Andrew Ferguson, a former solicitor general of Virginia and a Republican, has taken over as chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), following Lina Khan’s departure. As the new leader of the consumer protection agency, he will oversee cases involving unfair business practices, antitrust concerns, and big tech companies.
Ferguson, who was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2023, vows to take on Big Tech while paring back the FTC’s recent focus on antitrust enforcement. He has expressed his commitment to upholding Trump’s agenda, including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in government offices.
Under Ferguson’s leadership, the FTC is expected to shift its focus towards traditional enforcement approaches and stop pursuing expansive rulemaking arguments about consumer harm. This move has drawn criticism from some conservatives who view it as a retreat from established antitrust legal precedent.
Ferguson will oversee cases involving four major US tech companies – Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta – brought by the FTC and the Department of Justice. He plans to pursue policy or contract changes to remedy antitrust concerns, rather than seeking major breakups of the big firms.
The new FTC chair has also announced an inquiry into Big Tech “censorship,” launching a public tipline for affected users to report instances where they believe their content moderation practices have caused consumer harm. However, it remains unclear what enforcement measures the FTC might employ to resolve these issues.
Ferguson’s appointment reflects his keen alignment with the Trump administration’s priorities, including the elimination of diversity initiatives in government offices. His leadership style has already been met with criticism from Democrats, who argue that he is taking a narrow and partisan approach to antitrust enforcement.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/andrew-ferguson-new-chairman-federal-trade-commission-antitrust-big-tech-2025-2