White House Taps FTC To Be The Bulldog For AI Enforcement

The Trump administration tapped the Federal Trade Commission) to lead consumer protection and law enforcement on artificial intelligence.

The White House’s AI task force met on Thursday and agreed to have FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson lead the “law enforcement and consumer protection coordination committee,” which includes the Justice Department and the agency he leads, according to Semafor. The agency has already led investigations into the AI industry and pro-AI groups believe that the federal government already has the capacity to police the industry.

“Chairman Ferguson is honored to be chosen by President [Donald] Trump to work alongside an outstanding team and ensure that the US maintains its SI [super intelligence] dominance all while protecting Americans,” Joe Simonson, the FTC director of public affairs, told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a written statement.

One pro-AI group says that the president tapping the FTC proves that the administration already has the authority to ensure consumer protection and safety.

“President Trump continues to demonstrate that it’s possible to ensure American dominance in the Super Intelligence race while also protecting the American consumer. His decision to put FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson in charge of the Super Intelligence Force’s law enforcement and consumer protection work is just the latest example of that, an Innovation Council spokesperson told the DCNF.

“Despite what ‘doomers’ would have you believe, the federal government already has plenty of tools at its disposal to hold SI companies accountable for wrongdoing, and the FTC chairman will make sure they’re used for the benefit of the American people,” the spokesperson added.

The White House referred the DCNF to the FTC when asked for comment.

President Woodrow Wilson and Congress created the FTC in 1914 with the enactment of the Federal Trade Commission Act, establishing the agency’s mission to protect consumers and promote competition, per the FTC website.

“Throughout its work, the [task force] will engage with frontier model developers and other SI companies, consumer protection groups, and civil liberties advocates, industry stakeholders, and federal and state law enforcement agencies to inform and implement its efforts,” a White House official told the outlet.