As a dedicated supporter of free speech and innovation, I couldn’t be more thrilled about Andrew Ferguson‘s appointment as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair! With his impressive background spanning from being Virginia’s solicitor general to clerking under Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, it’s clear that he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
Andrew Ferguson, a Republican member at the Federal Trade Commission, has been appointed as its chairman.
On Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Ferguson as he pledged to persist in challenging “Big Tech censorship” and safeguarding “Freedom of Speech.” (Paraphrased)
According to Trump’s statement on Truth Social, Ferguson is expected to be “the most America-focused and pro-innovation chair of the Federal Trade Commission that our nation has ever seen.
The nomination follows Trump’s appointment of Gail Slater, an experienced tech and media policy advisor with roles at Fox Corporation and Roku, to the highest antitrust position within the Justice Department. This decision was made to control the influence of “Big Tech,” which has been unchecked for years and is suppressing competition in our most dynamic industry, as Trump stated.
In his role at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), appointed in April, Ferguson has expressed disagreement with two agency initiatives: one aiming to prohibit non-compete clauses in private employment contracts and another intending to simplify the process for canceling subscriptions. Both of these measures have faced legal challenges in court.
Following the established path, it’s anticipated that Ferguson might deviate from the rules set by the agency under current chair Lina Khan, which some have deemed restrictive for business deals. This could involve rescinding the fresh merger guidelines released last year by the FTC and Department of Justice, these guidelines serve as a guide for regulatory scrutiny of acquisitions. The new guidelines differ from the old ones in that they suggest acquisitions that reorganize supply chains, potentially giving a firm control over access to products or services and reducing competition, could be against antitrust laws. Additionally, they don’t distinguish between horizontal and vertical mergers, stating that mergers should not solidify or expand a dominant position, and consider the impact of a deal on wages and working conditions.
The Writers Guild of America, who advocated for changes in the guidelines, has been vocal about its disapproval towards regulators greenlighting agreements that it believes have weakened labor by unifying the entertainment and media sector. Previously, they published a 15-page report on antitrust issues, suggesting that Disney, Amazon, and Netflix are on the verge of becoming the dominant players or “gatekeepers” in Hollywood.
Prior to his role at the Federal Trade Commission, Ferguson served as Virginia’s solicitor general and worked as an assistant for then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. He also had experience as a clerk under a judge in a federal appeals court and Justice Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court.
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2024-12-11 03:54