FTC Announces Agenda for Hearing on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century

The Federal Trade Commission recently announced the agenda for the seventh session of its Hearings Initiative.  The two-day hearing will be held on November 13 and 14 at Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C.  It will examine competition and consumer protection issues regarding the use of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics in business decisions and conduct.  The hearing will provide information to the FTC, other policymakers, and the general public regarding:

• The current potential use of these technologies;
• The ethical and consumer protection issues associated with the use of these technologies;
• How the competitive dynamics of firm and industry conduct are affected by the use of these technologies; and
• Policy, innovation, and market considerations associated with the use of these technologies.

The FTC is seeking public comment on these and other related topics to further its consideration of these issues.

The FTC announcement is available here.