As U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan prepares to exit her role at the agency, she reflected on the initiatives introduced by the FTC under her leadership in a fireside chat with Brookings Visiting Fellow Bill Baer.
Khan has taken a strong antitrust stance during her tenure while introducing regulations to protect consumer privacy. The FTC’s enforcement efforts have included proposed updates to the Children’s Online Privacy Protections Act, aiming to increase protections for children online by limiting companies’ collection of children’s personal information. The agency has also worked to address health, financial, and employment privacy concerns.
The FTC evaluated AI development and navigating potential consumer harms, including automated decision-making technology and facial recognition. Khan said the agency worked "layer by layer across the AI stack" to evaluate key aspects of AI systems and technology to protect consumer data without stifling innovation.
Khan claimed the FTC’s AI enforcement has centered on companies who engage in deceptive or misleading marketing practices surrounding AI technology. In September, the agency brought forth its AI crackdown, Operation AI Comply. The initiative introduced a series of enforcement actions against companies, aiming to regulate AI technology that harmed businesses and consumers with misleading practices.
"It’s humbling to realize what we have achieved in such a short time and this extraordinary level of impact from this small a team is virtually unheard of in government," said Khan. "This work, though is far from over, and the FTC must remain vigilant, agile, and deeply committed to enforcing the law without fear or failure."
The FTC’s enforcement measures and priorities are expected to shift under President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson. Under new leadership the agency may move away from strengthening antitrust practices to focus on content moderation. Khan said she hopes whoever takes her place at the FTC "will keep the agency door’s open" and continue to engage with a diverse group of consumers.
Lexie White is a staff writer for the IAPP.