FTC Chairman Issues Statement on COVID-19 and Consumer Protection

FTC Chairman Joe Simons issued a recent statement detailing the FTC’s approach to consumer protection activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Simons announced that the FTC continues to operate to protect consumers from predatory businesses that prey on consumers.  The FTC is focused on activities that may exploit fears, anxiety, or financial instability of consumers. 

In addition to consumer education and preventing deceptive activities, Simons stated that the FTC “will remain flexible and reasonable in enforcing compliance requirements” related to providing goods and services to consumers.  The FTC will be factoring “good faith efforts undertaken to provide needed goods and services” when making enforcement decisions.  However, deceptive practices that violate consumer protections or involve gaining an unfair advantage over consumers will not be tolerated.