Background

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently removed three blog entries that were posted during Lina Khan's tenure. These entries focused on the potential harms of artificial intelligence (AI) to consumers and discussed the implications of open‑source AI models. The posts had previously warned about issues such as commercial surveillance, fraud, impersonation and illegal discrimination.

Changes in Leadership

Since the appointment of Andrew Ferguson as the FTC chair, the agency has begun reviewing and eliminating content that it deems misaligned with current policy priorities. The three removed posts were among the few that directly addressed AI‑related consumer risks under Khan’s administration.

Broader Content Deletions

The blog removals are part of a larger trend of content revisions and deletions across multiple federal agencies. Similar actions have been noted in other departments, where material related to diversity, public health, climate assessment and other topics has been altered or taken offline. This pattern reflects a shift in emphasis toward rapid growth and competition, particularly in the technology sector.

Legal and Transparency Concerns

Observers have raised questions about whether the FTC’s removal of these posts complies with the Federal Records Act, which mandates preservation of government records, and the Open Government Data Act, which requires agencies to keep data publicly accessible by default. Critics argue that eliminating historically significant blog entries could hinder transparency and public understanding of past regulatory viewpoints.

Reactions

Former FTC staff members have expressed surprise at the decision, noting that the posts provided valuable insight into consumer‑protection concerns surrounding AI. The agency has not offered a detailed explanation for the deletions, and attempts to obtain comment from the FTC have not yielded a response.

Usado: News Factory APP - descubrimiento de noticias y automatización - ChatGPT para Empresas