News & Events

Federal Trade Commission Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century - Day 1

The Federal Trade Commission is holding its sixth session of its Hearings initiative, with two and a half days of sessions on November 6–8, 2018 at American University Washington College of Law. Watch live webcast now in progress.

The hearings at American University will examine the role that data plays in competition and innovation, and also will consider the antitrust analysis of mergers and firm conduct where data is a key asset or product.

The Commission invites public comment on these issues, including the questions listed below. Comments can be submitted online. Comments are due January 7, 2019. If any entity has provided funding for research, analysis, or commentary that is included in a submitted public comment, such funding and its source should be identified on the first page of any submitted comment.

1. What is “big data”? Is there an important technical or policy distinction to be drawn between data and big data?
    
2. How have developments involving data – including data resources, analytic tools, technology, and business models – changed the understanding and use of personal or commercial information or sensitive data?
    
3. Does the importance of data – or large, complex data sets comprising personal or commercial information – in a firm’s ordinary course operations change how the FTC should analyze mergers or firm conduct? If so, how? Does data differ in importance from other assets in assessing firm or industry conduct?
    
4. What structural, behavioral, or conduct remedies should the FTC consider when remedying antitrust harm in a market or industry where data or personal or commercial information are a significant product or a key competitive input?
    
5. Are there policy recommendations that would facilitate competition in markets involving data or personal or commercial information that the FTC should consider?
    
6. Does the presence of personal information or privacy concerns inform or change competition analysis?
    
7. Do state, federal, and international privacy laws and regulations affect competition, innovation, and product offerings in the United States and abroad? If so, how?

The FTC Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century will accommodate as many attendees as possible; however, admittance will be limited to seating availability. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Request for accommodations should be submitted to Elizabeth Kraszewski via email at ekraszewski@ftc.gov or by phone at (202) 326-3087. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. Please allow at least five days advance notice for accommodation requests; last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate.

The Fusion of Drones and Artificial Intelligence: Benefits, Threats and Law Pertaining to National Security

Panel 1: Drones

The first panel will begin with a broad overview of the legal issues raised by the current and near-future use of drones--commercial and governmental--in the National Security Enterprise before exploring more nuanced topics such as the use of drones in targeting and surveillance, and the potential threats posed by misuse of civil drones.

Keynote Interview: 

Michael Huerta, Administrator of the FAA (2013-18).

This interview will focus on the fusion of unmanned systems and AI and what the normative, legal, and regulatory issues that such a fusion creates.

Panel 2: AI, Autonomy, and Unmanned Systems

This second panel will examine the emerging legal and regulatory frameworks and their impact/effectiveness in mitigating the nascent national security concerns that are only now becoming apparent as rapidly-developing AI technology and autonomous systems are or soon will be integrated into the commercial and military spheres. Topics of discussion will likely include autonomous weapons systems and their legality in and potential impact on warfare, and the potential hazards posed by self-driving cars and autonomous aerial package delivery systems.

Federal Trade Commission Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century - Day 2

 

The Federal Trade Commission is holding its sixth session of its Hearings initiative, with two and a half days of sessions on November 6–8, 2018 at American University Washington College of Law. Watch live webcast now in progress.

The hearings at American University will examine the role that data plays in competition and innovation, and also will consider the antitrust analysis of mergers and firm conduct where data is a key asset or product.

The Commission invites public comment on these issues, including the questions listed below. Comments can be submitted online. Comments are due January 7, 2019. If any entity has provided funding for research, analysis, or commentary that is included in a submitted public comment, such funding and its source should be identified on the first page of any submitted comment.

1. What is “big data”? Is there an important technical or policy distinction to be drawn between data and big data?
    
2. How have developments involving data – including data resources, analytic tools, technology, and business models – changed the understanding and use of personal or commercial information or sensitive data?
    
3. Does the importance of data – or large, complex data sets comprising personal or commercial information – in a firm’s ordinary course operations change how the FTC should analyze mergers or firm conduct? If so, how? Does data differ in importance from other assets in assessing firm or industry conduct?
    
4. What structural, behavioral, or conduct remedies should the FTC consider when remedying antitrust harm in a market or industry where data or personal or commercial information are a significant product or a key competitive input?
    
5. Are there policy recommendations that would facilitate competition in markets involving data or personal or commercial information that the FTC should consider?
    
6. Does the presence of personal information or privacy concerns inform or change competition analysis?
    
7. Do state, federal, and international privacy laws and regulations affect competition, innovation, and product offerings in the United States and abroad? If so, how?

The FTC Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century will accommodate as many attendees as possible; however, admittance will be limited to seating availability. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Request for accommodations should be submitted to Elizabeth Kraszewski via email at ekraszewski@ftc.gov or by phone at (202) 326-3087. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. Please allow at least five days advance notice for accommodation requests; last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate.

The European Union as an Actor in International Law: a Force for the Good?

Jan Wouters (BE) is Jean Monnet Chair ad personam "EU and Global Governance", Full Professor of International Law and International Organizations, and founding Director of the Institute for International Law and of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, an interdisciplinary centre of excellence, at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven). He is also Visiting Professor at Sciences Po Paris and LUISS University Rome. He is a Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts, President of the United Nations Association Flanders Belgium, and practices law as Of Counsel at Linklaters, Brussels. He is Editor of the International Encyclopedia of Intergovernmental Organizations, Deputy Director of the Revue belge de droit international and an editorial board member in ten other international journals. He is coordinator of a large-scale FP7 Programme FRAME "Fostering Human Rights Among European (External and Internal) Policies" and of the InBev-Baillet Latour EU China Chair at KU Leuven. Jan Wouters studied law and philosophy in Antwerp and at Yale University (LLM 1990), was a Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School and obtained his PhD at the University of Leuven (1996). He inter alia taught at the Universities of Antwerp and Maastricht and was Référendaire at the European Court of Justice (1991-94).

Professional Development: Entering the Profession, Becoming a Lawyer

As law students, you are gathering the knowledge and experience you need to enter the legal workplace as a great lawyer. The Women & the Law Program wants to make sure you are prepared to enter the workplace as a confident, self-aware, and ambitious professional. 

Through workshop-style trainings, you will gather hard and soft skills you need to succeed in your first job after graduation.   Our first event is Entering the Profession, Becoming a Lawyer. We will discuss how to maintain your sense-of-self as you enter into a highly structured workplace that will shape you as you shape it, and how to find workplaces that best fit your needs.    

https://form.jotform.com/pijip/professionalism to reserve your spot!