Former US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan recently expressed support for open-source artificial intelligence during a speech in July 2024. However, some of her staff’s previous blog posts on the topic have been removed from the agency’s website.
Khan and her staff emphasized the benefits of open-source AI models, which allow developers to modify and reuse them freely. The FTC initially supported this approach, but has since removed several blog posts related to AI, including those discussing open weights and consumer concerns about AI.
The reasons behind the removals are unclear, with an FTC spokesperson declining to comment. However, former public affairs director Douglas Farrar suggests that the agency’s new chair, Andrew Ferguson, may be contributing to the changes in policy. The Trump administration had previously advocated for open-source AI models, but has since shifted its stance.
The removal of blog posts raises concerns about compliance with government records laws and the transparency of regulatory agencies. Despite this, more than 200 of Khan’s posts remain available on the FTC’s website, including a recent blog on enforcement actions against deceptive AI schemes.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/ftc-removes-blog-posts-about-ai-authored-by-by-lina-khan