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☆ FTC clears Chevron-Hess deal, bans John Hess from board
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

John Hess, chief executive officer of Hess Corp., speaks at the 2024 CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, US, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The Federal Trade Commission has banned Hess Corp . CEO John Hess from Chevron 's board as a condition for the oil companies' $53 billion merger to move forward. Hess Corp. and Chevron, however, have agreed that they will not appoint Hess to the board in order to facilitate the completion of the merger, according to the companies. The FTC voted 3 to 2 in favor of the order banning Hess from Chevron's board.

Persons: John Hess, Hess, Lina Khan, Andrew Ferguson, Hess's, Ferguson, Scott Sheffield Organizations: Hess Corp, P Global, Federal Trade Commission, Chevron, FTC, ., Exxon Mobil, Exxon, Democratic, Natural Resources, OPEC Locations: Houston , Texas, Chevron, Guyana, U.S

☆ Popular app banned from hosting young teens in a groundbreaking settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The regulators wrote that the app billed itself as a “safe space” for teens but, in reality, preyed on them. The app, known as NGL, had been downloaded millions of times, according to the complaint. NGL deceptively hooked teens into subscribing to its premium service by sending them fake, anonymous messages and then promising to reveal the sender after they paid, said the complaint. Highlighting the groundbreaking nature of the NGL settlement, FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson described Tuesday’s action as a “novel” use of the agency’s legal powers. But, he argued, the public should not interpret the lawsuit to mean that it is illegal in general to market any anonymous messaging app to teens.

Persons: ”, Lina Khan, ” NGL, NGL, Joao Figueiredo, ” Figueiredo, “ I’ve, Figueiredo, Khan, Andrew Ferguson, ” Ferguson, Kristin Bride, Bride, Carson, Fairplay Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Los Angeles, Attorney’s, US, Court, Central, Central District of, FTC, Meta, Epic Games, Facebook Locations: Central District, Central District of California, New York, Arkansas, Florida , Louisiana

☆ U.S. Senate panel sends three FTC nominations to full Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter testifies on the "Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission" before the U.S. Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security Subcommittee in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, U.S., November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee voted on Wednesday to send three nominations for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to the full Senate. THE TAKEIf confirmed by the Senate, as expected, adding the two Republicans will not change the balance of power at the five-member FTC, which also enforces antitrust law. A previous Republican FTC commissioner, Christine Wilson, quit this year and sharply criticized agency leadership. Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rebecca Slaughter, Leah Millis, Andrew Ferguson, Melissa Holyoak, Lina Khan, Christine Wilson, Diane Bartz, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Federal, Federal Trade Commission, U.S . Senate Consumer Protection, Safety, Insurance, Data, Russell Senate, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Senate, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Democrat, FTC, Democratic, Amazon.com, Albertsons, Republican, Thomson Locations: Russell, Washington , U.S, Virginia, Utah

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The deceptive use of artificial intelligence should be a priority for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), three commissioner nominees said at a confirmation hearing Tuesday in show of bipartisanship on the popular issue. Ferguson was chief counsel to U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell from 2019 until 2021. Asked by Senator John Thune about the FTC's role in enforcing rules involving artificial intelligence, Slaughter said it was the FTC's job to pursue instances where laws against unfair and deceptive acts and practices were broken, whether or not artificial intelligence was used. A previous Republican FTC commissioner, Christine Wilson, quit this year and sharply criticized agency leadership.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Rebecca Slaughter, Andrew Ferguson, Melissa Holyoak, Ferguson, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Slaughter, Holyoak, Christine Wilson, Lina Khan, Diane Bartz, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Federal Trade Commission, Democrat, Senate Republican, Republican, Senate, FTC, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Virginia, Utah

☆ US Senate committee to consider Biden’s Republican nominees to FTC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage is seen at the Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee will meet next week to consider President Joe Biden's nomination of Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson and Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak to fill Republican slots at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Senator Maria Cantwell, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said she would convene a full nominations hearing on Sept. 20. Ferguson was chief counsel to U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell from 2019 until 2021. Holyoak is the Utah Solicitor General with the Utah Attorney General's Office.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Joe Biden's, Andrew Ferguson, Melissa Holyoak, Lina Khan, Maria Cantwell, Ferguson, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Holyoak, Myers, Dan Whitcomb, Josie Kao Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, U.S, Senate, FTC, Democratic, Commerce, Science, Transportation, Senate Republican, Utah Attorney General's, Myers LLP, Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, Enterprise Institute's Center, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Utah

☆ Biden names two Republican nominees for FTC commissioner, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson and Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak to fill Republican slots at the Federal Trade Commission, the White House said Monday. The FTC "operates best at full strength, and I will look forward to working with them," she said. A native of Virginia, Ferguson has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Holyoak is the Utah Solicitor General with the Utah Attorney General's Office. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Utah, as is her law degree.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrew Ferguson, Melissa Holyoak, Lina Khan, Khan, Ferguson, Holyoak, Biden, Donald Trump's, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Myers, Amgen's, Black Knight, Diane Bartz, Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, U.S, Senate, FTC, Democratic, Facebook, Amazon.com, Albertsons, Senate Republican, University of Virginia, University of Virginia School of Law, Utah Attorney General's, Myers LLP, Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Center for, University of Utah, Activision, Horizon Therapeutics, Black, Thomson Locations: Utah, Virginia

☆ How generative AI could transform the $30 billion biotech industry, speeding up everything from drug discovery to DNA sequencing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Biotech startups are using generative AI for everything from protein creation to DNA sequencing. "Drug discovery, antibody discovery, and protein discovery are all fantastic applications of the tech," he added. Generative AI has founders and investors cautiously optimisticThe sector is in the early stages of applying generative technology — but founders are becoming aware of its limitations. "Generative AI models can hallucinate models that are new to nature. Biotech startups meanwhile raised $29.5 billion last year, down slightly from 2021's record-breaking $36.6 billion, according to Bloomberg.

☆ U.S. Justice Dept opposes Google bid to move advertising antitrust case to New York
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Mike Scarcella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The case, alleging anticompetitive abuses of advertising technology, was filed in January in Alexandria, Virginia, federal court and threatens to break up a key part of Google's business. But moving the case to the Southern District of New York won't eliminate the chance of divergent trial judgments or appellate decisions, the DOJ's lawyers said. The cases consolidated in New York can return to their originating district courts for trial, the government told Brinkema. In its bid seeking to get the DOJ case to New York, Google's lawyers said the government's "case lags far behind other pending ad tech antitrust cases" and "adds nothing of substance to those earlier-filed cases." The case is United States et al v. Google LLC, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 1:23-cv-00108-LMB-IDD.

☆ White House to consider Andrew Ferguson as U.S. FTC commissioner -Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 17 (Reuters) - The White House is considering naming Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson as a Republican commissioner for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Andrew Ferguson, a former aide to Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, was recommended to the White House for the role by McConnell, the report said. McConnell's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment and the White House did not immediately comment. The development comes after Christine Wilson, the sole Republican on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), said earlier this week that she will resign soon. Reporting by Aarati Krishna in Bengaluru; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Databricks is joining rival Snowflake in backing a $1.5 billion startup as they race to own the way companies use their data
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Matthew Lynley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Databricks said it's making a strategic investment in the $1.5 billion data startup Matillion. It's one of a few coinvestments with a rival, Snowflake, as the two race to own the data experience. Another unicorn startup is joining the small club of companies backed by both Snowflake and Databricks, the big-data rivals that are racing to own companies' entire experiences working with their data. The Databricks Ventures partner Andrew Ferguson said Matillion appealed to a slightly different customer profile than that of Databricks' traditional highly technical audience. While data budgets may be getting more scrutiny, there hasn't been any significant impact in the company's performance, he said.

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