes a Disclosure “Clear and Conspicuous”?

By Mayura Noordyke (US) on April 11, 2017 Posted in General

Increasingly, companies are turning to the internet and social media platforms to advertise their products, often by using native advertising or by providing incentives such as payments or free products to social media “influencers” (Instagrammers, Pinners, Bloggers and Vloggers, to name a few) in exchange for an endorsement. As we have previously discussed, the FTC … Continue reading

President Obama signs the “Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016”

By Caleb Segrest (US) on December 19, 2016 Posted in Defamation

On Thursday, December 15, 2016, President Obama signed into law H.R. 5111, now officially titled the “Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016.” The substantive provisions of the bill, which we discussed in a previous post, are virtually unchanged, but the law’s text provides further details regarding enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and the states. … Continue reading

Who paid you to post that? Truth and Transparency in International Advertising

By Karen Sie (CA) on December 5, 2016 Posted in General

Social media personalities who have tweeted, grammed, Vine’d and snapped their way to stardom have no doubt caught the attention of businesses large and small. Much like how professional athletes and other celebrities are paid to endorse products, businesses and retailers have increasingly turned to recognized social media personalities (often called “influencers”) to recommend their … Continue reading

Instant Fame and the FTC Endorsement Guides

By Jeff Pettit (US) on June 30, 2016 Posted in General

Native advertising—or advertising that appears to match the form and function of the platform upon which it appears—and social media endorsements provide considerable opportunities for companies to strengthen their brands and reach consumers in innovative ways. More and more, “influencers” like Instagram “models,” fashion and lifestyle bloggers, “pinners,” and “vloggers” are joining the ranks of … Continue reading