The FTC dropped the hammer on "Native Advertising"

[Omega X]

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-r ... ing-native

The FTC in a vote of 4-0 just adopted new guidelines on enforcing "Native Advertisements". Which are ads that are disguised as normal content. This essentially means that they have to identify this content as an ad or its labeled "deceptive".

You can read the policy here: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/docume ... cement.pdf

[patrickjdempsey]

I guess the FTC has been watching SouthPark!

[Grumpus]

Best guess this is a diversion for critics and they're about to do something nefarious to support something else, maybe something to do with net neutrality.

[Omega X]

The FCC controls net neutrality mandates and the current FCC head has it out for shady ISPs these days. He's already jumped on the usage caps and exclusively unfair services.

[Grumpus]

But does he include Verizon, Comcast, <---Xfinity, Cox and Sprint in the suspect ISPs list.
. . . do they ever really investigate illegal wireless abuse by out of control law enforcement agencies or just send out, Unable to deliver messages to complaints when they come across a legitimate complaint? Do they know what a legitimate complaint really is or do they just take the ISP Representatives word that the problem has been fixed.
Lots of great PR and condescending web presence with little real full bite enforcement.

[Omega X]

But does he include Verizon, Comcast, <---Xfinity, Cox and Sprint in the suspect ISPs list.
. . . do they ever really investigate illegal wireless abuse by out of control law enforcement agencies or just send out, Unable to deliver messages to complaints when they come across a legitimate complaint? Do they know what a legitimate complaint really is or do they just take the ISP Representatives word that the problem has been fixed.
Lots of great PR and condescending web presence with little real full bite enforcement.

- The justice system is handling the "Stingray" stuff. States are starting to require a warrant before they can even do that now (wire tap laws). Evidence is being thrown out because the FBI doesn't want the tech known and lawyers are attacking its use vigorously. But its too late for that, people already know how its done. Because of that, Encryption is becoming more common on communications which is why they are crying in the media about backdoors that Google/Apple and the like refuse to give them.

- FCC does handle complaints. Earlier this year, Verizon was trying to illegally keep new Nexus phones off its network that it didn't sell, But the FCC told them they had to or else due to complaints from customers. SO they fixed their system instead. Pressure from the competition is also giving Verizon trouble.

- Comcast just got slapped with a multi-million dollar fine for billing issues. Now they're trying more tactics that isn't working because the the FCC is still watching them like a hawk.

- Cox is the latest to try the caps thing, but the FCC is already on Comcast about caps so its only a matter of time before a suit happens.


Its still a government agency so its slow. But they are punching bad deeds despite a terrible Congress not wanting them to.

[Grumpus]

While users may be the ones doing the complaining on things like blocked phone use there's also the backing of the hardware manufacturer or some other "lobbying" group with a specific business interest. If there's no business supporting complaint involved things get ignored or just dumped as solved, they send out a nice letter stating it's fixed, made inactive and a no further action will be taken letter sent to the complainant. When it comes to lying in the marketing, doing a bait and switch or lying to trick people to install unneeded systems as replacement instead of a simple repair to existing with monthly fees which are exorbitant there's little if nothing done. Having an industry insider running the show is most definitely a double edged sword and depending on whether they have the inclination to protect the general public or just dodge the blows of involved business interests is where it becomes critical and suspect.
There's a healthy flush needed in the US bureaucracy in general to remove the influences of various political and business interests which do not support the welfare of the general population regardless of sales pitch.
Fines don't fix things if the abuse continues.