Alan Chapell’s Fireside chat with FTC Commissioner Meador

The Monopoly Report’s Alan Chapell sits down with FTC Commissioner Mark Meador at Marketecture Live to discuss industry privacy self-regulation, the future of the cookie opt-outs, the use of privacy as an anticompetitive pretext, and some ideas for better protecting kids online. Takeaways Self-regulation still matters, but must be effective and avoid collusion risks. Privacy and competition often exist in tension and require balance. Cookie-based systems are imperfect and depend on better alternatives emerging. Risks around using privacy as a pretext to lock up the browser market or access to critical data. Transparency is key for both consumer protection and fair competition. Age verification is advancing rapidly with privacy-conscious innovation. “Free” platforms still involve economic transactions and consumer trade-offs. Antitrust enforcement is shifting toward tackling dominant players’ conduct. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and role of self-regulation in advertising 00:41 Why self-regulation still matters and how it should work 02:27 What makes self-reg effective in the eyes of the FTC 04:12 The limitations of cookie-based privacy tools 06:03 Global privacy controls and market-driven solutions 08:38 Balancing privacy and competition in digital markets 10:33 Protecting children online and age verification innovation 14:29 Solving privacy concerns in age verification systems 15:38 Why universal identity checks are not the goal 18:06 Measuring harm in “free” digital platforms 20:25 Current state of antitrust enforcement 23:07 Addressing monopolies after consolidation has occurred 25:28 Rethinking antitrust and the risks of concentrated power Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices