The FTC's Top Consumer Protection Official Can't Go After Facebook -- or 100 Other Companies

[DamianTV]

https://news.slashdot.org/story/18/1...ther-companies

The Federal Trade Commission's top consumer protection official is prohibited from handling the cases involving 120 different companies, including Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, and Uber, according to financial disclosure documents published by Public Citizen this week. From a report:

Andrew Smith, who heads the FTCs Consumer Protection Bureau, would be in charge of handling investigations into some of the country's largest companies and any consumer protection violations that may occur. But due to his conflicts of interest, Smith is barred from participating in any investigations involving the companies he previously provided legal services for. "It's a big world out there, and the FTC has very broad jurisdictions," Smith said to The Verge. "There are plenty of investigations that I'm involved in." Smith was approved by a 3-2 Republican majority in May.

What a shocker! Criminals making sure they are protected from Laws that actually protect the people!

[Swordsmyth]

He can delegate such investigations to others who do not have a conflict of interest.

[specsaregood]

He can delegate such investigations to others who do not have a conflict of interest.

Indeed he can, the problem is that they usually don't or white wash them. Let's not play naïve here.

[Swordsmyth]

Indeed he can, the problem is that they usually don't or white wash them. Let's not play naïve here.

I understand but the article in the OP makes it sound like there is no way for the investigations to take place.