Antitrust scholar Lina Khan is confirmed as new FTC chair

The Federal Trade Commission's new chair has been confirmed as legal scholar Lina Khan, who has previously maintained that current laws do not sufficiently counter Big Tech anti-competition concerns.

As previously expected, Lina Khan has now been sworn in as chair of the US Federal Trade Commission. President Biden's appointment received bipartisan support.

Khan thanked the Senate on Twitter, saying that she plans to continue the FTC's mission to protect consumers.

I'm so grateful to the Senate for my confirmation. Congress created the FTC to safeguard fair competition and protect consumers, workers, and honest businesses from unfair & deceptive practices. I look forward to upholding this mission with vigor and serving the American public.
— Lina Khan (@linamkhan) June 15, 2021

Khan has previously researched technology markets, and served as counsel to the US House Judiciary subcommittee. A Columbia Law School professor, Khan has also been an aide to FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra.

According to Reuters, US Senator Elizabeth Warren — previously greatly critical of Big Tech companies — described the appointment as "tremendous news."

"With Chair Khan at the helm," she said in a statement, " we have a huge opportunity to make big, structural change by reviving antitrust enforcement and fighting monopolies that threaten our economy, our society, and our democracy."

Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast — and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.

If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.

AppleInsider is also bringing you the best Apple-related deals for Amazon Prime Day 2021. There are bargains before, during, and even after Prime Day on June 21 and 22 — with every deal at your fingertips throughout the event.

Latest Exclusives

Latest comparisons

17 Comments

cornchip 12 Years · 1943 comments

About 3 years ago

Greeeeaaaatt.

1 Like · 0 Dislikes

fruitstandninja 12 Years · 104 comments

cornchip said:

Greeeeaaaatt.

Elaborate

rob53 14 Years · 3318 comments

Serve the American public—— wonder which public she'll serve. I like what Apple has done for its customers. Break them up and there will be a big mess. Who do we blame for that? Apple didn’t get where it is today by locking out competition like Microsoft. Consumers made Apple huge because WE like their products better than others. Isn’t that fair competition? There are alternatives to Apple’s products and focusing on the App Store is stupid. Other companies are simply jealous of Apple’s success and politicians want brides to get a piece of the pie.

williamh 14 Years · 1048 comments

fruitstandninja said:

cornchip said:

Greeeeaaaatt.

Elaborate

I can't speak for Fruitstandninja so I will answer as if I had made that post. If they concur or not, they can weigh in.

If this newly appointed FTC Chair is thinking along the lines of Warren, she will be attacking honest and wonderful businesses using deceptive and dishonest practices in a way that will "threaten our economy, our society, and our democracy."

[Deleted User] 10 Years · 0 comments

williamh said:

fruitstandninja said:

cornchip said:

Greeeeaaaatt.

Elaborate

I can't speak for Fruitstandninja so I will answer as if I had made that post. If they concur or not, they can weigh in.

If this newly appointed FTC Chair is thinking along the lines of Warren, she will be attacking honest and wonderful businesses using deceptive and dishonest practices in a way that will "threaten our economy, our society, and our democracy."

So your comment would be based on nothing tangible or any actually knowledge of Khan but just stuff you are pulling out of thin air..... Sounds totally reasonable.

But as long as we are going with uninformed speculation, I'll answer as if I made cornchip's comment too:

If the newly appointed FTC Chair is from an alien race hell bent on subjecting the human race because we taste good she will be attacking honest and wonderful people using deceptive and dishonest practices in a way that will "thread our existence"