Legal Resources
Roundtable on the FTC Jewelry Guides
June 19, 2013A public roundtable to consider possible changes to the FTC's Jewelry Guides
Senior Identity Theft: A Problem in this Day and Age
May 26, 2013National forum to explore how ID theft affects older Americans, including discussions of medical identity theft, tax- and government benefits-related ID theft, and the special issues facing consumers who live in assisted living or nursing homes
Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book (2012)
February 26, 2013Report analyzing consumer complaints received by the FTC in 2012, including a list of the Top 10 Consumer Complaints and complaint data by state and metropolitan area
The Structure and Practices of the Debt Buying Industry
January 30, 2013The first empirical study of debt buyers, companies in the business of buying consumer debts and trying to collect on them
Cigarette Report for 2009 and 2010
September 21, 2012Report on cigarette sales, advertising, and promotion covering 2009 and 2010
Smokeless Tobacco Report for 2009 and 2010
September 21, 2012Report on smokeless tobacco sales, advertising, and promotion for 2009 and 2010
In Short: Advertising & Privacy Disclosures in a Digital World
May 30, 2012Following up on the FTC's 2000 "Dot Com Disclosures" publication, a national workshop to consider the need for new guidance concerning effecting advertising and privacy disclosures in online and mobile environments
Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: Recommendations for Businesses and Policymakers
March 26, 2012FTC report calling for privacy by design, simplified choices for businesses and consumers, and greater transparency about information collection and use
The Road Ahead: Selling, Financing, and Leasing Motor Vehicles
November 17, 2011National workshops in Detroit, San Antonio, and Washington, D.C., to explore the consumer protection issues that arise in the sale, financing or leasing of motor vehicles
Fur Rules Public Workshop
November 16, 2011Workshop on whether to amend the FTC’s Name Guide that lists the common animal names that are allowed on fur labels
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Annual Report - 2011
March 22, 2011Report to Congress summarizing the administrative and enforcement actions taken in 2010 under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act aiming to curtail abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices in the marketplace.
Business Opportunity Rule: Staff Report
October 28, 2010FTC staff report recommending that coverage of the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule be expanded to include work-at-home opportunities such as envelope stuffing, medical billing, and product assembly, many of which have not been covered before.
Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration: A Roundtable Discussion
December 4, 2009Series of roundtables to examine consumer protection issues in debt collection proceedings against consumers.
Cigarette Sales and Marketing Expenditures Report - 2006
August 12, 2009Report on cigarette sales, advertising, and promotion covering 2006.
Smokeless Tobacco Sales and Marketing Expenditures Report - 2006
August 12, 2009Report on smokeless tobacco sales, advertising, and promotion covering 2006.
Business Opportunity Rule Workshop
June 1, 2009Workshop explored proposed changes to the Business Opportunity Rule, including issues relating to the effectiveness of a proposed one-page Business Opportunities Disclosure Form that sellers of business opportunities would be required to provide to prospective purchasers.
Best Practices for Business: Protecting Personal Information and Fighting Fraud with the Red Flags Rule
April 29, 2009Series of workshops that focused on how businesses can better secure personal information, implement best practices for developing an appropriate data security program, and respond to data breaches and other privacy and security threats.
Consumer Protection & the Debt Settlement Industry
September 25, 2008Workshop exploring the growth of the for-profit debt settlement industry and analyzing how its model is affecting consumers and businesses.
Pay On The Go: Consumers and Contactless Payment
July 24, 2008Town Hall meeting exploring the growth of contactless payment systems and their implications for consumer protection policy. This meeting built on a 2006 hearing which examined technological and business developments expected to shape consumers' experiences over the next ten years.
Green Building & Textiles
July 15, 2008Workshop that examined developments in green building and textiles claims and consumer perception of such claims. This workshop was one component of the Commission's regulatory review of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.