In this episode of his "Clearly Conspicuous" podcast series, consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta discusses the direction of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under Chairman Andrew Ferguson. Ferguson is expected to adopt a less regulatory and more business-friendly agenda by interpreting existing statutes narrowly while also upholding the commission's core role in enforcement, especially concerning artificial intelligence (AI) and targeted advertising. This episode explores the new chairman's views on AI and his skepticism about the commission's recent notices for monetary penalties on advertisers, which Mr. DiResta says portends an overall shift in agency priorities.
The upward trend in ransomware attacks in 2024 has continued in 2025 with large numbers of new victims added to ransomware groups’ data leak sites in January and February. A recent report from the cybersecurity firm Cyble shows there were at least 599 new additions to data leak sites in the first 27 days of February, an increase from 518 new additions in January, despite February being a shorter month.
Our horse barn is more than just a home for our horses—it’s a multi-generational hub for birds. Any bird born there or simply passing by seems to take up permanent residence, bringing along friends, relatives, and acquaintances. As the bird population grew out of control, my husband decided to take action. After conducting thorough research (by which I mean a quick internet search), he purchased a plastic owl, a supposed bird deterrent.
State attorneys general (AGs) have increasingly adopted a more aggressive role in regulatory enforcement across various industries, particularly as federal priorities have shifted.
In honor of National Consumer Protection Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York State Department of Financial Services, Department of Public Service and the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection secured more than $245 million in recoveries and restitution for New Yorkers in 2024. This builds on efforts by the Department of Public Service and the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, which assisted 71,000 New York households with a variety of consumer protection matters, returning $17.3 million to consumers in 2024, up more than 78 percent from $9.7 million in 2023.