Consumer Choice Center
The FTC’s cheering of a failed merger shows its disdain for consumers
Since when do government agencies applaud business deals that fall apart, resulting in hundreds of layoffs and loss opportunities for consumers who depend on those products? That’s what happened earlier this month, when the Federal Trade Commission issued a press release applauding the failed $1.7 billion acquisition of the technology firm iRobot by the ecommerce…
The EU’s AI ACT will stifle innovation and won’t become a global standard
February 5, 2024 – On February 2, the European Union’s ambassadors green lit the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). Next week, the Internal Market and Civil Liberties committees will decide its fate, while the European Parliament is expected to cast their vote in plenary session either in March or April. The European Commission addressed a…
Fun Police Episode 2: The Billionaire
Fun Police Episode 2: The Billionaire Every prohibitionist movement needs its funders. Its moneymen. Usually, there are powerful industrialists who’ve made it big and are “giving back” by restricting choices of the little people. For popular movements against alcohol in the 1900s, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Henry Ford were the principal philanthropists. Neoprohibitionists…
Australia’s own media law isn’t helping news consumers either
In a news conference in Ottawa earlier this month, Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez sought to provide context for the tech industry’s reaction to the recently passed C-18, which outlines a process for media organizations to arrange deals with tech companies for ad revenue. Since the bill was enacted, both Meta and Google have taken steps…
Checking in on Michael Bloomberg’s multi-million dollar global crusade against harm reduction
For years, we’ve covered the extent of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s multi-million dollar campaigns to try to shape the lives of ordinary consumers. What began as an erstwhile nanny state campaign on Big Gulps in New York City has ballooned into a massively funded operation that uses grants and NGO funding on…
Hey buddy, consumers don’t need protection from natural gas stoves
The degrowther cacophony of environmentalists, bureaucrats, and supposed consumer advocates has found a new enemy to protect you from: the gas stove in your kitchen. As spelled out by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. in a recent Bloomberg interview, a federal “ban on gas stoves is on the table amid rising concern…
Consumer Choice Center’s FDA Menthol Melee
In response to the FDA’s proposed rules to outlaw both menthol cigarettes and all flavors in cigars, the Consumer Choice Center hosts its own session, called the Menthol Melee. Given that the FDA has yet to heed the warnings of the impact of the bans, we think it’s time they listen to those who will…
Why Consumers Should Oppose the Latest Senate Antitrust Actions
The U.S. Senate is considering two antitrust bills by Sen. Amy Klobuchar that would significantly harm both consumer choice and innovation. Unfortunately, these bills have been co-sponsored by members of both political parties, creating what looks like a bipartisan consensus in the Senate chamber, but not one favored by the vast majority of American consumers.…
Why Democratic Control of the FCC Won’t Bode Well for Internet Freedom
Late Tuesday afternoon, President Joe Biden revealed his nominations to the Federal Communications Commission. As one would expect, his two nominations — Jessica Rosenworcel and Gigi Sohn — come from Democratic circles and have upheld progressive priorities for telecom policies. Rosenworcel has been a commissioner since 2012 and served as acting chair since Ajit Pai…