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Is Scrolling the New Smoking?
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January 21, 2026
Is Scrolling the New Smoking?
By: Lauren Scribner
In the final weeks of 2025, New York passed a law requiring social media platforms with “certain predatory features” to display warning labels about “the dangerous impact” those features pose to the mental health of users under the age of eighteen.[1] These so-called “predatory features” include continuous and infinite scrolling, displaying addictive feeds, and automatically playing video content.[2] Warning labels will be displayed upon the initial use of the “predatory feature” and “periodically thereafter, based on continued use.”[3] Users will not have an option to bypass or skip the warnings. In support of the new measure, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated, “[w]ith the amount of information that can be shared online, it is essential that we prioritize mental health…
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Influencer Liability: Will New-Age Litigation Net Celebrity Spokespeople?
December 12, 2025
Influencer Liability: Will New-Age Litigation Net Celebrity Spokespeople?
By: Lauren Scribner
The “influencer economy,” in which so-called “content creators” share user-generated content such as livestreams or short-form film, is showing no signs of slowing down. Currently valued north of $250 billion, it is projected to reach nearly $500 billion by 2027.[1] “Creators earn income primarily through direct branding deals to pitch products as an influencer; via a share of advertising revenues with the host platform; and…
The SEC Signs on to Arbitration
September 29, 2025
The SEC Signs on to Arbitration
By: George Calhoun
Early last week, on September 17, 2025, the SEC announced that it will no longer consider the presence of a mandatory arbitration provision in a company’s charter or bylaws when deciding whether to accelerate the effectiveness of a registration statement. This policy shift will permit companies to include arbitration clauses in their governing documents to require securities litigants (including class action plaintiffs) to pursue their…
Putting the Brakes on Swift and Sweeping Adoption of Facial Recognition Technologies
November 12, 2019
Putting the Brakes on Swift and Sweeping Adoption of Facial Recognition Technologies
By: Nicole Kardell
When it is not clear which way to go, don’t. This is the upshot of an article by Wojciech Wiewiorowski: Facial recognition: A solution in search of a problem? Wiewiorowski is the Assistant Supervisor at the European Data Protection Supervisor (the E.U.’s independent data protection authority), which published his article on their site in late October. The post came out in the midst of a…
SEC’s Lawsuit Against Telegram Raises Questions About Cryptocurrency “Presales” Under Regulation D
October 17, 2019
SEC’s Lawsuit Against Telegram Raises Questions About Cryptocurrency “Presales” Under Regulation D
By: Ifrah Law
On October 11, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed a lawsuit against Telegram Group, Inc. and TON Issuer, Inc. (“Telegram”), and simultaneously obtained a temporary restraining order preventing Telegram from issuing its “Gram” cryptocurrency, which had been scheduled for delivery on October 31, 2019. The SEC claimed that the sale of Grams amount to an unregistered securities offering in violation of federal securities…
You Got Loot? FTC Examines In-Game Purchases
August 8, 2019
You Got Loot? FTC Examines In-Game Purchases
By: Ifrah Law
The FTC held three panels on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, that centered on one topic: loot boxes earned or purchased during online game play. It’s clear from the selection of panelists and the questions posed by FTC staff that the FTC is on high alert about potential consumer protection issues surrounding these in-game purchases. If the name of the game (pardon the pun) on Wednesday…
SEC Says “Pocketful of Quarters’” Planned Token Is Not a “Pocketful of Securities”
August 1, 2019
SEC Says “Pocketful of Quarters’” Planned Token Is Not a “Pocketful of Securities”
By: Ifrah Law
On July 25, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Corporation Finance issued a letter to Pocketful of Quarters, Inc. (PoQ), informing PoQ that it would not recommend enforcement action in regards to PoQ’s proposal to sell tokens (called Quarters) on its gaming platform. The SEC informed PoQ that based on PoQ’s description of its plans for the Quarters tokens, the tokens would not…
Equifax Settlement Teaches The Dos and Dont’s About Data Security
July 22, 2019
Equifax Settlement Teaches The Dos and Dont’s About Data Security
By: Nicole Kardell
It’s been a busy summer for the FTC and the federal agency is dominating the headlines. There is the $5 billion settlement with Facebook for failing to better protect user privacy, which was announced earlier this month. Then there is the multimillion dollar settlement with Google for failing to adequately protect children’s privacy. That was announced late last week. Today, the FTC announced a $575…
