Previous hearings, so far, have discussed privacy regulation, consumer welfare standard in antitrust, state of antitrust law, antitrust evaluation of labor markets, and privacy.
In a prepared statement at the sixth session of the Hearings Initiatives, Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips of The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said,
“Today, there two important discussions about the consumer welfare standard happening simultaneously. One is a continuing discussion regarding whether enforcement under the consumer welfare standard is at the appropriate level, and is properly targeted… The second discussion happening now—and the one on which today’s consumer welfare standard panels will focus—questions whether consumer welfare is, in fact, the proper metric by which antitrust enforcers should judge conduct.”
Many have argued that enforcement under the current consumer welfare standard has failed because of current laws in place; and, subsequently, that the FTC should reform the law.
The Federal Trade Commission will continue to address these concerns and many more as the ongoing sessions continue.
