FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak sat down with Professor James C. Cooper, Director of the LEC’s Program of Economics & Privacy and Professor of Law at Scalia Law School, for a discussion about the Federal Trade Commission’s priorities under the new administration. The conversation focused on key consumer protection and competition issues concerning the digital economy, including AI, privacy, and the recently opened inquiry on Technology Platform Censorship. One highlight of the conversation included the ongoing importance of the role of economics in consumer protection work at the FTC.

This luncheon was sponsored by the Law & Economics Center’s Program on Economics & Privacy at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School.

The event was held at the Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison, and there were 64 attendees, including government and private sector attorneys, agency officials, academics, staff from global technology companies and think tanks, and members of the press.

Melissa Holyoak, 
Commissioner,
Federal Trade Commission

Melissa Holyoak was sworn in March 25, 2024 as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission. Holyoak brings extensive experience as a litigator and leader. Most recently, she served as Solicitor General with the Utah Attorney General’s Office where she oversaw the civil appeals, criminal appeals, constitutional defense and special litigation, and antitrust and data privacy divisions. She also managed multistate matters including those involving consumer protection and antitrust claims.

James Cooper, 
Professor of Law and Director, Program on Economics & Privacy,
George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School

James C. Cooper brings over a decade of public and private sector experience to his research and teaching. Prior to joining the faculty at Scalia Law, he served as Deputy and Acting Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of Policy Planning, Advisor to Federal Trade Commissioner William Kovacic, and as an associate in the antitrust group of Crowell & Moring, LLP. More recently, Professor Cooper took leave to serve as a Deputy Director in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. His research focuses on the law & economics of privacy, data security, and consumer protection, as well as on wide variety of topics surrounding competition policy.

Questions? Contact the PEP team at [email protected] or 703.993.8388.