FTC’s Khan Welcomes Shifting Attitudes on Antitrust, Tech Policy

Antitrust policy has gone from being viewed as an “arcane, esoteric” topic to something consumers recognize as a vital tool for shaping the quality of day-to-day life, FTC Chair Lina Khan said during a podcast aired Wednesday. This means enforcers from either party can have a lasting impact because more people see antitrust as more than just a “technocratic” policy topic, she said during an interview with The Ankler. The FTC wants “markets that reward good ideas” and where companies can “compete on the merits,” she said: To make that happen, the market needs antitrust rules. Monopolies can jack up prices and degrade quality, she said. Along with this attitude shift on antitrust, the American public has grown increasingly skeptical about tech companies that collect personal data and the lack of consumer choice on privacy policies, she said: Consumers feel they lack choice because these companies can change their data handling practices overnight without any repercussions.