FTC Commissioner Candidates Agree Misleading AI Must Be Priority Handling

FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the US Democratic Party (photo; Twitter @N_Brennan)

JAKARTA - The use of misleading artificial intelligence (AI) must be a priority for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this was conveyed by three potential commissioners in a confirmation hearing on Tuesday, September 19, as a sign of cross-party understanding on this popular issue.

The hearing was held to consider the re-nomination of Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the US Democratic Party, along with the nominations of two Republicans, Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak, each attorney general from Virginia and Utah.

Ferguson served as top adviser to US Senate Senate Leader Mitch McConnell from 2019 to 2021.

When asked by Senator John Thune about the role of the FTC in enforcing rules relating to artificial intelligence, Slaughter said that the FTC's task is to pursue cases where laws that prohibit unfair and misleading acts and practices are violated, either by or without the use of artificial intelligence.

"Follow what Congress recommends if there are things (which involve AI) that are considered a problem that exceeds the scope of the FTC Act, and that's up to you," he said.

Ferguson and Holyoak agreed, while Holyoak noted that AI could be used to increase fraud by making phishing emails and automatic calls more convincing for potential victims of fraud.

This deal is quite striking given the previous partisan battle at the institution. A former FTC commissioner from the Republican Party, Christine Wilson, resigned this year and sharply criticized the leadership of the institution.

If confirmed by the Senate, as expected, the two Republicans will not change the balance of power in the five-member FTC, which also enforces antitrust law. Currently, the FTC has chairman of the Democratic Party, Lina Khan, and two commissioners from the Democratic Party.