iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Rohit Chopra, inaugural Secretary of the BCSA and former Director of the CFPB, visited Berkeley Law this week, calling on students to live up to California’s track record of innovation to tackle the pressing consumer protection, privacy, and antitrust challenges of our day.

“Secretary Rohit Chopra Visits Berkeley Law.” From left to right, Professor Abbye Atkinson (Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Research), Secretary Rohit Chopra (BCSA and CFPB), and Director Ted Mermin (Executive Director of the Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice).

Two dynamic photos stacked on top of each other with Professor Atkinson and Secretary Chopra. In the text, “Rohit Chopra is the inaugural Secretary of the Business and Consumer Services Agency (BCSA). He also served as the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from 2021-2025.

From a student’s perspective of the packed room. In text, “More than 150 students, staff, and faculty attended the lunchtime event. It was a great turnout with a wonderful live Q&A.”

011

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Just a note from your friendly neighborhood Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice that @lastweektonight.com this week features an episode on Subscriptions that is positively riddled with friends of the Center. It is worth, as Mr. Oliver might say, a gander.

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Imagine your motorhome breaks down. You think California's lemon law protects you. But the fine print in the warranty you signed says you waive your right to a jury trial and must sue in Indiana, under Indiana law, where the lemon law doesn't even cover motorhomes.

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Big win for California workers! The Center for Consumer Law and Economic Justice celebrates the publication of Phan v. Knight Sacramento SU Inc., an important California Court of Appeal decision protecting workers from overly broad arbitration agreements.

110

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Regulators, courts, and consumers. This month, Berkeley Center for Consumer Law and Economic Justice Senior Fellow Seth Frotman published three incisive essays on where corporate accountability is breaking down — and how to fix it. #ConsumerProtection #CorporateAccountability

Alt Text: Seth Frotman, Senior Fellow at the UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, is featured with writing that says, “July 2026 Publications” and lists below the 1) The Capitol Forum, 2) Harvard Civil Rights — Civil Liberties Law Review, and 3) Yale Journal on Regulation.

130

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

State AGs are stepping up where federal enforcement has stepped back. Capitol Forum quotes our Policy Director Shelmun Dashan on CA AG Bonta's first-of-its-kind Affordability Response Team — created to crack down on price gouging & fraud. Read article here: lnkd.in/ekS63t2b

010

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Part 2 of #AffordableNYCNow project is out! This part focuses on ready-to-go policies @mayor.nyc.gov can use to hold corporations accountable & make NYC more affordable for families. We contributed, “Strengthening Worker and Consumer Protections Through City Procurement” rebrand.ly/NYCConsumer

rebrand.ly

Center publishes new paper, “Strengthening Worker and Consumer Protections Through City Procurement,” as part of NYC Mayor Mamdani’s Affordable NYC Now project | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Jus...

000

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

New data: Monthly debt payments have more than doubled in working-class NYC neighborhoods since 2018. @tcfdotorg.bsky.social & @protectborrowers.bsky.social launched #AffordableNYCNow—an economic agenda the Mamdani Admin can act on right now. protectborrowers.org/resource/aff...

010

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

New data: Monthly debt payments have more than doubled in working-class NYC neighborhoods since 2018. Today, @TCFdotorg & @borrowerjustice launched #AffordableNYCNow—an economic agenda the Mamdani Admin can act on right now. protectborrowers.org/resource/aff...

protectborrowers.org

Affordable NYC Now - Protect Borrowers

An agenda to lower costs, hold corporations accountable, and make government work for New Yorkers.

000

Reposted by Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

UC Berkeley Law @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

“A.I. has nothing to do with tobacco and an algorithm has nothing to do with the way a cigarette is designed, but the law is built by analogy,” Ted Mermin, executive director of @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social tells @nytimes.com: nyti.ms/48SGxuv #BerkeleyLaw

nytimes.com

After Deaths, Lawsuits Against A.I. Companies Test a New Strategy

001

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

We will explore questions of fairness, discrimination, competition, privacy, and regulation as it relates to surveillance pricing & wages. Full schedule and Livestream links: bit.ly/UCCLRSymposium

Promotional graphic for the California Law Review Symposium titled "Surveillance Prices & Wages," set against a navy blue background with gold and white text. Keynote speaker is Samuel Levine, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Worker and Consumer Protection. Panelists represent organizations including the American Economic Liberties Project, California Attorney General's Office, Colorado Attorney General's Office, Columbia Law School, Cornell University, Fordham Law School, Groundwork Collaborative, Harvard Law School, Hausfeld LLP, Lieff Cabraser, New York State Office of the Attorney General, The American Prospect, Towards Justice, UC Berkeley Center for Law & Work, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley School of Information, UC Berkeley School of Law, UC Irvine School of Law, and UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice. The event takes place Friday, April 24, 2026, from 9:00am–4:30pm PT, available via livestream. An illustration shows a hand holding a smartphone displaying an eye with a dollar sign, symbolizing surveillance and pricing. Logos for UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, California Law Review, and UC Berkeley Center for Law and Work appear at the bottom.

050

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Join us via livestream! Livestream Pt. 1, beginning 9:30am PT www.youtube.com/live/7aOU9_p... Livestream Pt. 2, beginning 2:15pm PT www.youtube.com/live/QD6O8_j... Full schedule: bit.ly/UCCLRSymposium

Promotional graphic for the California Law Review Symposium on "Surveillance Prices & Wages," hosted by UC Berkeley's Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, the California Law Review, and the Center for Law and Work. Event is Friday, April 24, 2026, 9:00am–4:30pm PT / 12:00pm–7:30pm ET, available via livestream. Features an illustration of a hand holding a phone displaying an eye with a dollar sign.

010

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Keeping California's Courthouse Doors Open The Center, representing ten organizations serving low-income consumers, workers, tenants, and the elderly, has filed a brief in Askins v. CRST, fighting to ensure that California state courts remain accessible. Read more here: bit.ly/Askins

bit.ly

A Key Step in the Fight to Keep California Courthouse Doors Open to All | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

100

Reposted by Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

UC Berkeley Law @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Berkeley Law in the @newyorker.com: Article on C.F.P.B. recalls a @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social event "full of aspiring lawyers lured by free burritos" where Senior Fellows @srf1802.bsky.social & @saalevine.bsky.social discussed the "spectre of freewheeling fintech." www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

newyorker.com

Trump’s Reckless Gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

As the cost of living continues to spiral upward, the White House is dismantling the government agency built to protect Americans from financial ruin.

022

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Are you paying more than your neighbor for the same product? Corporations are using AI & data harvesting to charge different customers different prices — and most people have no idea it's happening. It's called personalized algorithmic pricing. Read our full comment: rebrand.ly/FTCAIcomment

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Consumer Protection Win in Oregon! Oregon consumer advocates defeated an industry bill, HB 4141, that aimed to gut Oregon's strong consumer protections against predatory debt settlement products. Read testimony here: rebrand.ly/ORHB4141 #ConsumerProtection

111

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

The Center filed an amicus brief for NTEU vs Vought, a case challenging efforts by Acting Director Vought and the Trump Administration to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Read brief here: bit.ly/46DoEys

021

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

The CFPB was created after predatory lending wiped out $11 TRILLION in household wealth. Now the Trump Administration is trying to shut it down—letting banks off the hook while consumers lose protections. Read amicus brief by advocates to the full D.C. Circuit pushing back: bit.ly/46DoEys

bit.ly

“Debt Cancellation for Big Banks?” Advocates Say Shuttering the Consumer Watchdog Lets Wall Street Off the Hook While Families Pay the Price | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

000

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Big win for consumers in California. Courts just ruled that breaking the law is enough to sue — even without proving damages. That keeps courthouse doors open and stops corporations from dodging accountability. A major step forward for economic justice. bit.ly/4rwh0Ot

bit.ly

Another Door Stays Open: California Courts Say Statutory Violations Are Enough to Sue | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

021

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Big step from the FTC 👏 Reopening the #ClickToCancel rule + launching action on rental junk fees = real relief for consumers tired of hidden fees and subscription traps. We continue to work on behalf of organizations urging the #FTC & #CFPB to #ProtectConsumers: bit.ly/4k86vyg

bit.ly

Center Files Two Comments to the CFPB and FTC Advocating for Consumer and Civil Rights | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Win for #Consumers & #FederalWorkers. A court ordered CFPB Dir Vought to keep the CFPB funded & he complied. Last year, the Center, @tzedekdc.bsky.social, and @borrowerjustice.bsky.social filed amicus briefs on behalf of 40+ orgs warning that dismantling the agency is unlawful and unconstitutional.

211

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

We’re celebrating Sam Levine’s appointment to lead @hellodcwp.bsky.social Dept. of Consumer & Worker Protection! As Senior Fellow, Sam battled junk fees & predatory traps and pushed for economic justice for families. NYC just got a powerhouse consumer champion.

110

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Air Travelers Beware! @saalevine urges DOT to withdraw proposed rule that would add hurdles to policing unfair/deceptive practices—including hidden fees, refund abuses, & surveillance pricing. Comment supported by Julian Sanghvi & David S. Nahmias. bit.ly/DOT753

bit.ly

Senior Fellow Sam Levine Submits Comment Opposing Department of Transportation Proposal That Would Weaken Passenger Protections | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

000

Reposted by Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

Michigan Law Review @michlawreview.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Former general counsel of the CFPB, Seth Frotman (@srf1802.bsky.social), examines how federal government lawyers can help ensure that laws are faithfully administered to address contemporary challenges. Read MLR Online's latest publication here: michiganlawreview.org/the-federal-...

michiganlawreview.org

The Federal General Counsel, Law, and Our Democracy at a Crossroads - Michigan Law Review

This speech, given by the general counsel of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on January 7, 2025, examines how federal government lawyers can help ensure that laws are faithfully admini...

022

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Giving Trump unbridled power to fire economic regulators puts everyday Americans at risk. The FTC exists to serve the public—not corporate profit, but a ruling in Trump’s favor will turn it into a weapon against political opponents. More: bit.ly/3Xyo9Ri #SCOTUS #ConsumerProtection

bit.ly

Center Files Amicus Brief in US Supreme Court on Behalf of 40 Consumer Protection and Privacy Groups Defending The Independence of the FTC | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

010

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Last week, Center Senior Fellow @saalevine.bsky.social and Stephanie Nguyen, Senior Fellow at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, joined the Organized Money Podcast to discuss their new paper, The Loyalty Trap: How Loyalty Programs Hook Us with Deals, Hack Our Brains, and Hike Our Prices.

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Stronger Consumer Protections for D.C. Today, @saalevine.bsky.social & David Nahmias urged the D.C. Council to reform the CPPA to protect residents from deceptive & exploitative practices. #ConsumerProtection #CPPA

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

“You’ve Been Served” — fairly. Gov. Newsom has signed AB 747 (SPARE Act), authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D–San José) & developed by UC Berkeley’s Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice. It’s the first statewide modernization of service of process in the nation — a win for fairness.

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

CA steps up as federal #ConsumerProtection is stalled. Last week, @cagovernornewsom.bsky.social signed SB 825 by Sen. Monique Limón and Tim Grayson into law. This law enhances and clarifies the CA DFPI authority to enforce consumer protection laws. #ConsumerProtection Read more bit.ly/DFPIbill

bit.ly

Amid Rising Costs, California Strengthens Safeguards Against Unfair and Deceptive Financial Practices | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

011

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

This week, @governor.ca.gov signed AB 325 (Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry) — The Preventing Algorithmic Price Fixing Act — making California the first state in the nation to explicitly outlaw algorithmic collusion that inflates the cost of essentials like housing and groceries.

122

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

This week, @governor.ca.gov signed SB 766 — the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act— into law. Sponsored by Sen. Ben Allen with support from Professor Ted Mermin, Senior Fellow Sam Levine, and others, SB 766 strengthens protections for Californians buying or leasing vehicles.

132

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Amicus brief warns that the Administration’s move to dismantle the @CFPB is unlawful and dangerous. The CFPB is America’s safeguard against financial scams and predatory lenders—protecting veterans, servicemembers, older adults & families.

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Yesterday, @agdanrayfield.bsky.social brought together six attorneys general and national thought leaders for a roundtable on the urgent challenges facing consumers and workers. With federal protections under threat, strong state-level protections and enforcement are more critical than ever.

100

Reposted by Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

Center for Responsible Lending @crlonline.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

New fact sheet from the Center for Responsible Lending: Student loan borrower protections are under threat. 2025 changes mean higher costs, fewer safeguards, & more uncertainty for millions. Read more 👉 loom.ly/wnNELgw #StudentDebt #HigherEd

012

Reposted by Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

Center for Responsible Lending @crlonline.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Thank you @econaction.bsky.social for gathering community leaders and legislators today to fight for an affordability agenda. Rohit Chopra delivered a powerful keynote including calling out payday loan apps. #PaydayLoanApps #DebtTrap

021

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

@saalevine.bsky.social testified before NYC’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection in support of banning hotel junk fees. Backed by research from Mia Machado + public comment with CLASS & law school chapters at Berkeley, Fordham, St. John’s & NYU. bit.ly/482iIkq #ConsumerProtection #JunkFees

bit.ly

Sam Levine Testifies on NYC Hotel Junk Fees Rule | Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

021

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

246 law students & recent grads from 23 law schools — along with CLASS Network, @peoplesparity.bsky.social & NPLA — are strongly opposing the Dept. of Ed’s proposed changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. bit.ly/SavePSLF #PSLF #StudentLoanForgiveness

bit.ly

100

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Big Win for the Latino Community: The Center applauds the CA Court of Appeal’s decision in People v. Adir (Curacao). The message is clear: companies cannot profit by preying on immigrant communities. #ConsumerProtection #LatinosInCalifornia

110

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Win for consumers! California court rules that violation of #ConsumerProtection laws is all that's needed to bring a case. No restrictive federal standing standards for CA state court. Doors to the courthouse remain open. #ConsumerRights

111

Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

ICYMI: have a look our 2024 annual report! consumerlaw.berkeley.edu/sites/defaul...

consumerlaw.berkeley.edu

010