Public Interest Groups Support New FTC Powers

High-tech, consumer, health and child advocacy groups wrote to House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and ranking member Joe Barton on Wednesday backing legislation that would ramp up the FTC's authority. The letter from the Center for Democracy and Technology, Center for Digital Democracy, Consumers Union, Public Knowledge, Media Access Project and others was sent on the eve of the committee's scheduled vote on the bill. The measure, which would also create a separate Consumer Financial Protection Agency, would allow the FTC to conduct consumer protection rulemakings under expedited processes; provide it with aiding and abetting liability for violations of the Section 5 of the FTC Act involving unfair or deceptive practices; and enable it to seek civil penalty liability for unfair and deceptive practices found to violate Section 5. The watchdog groups also support giving the FTC independent litigating authority in civil penalty cases.