Consumer Protection
Why people don’t demand data privacy – even as governments and corporations collect more personal information
COMMENTARY | How people talk about data privacy can overcome – or reinforce – their skepticism that things can change.
Montana moves forward on regulatory framework for blockchain, digital assets
Under the new Innovation Act, companies that issue digital tokens can register with the Commissioner’s office as non-securities assets, making Montana among the first states to do so.
Kansas sues social media app Snapchat for harming teenagers’ mental health and well-being
The lawsuit references the death of a teenage boy from Shawnee, who died in 2021of fentanyl poisoning after reportedly purchasing from a drug dealer on Snapchat.
At least 4 bills to reform sweeping AI law expected during Colorado special session
State lawmakers failed to pass tweaks in regular session. They’ll try again this week.
Attorneys general call on Meta to place privacy limits on new Instagram location feature
The app's new feature quickly faced backlash from privacy advocates who warn against sharing highly personal data with an intermediary like Meta.
Idaho attorney general joins multi-state crackdown on illegal robocalls
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said his office is joining a multistate effort to crack down on illegal robocalls nationally.
Bipartisan state attorneys general target nuisance robocalls
The attorneys general are demanding that voice service providers stop allowing illegal robocalls to be routed through telecom networks.
Should Lyft and Uber charge more if your battery is low? California may soon ban that
California lawmakers are backing a bill to ban rideshare services from using customers' information like a cellphone’s battery life, model and geolocation data to set different prices.
North Carolina lawmakers consider bill to let consumers opt out of targeted online ads
If passed, the bill would allow consumers obtain their data, have it corrected or have it deleted. Companies would have to tell consumers what third parties have their personal information.
Some states want to make it easier to cancel subscriptions
Pushback from cable, streaming services has challenged their efforts.
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How one state has risen as ‘a leader’ in medical debt protections
Many states are cracking down on medical debt collection and payment practices, but New York’s efforts stand out, one expert says.
The fuzzy line between sports betting and fantasy games
Several states have already clamped down on fantasy apps for getting too close to sports betting. Virginia could be next.
‘Death by a thousand cuts’: A look at Big Tech’s efforts to influence data privacy
Maine’s struggles to pass such a law have familiar ring for Maryland lawmakers.
States Should Crack Down on Bogus Online Reviews, Advocates Say
They’re pushing for tougher enforcement efforts, along with stronger protections against lawsuits for consumers who post negative reviews for businesses on sites like Yelp.
State AGs Want Power to Hit Airlines for Consumer Complaints
Thirty-eight attorneys general sent a letter to Congress seeking the change.
It Turns Out State Lawmakers Hate Auto-Renew Contracts, Too
Automatic renewal plans have prompted class action lawsuits.
California Law Banning Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics Will Transform Industry
When the law takes effect in 2025, it will mark the first major action to remove toxic substances from beauty products in almost a century.
Proposal Would Require Full Refunds for Student Travel Trips Canceled Due to Covid-19
Legislation in Massachusetts would expand consumer protection laws to require full refunds for student trips that are canceled due to "a declaration of emergency."
State and Federal Prosecutors Target Bogus Cures and Treatment Scams
The coronavirus pandemic has led to an avalanche of products that are misleadingly marketed to make consumers believe they are effective treatments or prevention measures for the virus.
Proposed Federal Rule Will Undercut State Lending Protections, AGs Warn
The attorneys general are concerned about a strategy that high-cost lenders can use to get around state interest rate caps.
