What’s On Our Radar

Potential Unfair Uses of AI in Insurance Underwriting 

AI has the power to make insurance underwriting faster and more precise. But without guardrails, AI could lead to insurers making unfair, discriminatory conclusions about protected classes of insurance consumers. 

Learn more: Colorado Regulators Approve Life Insurance AI Rules

Misleading Environmental Claims in Marketing 

Regulators worldwide are helping consumers make informed, sustainable decisions by making it illegal for corporations to make false or exaggerated claims about how eco-friendly their products are. 

Learn more: EU to ban misleading environmental claims in advertising 

Protecting Consumers Personal Information 

From Congress to the states, legislators are creating new protections that minimize what consumer data companies can collect, keep, use, and sell. 

Learn more: States act on privacy laws as Congress considers new bill

Promoting Free and Open Access to the Law

The law is a public resource that should be accessible and free for all Americans to review. However, Congress is considering the PRO CODES Act, which would allow private companies to control access to legal information for a fee, potentially restricting public access.

Learn more: Access to Law Should Be Fully Open: Tell Congress Not to Be Fooled by the Pro Codes Act

Consumer Threats Posed by US Companies with Ties to China 

China is America’s biggest adversary. The country has used its ties to U.S. businesses in the past to steal trade secrets, manipulate information, and otherwise exploit vulnerabilities in the United States in ways that put consumers at risk. 

Learn more: The US is right to target TikTok

Microsoft’s Big Footprint In China Is Out Of Step With U.S. Security Concerns

Airline Fees Charged for Services Not Rendered

Under most circumstances, consumers can now receive refunds from airlines if their flights are cancelled or substantially changed. Other fees paid to airlines, however, such as bag fees or payments for bad Wi-Fi, do not share similar protections. At the moment, refunds for these fees are at the discretion of airlines. Consumers deserve better. 

Learn more: Can you get a refund for terrible in-flight Wi-Fi? 

Forcing Sellers to Make It as Easy to Cancel a Service as It is to Enroll

The FTC and other actors are considering a host of rules that would require service providers to make sure cancelling their services is as easy as subscribing. 

Learn more: FTC Continues Review of Negative Option, “Click to Cancel,” Rulemaking

Mandating All In Price Displays for Rental Cars and Hotels

The FTC is considering a rule that, if finalized, would ban businesses from charging hidden and misleading fees and require them to show the full price up front. This rule would eliminate the sticker shock many consumers experience at the rental car counter or at hotel check-out. 

Learn more: FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees

Fighting a New Era of Big Tech Monopolies 

As cloud computing and AI take off, there are fears that large corporations will use their market power to lock out rivals. Microsoft, for example, has been accused by the EU of using restrictive licensing agreements and confidential information to unfairly compete. For consumers, the end result of such monopolistic behavior is higher costs and less innovation. 

Learn more: EU monopoly cops probe complaints about Microsoft Azure

Limiting Application Fees for Rental Properties

Application fees for rental properties are on the rise. In a competitive rental market, renters may pay four or five fees for properties in which they will never live. Some states, like Massachusetts, limit these fees, but most renters in the United States are not covered by such protections. 

Learn more: For many renters, apartment application fees add up. Some are illegal