President Obama has announced his plans to nominate telecom and technology policy expert, Maureen Ohlhausen, to the Federal Trade Commission. Data protection and internet privacy have been the focus of the enforcement agency of late, particularly in light of the recent string of cyber-attacks and security breaches on government and corporate organizations.
The FTC is currently investigating a number of consumer protection violations linked to online privacy and data breaches.
Ohlhausen, who would replace Commissioner William Kovacic on the board, is a partner in Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP’s privacy, data protection and cyber security practice, and previously worked at the Business Software Alliance as policy council. She is no stranger to the FTC, having previously served in various senior positions for 11 years. Most recently, Ohlhausen served as Director of the Office of Policy Planning between 2004 and 2008, where she headed the FTC’s Internet Access Task Force.
She has also clerked a the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, is a senior editor of the Antitrust Law Journal, and has taught privacy law and unfair trade practices at George Mason University School of Law.
