FTC Public Comment Request Signals Continued Increase In State AGs Enforcement Efforts

On June 7, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission") announced a request for public comments ("Request") regarding how it can enhance collaboration efforts with state attorneys general ("AGs") to more effectively prevent, publicize, and penalize fraudulent business practices—supporting an increasing trend in cooperative enforcement between the FTC and state AGs.

The Request stems from the FTC Collaboration Act of 2021, signed into law by President Biden last October, which directs the FTC to solicit public comment and produce a study concerning collaborative efforts with state AGs for facilitating and refining existing efforts to prevent and protect consumers from potential scams and fraud. The study results will inform a Commission report that will be submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.