Trump Administration’s FTC Shake-Up Could Weaken Privacy Oversight

The Trump administration’s removal of Democratic FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter has sparked legal challenges and concerns over the agency’s approach to privacy and big tech regulation. The move breaks a 1935 Supreme Court precedent preventing presidents from removing FTC commissioners for political reasons.

Bedoya and Slaughter, known for their tough stance on data brokers, AI, and workplace surveillance, have vowed to fight the decision in court. Their removal comes as Trump-appointed FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson takes the helm, raising fears that enforcement against privacy violations will weaken.

Critics, including privacy advocates and Congressional Democrats, see the shake-up as a shift away from holding big tech accountable. John Davisson of the Electronic Privacy Information Center linked the firings to the sudden removal of FTC blog posts critical of big tech, suggesting an effort to soften scrutiny on major corporations.

Ferguson has a mixed record—he has supported privacy-related enforcement actions but has also criticized the FTC for exceeding its authority. His decision to shut down public comments on surveillance pricing and question the agency’s legal standing in consumer protection cases fuels uncertainty about the future of privacy regulation.

The FTC’s lawsuits against data brokers and its landmark Equifax settlement now face uncertainty. Eric Null of the Center for Democracy and Technology warns that with fewer commissioners advocating for consumer protections, the data broker industry may operate with less oversight.

While Ferguson claims bipartisan representation benefits the FTC, it’s unclear whether Trump will appoint Democratic replacements. The controversy leaves the commission in turmoil, with potential staff departures and legal battles ahead.