Federal Trade Commission Chair Edith Ramirez is scheduled to testify tomorrow, May 11, before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law. The topic is “Examining the Proposed FCC Privacy Rules.”
The hearing comes amid allegations that Ramirez is not independent and takes her direction from Google.
On March 9, Ramirez contradicted herself in testimony she gave to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the FTC’s dropping of an antitrust action against Google in 2013. She testified that the FTC decision not to sue Google was “consistent with the recommendation that had been made by our Bureau of Competition staff,” adding that any “press reports to the contrary are just flatly wrong.”
However, an FTC Staff report, portions of which were inadvertently released last year, revealed exactly the opposite. The Bureau of Competition staff sought an antitrust action against Google.
Remarkably, Ramirez misleading statement was apparently prompted by a request from Google lobbyist Johanna Shelton.
On March 23, we wrote Ramirez asking her to explain the contradictions in her sworn Senate testimony and public statements. She has not responded.
Related:
FTC Chair Ramirez Asked About Contradictions in Senate Testimony on Google Antitrust Probe
Freedom House Challenged On Net Freedom Index; Google Influence Permeates Project
White House Emails Show More Extensive Improper Contact With Google