Conference Topics

The Role of Big Tech in Platforming and Spreading Fraud

Focus is on how platforms like Facebook, X, WhatsApp continue to facilitate the spread of fraud, resulting in significant consumer losses each year. The panel will break down and analyze the mechanisms—such as algorithmic amplification, lax content moderation, and opaque advertising systems—that allow scams to thrive on social media, search engines, and marketplaces. There will also be a focus on the relationship between financial services used on/off these platforms and the scams spread through them. The conversation will focus on the policy gaps that enable this ecosystem, and explore regulatory strategies to hold platforms accountable, protect users, and restore trust.

Section 1033 Personal Financial Data Rights Rulemaking

The CFPB’s original Section 1033 rule aimed to strengthen open banking by giving consumers powerful rights to control how their personal financial information is accessed and used. It took a strong pro-consumer stance by prohibiting banks from charging fees to share data and by limiting secondary data use—ensuring that fintechs could only use financial data for purposes explicitly authorized by the consumer. The rule also promoted safer, more standardized data sharing practices, reducing reliance on screen scraping, and proposed the establishment of a standards-setting body, such as the Financial Data Exchange (FDX), to provide agile, industry-wide governance. Bank trade associations filed a lawsuit in Kentucky, and after a change in CFPB leadership, the agency withdrew its defense, triggering a formal reconsideration this summer and reigniting debate over the future of consumer data rights in the financial system.

Tech Comes to the Insurance Market: The Opportunities and Pitfalls Facing Industry, Regulators, and Consumers

While the insurance industry has always been data driven, the last several years have seen an explosion in the promotion and use of technology advancements in all aspects of the insurance lifecycle. This panel will bring together the perspectives of insurers, technologists, privacy experts, and consumer advocates to introduce and explore the introduction of AI, new data sources, and new tech products and firms to insurance underwriting, rating, claims handling and fraud fighting. The panel will discuss opportunities to leverage big tech for climate resilience, concerns about balancing reliance on tech “solutions” with expectations of consumer protection, and the dangers of dark patterns and consumer manipulation in insurance markets.

Mortgage Deserts: Why Mortgages Remain Scarce in Some Communities and What to Do

Without mortgages, homeownership would be out of reach for most people. But CFA’s new report shows that “mortgage deserts,” places where relatively few homes are bought with a mortgage, exist across the country from rural Georgia to Detroit. These rural and urban communities often have many homes valued under $150,000, and high shares of manufactured housing and heirs’ property. In some mortgage deserts, cash buyers and investors crowd out mortgaged buyers. Why do mortgage deserts persist today, why does it matter, and what promising financing tools and policy solutions could help close the gap? Panelists will highlight distinct urban and rural challenges and discuss small-scale financing innovations that are already making a difference. They will also discuss promising federal and state-level policy solutions, from expanding small mortgage access to strengthening consumer protections for mortgage-alternative products.

What is Agentic AI and How Could It Transform Payments and Pose Risks to Consumers

Agentic AI is set to transform consumer shopping by enabling apps—likely developed by Big Tech firms like Google, Meta, and major payment platforms—to autonomously search for products, apply filters, set price caps, make purchases, and arrange shipping. With built-in payment wallets, these AI agents can act on a consumer’s behalf from search to checkout with little human involvement. While this offers new levels of convenience, it will also consolidate more market power within dominant platforms, raising concerns about competition and access for smaller sellers who rely on independent discovery channels.
At the same time, these services introduce new risks for fraud and consumer harm. Automated transactions blur the lines of intent and authorization, making it easier for fraudsters to exploit vulnerabilities and harder for consumers to detect abuse. As these tools roll out rapidly, existing consumer protection and financial oversight mechanisms may struggle to keep pace. Regulators will need to act swiftly to adapt rules and create safeguards that address the unique risks posed by autonomous, AI-driven commerce.

State and Local Consumer Financial Protection

While the CFPB is being gutted by its own leadership and defunded by Congress, many state and local consumer agencies are stepping up to fill the vacuum. Consumers across the country are being forced to grapple with the affordability crisis, which is already pushing them to consider alternative lending products. This panel will highlight the work being done by these agencies to address consumer financial services issues and discuss how advocates can be a resource for agencies that find themselves with an influx of complaints.

Crypto Laws and Regulations – Leveling the playing field or lowering the bar?

With the adoption of a federal stablecoin law and the prospect of new laws or regulations for the treatment of crypto asset securities on the horizon, the financial services landscape is quickly evolving. A panel of industry experts from both the crypto and traditional financial services industry will discuss how these developments might reshape financial markets and how that may impact consumers and investors.

Driven to Default

Auto debt is at an all-time high, with Americans owing over $1.6 trillion in auto financed debt. Cars are more expensive than ever, and a growing number of borrowers are falling into delinquency and default. This panel will explore the root causes of the auto lending crisis, the impact of auto dealer and lender practices on growing auto debt, how policymakers can address the problem, and what this means for car buyers going forward.

Questions? Please contact Anna Marie Lowery, Director of Meetings and Events.

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