President Trump this week signed the US SAFE WEB Extension, which reauthorizes a 2007 law that permits the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action to protect U.S. consumers against cross-border fraud and deception using the internet.
The bill, introduced in October 2019 by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., also requires the FTC to report on its activities fighting cross-border online fraud, and make recommendations to address the problem.
Approval of the legislation by President Trump extends the US SAFE Web by law by another seven years.
Rep. McMorris Rodgers said last month upon Senate approval of the legislation that extending the law was important “especially during the pandemic when people are at greater risk of scams and deception.”
“Those seeing to deceive and defraud American families often use international borders as a shield against law enforcement,” said Rep. Kelly last month. “We should be able to work with our global partners to address malicious activity. This reauthorization ensures the Federal Trade Commission has the resources and authority to cooperate with foreign law enforcement partners.”
