FTCWatch
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February 27, 2024
Calendar
March 13 — The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is sponsoring a virtual discussion on “The Future of American Innovation: A Conversation With Lina Khan.’’ It will take place at noon. For more information, go to: https://carnegieendowment.org/2024/03/13/future-of-american-innovation-conversation-with-lina-khan-event-8255.
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February 27, 2024
Eyeing diversity, Nguyen builds top-tier tech team
When the Federal Trade Commission created a new Office of Technology a year ago to help the agency police evolving technology and understand market trends, Chief Technology Officer Stephanie T. Nguyen wanted it to do more than just operate devices and software.
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February 27, 2024
House Republicans criticize Khan’s priorities, leadership
The Republican-led US House Judiciary Committee has issued an interim report accusing Democratic Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan of abusing her power and fostering an environment of low morale.
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February 27, 2024
Commenters express support for proposed junk fee rules
A rulemaking to ban hidden and falsely advertised fees has received significant support in thousands of comments from the public.
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February 27, 2024
After ‘noisy exit’ from FTC, Wilson makes comeback as Freshfields adviser
Christine Wilson is back on the antitrust scene as a Freshfields adviser after a 10-month career hiatus sparked by a “noisy exit” from the Federal Trade Commission.
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February 27, 2024
Kroger, Albertsons sued by FTC, eight states that allege deal will hurt shoppers, workers
Kroger and Albertsons were sued by the Federal Trade Commission and eight states Monday in federal district court in Oregon alleging the companies’ proposed transaction will eliminate competition in the market for groceries and other household essentials, spurring higher prices and lower quality products.
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February 27, 2024
Capital One-Discover deal is set to face intense antitrust scrutiny
Capital One’s proposed acquisition of Discover Financial Services for $35.3 billion is certain to attract a lot of antitrust scrutiny from regulators given how concentrated the credit card issuer market is in the US and the consolidating nature of their deal — vertically integrating Capital One’s credit card lending business with Discover’s network.
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February 27, 2024
White House guidance for shielding kids online due soon, but legislation remains uncertain
Social media companies are facing pressure from multiple areas of the government to further implement safeguards for children online, with the White House gearing up to release guidance this spring.
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February 27, 2024
FTC seeks comments on horseracing regulations
The Federal Trade Commission has revised rules governing its oversight of the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority. The public may submit comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking until April 8.
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February 27, 2024
Four defendants plead guilty to asphalt bid-rigging schemes
Two Michigan companies and two individuals have pleaded guilty to rigging bids for asphalt paving services contracts in the state, the Department of Justice announced.
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February 27, 2024
Neil Averitt commentary: Pursuing the good Robinson-Patman case
Price discrimination seems to be back on the Federal Trade Commission agenda. The agency is reportedly conducting the first serious Robinson-Patman Act investigations in decades.
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February 27, 2024
People
Attorney Hill rejoins FTC
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February 27, 2024
Antitrust goes to the movies
Despite being the target of antitrust lawsuits, on occasion, Hollywood studios have given this arcane area of the law top billing. With the Oscars set for March 10, here’s a look at some popular movies about monopolies.
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February 27, 2024
Guthrie, Latta vie for top GOP spot on Energy and Commerce panel
The next top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee will likely be a conservative skeptical of Big Tech’s power but critical of the Federal Trade Commission. The panel has oversight over the agency.
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February 27, 2024
On the Shelf: Why it’s hard to manufacture things in America
The challenges faced by American manufacturers are multipronged.
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February 13, 2024
Former contractor pleads guilty to kickback scheme
A former government contractor has pleaded guilty to helping inflate the prices of commercial flooring services at a military facility in Alaska.
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February 13, 2024
FTC supports ‘march-in rights’ on patents
The Federal Trade Commission applauded efforts by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to provide guidance on the exercise of “march-in rights,” the federal government’s ability to require patent holders to license a federally funded patent to other applicants.
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February 13, 2024
Calendar
Feb. 23 — Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Economics Director Aviv Nevo will speak at the George Mason Law Review’s 27th Annual Antitrust Symposium. The event will take place in Van Metre Hall at GMU’s Antonin Scalia Law School in Arlington, Virginia. For more details, go to: https://web.cvent.com/event/da9d53a3-624b-4b53-a68f-d6b13379fc89/websitePage:8deb4542-d9c4-4193-9354-d3f8f3426f81.
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February 13, 2024
FTC pushes upstream against telemarketers
Federal Trade Commission actions related to unsolicited telemarketing show the agency is following through on a recent vow to target not only telemarketers but their upstream partners as well: lead generators and Voice over Internet Protocol service providers.
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February 13, 2024
Neil Averitt commentary: Letters between Khan and Jordan hint at trouble brewing
The letters passing between Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan suggest a stormy time ahead.
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February 13, 2024
Energy and Commerce Chair McMorris Rodgers won’t seek reelection
House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers isn’t seeking reelection this year, leaving a vacancy at the top of the panel with oversight over the Federal Trade Commission.
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February 13, 2024
Privacy Corner: Markey continues push to protect kids online
Nearly 30 years ago, Ed Markey helped pass the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Since then, the Massachusetts senator hasn’t stopped working to bolster the law that bars companies from collecting data from anyone under 13 without parental consent.
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February 13, 2024
On the Shelf: A company law enforcers love and civil libertarians loathe
In the burgeoning field of facial recognition, advances to technology help law enforcement but threaten individual liberties. New York Times reporter Kashmir Hill tackles the story of one of the industry’s most interesting players in “Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy As We Know It.”
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February 13, 2024
Scammers troll job market, feds warn
The Federal Trade Commission warned virtual scams have taken a “personal — and persuasive — turn” in targeting job seekers and college students.
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February 13, 2024
Democratic senators want bigger clampdown on algorithmic price-fixing
Under two bills introduced by Democratic lawmakers, companies that use algorithms to fix prices would be penalized.