FTC Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Federal trial over grocery chain merger begins in Oregon

By Lauren Gallup August 26, 2024

Workers spoke at a summit for workers' rights in Tacoma in July. This included grocery store workers, who spoke about concerns with inadequate staffing.

In Portland, Oregon, a federal judge is set to hear arguments this week in a case brought by the Federal Trade Commission against the proposed merger between the two grocery store chains, Kroger and Albertsons. Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, joined other members of Congress in filing an amicus brief opposing the merger. Read More

Facebook Gets Reprieve As Court Throws Out Major Antitrust Complaints

By NPR News June 28, 2021

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies remotely during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on October 28, 2020. CREDIT: Pool/Getty Images

A federal judge has dismissed two blockbuster antitrust complaints against Facebook, in a setback to federal and state prosecutors who were pushing for a break-up of the social media giant.Read More

Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, Others Ordered To Explain What They Do With User Data

By NPR News December 15, 2020

The Federal Trade Commission gave nine social media and tech companies 45 days to hand over details on how they collect user data. It is the latest move by government actors to regulate Big Tech. Read More

48 AGs, FTC Sue Facebook, Alleging Illegal Power Grabs To ‘Neutralize’ Rivals

By NPR News December 9, 2020

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a House Financial Services Committee hearing in 2019. CREDIT: Andrew Harnik/AP

The state and federal officials say Facebook's acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram violated competition laws and served to stifle rivals by giving the social network an unfair advantage.Read More

Judge Rules In Favor Of T-Mobile Takeover Of Sprint

By NPR News February 11, 2020

A federal judge ruled in favor of T-Mobile's takeover of Sprint in a merger that would combine the country's third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers. CREDIT: Bebeto Matthews/AP

The proposed merger "is not reasonably likely to substantially lessen competition" in the mobile wireless market, the judge said. The deal would unite the nation's third- and fourth-largest carriers.Read More

University Of Phoenix Reaches $191 Million Settlement With FTC Over Deceptive Ads

By NPR News December 10, 2019

The FTC said the University of Phoenix's ads sought to mislead prospective students by suggesting the school had close ties to Twitter, MGM and other large companies. University of Phoenix via FTC

The school has 15 business days to inform eligible students, "You no longer owe any money to University of Phoenix. You don't have to do anything to get this relief."Read More

Google, YouTube To Pay $170 Million Penalty Over Collecting Kids’ Personal Info

By NPR News September 4, 2019

Google and its YouTube subsidiary are settling allegations that YouTube collected personal information from children without their parents' consent, the Federal Trade Commission said.Read More

Did Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Intend To Deceive In Sharing User Data?

By NPR News July 28, 2019

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on April 11, 2018. Andrew Harnik/AP

Regulators missed a chance to find out if deceptive practices at Facebook came from the top when they decided to enter into a settlement with Zuckerberg instead of questioning him, an FTC member says.Read More

Uber Pays Nearly $150 Million Over Yearlong Cover-Up Of Data Breach

By NPR News September 27, 2018

Uber announced its settlement with 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, paying a penalty and promising to make its data security more robust. Here, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is seen at an event in New York earlier this month. Richard Drew/AP

Instead of reporting the hacking intrusion as required, Uber paid the hackers $100,000 after learning of the breach in late 2016.Read More