In a break with decades of policy, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will end disparate impact consideration in almost all cases, the commission announced.
The FTC, which acts against businesses engaging in unfair or illegal practices, such as charging hidden fees, has traditionally taken into account the more severe impact that unfair business practices can have on marginalized and disadvantaged groups. It has sometimes sought harsher penalties and greater restitution when its investigations have concluded that businesses targeted people considered more vulnerable due to low income, race, national origin, and other protected characteristics or that the bad practices fell disproportionately on disadvantaged groups.
