Resources

FTC filings and other advocacy actions

In this 2007 letter to the Federal Trade Commission, public health and consumer privacy advocates express support for an agency study of food marketing to children: Letter to the FTC on food industry marketing to children

Since then, consumer privacy and protection groups have filed dozens of complaints with the FTC and other regulatory agencies to restrict dangerous and misleading marketing practices that put children in harm’s way. For example, In 2011, four consumer advocacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, asking the agency to investigate the ethics of PepsiCo and Frito-Lays’ digital marketing practices. The complaint highlights PepsiCo’s “Snack Strong Productions” campaigns, emphasizing how the company has created “immersive” experiences to target and mislead teens into becoming Frito-Lay consumers. A collection of appendices includes videos, interviews, Frito-Lay online content and other evidence to support the complaint.

Other examples include a 2013 request for better online protection of children across racial and ethnic groups and a 2014 action led by the Center for Digital Democracy, warning the FTC of discriminatory practices with mobile devices.

Read additional filings on the Center for Digital Democracy’s website: https://democraticmedia.org/cdd_filings.