FTC Launches Blog in Advance of Upcoming Tech-Ade Hearings

The Federal Trade Commission is hosting a blog to provide information and a forum for feedback about its public hearings on “Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade,” to be held November 6-8, 2006, in Washington, DC. The public hearings will examine how evolving technology will shape and change the habits, opportunities and challenges of consumers and businesses in the coming decade, and will feature experts from the business, government and technology sectors, consumer advocates, academicians, and law enforcement officials.

The blog, available through www.ftc.gov/techade, will post interviews with experts and cover topics that complement the sessions planned for the hearings. In addition, members of the public may comment on the entries posted in the Tech-ade blog, furthering the dialogue about the topics being considered during the hearings.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.