FTC Removes Lina Khan-Era Posts About AI Risks and Open Source
The FTC removes Lina Khan-era posts about AI risks and open source, sparking debate over transparency and consumer safety. The Federal Trade Commission recently took down three blog posts from Khan’s tenure that explored the risks of AI and the promise of open-source AI development.
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One notable post, “On Open-Weights Foundation Models,” was published on July 10, 2024. Another, “Consumers Are Voicing Concerns About AI,” came out in October 2023. A third, authored by Khan’s team, titled “AI and the Risk of Consumer Harm,” appeared on January 3, 2025. This post highlighted potential harms such as commercial surveillance, fraud, impersonation, and illegal discrimination.
TechCrunch reached out to the FTC for a comment, while Khan herself declined to respond.
Why the FTC Removed These Posts
The removal of these posts follows a broader trend of government content modifications initiated under the Trump administration. After his inauguration, Trump installed new FTC leadership, sidelining Khan’s antitrust-focused agenda and emphasizing deregulation for Big Tech.
In September, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson recommended deleting or revising several anticompetitive regulations across federal agencies. Critics note that removing Khan-era AI posts seems aligned with a shift away from consumer safety toward promoting fast growth and global competitiveness, particularly in the AI race with China.
What the Removed Posts Covered
The posts addressed crucial topics for consumers and developers alike:
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Open-source AI models and their benefits.
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Risks of AI-driven surveillance and fraud.
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Potential for AI to perpetuate discrimination.
Experts argue that eliminating this guidance may leave consumers less informed about AI risks, and reduce transparency about federal thinking on AI safety.
Implications for AI Policy
The FTC’s decision to remove these posts raises questions about future AI oversight. Without public-facing documentation of past warnings and guidance, developers and consumers may lack clear signals about safe AI practices. Meanwhile, the focus appears to be shifting toward rapid technological growth over cautious regulation.
What’s Next
Observers will be watching closely to see how the FTC updates its public guidance on AI. While some see this as a step toward deregulation and faster innovation, others worry about potential consumer harm and lack of accountability.
The debate around AI safety, transparency, and open-source innovation continues to heat up, and the removal of these posts marks a notable moment in that ongoing discussion.
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