FTC Removes AI Policy Content
The US Federal Trade Commission has removed multiple blog posts about artificial intelligence policy that were published during Lina Khan’s tenure as chair, according to sources familiar with the matter. The deletions, which occurred in recent months, have raised questions about the agency’s evolving approach to AI regulation and policy guidance.
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Disappearing Policy Positions
Sources indicate that at least three significant blog posts have been removed from the FTC’s website since late August. One post from July 2024 titled “On Open-Weights Foundation Models” advocated for what the authors called “open-weight” AI models, distinguishing them from traditional open source approaches. According to the report, this content was published shortly before Khan’s speech at a Y Combinator event where she positioned herself as supportive of open source artificial intelligence development.
Another removed post from October 2023, “Consumers Are Voicing Concerns About AI,” documented public apprehension about emerging AI technologies. A third post from January 2025 titled “AI and the Risk of Consumer Harm” had highlighted the agency’s growing attention to potential AI-related harms, including commercial surveillance and illegal discrimination.
Documentation Through Web Archives
According to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, the blog posts were systematically removed or redirected over a several-week period. The July 2024 post about open-weights foundation models was redirected on September 1 to a general landing page for the FTC’s Office of Technology. Similarly, the October 2023 post about consumer concerns regarding AI was redirected in late August.
The most recent post from January 2025 now leads to a “Page not found” error screen. Web archives show it remained live on the FTC website until at least August 12 before being removed by August 15.
Context of California AI Legislation
Analysts suggest the timing of the original blog posts is significant, as they were published during debates over California’s SB 1047 legislation. The bill, which was later vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom, would have imposed new testing and safety requirements on AI companies. Critics argued it would hinder open source AI development, while Khan had called for a “less restrictive approach” that would enable smaller players to compete.
The removed content reflected the FTC’s position under Khan’s leadership that open AI models could promote competition by allowing “smaller players can bring their ideas to market.” This perspective aligned with broader startup ecosystem concerns about regulatory barriers to innovation.
Unclear Motivations Behind Removals
It remains unclear why the FTC removed these specific policy statements. An FTC spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment, and Khan, through a spokesperson, declined to comment. The report states that no official explanation has been provided for the content removals.
The deletions come amid broader industry developments in technology regulation and reflect ongoing debates about how agencies should approach artificial intelligence governance. These changes occur alongside other recent technology policy shifts and related innovations in digital infrastructure.
Broader Implications for AI Policy
The removal of these policy statements raises questions about continuity in the FTC’s approach to AI regulation. According to analysts, such content deletions can signal policy shifts within regulatory agencies, particularly during leadership transitions. The missing posts had addressed critical issues including:
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- Terminology standardization: The “open-weights” concept aimed to create clearer distinctions in AI model accessibility
- Consumer protection: Documentation of public concerns about AI implementation
- Risk assessment: Analysis of potential harms from AI deployment in commercial contexts
These developments in AI policy coincide with other market trends in technology governance and industry developments in digital systems management. The situation highlights the evolving nature of regulatory approaches to emerging technologies across government agencies.
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