Chairman Issa demands briefing from FTC as decision looms in Google case

Rep Darrell Issa (R-CA), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is concerned that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will try to step beyond its legal power to regulate anti-competitive business practices.

In a letter sent to Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Chairman Issa demanded a staff briefing by Dec. 21 to discuss how the FTC views its power under Section 5 of the FTC Act. Issa encouraged the FTC to issue guidelines detailing how it views its authority under Section 5. "Such guidelines would provide the regulated community the certainty it needs when contemplating business practices," he wrote. Chairman Issa expressed concern that the "Commission appears to be putting its ambitions ahead of a responsible and measured use of its Section 5 authority." He argued that the FTC should not search for a case to test the limits of its legal power. He wrote that the agency should take action only if there is a clear violation of the law — not to further bureaucratic goals. He also criticized the agency for leaking details of the Google investigation to the press, saying disclosures of sensitive information are "counterproductive to the investigative process and should be stopped."