Trust Issues?

Recent weeks have seen notable merger clearances and evolving enforcement signals from the FTC and DOJ, prompting questions about the direction of antitrust policy under the Trump administration. While some changes are evident, many core principles remain intact. Our North America Antitrust Digest colleagues have outlined the key developments:

• Political context is driving clearance. The FTC’s recently approved Omnicom-IPG merger with an unusual behavioral remedy barring political publisher boycotts and the DOJ’s settling with HPE on its Juniper deal suggest a move away from ideological rigidity toward a case-by-case framework shaped by broader political, economic and cultural priorities.

• The process is smoother – for some. The DOJ and FTC have continued to press their cases against big tech companies, including Amazon, Google, Meta and Apple – even as they have shown greater openness to negotiated remedies and early terminations for non-problematic mergers.

• Standards and focus are evolving. Leadership is increasingly emphasizing a wider interpretation of the consumer welfare standard focusing on quality, innovation and choice, not just price. Meanwhile, both agencies remain active in non-merger cases, particularly in tech and pharmaceuticals, and are hosting workshops on industry-specific issues like drug pricing.

• Strategic alignment is essential. Today’s deals must be aligned with administration priorities in addition to being legally defensible. Companies looking to win approval must align with a holistic view of governance where policy goals and antitrust enforcement are closely intertwined. 

For more like this, subscribe to FGS Global’sNorth America Antitrust Digest.

Last week, the White House released its anticipated AI Action Plan, along with three executive orders aimed at accelerating AI development, deployment and adoption. Our AI Policy Newsletter colleagues have offered their insight into how this reflects the administration’s approach to key debates in AI policy:  

• Globalism vs. restrictiveness: In the lead up to the plan, internal debate centered on whether to promote global AI leadership through technology exports or restrict them on national security grounds. The accelerationist camp, favoring export to maintain U.S. dominance, ultimately won out.

• Copyright: While absent from the formal plan, President Trump addressed copyright during an AI summit, siding with the tech industry and rejecting proposals requiring compensation for training data. Arguing such policies would hinder competitiveness, especially compared to China. He signaled strong federal support for broad fair use in AI, setting up continued friction with content creators and publishers.

• State AI regulations: The plan links federal AI funding to state regulatory posture. States with stringent AI rules risk losing out, as the administration pressures them toward a lighter regulatory touch. The FCC has been tasked with assessing state-level approaches.

• “Woke” AI: One of the executive orders would require federal agencies to only procure AI models that are “truth-seeking” and ideologically neutral. This move builds on broader efforts to curtail DEI-driven initiatives and is poised to shape how private companies and public agencies develop and deploy AI models in government-related contexts. 

For more details, read the full article, and subscribe to FGS Global’s AI Policy Newsletter.

Instagram is expanding its pilot program with Google, allowing public posts to appear in search results – even for users without accounts. For brands and creators alike, this means increased visibility, broader reach and a new path for discovery that extends far beyond the app. 

Reels, carousels, bios and pinned posts from public business and creator accounts are now eligible to surface in branded and topic-based search queries. Without changing how they post, many brands are already seeing their content show up in unexpected places. Our Digital Insights colleagues offer their insights: 

• This shift reflects broader trends in how people search. According to Sprout Social’s Q2 2025 Pulse Survey, 41% of Gen Z now start their search on social platforms before turning to Google, AI tools or even friends.

• It also changes how content should be approached. Captions, bios and alt text now inform both users and search engines. A full content strategy overhaul isn’t necessary, but intentional optimization can go a long way.

• Measurement will evolve, too. Instagram Insights will count Google referrals under “External sources,” and Google Search Console may begin surfacing Instagram URLs for branded terms.

• This isn’t a moment to overcorrect. It’s a chance to pause, review what’s already surfacing and ensure it reflects the story you want to tell. 

For more information, check out the latest edition and subscribe to the Digital Insights Newsletter.