FTC chair suggests AI developers should be liable for conduct of agents
QQQ•FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said AI developers could be liable for harm caused by agents they instruct, and the agency is preparing a market study on personalized pricing. The FTC also called for public input on a potential rule to curb fraudulent or misleading online ads.
1. AI agent liability
Ferguson said he would resist describing AI agents as autonomous actors and suggested developers who instruct them could be liable for harm. He said the FTC could use existing legal tools, including its authority to act against companies that fail to disclose data breaches.
2. Personalized pricing study
The FTC is preparing to request data from consumer-facing companies about using information such as location and browsing history to set prices. Ferguson said the study would examine whether merchants use extensive consumer data to charge different prices to different people; he cited delivery and rideshare apps and airlines as areas of concern.
3. Potential ad rules
The FTC called for public input on a potential rule to discourage technology companies from allowing fraudulent or misleading ads. Ferguson said ongoing enforcement actions had convinced him of the need for clear requirements for online platforms to mitigate fraud.
