Episode 59: FTC Commissioner Mark Meador on Digital Media Regulatory

Host Alan Chapell welcomes Commissioner Mark Meador of the Federal Trade Commission to talk about the future of conservative antitrust, the importance of protecting kids and the impact of the regulatory environment on the digital media marketplace.

Commissioner Meador's bio can be found at https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/commissioners-staff/mark-r-meador.

The Chapell Report can be found at https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

• Privacy and online safety for children are top priorities for the FTC.
• The FTC is focused on tangible harms rather than ethereal issues.
• Antitrust enforcement has seen a bipartisan consensus on the need for more action.
• The FTC uses 6B studies to understand new markets and inform future regulations.
• Learning from past FTC experiences is crucial for effective enforcement.
• AI and deceptive claims are monitored under existing laws.
• Consumer choice is essential in a competitive marketplace.
• The FTC is committed to enforcing laws that protect children online.
• Regulatory actions should avoid creating unintended consequences.

Chapters

00:00 FTC Priorities for 2026

03:53 Antitrust Focus and Challenges

07:50 Protecting Children Online

12:08 The Role of 6B Studies

15:54 Learning from Past FTC Experiences

19:41 Addressing AI and Deceptive Claims

23:43 Consumer Choice and Market Dynamics

27:43 Key Takeaways for Digital Media Stakeholders

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