FTC Blog Updates (May 3 – 8, 2026)

Despite only having two active Commissioners, the FTC has remained busy. The Commission resolved a long-running litigation related to sensitive consumer location data, announced a workshop on developments in the financial services industry, and approved a merger with divestiture conditions. These stories and more after the jump.

Monday, May 4, 2026

Bureau of Consumer Protection | Consumer Health Privacy

• The Commission entered into a proposed stipulated order resolving litigation filed in 2022 against data broker Kochava and its subsidiary Collective Data Solutions (“CDS”) for violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act. The FTC alleged that Kochava and CDS had collected, used, and sold location data from consumers’ mobile devices that revealed their movements, including travel to sensitive locations such as healthcare facilities. The FTC further alleged that consumers were unaware of and did not consent to this data sharing. Under the order, Kochava and CDS are prohibiting from selling, licensing, transferring, sharing, or disclosing precise location data absent a consumer’s affirmative express consent.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Bureau of Consumer Protection | Credit and Finance

• The FTC, in partnership with George Mason University Law School’s Institute for Consumer Financial Choice (“ICFC”) announced a two-day workshop on May 14th and 15th. The workshop will focus on developments and new technologies in the financial services marketplace and implications for consumers, businesses, and regulators. The ICFC will also present the findings of a report from the Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law. The workshop will be livestreamed; the link for May 14th is here, and the link for May 15th is here.

Bureau of Competition | Merger Approval

• The FTC finalized a consent order resolving an investigation into Valvoline Inc.’s proposed acquisition of OC IntermediateCo, Inc., a subsidiary of Greenbriar Equity Fund V, L.P. The consent order requires Greenbriar to divest forty-five quick-lube oil change shops. This divestiture resolves allegations that the acquisition would eliminate competition for quick-lube oil change services in twenty-five local markets in eight states.

Friday, May 8, 2026

Bureau of Competition | Noncompete Agreements

• Commissioner Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent a warning letter to Mortgage Connect, a national mortgage services provider, to express concerns that the company may have deployed noncompete agreements in violation of the FTC Act. The letter urges the company to thoroughly review its employment contracts and restrictive covenants to ensure they comply with the law. The letter came about in relation to documents disclosed in Mortgage Connect, L.P. v. Melissa Harvey & First Title & Escrow, Inc., No. GD-25-007711 (Pa. Ct. Com. Pl. Allegheny Cnty.), litigation in which Mortgage Connect is seeking to enforce a noncompete agreement against a former employee.