Glossary Terms

Federal Trade Commission

Federal Trade Commission
Reviewed by Melissa Cook
Updated January 5, 2023

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a US government agency that works to protect consumers and promote competition in the marketplace. The FTC was established by Congress in 1914, and it has been responsible for enforcing various laws aimed at preventing unfair or deceptive practices. Some of the issues the FTC focuses on are privacy, product safety, data security, environmental protection, and anti-trust concerns. Additionally, the FTC also enforces federal antitrust laws that prohibit businesses from engaging in anticompetitive activities such as price fixing and using industry wide boycotts. Overall, the purpose of the FTC is to ensure that American markets operate fairly and efficiently so that consumers can benefit from free and open competition.

What does the Federal Trade Commission Regulate?

The Federal Trade Commission regulates a wide range of economic activities in order to protect consumers and promote competition. Some of the areas that the FTC focuses on include privacy, product safety, data security, environmental protection, and anti-trust concerns. Additionally, the FTC also enforces federal antitrust laws that prohibit businesses from engaging in anticompetitive activities such as price fixing and using industry wide boycotts.