What types of advertising are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main federal agency that regulates advertising in Washington. The FTC regulates advertisements by enforcing laws like unfair or deceptive acts or practices. To protect consumers, the FTC regulates ads that make false or unsubstantiated claims, including ads for health products, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and weight loss treatments. The FTC also monitors ads for accuracy and pays particular attention to claims that a product can improve health, cure an illness, or increase wealth. The FTC also monitors advertising to make sure it is not misleading or unfair. This includes ads that are too small to read, ads that say “buy now” but don’t provide the details of the purchase, and ads that tell consumers they can get a free product but require them to pay a fee. Ads that target vulnerable consumers, such as children, are also regulated by the FTC. In addition, the FTC regulates ads for credit, such as ads for mortgages, auto loans, and student loans. Ads that make claims about interest rates, loan terms, and debt consolidation must provide accurate information. The FTC also has the authority to regulate advertisements that use endorsements or testimonials. Ads must disclose any relationship between the endorser and the product or service being advertised. The FTC also regulates ads related to consumer privacy. Ads cannot make false or misleading statements about companies collecting consumer data. Overall, the FTC plays a critical role in keeping consumer protection laws up to date and making sure that ads in Washington are honest, truthful, and not misleading.

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