FTC Regulatory Highlights: Enforcement & Compliance
Welcome to Carver's regulatory news update for the Federal Trade Commission on January 27, 2026.
The FTC continues to enforce consumer protection and competition laws with several key developments this month. First, Instacart has agreed to pay $60 million in consumer refunds and must end deceptive practices related to delivery costs, satisfaction guarantees, refund claims, and negative option features. The FTC’s order, issued on January 14, requires Instacart to provide clear and conspicuous disclosures and obtain express informed consent from consumers. This action highlights the agency’s commitment to transparency in online marketplace transactions.
In another significant enforcement, the FTC finalized an order against General Motors and OnStar for collecting and selling geolocation data without consumers’ informed consent. GM and OnStar are now prohibited from sharing certain consumer data with consumer reporting agencies for five years and must obtain affirmative express consent before collecting, using, or sharing such information. This settlement underscores the FTC’s focus on protecting consumer privacy in the automotive sector.
Turning to healthcare, the FTC successfully halted Edwards Lifesciences’ proposed acquisition of JenaValve by securing a preliminary injunction. This move preserves competition between two leading manufacturers of transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices, ensuring continued innovation and choice in the medical device market.
The FTC is also actively monitoring compliance with the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, or SPARTA. Staff have sent letters to 20 universities requesting voluntary submission of documents and information related to contracts between student athletes and sports agents. This effort aims to enforce transparency and protect student athletes from unfair practices.
In regulatory updates, the FTC announced its 2026 adjustment to jurisdictional and fee thresholds for premerger notification filings. The size-of-transaction threshold has increased from $126.4 million to $133.9 million, with corresponding revisions to the filing fee schedule. This update reflects economic changes and ensures the merger review process remains effective.
Regarding ongoing administrative proceedings, the FTC Administrative Law Judge is reviewing sanctions imposed on Zvi Kriple for violations of the Racetrack Safety Program. The judge recently denied a request for an evidentiary hearing and set procedural deadlines for filings related to the case. This matter remains under close review.
In the area of healthcare pricing, the FTC continues discovery and legal proceedings involving Caremark Rx, Zinc Health Services, and others concerning insulin pricing practices. Recent joint status reports indicate ongoing disputes and requests for court intervention, signaling the agency’s focus on addressing potential anticompetitive conduct in pharmaceutical markets.
Finally, the FTC has established a refund claims process for consumers affected by deceptive tactics and unauthorized charges related to NGL Pro services between January 2022 and July 2024. The agency has also banned NGL and its founders from marketing similar products, reinforcing its stance against unfair business practices.
That concludes today’s update on Federal Trade Commission regulatory actions. Thank you for listening to Carver's updates. For more details, visit us at carveragents.ai.
