In Part 1 of this series, we examined how federal, state, and local policies are enabling the rapid expansion of data centers across the United States. This second installment dives deeper into how these massive data centers disproportionately impact vulnerable and disenfranchised communities—areas already struggling with limited resources, weakened political power, and diminished capacity to … Continued
For over 50 years The Consumer Federation of America has advanced the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. We diligently investigate consumer issues, behavior, and attitudes. We expertly advance pro-consumer policies on a variety of topics. Moreover, we thoughtfully communicate consumer concerns to the public, the media, policymakers and other public interest advocates. We … Continued
On November 7, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) to refund more than $80 million to consumers, stop charging illegal overdraft fees, and pay a $15 million civil penalty to the CFPB’s victims’ relief fund. The enforcement action found that NFCU charged customers surprise overdraft fees, even when … Continued
Foodborne illness causes untold suffering. Statistics capture only one part of the story of victims like April Bonham, who lost her baby to Listeria monocytogenes, or Mari Tardiff, who is struggling to walk again after Campylobacter landed her on a ventilator. But reliable statistics, and the foodborne illness surveillance systems that generate them, give us … Continued
By Mary Barrow, CFA Legal Intern Behind data intensive products like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency are data centers, large buildings that process data and enable large scale computing. The typical data center houses a collection of computers in a windowless warehouse and requires significant water and energy usage to keep the system cool and running. … Continued
View Webinar When Congress gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) responsibility for evaluating food ingredients’ safety in 1958, the law provided an exemption from FDA review for substances like vinegar and spices that were “Generally Recognized as Safe.” In the years since, the food industry has increasingly taken responsibility for determining when food … Continued
Topics in this issue… New Issue Brief on the Hidden Cost of Credit Score in Homeowners Insurance Premiums Review of the New MAHA Strategy Report Consumer Advocates Demand Investigation into Elon Musk’s Grok AI Tool Facilitating Illegal Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery Trump Administration’s Attack on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Will Harm Consumer Research
Auto finance is at a breaking point in our country. Americans owe more than ever in auto debt–over $1.6 trillion–and the economic pressure cooker that American households are in is rapidly jeopardizing their ability to avoid disastrous auto lending outcomes like delinquency and repossession. These precarious dynamics mean that lenders’ activity will have increasingly significant … Continued
Back in May, when the MAHA Commission released its assessment report indicting “ultra-processed foods” as one of the key “driving forces behind American children’s food crisis,” longtime advocates for food system reform wondered, what’s next? Of course, calling out a problem requires much less work than actually solving it. But even so, the early report’s … Continued
Rising auto insurance premiums are affecting drivers across America, and folks are looking for ways to save money. One strategy often touted by insurance companies is to sign up for usage based insurance (UBI), where the companies use “telematics” to track your driving behavior and calculate your premium based on that behavior. A recent Maryland … Continued
Across America, rising homeowners insurance costs are forcing some people who own their homes to forego coverage, tightening budgets for homeowners whose mortgages require coverage and preventing prospective buyers from purchasing homes. Climate change-driven severe weather is an exacerbating factor, increasing the cost of claims and driving up premiums. Clear, reliable information about rising insurance … Continued
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are attracting scorn from would be food system reformers across the political spectrum. “Ultraprocessed foods and beverages (UPFs) pose a growing public health challenge,” says the American Heart Association. “Today’s over-reliance on UPFs is damaging the health of American children,” says the Administration’s “Make Our Children Healthy Again” assessment report, popularly known … Continued
Online marketplaces have transformed e-commerce by allowing third-party sellers, who are independent merchants, to reach global audiences through the online marketplace’s platform. Some products from third-party sellers on online marketplace, such as the products described in the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue report Unsafe and Online, may not meet mandatory safety standards. Unfortunately, enforcement from U.S. authorities … Continued
On Tuesday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, a bill that restricts the use of AI systems in providing mental health services. The bill comes as stories of “AI Therapists” recommending drug use, self-harm, and other unfounded advice continue to pop up. It seems to regulate not only the … Continued
On August 1st, Donald Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. Earlier in the day, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released disappointing monthly employment numbers, following up on an earlier release showing that inflation ticked up in June. Both releases suggest that consumers are starting to feel the pain of the … Continued
Topics in this issue… Transatlantic Consumer Groups Release Report About Unsafe Products in Online Marketplaces Corey Frayer Testifies for House Ways and Means Subcommittee about Crypto Oversight Does Your State Allow Medical Bills to Appear on Credit Reports? More than $360 Million Owed to Consumers from CFPB Enforcement Actions is Already Gone or At Risk
Credit reports serve as economic gatekeepers for millions of Americans seeking to buy a home or a car, start a business, find an apartment, or apply for a job. Medical bills appear on the credit reports of about 15 million people. The reporting of these bills causes a lot of pain, for no good reason: … Continued
Topics in this issue… CFA Releases Annual Consumer Complaint Survey Report Homeowners Deserve Transparency on Rising Insurance Costs Trump’s Broken Promise on Grocery Prices CFA Leads Formal Request for Investigation Against AI Companies Offering Therapy Bot Characters
On June 22, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law SB 25, which requires foods containing any of 44 specified ingredients to display the following warning label: “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.” Whether … Continued
Have you ever wanted to “be part of a movement that not only aims to improve individual health but also strengthens community bonds and builds a healthier, more connected America”? Well now you can! Behold $MAHA: “the pivotal crypto token within the expansive coalition led by Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., dedicated to … Continued
Welcome to a newsletter from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) tracking the latest news about how AI and personal data are used, abused, and regulated. As many state legislatures have now or are soon wrapping up their sessions, I will transition to a “top 10” things that you should know about Privacy & AI … Continued
Right now, there is a short provision buried in the massive budget bill that would stop states from passing or enforcing any law that regulates AI and any other automated decision making system. This is a provision written purely to benefit tech companies at the expense of actual people. If it were to pass, it … Continued
This blog is published in partnership with the Student Borrower Protection Center and was sent as a memo. Donald Trump swept back into office promising to lower costs for Americans. At a Wilkes-Barre campaign rally, he pledged: “Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down and we will … Continued
Earlier this week, Reuters broke the news that the Trump Administration plans to drop recommended limits on alcohol consumption from the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans. What will replace the current recommendations? “Drink responsibly”? The specifics remain a mystery. However, judging from Wall Street’s response, the policy shift will help to sell drinks. To the … Continued
Homeowners across America are seeing higher homeowners insurance premiums every year. These rising bills are straining budgets, forcing people to make difficult decisions about downgrading their coverage or even forgoing insurance altogether. To solve any problem, the first step is an honest look at accurate data. But for years, insurance companies hardly made any information … Continued