Rep Castor Introduces the 21st Century FTC Act

Rep Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced the 21st Century FTC Act, legislation that would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking authority and first offense civil penalty authority. “For too long, the FTC has been hamstrung in its ability to promulgate effective rules of the road for consumers and penalize companies that harm our friends and neighbors," stated Castor. "This bill will ensure that the FTC has all the tools it needs to protect Americans from scam artists and bad actors in an increasingly online world.” The 21st Century FTC Act is supported by a number of organizations, including the Center for Digital Democracy, Common Sense, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), and many more. “The 21^st Century FTC Act gives the Federal Trade Commission improved tools to address the corporate surveillance systems that are harming individual privacy, civil rights, and our democracy," said Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director at EPIC. "The United States needs a dedicated Data Protection Agency, but in the meantime, streamlined rulemaking procedures for the FTC are a step in the right direction.”