Biden FTC Nominee: Digital Privacy Advocate Targets Big Tech

President Biden's FTC Nomination: Alvaro Bedoya

This week, President Biden announced his latest nominee for the Federal Trade Commission, selecting Alvaro Bedoya, a recognized authority in digital privacy. This appointment arrives as the agency prepares to intensify its scrutiny of the technology sector.

Bedoya's Background and Expertise

Mr. Bedoya currently serves as the founding director of the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown University Law Center. Previously, he held the position of chief counsel for former Senator Al Franken and the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law.

Throughout his career, Bedoya has been actively involved in the development of legislation addressing critical privacy challenges within the tech landscape. This includes issues surrounding stalkerware and the implementation of facial recognition systems.

Research on Facial Recognition Technology

In 2016, Bedoya co-authored the influential report, “The Perpetual Line-Up: Unregulated Police Face Recognition in America.” This year-long investigation provided an in-depth analysis of how law enforcement agencies utilize facial recognition technology and biometric databases across the United States.

The report highlighted the urgent need for regulations to prevent potential misuse and algorithmic errors as this technology becomes increasingly prevalent. It argued for proactive measures to safeguard against abuses.

Criticism of Big Tech's Privacy Practices

Bedoya has consistently voiced concerns regarding the practices of large technology companies. In a published opinion piece for the New York Times, he criticized Silicon Valley firms for publicly promoting user privacy while simultaneously investing heavily in lobbying efforts to weaken consumer privacy protections.

He specifically called out Facebook for its attempts to undermine the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). This state law is considered a vital safeguard against intrusive privacy practices within the U.S.

Lobbying and Privacy Regulation

Bedoya cautioned that the tech industry would likely find it easier to influence a single, comprehensive privacy regulation through lobbying than to navigate a series of smaller, targeted bills. This observation resonates with current antitrust advocates in Congress who are also targeting the tech industry.

He emphasized the significant influence of the tech sector in both Congress and state legislatures, stating, “If the United States tries to pass broad rules for personal data, that effort may well be co-opted by Silicon Valley, and we’ll miss our best shot at meaningful privacy protections.”

Potential Impact at the FTC

If confirmed, Bedoya will join Lina Khan, a recent Biden nominee who currently chairs the FTC. Khan’s focus on antitrust issues, particularly concerning Amazon, complements Bedoya’s expertise in privacy concerns.

This combination of expertise is expected to create a powerful regulatory force as the Biden administration aims to address and mitigate the most detrimental practices within the technology industry.