The Federal Trade Commission (FTC): A Comprehensive Overview

What is the FTC?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for enforcing civil antitrust and consumer protection laws.

The FTC was established in 1914 to prevent unfair competition and protect consumers from harmful practices.

Mission of the FTC

The FTC's mission is to promote competition and protect consumers. The agency enforces antitrust laws to prevent monopolies and unfair business practices.

The FTC also protects consumers from fraud, deceptive advertising, and other harmful practices.

Enforcement of Antitrust Laws

The FTC enforces antitrust laws to promote competition and prevent monopolies.

The agency investigates mergers, acquisitions, and other business practices to ensure that they do not harm competition.

Consumer Protection

The FTC protects consumers from fraud, deceptive advertising, and other harmful practices.

The agency investigates complaints from consumers and takes enforcement actions against businesses that violate the law.

Recent Actions by the FTC

The FTC has recently taken action against a number of businesses for violating antitrust laws or engaging in deceptive practices.

• In 2021, the FTC sued Facebook for anticompetitive behavior.
• In 2022, the FTC fined Amazon $1.75 billion for deceptive advertising practices.
• The FTC is currently investigating Google for anticompetitive behavior.

Conclusion

The FTC is a powerful agency that plays a vital role in protecting consumers and promoting competition.

The agency's enforcement actions have helped to prevent monopolies, stop deceptive advertising, and protect consumers from fraud.