During a brief moment, it appeared that the populism inherent in Donald Trump’s campaign might sustain Lina Khan’s approach to regulating Big Tech at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). However, this was not the case. Wired reported that over 300 blog posts critical of companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and various AI firms have been removed from the FTC’s website. These posts were mostly published during the Biden administration when Khan led the agency.
The removed blogs covered a range of topics, including details of the FTC’s privacy lawsuits against major tech companies, business guidance, and consumer protection information. Wired highlighted specific posts, including one that informed consumers of allegations that Amazon used data from Ring security cameras to train its algorithms, and another that pointed out how Microsoft allegedly collected data from children using Xbox without obtaining parental consent.
A pertinent question arises regarding the decision to remove these blog posts: Why was this action taken? Eliminating the posts does not alter the agency’s policies nor does it nullify settlements reached with companies for alleged FTC rule violations. These posts served to transform otherwise complex legal and policy information into material accessible to the general public. Their removal only adds confusion, which might be the intended effect.
It is important to acknowledge that government agencies often experience changes in leadership with new administrations every four or eight years, making this not the first instance of a government website hosting content that an incoming administration disagrees with. However, such content is typically not outright deleted. According to Wired, the Biden administration retained blogs from the Trump era to avoid potential legal violations under the Federal Records Act and the Open Government Data Act.
This situation should not come as a surprise to Trump or his advisors, as he previously faced criticism for deleting tweets that were supposed to be archived. Ultimately, no significant consequences emerged from that incident, which may have encouraged him to continue removing content he disagrees with.
Before assuming office, Vice President JD Vance expressed support for FTC chair Lina Khan and her strategy toward Big Tech regulation. On the day the list of blogs from Khan’s tenure at the FTC was removed, Vance participated in a conference hosted by the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. At this event, he indicated that the Trump administration intends to maintain ties with the tech industry and its interests while also addressing issues that resonate with the populist faction of the party. The deletion of the FTC’s previous criticisms of Big Tech could be perceived as a conciliatory gesture.
