Topic: ftc investigation
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Microsoft Emerges as Next Big Tech Antitrust Target
The FTC is investigating Microsoft for potentially exclusionary behavior related to its Azure cloud services and AI industry practices, focusing on business agreements, licensing, and product interoperability. Customer complaints allege Microsoft made it more expensive to run Windows software out...
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FTC Probes OpenAI, Meta Over AI Safety for Kids
The FTC is investigating seven major tech firms to assess how their AI companion tools impact the safety and well-being of children and teenagers. Concerns include inadequate risk assessments, insufficient safeguards, and incidents where AI chatbots have allegedly encouraged harmful behavior amon...
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FTC Investigates Google, Amazon for Ad Pricing Transparency
The FTC is investigating Google and Amazon for potential lack of transparency in their advertising practices, including ad pricing and terms. These inquiries are part of broader regulatory actions against both companies, building on previous antitrust concerns over their market dominance. The inv...
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Clarifai Deletes 3M OkCupid Photos Used for AI Training
Clarifai has permanently deleted three million OkCupid user photos and related AI models following an FTC investigation, highlighting significant user consent and data privacy concerns. The data was transferred in 2014 for AI training without proper user disclosure, and the incident only drew reg...
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Instacart Ends AI Pricing Tests That Raised Prices
Instacart has ended its AI-driven variable pricing tests, ensuring all shoppers now see identical prices for the same items at the same store location, a direct response to customer and regulatory scrutiny. The decision follows an FTC inquiry into the practice, which was revealed by consumer grou...
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FTC Sues Ticketmaster Over Illegal Broker Coordination
The FTC is suing Ticketmaster for allegedly coordinating illegally with ticket brokers to manipulate the market and harm consumers, marking a major push for fairness in the ticketing industry. Ticketmaster is accused of allowing brokers to bypass purchase limits, enabling mass buying and resellin...
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Anonymous App NGL Acquired by Mode Mobile's EarnPhone
NGL, a controversial anonymous messaging app popular with teens, has been acquired by Mode Mobile, the company behind the ad-centric "EarnPhone." The FTC banned NGL from minors and fined it $5 million for deceptive practices, including using bots to send fake messages to drive paid subscriptions....
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FTC Probes Instacart's AI Pricing Tool After Scrutiny
The FTC is investigating Instacart's AI-driven pricing system over concerns it may lead to unfair or discriminatory pricing for essential groceries, following a study revealing significant price discrepancies. Instacart's AI tool, Eversight, uses dynamic pricing, a common strategy that adjusts pr...
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Senator Accuses Microsoft of "Gross Cybersecurity Negligence"
Senator Ron Wyden has called for a federal investigation into Microsoft's cybersecurity practices, citing negligence that has left critical infrastructure vulnerable to attacks. Wyden specifically highlighted a ransomware attack on Ascension Health, where hackers exploited a vulnerability via a m...
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Sen. Wyden Demands FTC Probe Into Ascension Ransomware Attack
Senator Ron Wyden has requested an FTC investigation into Microsoft's cybersecurity practices following a ransomware attack on Ascension that compromised 5.6 million patients' data. The breach was enabled by a contractor clicking a malicious link and attackers exploiting Microsoft's default confi...
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Senator Slams Microsoft Over Windows "Kerberoasting" Vulnerability
Senator Ron Wyden is urging the FTC to investigate Microsoft for cybersecurity negligence due to its default use of the outdated RC4 encryption cipher, which contributed to a major ransomware attack exposing 5.6 million patient records. Wyden accuses Microsoft of making dangerous software enginee...
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Pornhub Settles CSAM Allegations for $5 Million
Pornhub and its parent company Aylo have agreed to a $5 million settlement with the FTC and Utah over allegations of enabling illegal content distribution, including child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual videos. The platform was found to have inadequate content moderation, such as delayin...
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No Evidence for 600,000 'Trump Phones' Sold
The viral claim of nearly 600,000 preorders for the Trump phone is unsubstantiated, originating from a single social media meme post and lacking credible evidence or company confirmation. The false figure gained traction through repetition on social media, was incorrectly cited by some internatio...
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Xbox Game Pass subscriptions fall short of Microsoft targets
Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers have dropped to 30 million, falling well short of Microsoft’s internal target of 77 million by July 2026 and a leaked goal of 100 million by 2030. A nearly 50 percent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate in 2024, intended to cover the cost of adding Call of Duty...
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Texas Sues Tech Giant TP-Link Over Chinese Ties
Texas has sued TP-Link, alleging it conceals its deep ties to China and poses a national security risk by misleading consumers about its supply chain and product origins. The lawsuit claims TP-Link's operational core and nearly all components remain Chinese, making its "Made in Vietnam" assembly ...
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Instacart Settles FTC Deception Claims for $60 Million
Instacart will pay a $60 million settlement to resolve FTC allegations of deceptive advertising, including misleading "free delivery" claims that still required a mandatory service fee. The FTC found Instacart's "100% satisfaction guarantee" to be false, as refunds were often denied for common is...
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