Khan wants the FTC to look at rules on privacy and AI discrimination

Lina Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, said she wanted the agency to consider regulations tackling "lax security practices, data privacy abuses, and algorithmic decision-making that may result in unlawful discrimination."

While Khan, a prominent tech skeptic, has previously suggested the FTC look at a broad rule-making on data issues, she outlined more specific concerns and detailed her own interest in the issue in a letter to Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, whose office released the message on Friday.

"I applaud Chair Khan for committing to support a rule-making strengthening consumer privacy," said Blumenthal, who pushed for the move after years of congressional failure to pass a law on the issue.

Khan has also spent months streamlining the commission's rule-making procedures ahead of the move, which is likely to be time-consuming and prompt expensive pushback from big business.

The FTC, which currently has two commissioners from each party, is also facing political gridlock. Khan would likely need the votes of a third Democratic commissioner to begin working on regulations. Alvaro Bedoya, whom President Biden has nominated for the slot, is one of the agency picks still awaiting confirmation from the Senate.