Flake to lead tech and privacy subpanel, Lee takes charge on antirust

Sen. Jeff Flake is taking charge of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, committee leaders announced on Thursday.

While the Arizona Republican has not made major waves on privacy in the past, he did serve as the ranking member when Democrats led the Senate, so many expected that he would take the gavel.

{mosads}Still, along with ranking member Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) — who has often been at the forefront of many privacy issues — the two will have the opportunity to closely probe how companies are using and protecting people’s information.

Two freshman lawmakers are also joining the Privacy subcommittee: Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who formerly served as the ranking member of the Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumers Rights subcommittee, is now taking over as the panel’s chairman. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the former chairwoman, is retaining her post as top Democrat.

Perdue and Tillis are also joining the Antitrust subcommittee.