The FTC embraces change by creating an Office of Technology to help effectively regulate the rapidly changing world of technology. Citing a “systemic concern” about technology and its potential for fraud and abuse, the FTC’s new division will ensure agencies aren’t left behind by tech-savvy fraudsters.
As the Fair Trade Commission is a broad body, it is generalist and can bring in outside experts when specialized knowledge is required. You definitely need a handful of good finance people, but do you need them full-time just for, say, logging regulations? and can be pronounced enough to justify enduring devotion.
This is the case illustrated today in problems occurring in the tech world, and of course FTC Chairman Lina Khan was personally furious about it. Whether it’s antitrust, consumer protection, or just telling influencers that their posts need to be declared sponsored, the tech world is a wide and diverse arena for bad behavior and regulation.
The Office of Technology (OT) announcement was entrusted to Stephanie Nguyen, CTO of OT. For historical context, we provide a response to the fraudulent advertising that spread at unprecedented rates on radio, and it’s a new era, and the technology challenges are new, but the “systemic concerns” they present. is well known, she says.
A common thread is that some technologies can seriously harm consumers, be misleading, or adversely affect competitive conditions. From the rise of the surveillance economy, to the widespread application of artificial intelligence by corporations, to business models that use technology to disrupt markets, the changing pace and volume of technological change means that more FTC deals are turning to technology expertise. means that you need a team member who has
The Technical Department’s top priority is to work with staff and leaders across the agency to strengthen and assist the agency with law enforcement investigations and litigation cases. It analyzes claims about AI-powered products to see if the product is oozing with snake oil, or whether automated decision-making systems for teacher evaluations have a negative impact on hiring decisions, impacting compensation and tenure. It could mean evaluating whether to make inferences given. We will also keep an eye on trends in business model changes, such as changes in the digital advertising ecosystem, to help the FTC understand their implications for privacy, competition and consumer protection. We are working with lawyers and data scientists to decipher the collection and sale of location data and how that data can harm consumers, impacting millions of consumers. We understand the opaque algorithms that make the decisions we give.
Naming each of these potential offenders tells those companies to be careful. If it can’t prove it’s safe and effective, the FTC could quickly knock on your (virtual) door.
To be clear, the FTC has not let technology run wild over the past decade. In fact, there are already several technology-focused departments, such as the Privacy and Personal Data Protection Department. But it must have been clear enough to FTC leadership that a larger, centralized effort was needed to keep up with trends and be more proactive about guidelines and enforcement.
They’re hiring, so if you’re an engineer thinking about stepping out of the competition and into a relatively sober (in a way) federal government job, just think.
