Washington, D.C. — Today the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) acting chair Rebecca Slaughter announced the creation of a new rulemaking group that would enable the agency “to strengthen existing rules and to undertake new rulemakings to prohibit unfair or deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition.” The Consumer Federation of America applauds this move to reinvigorate the FTC’s rulemaking authority, which has long been underutilized in its efforts to protect consumers.

“This is exciting news from the FTC,” said Amina Abdu, CFA’s Antitrust Advocacy Associate. “The new group sends a clear signal that the FTC intends to use all the tools at its disposal to curb anti-consumer and anti-competitive practices. We are hopeful that rulemaking will allow the agency to act more efficiently to promote competition than enforcement alone. That’s key in digital markets where things move quickly.”

CFA has advocated in the past for agency rules to increase consumer protections, make the marketplace fairer, and supplement antitrust law in promoting competition, ranging from interoperability and nondiscrimination to banning deceptive terms and conditions. CFA has long supported strengthening the FTC’s Funeral Rule, first adopted in 1984. CFA has also advocated for increased resources for the FTC, which will be crucial as it undertakes new rulemaking.

“This is a very promising first step,” said Susan Grant, CFA’s Director of Consumer Protection and Privacy. “We now know that all solutions are on the table when it comes to the FTC’s mandate to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. We look forward to working with Chairwoman Slaughter and the FTC in its efforts to promote consumer interests and corporate accountability.”

Contact: Amina Abdu, 202-656-1282