The FTC has removed several blog posts from Lina Khan's era that discussed AI risks, open-source models, and consumer protection, following a change in administration.

These posts, published between July 2024 and January 2025, addressed concerns such as AI's potential for consumer harm, including surveillance, fraud, impersonation, and discrimination.

The content removal follows the Trump administration's release of an 'AI Action Plan' that critics say favors big tech and hampers future regulation, including reviews of investigations from Khan's tenure.

This move reflects broader regulatory uncertainties after Khan's departure, with implications for ongoing investigations into AI companies like OpenAI and potential shifts in FTC enforcement strategies.

In July 2024, Lina Khan emphasized support for open-source AI and called for less restrictive regulation during a speech at Y Combinator, amid California's proposed AI safety standards.

Despite regulatory shifts, AI developers still face regulation on safety, bias, and accuracy, while consumers increasingly rely on independent watchdogs for safety information amid reduced official guidance.

The Trump administration's approach appears more hands-off, aiming to create loopholes for AI firms and focusing enforcement on specific companies like Anthropic.

The absence of new FTC blog posts leaves industry stakeholders without updated guidance, increasing reliance on enforcement actions to interpret regulatory priorities.

A notable January 2025 post highlighted AI's potential to incentivize invasive practices and perpetuate biases, advocating for proactive regulation.

Following Khan's speech, the FTC staff promoted 'open-weight' models—AI with publicly released training weights—to enhance transparency and foster innovation.

Khan's broader regulatory philosophy involved addressing AI challenges through existing laws, with investigations into major tech firms like Alphabet and Amazon.

Khan supported open-source AI to democratize technology and foster competition, but recent content removal raises concerns about transparency and future regulation.

The Biden administration has responded by placing warning labels on older government content, signaling a move toward cautious handling of past publications, while the current FTC has yet to publish new AI guidance.

The removals indicate a shift toward a more competitive and open federal AI posture, prioritizing rapid deployment and open-source initiatives, though critics warn this could reduce safety oversight.

Future steps may include congressional oversight and FOIA requests to determine if the removed posts were scheduled for preservation, shifting focus from compliance to policy intent.

The removals obscure how the FTC is evaluating AI risks like fraud, privacy, and discrimination, which are crucial signals for regulation amid global efforts like the EU's AI Act.

Some of Khan's authored posts on enforcement and market competition remain accessible, indicating selective removal aimed at shaping the agency's AI narrative.

The deletion raises legal and transparency concerns under laws like the Federal Records Act and the Open Government Data Act, which mandate the preservation of government records and openness.