Donald Trump has nominated current commissioner Andrew Ferguson as the new chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the president-elect wrote on Truth Social. Ferguson previously criticized what he called big tech research and served as an antitrust enforcer for the FTC and the Department of Justice.
“At the FTC, we’re going to end Big Tech’s fight against competition and free speech,” Ferguson wrote in X. “We will ensure that America is a world leader in technology and the best place for innovators to bring new ideas to life.”
Ferguson will take over from Linda Khan, who sparked outrage in tech giants by filing antitrust lawsuits against Apple and Google, while also blocking a number of multibillion-dollar corporate mergers. Under his watch, the FTC has gone after big companies of all stripes over concerns that massive mergers will distort competition and hurt consumers with higher prices.
Ferguson’s proposal for the job reportedly includes plans to “roll back Lina Khan’s anti-business agenda” and “responsibly with greater technology and stop research,” according to the report. Punchbowl News. However, he said the organization should continue to closely monitor the governance of large technology firms, according to. The New York Times‘sources.
With Khan stepping down as FTC chairman, Trump has renominated Mark Meador as commissioner, which will lead to a Republican majority on the five-person commission. Trump previously nominated commission member Brendan Carr as FCC chairman.
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