Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told us Tuesday he remains opposed to confirmation of FTC nominee Andrew Ferguson and is awaiting outreach from Ferguson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. In interviews Tuesday Republicans offered varying opinions about Hawley’s dispute with McConnell (see 2312200052).
Karl Herchenroeder
Karl Herchenroeder, Associate Editor, is a technology policy journalist for publications including Communications Daily. Born in Rockville, Maryland, he joined the Warren Communications News staff in 2018. He began his journalism career in 2012 at the Aspen Times in Aspen, Colorado, where he covered city government. After that, he covered the nuclear industry for ExchangeMonitor in Washington. You can follow Herchenroeder on Twitter: @karlherk
Statistics suggest antitrust enforcement by the FTC and DOJ hasn’t been markedly different from previous administrations, but the numbers don’t fully capture the deterrent effect of policies championed by FTC Chair Lina Khan and DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Jonathan Kanter, antitrust experts told us in interviews.
The FTC’s proposed changes to online privacy rules could restrict access for children to services and products, an advertising group said in response to the agency’s effort to update the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) (see 2312200050). Yet as they gear up for a renewed policy debate in 2024, child-safety advocates told us the proposed changes are an overdue response to a rapidly evolving market overcome with AI technology.
The Senate should bring the Intelligence Committee’s surveillance bill to the floor but allow those seeking an FBI warrant requirement to file an amendment, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., told reporters last week (see 2312140052).
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., may object to the FTC nominee Andrew Ferguson's candidacy, potentially blocking him from expedited confirmation.
Merger guidelines released Monday will provide greater transparency into FTC and DOJ antitrust enforcement, but regulators will continue to base cases on facts and the law, the agencies said Monday.
The FBI’s surveillance authorities will extend through April after the House voted 310-118 Thursday to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (see 2312120073).
NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson announced Wed. the launch of the agency's public consultation process related to its forthcoming report to President Joe Biden on the risks, benefits and regulatory approaches to AI foundation models, as directed in a Biden AI executive order (see 2310300056). Speaking at an event hosted by the Center for Democracy and Technology, Davidson said the report will focus on pragmatic AI policies rooted in technical, economic and legal realities of the technology. The Biden order gave the Commerce Department 270 days to get public input and deliver the AI recommendations. Davidson said.
Congress is expected to revisit surveillance reform early next year after House Republicans on Tuesday abandoned potential votes on dueling bills from the House Judiciary and the House Intelligence committees (see 2312070066).
Bicameral draft language released Thursday for Congress’ $900 billion defense bill includes a four-month extension of the FBI’s controversial foreign intelligence surveillance authority (see 2312060048).