The appointment of a U.S. economist and former antitrust official to a senior position at the European Commission overseeing Big Tech has drawn criticism from France’s foreign minister and government minister. They have called on EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager to reconsider her decision.
Vestager recently announced the hiring of Fiona Scott Morton, the former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Justice during former President Barack Obama’s tenure. Scott Morton is set to assume her role on Sept. 1, following the retirement of current chief economist Pierre Regibeau.
However, Scott Morton’s appointment has faced backlash due to concerns about potential conflicts of interest. She has previously done consulting work at Charles River Associates, a consultancy that advises several tech giants.
French foreign minister Catherine Colonna expressed her astonishment at the appointment and tweeted, “Digital regulation is a critical issue for France and Europe. This appointment needs to be reconsidered by @EU_Commission.”
Similarly, French government minister Jean-Noel Barrot echoed this sentiment, stating, “As Europe embarks on the most ambitious digital regulation in the world, the recent appointment of the chief economist of DG Competition raises legitimate questions. I urge the @EU_Commission to reconsider their choice.”
The European Commission has not provided an immediate comment on the matter.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Conor Humphries)
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
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