Lina Khan has been making headlines as the newest chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A legal scholar and expert in antitrust law, she is quickly earning a reputation as an advocate for industry reform. This has tech giants like Facebook and Amazon feeling uneasy.
Khan is no stranger to the world of antitrust law. She gained national attention with her Yale Law Journal article titled "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox" in 2017. In it, she argued that Amazon's market power was a threat to competition, and that current antitrust laws were inadequate to handle the challenge.
This article catapulted Khan to fame as a leading voice in the antitrust reform movement. She went on to work as a legal advisor to the House Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee, where she helped lead a groundbreaking investigation into the market power of tech giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Google.
Her appointment as FTC chair was seen as a significant victory for those who want to see increased scrutiny of the tech industry. But, as expected, tech giants are pushing back. Amazon, in particular, has been vocal in its criticism of Khan's appointment.
In a letter to the FTC, the company claimed that Khan's previous work showed "an instinctual hostility to large corporations". It also expressed concern that she would not be able to impartially enforce antitrust laws against companies like Amazon.
This pushback is not surprising. Khan's appointment signals a new era for the FTC, one in which big tech companies can no longer expect to operate with impunity. She has called for increased enforcement of antitrust laws, and has shown a willingness to go after companies that have traditionally been seen as untouchable.
The FTC's recent victory over Facebook is a testament to this. The company was hit with a $5 billion fine in 2019 for its mishandling of user data. Khan has stated that she wants to build on this success and hold tech companies accountable for their actions.
Khan's appointment also signals a broader shift in the way we think about antitrust laws. Traditionally, antitrust laws have focused on protecting consumers from high prices. Khan, however, argues that we need to broaden our understanding of what constitutes harm in a digital age.
She has called for an updated approach to antitrust laws, one that takes into account the ways in which big tech companies can stifle competition, limit consumer choice, and harm innovation. This approach would make it easier to go after companies like Amazon, which has been accused of using its dominant position to crush smaller competitors.
Khan's appointment as FTC chair is a significant moment for the antitrust reform movement. She is pushing for stricter enforcement of antitrust laws, and a new approach to regulating the tech industry. This is bad news for companies like Amazon, who are used to operating with little oversight. But it's good news for consumers, who will benefit from a more competitive and innovative marketplace.