Hacker News with Generative AI: Consumer Protection

America's consumer watchdog drops leash on proposed data broker crackdown (theregister.com)
Uncle Sam's consumer watchdog has scrapped plans to implement Biden-era rules that would've treated certain data brokers as credit bureaus, forcing them to follow stricter laws when flogging Americans' sensitive data.
Data Privacy, Government Regulations, Consumer Protection
23 points by rntn 6 days ago | 5 comments
CFPB Kills Rule to Shield Americans from Data Brokers (wired.com)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has canceled plans to introduce new rules designed to limit the ability of US data brokers to sell sensitive information about Americans, including financial data, credit history, and Social Security numbers.
Privacy, Consumer Protection, Government Regulation, Data Security, Financial Data
21 points by sebastian_z 8 days ago | 4 comments
Ticketmaster will show the full price of your ticket up front to comply with law (theverge.com)
Ticketmaster will now show how much you’ll pay for tickets — fees included — before checkout.
Ticketmaster, Consumer Protection, Pricing, Transparency, Law
36 points by coloneltcb 11 days ago | 1 comments
CFPB: Withdrawal of Rules, Policy Statements, and Advisory Opinions Since 2011 (federalregister.gov)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is withdrawing many guidance documents issued since the CFPB assumed its functions in 2011.
Financial Regulation, Government, Consumer Protection, Law
18 points by impish9208 11 days ago | 1 comments
The FTC puts off enforcing its 'click-to-cancel' rule (theverge.com)
Companies now have until July 14th to make it as easy to cancel subscriptions as it is to sign up for them.
Consumer Protection, FTC, Regulations, Subscriptions
339 points by speckx 11 days ago | 212 comments
FTC delays enforcement of click-to-cancel rule until July 14 (techcrunch.com)
The Federal Trade Commission voted Friday to delay enforcement of the Negative Option Rule — known widely as the “click-to-cancel” rule requiring companies to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it was to sign up.
Regulation, Consumer Protection, Technology, Business
11 points by mfiguiere 13 days ago | 0 comments
Consumer Watchdog Halts Google Payment Supervision (bloomberg.com)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau discontinued its order designating the supervision of Alphabet Inc.’s Google Payment Corp., reversing a Biden-era decision to monitor the nonbank financial platform.
Financial Regulation, Google, Consumer Protection, Antitrust
5 points by JumpCrisscross 15 days ago | 1 comments
FTC bans hidden fees for live events and short-term rentals, effective May 12 (techcrunch.com)
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday released new documentation detailing its new “Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.” The rule, set to take effect on May 12, prohibits hidden fees for live events, hotels, and short-term rentals. It also bans practices such as “bait-and-switch pricing” and any actions that conceal or misrepresent total prices and fees.
Consumer Protection, Law, Technology, Business
184 points by toomuchtodo 17 days ago | 4 comments
FTC rule on unfair or deceptive fees to take effect on May 12 (ftc.gov)
Consumer Protection, Regulations, FTC, Law
185 points by impish9208 17 days ago | 119 comments
Texas goes after toothpaste in escalating fight over fluoride (arstechnica.com)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating two leading toothpaste makers over their use of fluoride, suggesting that they are "illegally marketing" the teeth cleaners to parents and kids "in ways that are misleading, deceptive, and dangerous."
Health, Politics, Consumer Protection, Fluoride
28 points by coloneltcb 21 days ago | 12 comments
Taxes and fees not included: T-Mobile's latest price lock is nearly meaningless (arstechnica.com)
T-Mobile is making another long-term price guarantee, but wireless users will rightfully be skeptical since T-Mobile refused to honor a previously offered lifetime price lock and continues to fight a lawsuit filed by customers who were harmed by that broken promise. Moreover, the new plans that come with a price guarantee will have extra fees that can be raised at any time.
Telecommunications, Consumer Protection, Lawsuits, Pricing
43 points by hn_acker 21 days ago | 60 comments
FCC Proposes Closing the Non-IP Network Robocall Loophole (docs.fcc.gov)
Telecommunications, Regulation, Consumer Protection, Technology
6 points by impish9208 25 days ago | 1 comments
New smartphone labels for battery life and repairability are coming to the EU (theverge.com)
The European Union has announced details of new mandatory labels for smartphones and tablets sold in the bloc, which include ratings for energy efficiency, durability, and repairability.
Smartphones, EU Regulations, Sustainability, Consumer Protection
9 points by tntpreneur 29 days ago | 1 comments
Issue Spotlight: The rise of surveillance pricing [pdf] (ftc.gov)
Surveillance, Pricing, Privacy, Government, Consumer Protection
6 points by 1vuio0pswjnm7 30 days ago | 0 comments
FTC takes action against Uber for deceptive billing and cancellation practices (ftc.gov)
FTC, Uber, Business Practices, Consumer Protection, Lawsuits
428 points by pinewurst 32 days ago | 267 comments
Tesla odometer uses "predictive algorithms" to void warranty, lawsuit claims (arstechnica.com)
Tesla is facing a new scandal that once again sees the electric automaker accused of misleading customers.
Tesla, Lawsuit, Automotive Industry, Consumer Protection, Predictive Algorithms
16 points by pje 35 days ago | 1 comments
Tesla odometer uses "predictive algorithms" to void warranty, lawsuit claims (arstechnica.com)
Tesla is facing a new scandal that once again sees the electric automaker accused of misleading customers.
Tesla, Lawsuits, Electric Vehicles, Consumer Protection, Algorithms
10 points by mizzao 35 days ago | 0 comments
HP agrees to $4M settlement over claims of "falsely advertising" PCs, keyboards (arstechnica.com)
HP Inc. has agreed to pay a $4 million settlement to customers after being accused of “false advertising” of computers and peripherals on its website.
Lawsuits, Consumer Protection, Technology, HP
9 points by bradac56 36 days ago | 1 comments
The CFPB Has Been Gutted (wired.com)
More than 1,400 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) workers were terminated from their positions on Thursday amid a broader Trump administration shakeup at the independent government agency, sources tell WIRED.
Government, Politics, Finance, Consumer Protection
17 points by leotravis10 36 days ago | 0 comments
Tesla odometer uses "predictive algorithms" to void warranty, lawsuit claims (arstechnica.com)
Tesla is facing a new scandal that once again sees the electric automaker accused of misleading customers.
Tesla, Lawsuits, Automotive Industry, Consumer Protection
11 points by cwal37 36 days ago | 1 comments
Tesla makes its cars lie about their mileage, lawsuit claims (arstechnica.com)
Tesla is facing a new scandal that once again sees the electric automaker accused of misleading customers. In the past, it has been caught making "misleading statements" about the safety of its electric vehicles, and more recently, an investigation by Reuters found Tesla EVs exaggerated their efficiency. Now, a lawsuit filed in California alleges that the cars are also falsely exaggerating odometer readings to make warranties expire prematurely.
Tesla, Lawsuits, Electric Vehicles, Consumer Protection
14 points by LinuxBender 36 days ago | 1 comments
Tesla (TSLA) has to replace computer in ~4M cars or compensate their owners (electrek.co)
Tesla (TSLA) has to replace the ‘self-driving’ computer inside about 4 million vehicles or likely compensate the owners of those vehicles.
Tesla, Electric Vehicles, Lawsuits, Consumer Protection
18 points by ckastner 38 days ago | 1 comments
Beyond Showerheads: Trump's Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos (propublica.org)
Donald Trump makes no secret of his loathing for regulations that limit water and energy use by home appliances.
Politics, Environmental Policy, Consumer Protection, Regulation, Appliances
8 points by rntn 39 days ago | 0 comments
Key principles on in-game virtual currencies in the EU (tiendil.org)
Last month, the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, in coordination with the European Commission, released interesting guidelines on the implementation of in-game currencies.
Virtual Currencies, EU Regulations, Gaming, Consumer Protection
63 points by speckx 42 days ago | 56 comments
Leveraging international standards to protect US consumers without Congress (techpolicy.press)
For decades, the US Congress has been unable to pass comprehensive online platform regulation.
US Policy, Technology, Standards, Consumer Protection
7 points by anigbrowl 44 days ago | 0 comments
UK bans fake reviews and sneaky fees (theguardian.com)
Sneaky fees that are estimated to cost consumers £2.2bn a year are to be banned from today under new consumer protection laws.
Consumer Protection, UK Law, Business Practices
88 points by charlieirish 47 days ago | 57 comments
California Attorney General issues consumer alert for 23andMe customers (oag.ca.gov)
California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing and information company.
Consumer Protection, Health, California, Genetics, Privacy
468 points by thoughtpeddler 62 days ago | 355 comments
Home Sellers and Buyers Accuse Realtors of Blocking Lower Fees (nytimes.com)
A year after a landmark settlement called for a disruption in how real estate agents are paid, people say they still feel forced to pay them excessive commissions.
Real Estate, Business, Lawsuits, Consumer Protection
20 points by lxm 64 days ago | 4 comments
Justice Department Announces Actions to Combat Cost-of-Living Crisis (justice.gov)
The Justice Department today announced that it is taking action in response to President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis.”
Law, Politics, Economics, Consumer Protection
8 points by impish9208 65 days ago | 3 comments
FTC can't afford to fight Amazon's allegedly deceptive sign-ups after DOGE cuts (arstechnica.com)
The Federal Trade Commission is moving to push back a trial set to determine if Amazon tricked customers into signing up for Prime subscriptions.
Amazon, FTC, Lawsuits, Consumer Protection, Business
58 points by unclebucknasty 71 days ago | 10 comments