Donald Trump has named present commissioner Andrew Ferguson as the brand new Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) chair, the president-elect posted on Fact Social. Ferguson has beforehand decried what he known as censorship by huge tech and labored as an antitrust enforcer for the FTC and Division of Justice.
“On the FTC, we are going to finish Large Tech’s vendetta in opposition to competitors and free speech,” Ferguson wrote on X. “We’ll make it possible for America is the world’s technological chief and the very best place for innovators to convey new concepts to life.”
Ferguson will take over from Linda Khan, who drew the ire of huge tech by launching antitrust instances in opposition to Apple and Google, whereas additionally blocking numerous multi-billion-dollar company mergers. Beneath her hand, the FTC has gone after giant corporations of all stripes over issues that enormous mergers would undermine competitors and hurt shoppers with greater costs.
Ferguson’s pitch for the job reportedly included plans to “reverse Lina Khan’s anti-business agenda” and “maintain huge tech accountable and cease censorship,” in keeping with Punchbowl Information. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the company ought to proceed its sturdy scrutiny of the dominance of huge tech companies, in keeping with The New York Occasions‘ sources.
With Khan leaving her submit as FTC chair, Trump additionally appointed Mark Meador as commissioner, which is able to lead to a Republican majority on the five-person fee. Trump beforehand named fee member Brendan Carr as FCC chairman.