The Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) was adopted in 1914 as part of the Progressive Era reforms that aimed to curb the power and influence of monopolies and trusts in the U.S. economy. The FTCA created the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as an independent agency to investigate and prevent unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. The FTCA also gave the FTC the authority to issue cease and desist orders, seek injunctions, and impose civil penalties for violations of the law. The FTCA was intended to complement and supplement the existing antitrust laws, such as the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act, that prohibited restraints of trade, price-fixing, mergers, and other anticompetitive conduct.
The other options are not correct, because:
The FTCA did not explicitly address privacy rights of U.S. citizens, although the FTC later used its authority under the FTCA to enforce against unfair or deceptive privacy practices, such as making false or misleading claims, failing to disclose material information, or violating consumers’ choices or expectations regarding their personal data.
The FTCA did not specifically focus on consumer protection, although the FTC later expanded its scope to include consumer protection issues, such as advertising and marketing, credit and finance, privacy and security, and consumer education. The FTC also enforced other consumer protection laws, such as the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and the CAN-SPAM Act.
The FTCA did not authorize the FTC to negotiate consent decrees with companies violating personal privacy, although the FTC later used consent decrees as a common tool to settle privacy cases and impose remedial measures, such as audits, reports, and compliance programs. Consent decrees are agreements between the FTC and the parties involved in a case that resolve the FTC’s charges without admitting liability or wrongdoing.
References:
FTC website, Federal Trade Commission Act
Britannica website, Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA)
IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 1: Introduction to the U.S. Privacy Environment, pp. 11-12
IAPP website, Federal Trade Commission Act, Section 5 of
