In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "The FTC’s Mission: Competition and Antitrust," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta explores something that's not in the consumer protection wheelhouse, but is part of the FTC's mission, competition and antitrust. Mr. DiResta highlights the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act that Congress was able to pass, which will increase filing fees for many transactions, including a new maximum fee. The filing fees will be used to increase resources for both the FTC and U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division. He also breaks down how aggressive and progressive the FTC is from a regulatory standpoint and the regulation needed to control markets.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "The FTC Agenda & Data Privacy," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta discusses the Federal Trade Commission's agenda around data privacy. Mr. DiResta explains that while data privacy remains a top priority on President Biden's agenda, the current FTC composition has changed significantly in recent months. President Biden is calling on Congress to ban targeted advertising to children and impose stricter limits on the personal data that companies collect.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "The FTC's Regulation of Social Advertising," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta breaks down 16 key highlights that Michael Ostheimer shared about regulation of social media, advertising and the law, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Mr. Ostheimer is a senior attorney in the FTC's division of Advertising Practices who specializes in social media advertising and governmental law enforcement investigations.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "The FTC's Proposed Rule to Fight Impersonation Scams," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta discusses the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) proposal for a new rule to tackle government and business impersonation scams. The proposed rule aims to hold impostors and those providing the means for such scams accountable by codifying the laws protecting consumers from these activities. Mr. DiResta highlights an increase in scams since the COVID-19 pandemic and explains how the proposed rule targets deceptive practices such as false affiliation claims and misuse of logos. Despite limitations from the AMG Capital case, the FTC continues its commitment to consumer protection.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "The CFPB's Proposal to Create a Public Registry," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta dives into the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) proposed rule to establish a public registry of supervised nonbanks' terms and conditions in form contracts that potentially waive or limit consumer rights and protections. Mr. DiResta explains the CFPB's origin, purpose and defined role as a federal consumer protection agency with circumscribed powers. The CFPB was not designed to act as a legislative body or as a platform to publish information. According to the bureau, the proposed public registry will increase market transparency and improve governmental and regulatory oversight.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "The FTC's Click to Cancel Proposal," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta discusses the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) latest proposed rule that aims to make it easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions. Mr. DiResta examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of the new proposed rule while detailing the various updates the FTC is proposing to its negative option rule. If your business practices use negative options, this is an important development to watch.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "Junk Fees: It’s a Political Issue," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta continues the discussion of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) interest in hidden fees. This episode focuses on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) actions and concerns, focusing on surprise overdraft fees.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "Junk Fees: What's the Flap All About," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta discusses the political and regulatory background of junk fees, with a focus on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He explains the Junk Fees Prevention Act and the FTC's proposed rule to address deceptive or unfair junk fees. Mr. DiResta outlines specific practices targeted by the commission and emphasizes the importance of companies closely monitoring developments and revising their fees policies proactively. Stay tuned for part two, which will examine the role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in addressing hidden fees.

In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "Uncovering the FTC's Criminal Liaison Efforts," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta discusses the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Criminal Liaison Unit (CLU) and its role in consumer protection and enforcement activity. Established 20 years ago, the CLU refers criminal cases related to consumer fraud to prosecutors, resulting in 145 convictions and 746 years of total sentencing over the past five years. The podcast outlines the history, strategy and operations of the CLU and its relationships with various law enforcement entities. The key takeaway emphasizes the importance of compliance and risk management in avoiding potential investigations and ensuring fair business practices.

In the eighth episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, "Navigating Social Media and Advertising Law with the FTC," consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta discusses the regulation of social media and advertising practices according to the FTC. His insights are based on a conversation he had with Michael Ostheimer, a senior attorney in the FTC’s Division of Advertising Practices. Topics covered include the upcoming FTC amendments on testimonials and endorsements, proper disclosure requirements on social media and an increased focus on health product enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The podcast emphasizes the importance of businesses staying informed about emerging trends and regulatory requirements in the social media advertising sphere.