FTC Chair Lina Khan discusses regulating big tech, banning non-compete agreements, and lawsuits against tech giants. She emphasizes the importance of fair competition, regulating AI, and the challenges faced in a bipartisan manner. Khan's leadership at the FTC draws both support and criticism, as she navigates the complexities of regulating dominant firms in the digital age.
FTC under Lina Khan is targeting big tech for alleged unfair practices.
The FTC, led by Khan, focuses on regulating AI partnerships to prevent unfair competition.
Deep dives
Lena Khan's Mission at the Federal Trade Commission
Lena Khan, as the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, aims to ensure fair competition in the marketplace and protect consumers by challenging dominant companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft for unfair business practices. Despite facing criticism for overstepping the agency's authority, Khan believes that holding industry giants accountable aligns with the core mission of the FTC established in 1914 to prevent dominant firms from abusing their power.
FTC's Investigations into AI Partnerships and Antitrust Practices
FTC, under Lena Khan's leadership, is investigating AI partnerships, including Microsoft's deal with the AI startup inflection, to prevent unfair competition, exclusionary access, and discrimination. The agency is focused on ensuring fair competition, particularly in digital markets, to prevent dominant firms from co-opting opportunities for innovation and maintaining their monopolies.
FTC's Approach to Antitrust Enforcement and Response to Criticisms
The Federal Trade Commission, guided by Lena Khan, has faced challenges and lawsuits in its antitrust efforts, including the case against Amazon for alleged anti-competitive practices. While striving for liability and fair competition, the FTC remains open to adjusting strategies based on outcomes, aiming to uphold integrity and the rule of law in enforcing antitrust regulations.
Since Lina Khan was appointed chair of the Federal Trade Commission in 2021, the FTC has become more ambitious in its efforts to curb alleged unfair business practices. The agency has banned most non-compete agreements, has begun to scrutinize the proliferation of AI and has initiated lawsuits against massive tech companies like Meta, Microsoft and Amazon. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post).The FTC under Khan’s leadership has drawn bipartisan support in Congress, but also the ire of some pundits and business leaders.
Elahe Izadi sat down with Khan in The Washington Post studio this week for a wide-ranging conversation about Khan’s tenure at the FTC, how the government should be regulating AI, why the FTC is going up against Amazon and what it means to be doing this work in an election year.
Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Allison Michaels and mixed by Sean Carter.