Christian is based in our Washington, DC office and is a Senior Vice President of ML Strategies. He assists a variety of clients in their interactions with the federal government.
Prior to joining ML Strategies, Christian spent 20 years on Capitol Hill, the last 10 of which he served as Senior Counsel and Subcommittee Staff Director on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In so doing, he served under the current Chair, Senator Maria Cantwell (D – WA), as well as former Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and former Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL). In this capacity, his work focused on a broad range of issues, including consumer protection, privacy and data security, cybersecurity, automobile and highway safety, product safety, sports, manufacturing, exports, and trade, while regularly interacting with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Department of Commerce.
Earlier, Christian held senior staff and advisory roles with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy & Commerce, where he worked on matters related to the FTC, NHTSA, CPSC, Department of Commerce, and the EPA.
Christian also previously served as a Senior Legislative Assistant to former Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and to former US Representative Bill Luther (D-MN), advising each on Energy & Commerce Committee issues.
viewpoints
G7 Competition Authorities, Including DOJ and FTC, Release Joint Statement on AI Competition — AI: The Washington Report
October 11, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about G7 competition authorities’ Digital Competition Communique in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
FTC Launches Operation AI Comply with Five Enforcement Actions Involving AI Misuse – AI: The Washington Report
October 3, 2024 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the FTC’s launch of Operation AI Comply, the agency’s new law enforcement sweep focused on companies using AI to further deceptive or unfair conduct in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
FTC Staff Report Warns of Privacy Risks in Social Media Companies’ AI Practices — AI: The Washington Report
September 26, 2024 | Advisory | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the FTC Staff Report on the data collection and data use practices of large social media and video streaming service platforms in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
2024 Pre-Election Analysis: Consumer Product Safety
September 24, 2024 | Advisory | By Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, R. Neal Martin, Charles Samuels
Read about how the upcoming November elections could shape consumer product safety laws and regulations, depending on the outcome of the presidential race and whether one party takes control of Congress.
Senators Urge FTC, DOJ to Investigate AI Models That Copy Third-Party Content — AI: The Washington Report
September 18, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the Democratic Senators urging the heads of the FTC and DOJ’s Antitrust Division to investigate generative AI models that may violate competition laws in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
NIST Releases Updated Draft Guidance for Federal Agencies’ Use of AI in Identity Verification Systems — AI: The Washington Report
September 12, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the second draft guidance released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Senator Rounds (R-SD) Unveils Five AI Bills for Congress to Consider After August Recess — AI: The Washington Report
September 5, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about five AI bills Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced for Congress to consider when its members return on September 8 in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
A Preview of AI Priorities Under the Next Presidential Administration — AI: The Washington Report
August 29, 2024 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the AI priorities of both presidential candidates and their likely actions if they take office in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
FTC Cracks Down on AI-Generated Fake Reviews – AI: The Washington Report
August 22, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about an FTC final rule banning fake reviews and testimonials, which takes effect in October, in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Senate Commerce Committee Advances 10 AI Bills – AI: The Washington Report
August 14, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about 10 AI-related bills recently advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee for consideration in the full Senate in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.