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Tag: Lina Khan

  • FTC Commissioner Resigns, Pens Scathing Op-Ed About Lina Khan

    FTC Commissioner Resigns, Pens Scathing Op-Ed About Lina Khan

    FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson is resigning, penning a scathing op-ed in The Wall Street Journal condemning Chairwoman Lina Khan.

    Lina Khan was a controversial choice to lead the Federal Trade Commission, with some in the tech industry opposed to her appointment over her long-standing criticism of Big Tech. Since taking over the agency, Khan has increased regulatory scrutiny of tech companies.

    In her op-ed, Wilson argues the case that Khan has taken the FTC beyond the rule of law, and she can there no longer stand by and “enable her”:

    Much ink has been spilled about Lina Khan’s attempts to remake federal antitrust law as chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Less has been said about her disregard for the rule of law and due process and the way senior FTC officials enable her. I have failed repeatedly to persuade Ms. Khan and her enablers to do the right thing, and I refuse to give their endeavor any further hint of legitimacy by remaining. Accordingly, I will soon resign as an FTC commissioner.

    Wilson accuses Khan and her allies of breaking with established law and “decades of bipartisan precedent” in the pursuit of their agenda:

    Since Ms. Khan’s confirmation in 2021, my staff and I have spent countless hours seeking to uncover her abuses of government power. That task has become increasingly difficult as she has consolidated power within the Office of the Chairman, breaking decades of bipartisan precedent and undermining the commission structure that Congress wrote into law. I have sought to provide transparency and facilitate accountability through speeches and statements, but I face constraints on the information I can disclose—many legitimate, but some manufactured by Ms. Khan and the Democratic majority to avoid embarrassment.

    Wilson also takes aim at Khan’s past criticism of Big Tech and argues that it disqualifies Khan from serving as an impartial judge in cases involving the companies she has railed against in the past.

    Consider the FTC’s challenge to Meta’s acquisition of Within, a virtual-reality gaming company. Before joining the FTC, Ms. Khan argued that Meta should be blocked from making any future acquisitions and wrote a report on the same issues as a congressional staffer. She would now sit as a purportedly impartial judge and decide whether Meta can acquire Within. Spurning due-process considerations and federal ethics obligations, my Democratic colleagues on the commission affirmed Ms. Khan’s decision not to recuse herself.

    Commissioner Wilson’s op-ed is a lengthy read, one in which she continues to detail her allegations of abuses of power on Khan’s part.

    Most interestingly, Wilson’s position is an increasingly rare one in US politics. Wilson is currently the only Republican FTC Commissioner. As such, she repeatedly calls out her Democratic colleagues at a time when cracking down on antitrust abuses is one of the few things that lawmakers and regultors on both sides of the aisle can agree on.

  • FTC Launches ‘Office of Technology’ to Tackle Big Tech

    FTC Launches ‘Office of Technology’ to Tackle Big Tech

    The Federal Trade Commission is stepping up its efforts to reign in Big Tech, launching a new Office of Technology.

    Big Tech has increasingly been in the crosshairs of politicians and regulators across the political spectrum. In the US, the FTC is one of the main agencies tasked with reigning in Big Tech, and it is forming a new office to help achieve that goal and keep up with the rapid changes that happen within the tech industry.

    The agency described the goal of the office in its press release:

    The Federal Trade Commission today launched a new Office of Technology that will strengthen the FTC’s ability to keep pace with technological challenges in the digital marketplace by supporting the agency’s law enforcement and policy work.

    “For more than a century, the FTC has worked to keep pace with new markets and ever-changing technologies by building internal expertise,” said Chair Lina M. Khan. “Our office of technology is a natural next step in ensuring we have the in-house skills needed to fully grasp evolving technologies and market trends as we continue to tackle unlawful business practices and protect Americans.”

    FTC CTO Stephanie T. Nguyen will head up the new office, which will have its own dedicated staff.

    “I’m honored to lead the FTC’s Office of Technology at this vital time to strengthen the agency’s technical expertise and meet the quickly evolving challenges of the digital economy,” said Nguyen. “I look forward to continuing to work with the agency’s talented staff and building our team of technologists.”

    The FTC says the new office will focus on three primary areas, including strengthening and supporting law enforcement investigations and actions; advising and engaging with staff and the Commission on policy and research initiatives; and highlighting market trends and emerging technologies that impact the FTC’s work.

  • FTC May Launch Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon

    FTC May Launch Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon

    The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly preparing an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, the latest in regulators’ efforts to reign in Big Tech.

    Big Tech has been coming under increased scrutiny in recent years, with critics accusing companies of dominating their respective markets and unfairly using their size and influence to do so. FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan has been a vocal critic of Big Tech, and Amazon in particular, making a possible lawsuit against the company unsurprising.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, the FTC is looking at whether Amazon unfairly favors its own products and services, and whether it deals unfairly with third-party sellers. Regulators are also scrutinizing whether Amazon Prime unfairly bundles services to Amazon’s benefit.

    The Journal’s sources say it’s unclear whether the FTC will file a suit, and Amazon’s executives have not yet met with individual FTC commissioners to make their case. At this point, the FTC could decide either way on whether to pursue action.

  • FTC Wants to Eliminate Noncompete Agreements

    FTC Wants to Eliminate Noncompete Agreements

    The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule that would ban noncompete clauses in the US labor market.

    Noncompete clauses are a common part of many employment agreements, barring an individual from working for a competing company when their employment ends. The FTC believes that eliminating such agreements would add some $300 billion per year to workers’ earnings.

    “The freedom to change jobs is core to economic liberty and to a competitive, thriving economy,” said Chair Lina M. Khan. “Noncompetes block workers from freely switching jobs, depriving them of higher wages and better working conditions, and depriving businesses of a talent pool that they need to build and expand. By ending this practice, the FTC’s proposed rule would promote greater dynamism, innovation, and healthy competition.”

    At a time when tens of thousands of workers are being laid off, eliminating noncompete agreements would expand employment opportunities for 30 million Americans, many of them in the industries hardest hit by layoffs.

    “Research shows that employers’ use of noncompetes to restrict workers’ mobility significantly suppresses workers’ wages—even for those not subject to noncompetes, or subject to noncompetes that are unenforceable under state law,” said Elizabeth Wilkins, Director of the Office of Policy Planning. “The proposed rule would ensure that employers can’t exploit their outsized bargaining power to limit workers’ opportunities and stifle competition.”

    The new rule, which is open for public comment, would apply to employees, as well as “independent contractors and anyone who works for an employer, whether paid or unpaid. It would also require employers to rescind existing noncompetes and actively inform workers that they are no longer in effect.”

  • Senators Want the FTC to Investigate Twitter’s Security and Take Action

    Senators Want the FTC to Investigate Twitter’s Security and Take Action

    US senators are asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Twitter’s security in the wake of mass layoffs.

    Since Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, the new CEO has laid off roughly half the staff. The security team has likewise suffered significant losses, including among its leadership. According to ABC News, senators are asking FTC chair Lina Khan to investigate the social media company to ensure it is meeting its security commitments and abiding by consumer-protection laws.

    The senators want to ensure there are not “any breaches or business practices that are unfair or deceptive.”

    In particular, the lawmakers are concerned over agreements Twitter has with the government that were made in the wake of previous data security issues.

    According to the letter they sent to Khan, the senators expressed concerned that Musk “has taken alarming steps that have undermined the integrity and safety of the platform, and announced new features despite clear warnings those changes would be abused for fraud, scams and dangerous impersonation.”

    “Users are already facing the serious repercussions of this growth-at-all-costs strategy,” they added.

    The senators’ letter is just the latest challenge Musk is facing in his initial weeks as Twitter’s new CEO. Only time will tell if he is successful, or if the company will crumble under the pressure it is enduring.

  • FTC May Take Action Against Twitter and CEO Over Whistleblower Allegations

    FTC May Take Action Against Twitter and CEO Over Whistleblower Allegations

    Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan opened the door to the possibility of new action against Twitter and CEO Parag Agrawal.

    Peiter “Mudge” Zatko is a well-known hacker who previously served as Twitter’s head of security. Zatko was hired by then-CEO Jack Dorsey before being fired by his successor. Zatko came forward in August to blow the whistle about mismanagement at the company, claiming Twitter and its executives had misled investors about the scope of its bot problem, as well as its security issues.

    Even more concerning, Zatko said the company was in violation of its 2011 settlement with the FTC over security issues. Chairwoman Khan is taking those allegations seriously, opening the door to an investigation into Twitter’s compliance with the terms of the settlement.

    “There has absolutely been a problem with companies treating FTC orders as suggestions,” Khan said during a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, according to MarketWatch. “We have a program underway to really toughen that up.”

    Khan also said she was “extremely disturbed” over the allegations and that the agency would be “looking at this closely.”

    Senator Richard Blumenthal pressed Khan on whether the agency would name Agrawal in any action taken against the company, given Zatko’s claims that Agrawal was aware of the issues and Twitter’s alleged deception.

    “Absolutely,” Khan said. “If we have a basis for naming individuals because we find that they meet the legal standard for that we won’t hesitate to do it.”

  • Lawmakers Want the FTC to Address VPN Providers’ ‘Deceptive Data Practices’

    Lawmakers Want the FTC to Address VPN Providers’ ‘Deceptive Data Practices’

    Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Anna G. Eshoo have written FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan asking the agency to address “deceptive data practices” in the VPN industry.

    Virtual private networks are often touted as a vital security and privacy measure, but many computer experts say their importance is overrated. To make matters worse, many VPN providers don’t live up to the claims they make about the privacy they offer.

    The lawmakers point out how widespread the problems are in their letter:

    “In December 2021, Consumer Reports (CR) found that 75 percent of leading VPN providers misrepresented their products and technology or made hyperbolic claims about the protection they provide users on their websites, such as advertising a ‘military-grade encryption’ which doesn’t exist,” the lawmakers write. “Advocacy groups have also found that leading VPN services intentionally misrepresent the functionality of their product and fail to provide adequate security to their users. We’re highly concerned that this deceptive advertising is giving abortion-seekers a false sense of security when searching for abortion-related care or information, putting them at a higher risk of prosecution.”

    The lawmakers then went to provide specific examples of some of the abuses VPN companies have become known for:

    “VPN services have also been exposed for collecting, and, in some cases, abusing, user data. In 2020 it was revealed that a leading analytics firm used personal data from over 35 million people who had downloaded one of their 20 VPN and ad-blocking apps to power their analytics platform without consent.  Notably, the apps didn’t reveal their connection to the analytics firm. Another study found that 75 percent of Android VPN apps report personal user data to third-party tracking companies and 82 percent request permissions to access sensitive resources, including user accounts and text messages.”

    The lawmakers’ letter makes clear the dangers of downloading and installing a VPN without doing due diligence to ensure it lives up to its claims. Many VPNs provide little to no information about their business or their leadership, offering little real-world accountability for their actions. Many have not been independently audited to verify their claims.

    One VPN that often comes recommended by top security experts for checking all of the above boxes is Mullvad. Based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, Mullvad’s apps are open-source and have been externally audited. The company has a zero-logs policy, and accounts are anonymous. In fact, the company recently removed the ability to have a reoccurring subscription to cut down on how much information it has on its customers.

    Unfortunately, VPN companies of Mullvad’s caliber are few and far between.

  • US Lawmakers Want the FTC to Investigate TikTok’s Data Handling

    US Lawmakers Want the FTC to Investigate TikTok’s Data Handling

    TikTok continues to face pressure over its latest privacy faux pas, with two US senators asking the FTC to investigate the company.

    News broke in June that TikTok was sharing US user data with its employees in China in direct violation of the company’s own claims. The reports were based on leaked recordings of some 80 internal meetings. The reaction has been swift and predictable, with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr asking Apple and Google to ban the app from their stores. Adding to the company’s woes, two senators have penned a letter to the FTC asking the agency to investigate.

    Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio penned the letter, accusing the company of acting in direct violation of its executive’s sworn testimony:

    “We write in response to public reports that individuals in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have been accessing data on U.S. users, in contravention of several public representations, including sworn testimony in October 2021,” the senators wrote to FTC Chair Lina Khan. “In light of this new report, we ask that your agency immediately initiate a Section 5 investigation on the basis of apparent deception by TikTok, and coordinate this work with any national security or counter-intelligence investigation that may be initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice.”

    The senators also make the case that TikTok was aware of the issue, and the company’s failure to do anything, along with its collection of biometric data, represents a major security threat:

    “TikTok’s Trust and Safety department was aware of these improper access practices and governance irregularities, which – according to internal recordings of TikTok deliberations – offered PRC-based employees unfettered access to user information, including birthdates, phone numbers, and device identification information. Recent updates to TikTok’s privacy policy, which indicate that TikTok may be collecting biometric data such as faceprints and voiceprints (i.e. individually-identifiable image and audio data, respectively), heighten the concern that data of U.S. users may be vulnerable to extrajudicial access by security services controlled by the CCP.”

    This isn’t the first time TikTok has found itself in hot water over its data practices. The company has stumbled from one privacy scandal to another, been the subject of multiple investigations and lawsuits, and was nearly banned in the US during the Trump administration.

    All things considered, it’s truly amazing the app is still on the market.

    The senators’ letter is quoted in its entirety below:

    Dear Chairwoman Khan:

    We write in response to public reports that individuals in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have been accessing data on U.S. users, in contravention of several public representations, including sworn testimony in October 2021. In an interview with the online publication Cyberscoop, the Global Chief Security Officer for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, made a number of public representations on the data security practices of TikTok, including unequivocal claims that the data of American users is not accessible to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the government of the PRC. As you know, TikTok’s privacy practices are already subject to a consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission, based on its improper collection and processing of personal information from children. In light of this new report, we ask that your agency immediately initiate a Section 5 investigation on the basis of apparent deception by TikTok, and coordinate this work with any national security or counter-intelligence investigation that may be initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice.

    Additionally, these recent reports suggest that TikTok has also misrepresented its corporate governance practices, including to Congressional committees such as ours. In October 2021, TikTok’s head of public policy, Michael Beckerman, testified that TikTok has “no affiliation” with another ByteDance subsidiary, Beijing-based ByteDance Technology, of which the CCP owns a partial stake. Meanwhile, as recently as March of this year, TikTok officials reiterated to our Committee representations they have previously made that all corporate governance decisions are wholly firewalled from their PRC-based parent, ByteDance. Yet according to a recent report from Buzzfeed News, TikTok’s engineering teams ultimately report to ByteDance leadership in the PRC.

    According to this same report, TikTok’s Trust and Safety department was aware of these improper access practices and governance irregularities, which – according to internal recordings of TikTok deliberations – offered PRC-based employees unfettered access to user information, including birthdates, phone numbers, and device identification information. Recent updates to TikTok’s privacy policy, which indicate that TikTok may be collecting biometric data such as faceprints and voiceprints (i.e. individually-identifiable image and audio data, respectively), heighten the concern that data of U.S. users may be vulnerable to extrajudicial access by security services controlled by the CCP.

    A series of national security laws imposed by the CCP, including the 2017 National Intelligence Law and the 2014 Counter-Espionage Law provide extensive and extra-judicial access opportunities for CCP-controlled security services. Under these authorities, the CCP may compel access, regardless of where data is ultimately stored. While TikTok has suggested that migrating to U.S.-based storage from a U.S. cloud service provider alleviates any risk of unauthorized access, these latest revelations raise concerns about the reliability of TikTok representations: since TikTok will ultimately control all access to the cloud-hosted systems, the risk of access to that data by PRC-based engineers (or CCP security services) remains significant in light of the corporate governance irregularities revealed by BuzzFeed News. Moreover, as the recent report makes clear, the majority of TikTok data – including content posted by users as well as their unique IDs– will remain freely accessible to PRC-based ByteDance employees.

    In light of repeated misrepresentations by TikTok concerning its data security, data processing, and corporate governance practices, we urge you to act promptly on this matter.

    Sincerely,

  • Senators Ask the FTC to Investigate Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition

    Senators Ask the FTC to Investigate Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition

    US Senators are asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the Microsoft/Activision deal, over concerns regarding Activision’s past scandals.

    Microsoft announced in January, 2022 that it was purchasing Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Microsoft has been buying gaming studios, both for their immediate benefit, as well as their potential to help the company as it competes in the burgeoning metaverse.

    One of the major challenges the company faces with the acquisition, however, is Activision’s history of sexual harassment and discrimination. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addressed this in his comments when the deal was announced, saying: “After the close, we will have significant work to do in order to continue to build a culture where everyone can do their best work.”

    Nadella’s assurance is not enough for Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Cory Booker, however. The four senators have written a letter urging the FTC to take a closer look at the deal, expressly over concerns the merger could undermine employee-led efforts to hold Activision’s leadership accountable. Similarly, it’s believed Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will be leaving following the merger, effectively being given a golden parachute and a way to save face and avoid accountability.

    “Workers at Activision Blizzard, following years of rampant sexual misconduct and discrimination and unfair labor practices, have led calls for greater transparency and accountability in the gaming industry, and we are deeply concerned that this acquisition could further disenfranchise these workers and prevent their voices from being heard,” said the senators.

    The senators also quoted FTC Chairwoman Khan as recently stating that “robust antitrust enforcement can help ensure that workers have the freedom to seek higher pay and better working conditions, and can help promote economic opportunity and widespread prosperity for all.”

    The FTC had already declared its intentions to investigate the merger. With the senators’ additional urging, the agency will likely take an even closer look than it originally planned.

  • FTC Will Review Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Purchase

    FTC Will Review Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Purchase

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing to review Microsoft’s $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard amid increased scrutiny of major acquisitions by Big Tech.

    Microsoft announced in mid-January that it was purchasing Activision Blizzard, the maker of StarCraft, Warcraft, Call of Duty, Overwatch, and more. The deal is poised to completely shakeup the gaming landscape, provided Microsoft can close it.

    According to Bloomberg, the company’s plans are coming under close inspection by the FTC. Chairwoman Lina Khan, in particular, has been an outspoken critic of Big Tech and their acquisitions.

    Should the deal fall through, there are many potential ripple effects, not the least of which is Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. It’s believed Kotick will leave the company once the acquisition is complete. Kotick has been under fire for some time over his (mis)handling of various discrimination and sexual harassment complaints. Until now, the acquisition was seen as a graceful way for him to leave the company and pave the way for change.

  • FTC’s Suit Against Facebook Can Proceed, Judge Rules

    FTC’s Suit Against Facebook Can Proceed, Judge Rules

    Facebook was dealt a major blow today as Judge James Boasberg ruled the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) suit against it will not be dismissed.

    The FTC had previously sued Facebook in December 2020, over what it said was anticompetitive behavior, only to have Judge Boasberg throw the case out. The FTC refiled, including more evidence to support its case that Facebook is a monopoly that abuses its power, buying up competitors to head off competition. 

    This time around, according to The Washington Post, the FTC has successfully convinced Judge Boasberg that it should have its day in court — although the judge seemed less than convinced the FTC could win its case.

    “Although the agency may well face a tall task down the road in proving its allegations, the Court believes that it has now cleared the pleading bar and may proceed to discovery,” Boasberg wrote in his decision.

    Facebook also lost its bid to force FTC chair Lina Khan to recuse herself. The company is opposed to her playing a role in the suit, given her past criticism of the company.

    “Although Khan has undoubtedly expressed views about Facebook’s monopoly power, these views do not suggest the type of ‘axe to grind’ based on personal animosity or financial conflict of interest that has disqualified prosecutors in the past,” Boasberg wrote.

    As with any case of this magnitude, it will likely take years to litigate.

  • Tesla Autopilot’s Latest Crash Involved a Police Car

    Tesla Autopilot’s Latest Crash Involved a Police Car

    When you’re trying to convince the world of your autonomous driving software, it’s a good idea not to hit police cars — as Tesla is learning.

    According to The Associated Press, the Tesla in question hit a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser that was pulled over on the side of the road while the trooper helped a disabled vehicle.

    The trooper whose cruiser was hit shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday had activated his emergency lights and was on the way to the disabled vehicle when the Tesla hit the cruiser’s left side and then collided with the other vehicle.

    Tesla is already under scrutiny for its Autopilot and more advanced Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, with US senators calling for the FTC to investigate the company’s claims. In their letter to FTC chair Lina Khan, the senators words were almost prescient:

    “Tesla’s marketing has repeatedly overstated the capabilities of its vehicles, and these statements increasingly pose a threat to motorists and other users of the road.”

    There’s at least one Florida Highway Patrol trooper that would likely agree with that sentiment.

  • Senators Calling for FTC Investigation Into Tesla’s Self-Driving Claims

    Senators Calling for FTC Investigation Into Tesla’s Self-Driving Claims

    Senators Edward J. Markey and Richard Blumenthal have called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Tesla’s marketing claims.

    Tesla has been touting its Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) features, but the reality hasn’t quite lived up to the description. In fact, Consumer Reports found Tesla’s software was “easily tricked.”

    The issues have caught the attention of Senators Markey and Blumenthal, and they are urging the FTC to investigate.

    “Tesla’s marketing has repeatedly overstated the capabilities of its vehicles, and these statements increasingly pose a threat to motorists and other users of the road,” wrote the senators to FTC Chair Lina Khan. “Accordingly, we urge you to open an investigation into potentially deceptive and unfair practices in Tesla’s advertising and marketing of its driving automation systems and take appropriate enforcement action to ensure the safety of all drivers on the road.”

    “[T]here are no fully autonomous vehicles currently available on the market,” the senators continued, stressing the limitations of Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD technology. “Understanding these limitations is essential, for when drivers’ expectations exceed their vehicle’s capabilities, serious and fatal accidents can and do result.”

  • FTC Unanimously Embraces Right to Repair

    FTC Unanimously Embraces Right to Repair

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has “unanimously voted to ramp up law enforcement against repair restrictions.”

    Right to repair has become a major issue for consumers, consumer advocacy groups and regulators alike. While it was once fairly easy to do basic repairs and upgrades to devices — such as replacing a cellphone battery or upgrading laptop memory — many manufactures have made it all but impossible in recent times.

    Some jurisdictions have already begun to roll out their own right to repair laws, and the movement has been gaining support. President Biden recently directed the FTC to draft right to repair rules, and the agency has unanimously adopted a policy statement aimed at enforcing those rights.

    “These types of restrictions can significantly raise costs for consumers, stifle innovation, close off business opportunity for independent repair shops, create unnecessary electronic waste, delay timely repairs, and undermine resiliency,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said during an open Commission meeting. “The FTC has a range of tools it can use to root out unlawful repair restrictions, and today’s policy statement would commit us to move forward on this issue with new vigor.” 

    The FTC’s vote is yet another ominous sign for Big Tech, signaling increased legislation and regulation that will have far-reaching impacts on all aspects of the industry.

  • FTC Scrutinizing Amazon’s MGM Acquisition

    FTC Scrutinizing Amazon’s MGM Acquisition

    The Federal Trade Commission is planning to review Amazon’s acquisition of MGM at a time when Big Tech is facing increased scrutiny.

    Amazon announced in May it was purchasing MGM for $8.45 billion. MGM had reportedly been looking for a buyer for some time, and Amazon was a natural fit as it looks to expand its Prime Video content catalog.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, the FTC is planning on reviewing the decision, amid antitrust concerns and a wider scrutiny of the increasing power and influence the tech industry wields. The decision also comes immediately after the appointment of Lina Khan as FTC Chairwoman. Khan made a name as an antitrust critic, in large part for her criticism of Amazon.

    MGM is no longer one of the larger Hollywood studios, so that is certainly in the Amazon’s favor. Nonetheless, given the power Amazon already wields — not to mention the success of its Prime Video platform — buying MGM may be a bridge too far for regulators.