Latest Consumer affairs News
Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that’s expected to face legal challenges and disrupt the lives of content creators who...
California reject bill to crackdown on how utilities spend customers' money
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Monday rejected a proposal aimed at cracking down on how some of the nation's largest utilities spend customers' money. California's investor-owned utilities can't use money from customers to pay for things like advertising their...
Massachusetts official warns AI systems subject to consumer protection, anti-bias laws
BOSTON (AP) — Developers, suppliers, and users of artificial intelligence must comply with existing state consumer protection, anti-discrimination, and data privacy laws, the Massachusetts attorney general cautioned Tuesday. In an advisory, Attorney General Andrea Campbell pointed...
Key lawmakers float new rules for personal data protection; bill would make privacy a consumer right
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two influential lawmakers from opposing parties have crafted a deal on legislation designed to strengthen privacy protections for Americans' personal data. The sweeping proposal announced Sunday evening would define privacy as a consumer right and create new rules...
Editorial Roundup: New England
Portland Press Herald. March 24, 2024. Editorial: Maine finally turns a corner on public defense After years of unacceptable neglect, the state now has three offices dedicated to representing people who can’t afford to pay for legal counsel. The Maine...
Federal officials want to know how airlines handle — and share — passengers' personal information
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials said Thursday they will review how airlines protect personal information about their passengers and whether they are making money by sharing that information with other parties. The U.S. Department of Transportation said its review will focus on...
Maryland Senate OKs consumer protection bill for residential energy customers
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland would create consumer protections for residential customers who opt to buy electricity from retail energy suppliers, under a bill approved by the state Senate on Friday, though critics say it will hurt competition and chase energy companies out of Maryland. ...
US eases restrictions on Wells Fargo after years of strict oversight following scandal
NEW YORK (AP) — The Biden administration eased some of the restrictions on banking giant Wells Fargo, saying the bank has sufficiently fixed its toxic culture after years of scandals. The news sent Wells Fargo's stock up sharply Thursday as investors speculated that the bank,...