WASHINGTON – Jessica Rich, the former Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, is joining Georgetown Law’s Institute for Technology Law & Policy as a Distinguished Fellow. Rich joins a growing group of experts at the Institute, including former FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeney, former FCC Senior Counselor and long-time public interest advocate Gigi Sohn, and noted technologist Ashkan Soltani.

Rich served at the FTC for over two decades and is a pioneer in consumer protection matters. During her tenure at the FTC, she spearheaded major initiatives on consumer privacy, data security, and financial consumer protection.

Rich led the expansion of the FTC’s expertise in technology through the creation of the Office of Technology Research and Investigations (OTech). She also oversaw development of influential FTC policy reports, including reports on the Internet of Things, Big Data, data brokers, mobile apps, and cross-device tracking.

Rich led the development of FTC rules protecting children’s online privacy (the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule) and sensitive financial information (the Safeguards Rule). Under her tenure, the Bureau held a number of public fora on tech-related matters, including ransomware, Smart TVs, drones, and crowdfunding.

Rich, who joined the agency in 1991, is a recipient of the FTC Chairman’s Award, the agency’s highest award for meritorious service, and is a graduate of Harvard University and New York University Law School. Immediately after leaving the Commission, she served as a Vice President at Consumer Reports, leading the nonprofit’s advocacy and consumer mobilization efforts.

Rich’s work at the Institute will include writing in her areas of expertise, participating in policy convenings, and serving as a resource to the Georgetown Law community.

Georgetown’s Institute for Tech Law & Policy is led by Executive Director Alexandra Reeve Givens, former chief counsel for intellectual property and antitrust to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Faculty Directors Angela Campbell, Julie Cohen, Paul Ohm, and Tanina Rostain.

Learn more about the Institute.