Donald Trump taps Big Tech critic as chief of DoJ antitrust division

{"text":[[{"start":8.6,"text":"Donald Trump has tapped a longtime critic of the technology sector to lead US competition enforcement as head of the Department of Justice’s antitrust division."}],[{"start":17.7,"text":"Adam Candeub, general counsel at the Federal Communications Commission, was nominated by the president on Tuesday as an assistant attorney-general. A White House official confirmed on social media that he would lead the antitrust division. "}],[{"start":30.799999999999997,"text":"The appointment comes as competition rules have become a flashpoint for the administration in the wake of its high-profile settlement with Ticketmaster parent Live Nation and as conservatives continue their quest to clamp down on Big Tech. "}],[{"start":44.349999999999994,"text":"The appointment means Candeub will take over DoJ’s ongoing antitrust matters involving Big Tech, including Google’s appeal of the landmark ruling deeming it an online search monopoly and the department’s 2024 lawsuit accusing Apple of illegally monopolising smartphone markets."}],[{"start":61.05,"text":"The DoJ recently approved Paramount Skydance’s $110bn acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, which has since been temporarily paused by a judge."}],[{"start":70.6,"text":"As a Department of Commerce official in Trump’s first administration, Candeub helped execute the president’s executive order cracking down on Big Tech over allegations that it muzzles conservative speech. "}],[{"start":82.3,"text":"He authored a chapter of Project 2025, the blueprint for Trump’s second term published by the Heritage Foundation, which called for much tougher federal competition enforcement against the tech industry."}],[{"start":94.7,"text":"“The large internet platforms have transformed the US economy, streamlining consumer purchases, networking billions of people, and altering long-established business practices,” Candeub’s chapter reads. “Despite their enormous size, they have avoided significant antitrust liability or prosecution. The reasons for this are not entirely clear.”"}],[{"start":116.25,"text":"Candeub has also long sought to challenge Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the law that gives tech groups vast immunity from legal actions over user-generated content on their platforms."}],[{"start":128.2,"text":"In a 2019 essay, he suggested that tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter, now X, used the statute to “advocate for an open internet while at the same time justifying their censorship regime”."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":141.79999999999998,"text":"Brendan Carr, chair of the FCC, celebrated Candeub’s nomination on Wednesday, saying he brought “a thoughtful and sensible approach” to his role as general counsel of the US communications regulator."}],[{"start":153.79999999999998,"text":"“With the advice and consent of the Senate, Candeub would do a wonderful job at the DOJ advancing common sense policies,” Carr said in a statement."}],[{"start":162.35,"text":"It could take several months for Candeub to secure Senate approval, which has proved challenging for many of Trump’s nominees in the narrowly Republican-controlled chamber."}],[{"start":171.54999999999998,"text":"Since the ousting of Gail Slater, the former antitrust chief, the division has been led by acting head Omeed Assefi and more recently overseen by associate attorney-general Stanley Woodward."}],[{"start":183.54999999999998,"text":"A longtime law professor at Michigan State University, Candeub also questioned whether the Federal Trade Commission should be allowed to enforce antitrust laws “or even continue to exist”. The FTC shares enforcement of US competition law with the DOJ."}],[{"start":198.24999999999997,"text":"In his Project 2025 chapter, he suggested revisiting a Supreme Court precedent upholding the agency’s independence “perhaps sooner than later”. "}],[{"start":208.19999999999996,"text":"The Supreme Court overturned that precedent in June by ruling against former FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, whom Trump fired without cause. "}],[{"start":224.04999999999995,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1784705571_7110.mp3"}