On November 4, the Federal Trade Commission announced an unprecedented coordinated federal-state enforcement effort targeting deceptive and abusive debt collection. This sweeping initiative, termed “Operation Collection Protection,” coordinates federal, state, and local actions under the FTC, the CFPB, 47 state attorneys general, and other enforcement officers and agencies.

As the top source of complaints to the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, illegal debt collection practices have long been in the agencies’ crosshairs. “Operation Collection Protection” began with 30 new coordinated law enforcement actions targeting debt collectors using illegal methods such as harassing phone calls and false threats of litigation, arrest, and wage garnishment. With the involvement of state attorneys general and variations on state laws, banks and other creditors should have the new initiative on their radars as well.

Although the FTC does not have jurisdiction over banks, they should pay close attention to the initiative because of the involvement of the CFPB and state attorneys general, and variations on state laws under which attorneys general may investigate banks and other financial institutions.Continue Reading FTC, CFPB, and States Collaborate to Clamp Down on Illegal Debt Collection

The ASA has a new strategy for regulating ads, meaning it won’t always wait for complaints before acting against an offending brand. While the ASA has always had the power to take action itself without having to receive complaints, it’s clear that the regulator is now planning on taking a more proactive approach to enforcement.

The UK data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has published its long-awaited guidance on the factors it will take into account when considering whether to initiate enforcement action for data protection breaches and what form any such action should take. Its Data Protection Regulatory Action Policy, comes in the wake of yet another