What This Means for You
- Data Privacy: The FTC warned 13 data brokers that selling Americans’ sensitive data to foreign adversaries could trigger penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.
- Consumer Refunds: The agency is sending more than $40,700 in checks to 578 consumers over deceptive health treatment claims; additional claims can be filed by May 12, 2026.
- Worker Protections: A final FTC order bars a building services contractor from enforcing no-hire agreements that restrict employee mobility.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Data brokers handling Americans’ sensitive personal information are being warned to comply with a 2024 federal law restricting foreign access to that data, while consumers who purchased certain health treatment plans are receiving refunds and a building services contractor has been barred from enforcing hiring restrictions on workers.
On February 9, the Federal Trade Commission sent letters to 13 data brokers outlining their obligations under the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024, known as PADFAA. The law prohibits data brokers from selling, disclosing, or providing access to personally identifiable sensitive data about Americans to foreign adversaries, including North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran, or entities controlled by those governments.
The law defines personally identifiable sensitive data to include health, financial, genetic, biometric, geolocation, and sexual behavior information, as well as account login credentials and government-issued identifiers such as Social Security, passport, or driver’s license numbers.
According to the FTC, some of the letter recipients have offered services involving data that identifies whether an individual is a member of the Armed Forces, information that falls under PADFAA’s requirements.
Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said the letters are intended to ensure companies review their practices and comply with the statute. Violations of PADFAA may result in FTC enforcement actions and civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.
Two days later, on February 11, the FTC announced it is sending checks to consumers who purchased certain products marketed by Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Inc. between July 2017 and July 2020.
In June 2021, the FTC reached a settlement with Dr. Stephen Meis, the company’s medical director, over allegations that he participated in deceptively advertising a $23,000 treatment plan as a scientifically proven cure for COVID-19 and made unsupported claims that other treatment plans could cure cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Under the settlement, Meis was barred from making similar health claims and ordered to pay $103,420, which the FTC is using to fund consumer refunds.
In September 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a summary decision in favor of the FTC against the remaining defendants — Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Golden Sunrise Pharmaceutical, and Huu Tieu — and barred them from making unsupported health claims in the future.
The FTC is distributing more than $40,700 to 578 affected consumers. Those who submitted valid claims are receiving full refunds. Other eligible consumers who did not submit claims are receiving checks for $20. Recipients must cash their checks within 90 days.
The agency is also mailing claim identification numbers to eligible consumers who have not yet filed claims. Additional claims can be submitted at www.ftc.gov/GoldenSunrise by May 12, 2026. Consumers with questions can contact the refund administrator, Simpluris, at 844-804-3922 or by email at info@goldensunriserefund.com.
On February 12, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson issued a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook reminding the company of its obligations under the Federal Trade Commission Act following reports that Apple News may systematically promote or suppress news content based on perceived political viewpoints.
The letter states that technology companies that suppress or promote news articles based on ideological or political viewpoints may violate the FTC Act if such practices are inconsistent with their terms of service, contradict consumer expectations without disclosure, or cause substantial injury not outweighed by benefits to consumers or competition.
Also on February 12, the FTC finalized a consent order against Adamas Amenity Services LLC, a building services contractor, and its affiliated businesses. The order requires the company to cease enforcing no-hire agreements that prevented building owners and management companies in New Jersey and New York City from hiring workers employed by Adamas without paying a penalty.
A no-hire agreement is a contractual provision that restricts a business from hiring another company’s employees. According to the FTC’s complaint, such provisions limited workers’ ability to seek higher wages and better working conditions.
Under the final consent order, Adamas must immediately stop enforcing existing no-hire agreements and notify customers and employees that the provisions are null and void. The order also imposes compliance and monitoring requirements over a ten-year period.
Following a public comment period, the Commission voted 2-0 to approve the final order.
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