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- Advisory or policy news by FTC Consumer ProtectionFTC and Washington settle with payment processor Riverside over misleading small business contracts
- Advisory or policy news by The Register (Security)GM agrees $220 million settlement with 36 attorneys general over driver data sold to brokers
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FTC and Washington settle with payment processor Riverside over misleading small business contracts
The FTC and Washington state reached a proposed settlement with Riverside Payments Inc., Cascade Equipment Leasing LLC and their executives, requiring a $600,000 payment and suspending a $32,083,921 judgment. The complaint alleges false savings claims, undisclosed fees and auto-renewing multi-year contracts, plus cancellation obstacles and a claimed 'risk-free' guarantee that was not honoured. The order waives the early termination fee for 60 days, bars misrepresentations and unsubstantiated earnings claims, and requires express informed consent and a simple cancellation route for negative option plans.
GM agrees $220 million settlement with 36 attorneys general over driver data sold to brokers
GM has settled with 36 attorneys general for $220 million over collecting driving data, including precise location, speed and seatbelt use, via its OnStar Smart Driver programme and passing it to brokers that supplied insurers. Investigators said dealership staff sometimes accepted terms on customers' behalf, and the OnStar app wrongly told more than 370,000 drivers they were not enrolled. GM also agreed to limit the data it collects, better protect customer PII and set up a comprehensive data privacy programme, following an FTC order finalised in January 2026 and a separate $12.75 million California settlement in May.