Against the background of lawsuits and debate about the role of communications service providers in moderating speech on their platforms, the U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in, affirming that private entities that host forums for speech are not state actors subject to constitutional requirements. 

Businesses that market and sell to consumers are heavily focused on navigating federal and state legal issues related to advertising, privacy, promotions, products liability, government investigations, unfair competition, class actions and general consumer protection. 

Takeaways:

On the heels of three FTC consent decrees involving the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA), the FTC has brought two more CRFA-related complaints against home-rental businesses. 

Takeaway: The U.S. Supreme Court ever so slightly trimmed removal rules under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) last week in Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. v. Jackson, No. 17-1471. 

California's new Autobot Law, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17940, et seq. (SB 1001), which goes into effect July 1, 2019, may affect businesses that use chatbots to interact with customers online. 

Nevada is the latest state to strengthen privacy laws to address the perceived need for more oversight of how companies handle personal data. 

The United States Supreme Court recently held that classwide arbitration cannot be inferred from an ambiguous agreement.  

The Ninth Circuit recently held a company vicariously liable for the actions of a downstream vendor of text message and telephone marketing activities. 

Companies should consider due diligence and vendor oversight protocols as counter-measures to limit the risk of liability for digital advertising and text marketing activities.

On August 7, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a public workshop to examine consumer protection issues related to the sale of "loot boxes" in video games. 

In 2016, UrthBox, Inc., a subscription-based service sending monthly snack boxes to customers, had only nine reviews on the Better Business Bureau's website and all of them were negative. 

On March 28, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) joined the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in sending warning letters to three companies that market products that contain cannabidiol (CBD), which the companies claim can treat a variety of serious physical and mental disorders. 

In the wake of the D.C.

As of January 1, 2019, video game developers and publishers are now subject to certain accessibility requirements under the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) that apply to manufacturers and providers of advanced communications services (ACS). 

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari filed by Spirit Airlines Inc. in Spirit Airlines Inc. v.