COVID-19 Legal Resources

FTC Chairman Simons Releases Statement Regarding Ongoing Work of the Consumer Production Bureau During COVID-19 Pandemic

FTC Chairman Joe Simons has released a statement addressing the FTC’s ongoing efforts to enforce consumer protections laws during the coronavirus pandemic.

In his statement, Chairman Simons notes that the FTC continues to devote “significant resources to tackling scammers and unfair and deceptive business practices,” specifically stating that the FTC “will not tolerate businesses seeking to take advantage of consumers’ concerns and fears regarding coronavirus disease, exigent circumstances, or financial distress.” The Chairman acknowledges the challenges that both consumers and businesses are faced with in the current circumstances and commits to a “flexible and reasonable” approach to enforcement efforts, including taking into account the good faith efforts of businesses to provide needed goods and services to consumers. Like other regulators, the FTC will continue to pursue enforcement actions and appears to be paying particular attention to those businesses seeking to benefit from the circumstances created by the COVID-19 outbreak.