The Federal Trade Commission held a series of public hearings during the fall 2018 - spring 2019 examining whether broad-based changes in the economy, evolving business practices, new technologies, or international developments might require adjustments to competition and consumer protection law, enforcement priorities, and policy. The PDF version of this content includes footnotes and sources. All the hearings were webcast live.
Hearings Calendar
| Hearing | Date | Topics | Location |
| Completed Hearings Click on the date for presentations, videos, transcripts and public comments |
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| #1 | Sep. 13, 2018 | Review of Competition and Consumer Protection Landscape; Concentration and Competitiveness in U.S. Economy; Privacy Regulation; | Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC |
| #2 | Sep. 21, 2018 | State of U.S. Antitrust Law; Mergers and Monopsony or Buyer Power | FTC Constitution Center, Washington, DC |
| #3 | Oct. 15-17, 2018 | The Identification and Analysis of Collusive, Exclusionary, and Predatory Conduct by Digital and Technology-Based Platform Businesses; Antitrust Framework for Evaluating Acquisitions of Potential or Nascent Competitors in Digital Marketplaces; Antitrust Evaluation of Labor Markets | George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, Arlington, VA |
| #4 | Oct. 23-24, 2018 | Innovation and Intellectual Property Policy | FTC Constitution Center, Washington, DC |
| #5 | Nov. 1, 2018 | Vertical Merger Analysis; the Role of the Consumer Welfare Standard in U.S. Antitrust Law | Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC |
| #6 | Nov. 6-8, 2018 | Privacy, Big Data, and Competition | American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC |
| #7 | Nov. 13-14, 2018 | Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and Predictive Analytics | Howard University School of Law, Washington, DC |
| #8 | Dec. 6, 2018 | Common ownership | NYU School of Law, New York, NY |
| #9 | Dec. 11-12, 2018 | Data security | FTC Constitution Center, Washington, DC |
| #10 | Mar. 20, 2019 | Competition and Consumer Protection Issues in U.S. Broadband Markets | FTC Constitution Center, Washington, DC |
| #11 | Mar. 25-26, 2019 | The FTC’s Role in a Changing World | FTC Headquarters, Washington, DC |
| #12 | Apr. 9-10, 2019 | The FTC’s Approach to Consumer Privacy | FTC Constitution Center, Washington, DC |
| #13 | Apr. 12, 2019 | Merger Retrospectives | FTC Headquarters, Washington, DC |
| #14 | June 12, 2019 | State Consumer Protection and Competition Issues; Optimizing Consumer Protection Remedies; Error-Cost Considerations | Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, NE |
Influence of the Pitofsky Hearings
The hearings were similar in form and structure to the Global Competition and Innovation Hearings undertaken in 1995 during the Chairmanship of Robert Pitofsky. The Pitofsky Hearings were the first major step in establishing the FTC as a key modern center for competition policy research and development and sought to articulate recommendations that would effectively ensure the competitiveness of U.S. markets without imposing unnecessary costs on private parties or governmental processes.
The Pitofsky hearings re-energized one of the FTC’s most valuable functions – to gather leaders in business, economics, law, and related disciplines to discuss tough, emerging problems and prepare public reports on the facts, issues, governing law, and the need, as appropriate, for change.
Purpose of the hearings and public comments
The hearings and public comment process provided opportunities for FTC staff and leadership to listen to interested persons and outside experts representing a broad and diverse range of viewpoints. Additionally, the hearings stimulated thoughtful internal and external evaluation of the FTC’s near- and long-term law enforcement and policy agenda. The hearings may have identified areas for enforcement and policy guidance, including improvements to the agency’s investigation and law enforcement processes, as well as areas that warrant additional study.
The FTC has always been committed to self-examination and critical thinking, to ensure that our enforcement and policy efforts keep pace with changes in the economy.”
FTC Chairman Joe Simons, June 20, 2018
The Commission invited public comment in stages throughout the term of the hearings.
- The Commission invited comments on the topic covered in each hearing session. The FTC issued a news release before each session to inform the public of the agenda, the date and location, and instructions on submitting comments.
- The Commission will also invite public comment upon completion of the entire series of hearings.
- Through August 20, 2018, the Commission accepted public comment on the topics identified in the announcement. Each topic description includes issues of particular interest to the Commission, but comments need not be restricted to these subjects.
Public comments may address one or more of the above topics generally, or may address them with respect to a specific industry, such as the health care, high-tech, or energy industries. Any additional topics for comment will be identified in later notices.
The hearings began in September 2018 and continued through June 2019, and consisted of 14 public sessions. All hearings were webcast, transcribed, and placed on the public record.
Hearing Topics and Comments
In advance of these hearings, the FTC accepted public comments on 11 topics. Additional comments on each topic may be submitted to the FTC during the periods identified in subsequent news releases associated with individual hearings. Please see Public Comments Topics and Process to submit comments for topics open for comment related to specific hearings as well as any final, general comments on the Hearings series.
Press Releases
- FTC Announces Agenda for the 14th and Final Session of Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (May 31, 2019)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the 14th and Final Session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (May 10, 2019)
- FTC Announces Agenda for Privacy Hearing, the 12th Session of the FTC’s Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (March 25, 2019)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the 11th Session of Its Hearings On Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (March 7, 2019)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the Tenth Session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (February 22, 2019)
- FTC Announces March 2019 Session on International Engagement as Part of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (February 14, 2019)
- FTC Announces New Sessions of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (February 13, 2019)
- FTC Announces Final Agenda for Ninth Session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (November 29, 2018)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the Eighth Session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century; Session at New York University to Focus on “Common Ownership” (November 20, 2018)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the Seventh Session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century; Session at Howard University to Focus on Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and Predictive Analytics (October 31, 2018)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the Sixth Session of Its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (October 29, 2018)
- FTC Announces Sessions on Consumer Privacy and Data Security As Part of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (October 26, 2018)
- FTC Announces Agenda for Fifth Session of its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (October 12, 2018)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the Fourth Session of Its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (October 11, 2018)
- FTC Announces Agenda for the Third Session of Its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (October 2, 2018)
- FTC Announces Second Session of Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century September 21 at the FTC (September 10, 2018)
- FTC Announces Opening Session of Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century September 13-14 at Georgetown University Law Center (August 24, 2018)
- FTC Announces Hearings On Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (June 20, 2018)
Speeches
- Prepared Remarks of Chairman Joseph Simons at Fordham University on Hearings Output (September 13, 2019)
- Prepared Remarks of Bilal Sayyed, Director, FTC Office of Policy Planning, at Georgetown University Law Center (September 10, 2019)
- Remarks of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter at FTC Hearing #12: The FTC’s Approach to Consumer Privacy (April 10, 2019)
- Remarks of Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips at FTC Hearing #12: The FTC’s Approach to Consumer Privacy (April 9, 2019)
- Opening Remarks of Chairman Joseph Simons at FTC Hearing #12: The FTC’s Approach to Consumer Privacy (April 9, 2019)
- Opening Remarks of Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips at FTC Hearing #11: The FTC’s Role in a Changing World (March 26, 2019)
- Chairman Joseph Simons Opening Remarks at Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century, Session on FTC’s Role in a Changing World (March 25, 2019)
- Opening Remarks of BCP Director Andrew Smith at the Hearing on Data Security (December 11, 2018)
- Opening Remarks of Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips at FTC Hearing #8 (December 6, 2018)
- Prepared Remarks of Commissioner Rohit Chopra at FTC Hearing #8 (December 6, 2018)
- Competition and Consumer Protection Implications of Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and Predictive Analytics - Remarks by BC Director Bruce Hoffman (November 14, 2018)
- Prepared Opening Remarks of Commissioner Phillips at FTC Hearing #5 (November 1, 2018)
- Closing Remarks of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter at FTC Hearing #4 (October 24, 2018)
- Prepared Remarks of Commissioner Chopra at FTC Hearings Session #3 (October 15, 2018)
- Prepared Remarks of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter on the FTC’s Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection (September 21, 2018)
- Opening Remarks of Chairman Joe Simons at the First Hearing on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century (September 13, 2018)
- Prepared Remarks of Chairman Joe Simons Announcing the Competition and Consumer Protection Hearings (June 20, 2018)
Contact Us
Derek Moore
Office of Policy Planning
202-326-3367
Disability Accommodations
We welcome people with disabilities. The FTC will accommodate as many attendees as possible; however, admittance will be limited to seating availability. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests for accommodations should be submitted to Elizabeth Kraszewski via email at ekraszewski@ftc.gov or by phone at (202) 326-3087. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. In addition, please allow at least five business days advance notice for accommodation requests; last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate.