Senate finally confirms Alvaro Bedoya to the FTC. Great! Now confirm Gigi Sohn to the FCC.

Today the US Senate finally confirmed privacy expert Alvaro Bedoya to his post as a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Digital rights group Fight for the Future issued the following statement, which can be attributed to the group’s director, Evan Greer (she/her):

“Alvaro Bedoya’s confirmation to the FTC could not come soon enough. His expertise in privacy and human rights are sorely needed, and with Congress dragging its feet, it’s essential that the FTC moves quickly to address harms like data harvesting, algorithmic discrimination, and biometric surveillance. 

Now, Democrats need to get their act together and move quickly to confirm Gigi Sohn to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Nearly everything that Democratic leadership in Congress and the Biden administration have promised when it comes to digital rights, broadband equity, and net neutrality depends on having a fully staffed FCC. But instead of sticking up for their nominee, top Democrats have been largely silent while Sohn has faced a coordinated smear campaign funded by the telecom industry. 

Democrats need to show that they can lead. The FTC and FCC have their work cut out for them, first undoing the damage done by the Trump administration’s actions, and then advancing essential policies to protect free expression and human rights in the digital age. Enough delays. Enough excuses. Let’s get both these agencies back to work protecting the public.”