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Cleo AI Settles FTC Deception Charges for $17 Million

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Cleo AI has agreed to pay $17 million to settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that it misled consumers about cash advance amounts and processing times, the agency announced Thursday.

FTC Allegations

  • Cleo falsely advertised cash advances of $250 to $500, but most users received as little as $20.

  • The company promised “instant” or “same-day” cash transfers but often delayed payments until the next day—while charging extra fees for expedited service.

  • Cleo made subscription cancellations difficult, continuing to charge $5.99 or $14.99 monthly fees even after repeated cancellation requests.

Settlement Terms

  • Cleo must improve transparency, obtain informed consent before charging for services, and make subscription cancellations easier.

  • The $17 million settlement will be used to refund affected consumers.

Company Response

While denying any wrongdoing, Cleo’s general counsel, Colin Jones, said the FTC’s claims were inaccurate and reflected a misunderstanding of the company’s operations. He stated that settling was the best course of action to allow Cleo to focus on helping Americans improve their financial lives.

FTC Withdraws Request for Delay in Amazon Trial, No Longer Cites Resource Shortages

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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reversed its earlier request to delay the upcoming September trial against Amazon. The agency’s statement, which was issued on Wednesday, clarified that it no longer faces the resource constraints it had initially cited, which had prompted the request for a delay.

In a letter addressed to U.S. District Judge John Chun in Seattle, FTC attorney Jonathan Cohen acknowledged a previous misstatement regarding the lack of resources. Cohen assured the court that the FTC is fully prepared to litigate the case and will meet all deadlines and schedules set by the court.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson emphasized the agency’s commitment to the consumer protection case, asserting, “The Trump-Vance FTC will never back down from taking on Big Tech.”

Earlier in the day, Cohen had described a “dire resource situation,” attributing it to cost-cutting measures introduced under President Donald Trump. The attorney had outlined how staff shortages and an employee resignation wave were negatively impacting the case. Cohen also noted a hiring freeze and reduced travel budgets, citing wider government budget cuts enforced by Trump advisor Elon Musk. However, this claim was later retracted, with Cohen clarifying that the FTC had sufficient resources for the trial.

The FTC’s case against Amazon, which was initiated in 2023, involves allegations of the company using “dark patterns” in its user interface to deceive consumers into subscribing to automatically renewing Prime subscriptions. Amazon has denied the accusations, and the case involves claims potentially worth at least $1 billion. The lawsuit also names three of Amazon’s senior executives.

Amazon’s legal counsel, John Hueston, opposed the request for a delay, noting that staff changes are common in litigation, regardless of external factors such as the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) initiative.

FTC Appoints Former Heritage Foundation Tech Policy Expert as Chief Technology Officer

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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has appointed Jake Denton, a former tech policy researcher from the conservative Heritage Foundation, as its new chief technology officer. Denton, who graduated from American University in 2021, shared the news of his appointment on X on Monday. He replaces Stephanie Nguyen, who served in the role since 2022 under former FTC Chair Lina Khan.

The FTC introduced the role of chief technologist during the Obama administration to offer guidance on emerging technology policy issues, with a focus on digital markets, competition, and consumer protection. Denton’s appointment comes as Andrew Ferguson begins his tenure as the new chairman of the FTC. Ferguson has voiced concerns about the dominance of Big Tech companies but has also cautioned against over-regulating the tech industry in a way that might hinder U.S. innovation.

Denton has previously expressed his views on artificial intelligence (AI) policy, calling for Congress to pass AI legislation in a Fox News interview in July 2023. In an opinion piece co-authored with Kara Frederick, the Heritage Foundation’s tech policy director, Denton emphasized the need for the U.S. and its allies to take a leading role in setting international AI standards. They warned that if democracies don’t write the rules for emerging technologies like AI, authoritarian regimes may take the lead in shaping them.

Before joining the Heritage Foundation, Denton interned in Congress and completed a fellowship with the Federalist Society. His appointment signals the FTC’s continued focus on regulating emerging technologies like AI and digital markets, areas where the agency has launched investigations in the past under Chair Khan, particularly into AI partnerships such as Microsoft’s and OpenAI’s collaboration.

It remains to be seen whether Ferguson, along with Denton, will continue investigations into Big Tech, including ongoing probes into Microsoft and OpenAI’s potentially anticompetitive conduct and whether OpenAI violated consumer protection laws. The FTC is also preparing for a high-profile trial in April over Meta Platforms’ acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, and continues to pursue legal action against Amazon over alleged anti-competitive practices.