Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan recently expressed concerns about the potential for Big Tech companies, specifically Amazon and Meta, to secure lenient settlements under the incoming Trump administration.
In a conversation on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Khan emphasized the importance of holding these companies accountable for alleged anticompetitive practices.
Khan’s comments follow efforts by Amazon Chairman Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to build rapport with President-elect Donald Trump, including $1 million contributions to his inauguration fund and meetings at his Mar-a-Lago estate. These gestures have raised questions about their intent to sway regulatory decisions in their favor.
“The FTC has been very successful, including in its ongoing litigations against Amazon and Facebook,” Khan stated.
She warned against the possibility of “sweetheart deals” that might allow these companies to escape significant financial and legal consequences. “Companies naturally want settlements that are cheap and help them avoid liability findings in court,” she added.
Ongoing antitrust lawsuits signal tough scrutiny on Amazon and Meta’s business practices.
The FTC is set to pursue major legal battles against both tech giants, with a trial against Facebook scheduled for this spring and another against Amazon in the fall of 2026.
These cases are pivotal in determining the extent to which large technology firms will face accountability for monopolistic behaviors.
Khan’s tenure as FTC Chair has been marked by aggressive action against anticompetitive business practices.
However, her time in the position is drawing to a close, with Trump nominating FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to succeed her. Despite her firm stance, Khan admitted, “I can’t predict what future people in my position are going to do.”
This uncertainty underscores broader concerns about the enforcement of antitrust laws under different political administrations.
As Khan hopes future enforcers will resist Big Tech’s influence, the outcomes of these trials will likely set critical precedents for regulating major corporations in the years to come.
