FTC Removes AI-Related Blog Posts from Lina Khan Era

FTC Removes AI-Related Blog Posts

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently removed several blog posts related to artificial intelligence (AI) that were published during Lina Khan's tenure as the agency's chair. This action has raised concerns about the preservation of government records and the shifting focus of the FTC under the Trump administration 1

1

2

2

.

Deleted Content

Three specific blog posts have been identified as removed:

1. "On Open-Weights Foundation Models" (July 10, 2024)
2. "Consumers Are Voicing Concerns About AI" (October 2023)
3. "AI and the Risk of Consumer Harm" (January 3, 2025)

These posts addressed topics such as open-source AI, consumer concerns, and potential risks associated with AI technologies 1

1

2

2

. The removals were discovered through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, which showed that the redirects and deletions occurred in August and September of this year 2

2

.

Broader Pattern of Content Removal

This recent action is part of a larger trend observed under the Trump administration. Since taking office, the administration has been issuing executive orders directing federal agencies to remove or modify substantial amounts of government content 1

1

. This pattern extends beyond the FTC, affecting various agencies such as:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Removal of data on chronic medical conditions and HIV/AIDS
• Department of Justice: Removal of studies on hate crimes
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Removal of National Climate Assessment reports 1

  1

Potential Legal Implications

The removal of these blog posts and other government content may have legal ramifications. Experts suggest that these actions could violate:

1. The Federal Records Act: Requires federal agencies to preserve records documenting government activities
2. The Open Government Data Act: Mandates agencies to publish their data as "open data" by default 1

   1

Shift in FTC Focus

The removal of these AI-related posts appears to align with the Trump administration's AI Action Plan, which emphasizes fast growth and competition with China over safety and guardrails 1

1

. This shift is further evidenced by:

• Installation of new FTC leadership, including Chair Andrew Ferguson
• Reduced focus on Khan's aggressive antitrust agenda
• Increased emphasis on deregulation for Big Tech 1

  1

  3

  3

Reactions and Concerns

The removal of these posts has sparked reactions from various quarters:

• Former FTC public affairs director Douglas Farrar expressed shock at the FTC's actions, noting their misalignment with the Trump White House's stance 1

  1

  .
• Critics argue that the deletions could hamper transparency and public understanding of AI-related issues 2

  2

  3

  3

  .
• The Biden administration's FTC leadership had previously placed warning labels on content from previous administrations that it disagreed with, rather than removing it entirely 1

  1

  .

As the AI landscape continues to evolve rapidly, the FTC's approach to regulating and commenting on AI technologies remains a topic of significant interest and debate within the tech industry and policy circles.