Yesterday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alvaro Bedoya to serve as an FTC Commissioner
Mr. Bedoya fills the seat on the Commission previously held by CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. He joins the two other Democratic FTC Commissioners, Lina Khan, Chair of the Commission, and Rebecca Slaughter, thereby ending a 2-2 split and restoring a 3-2 Democratic majority. His presence on the Commission paves the way for Chair Khan to move forward on her aggressive agenda.
With Mr. Bedoya having served as the first Chief Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology & the Law, some observers have expressed the view that Mr. Bedoya will advocate for greater FTC focus on potential discrimination arising from the use of artificial intelligence and other technological innovations as well as privacy considerations for both consumer protection and competition among Big Tech companies.