House Republicans are urging the Federal Trade Commission to cease work on contentious matters for at least the rest of the year.
“The results of the 2024 presidential election are now apparent and leadership of the Federal Trade Commission ... will soon change,” Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said Wednesday in a letter sent to the commissioners.
“As a traditional part of the peaceful transfer of power, the FTC should immediately stop work on any partisan or controversial item under consideration, consistent with applicable law and regulation,” she added.
An FTC spokesperson had no comment other than to confirm the agency received the letter.
Rodgers didn't elaborate on which proceedings she thinks should be halted, but one of the FTC's disputed initiatives revolves around its years-long attempt to curb what it calls “commercial surveillance” -- meaning the collection and monetization of consumer data.
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When the FTC launched the commercial-surveillance proceeding in August 2022, it expressed disapproval of companies' current approach to online privacy -- which involves notifying consumers about data collection and seeking their consent on an opt-out or opt-in basis.
“The permissions that consumers give may not always be meaningful or informed,” the FTC stated at the time.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau was among the groups that objected to the FTC's attempt to issue rules, arguing that Congress was the appropriate body to legislate privacy practices.