Anti-tech legislation, like the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) and its House companion, targets leading American companies but ignores how the legislation would have dramatic consequences for small businesses by destroying many free technology tools and services.

Small business owners and groups from across the nation are deeply concerned about these regulations: 

Breaking up Google would put many Colorado small businesses “needlessly” in danger, reminds Chris Lewis, CEO of Evergreen Applied Technologies. “Before Congress does anything hasty and forces tech companies to change how they operate, they should consider if Google advertising will be as powerful and affordable if they forcibly break up Google. They must ask how valuable free tools like Google My Business will be if Google cannot display my page at the top of search results. If Congress doesn’t consider these things, the futures of many Colorado businesses like mine that have embraced a digital strategy may needlessly be put in danger.”

Regulations that micromanage Amazon’s marketplace harm Iowa small businesses “who use Amazon to connect to a much wider world of retail opportunity and business success,” cautions Tahmi DeSchepper, the owner of jewelry business Tahmi. “But I also want Iowans and our Iowa congressional delegation to know that passing regulations that invite federal bureaucrats to micromanage Amazon’s marketplace would have severe negative impacts on small Iowa businesses like mine, who use Amazon to connect to a much wider world of retail opportunity and business success.”

Lawmakers pushing anti-tech legislation fail to realize that leading American technology companies provide essential tools for the continued growth of small businesses, writes James Greaves, CEO of Brand Makers. “Deeper evaluation of the data shows small businesses have been able to leverage technology developed from larger organizations to their advantage, helping them to continue to compete and break through in a flooded marketplace. A recent study published by the Data Catalyst Institute found that almost 70% of participants reported having their own web store, and 70% also said they participated in a third-party online marketplace to generate sales.”

— “Ultimately, technology is not a threat but an essential tool to their continued growth. Small businesses have been able to increase their sales and customer base by using low-cost, efficient digital tools and platforms offered by many different companies that compete for small businesses as customers.”

The AICOA would make it impossible for Amazon to offer free shipping for products from SMBs, driving consumers to big retailers, warns Karen Kerrigan, President of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. “The Senate’s legislation would also make it impossible for Amazon to offer its Prime free shipping service on millions of products, many of which are from small and medium-sized businesses. Consumers will likely turn to big retailers, none of whom are targeted by the bill and most do not provide the same seamless and robust access to massive consumer markets or promote small businesses nearly as well.”

The AICOA would undermine the digital integration that small businesses and app developers benefit from, highlights Stacy Ekker, CEO of Doc2Doc Health. “Small businesses and developers (and the integration they so rely on) will be affected by the tech laws proposed to be passed. Congress is gearing up to address S. 2992, and it is critical for this bill to take into account the unique expertise, insights, and perspectives of smaller app developers to avoid unintended consequences from misinformed policy. There is an entire ecosystem of small tech that this will affect – don’t wait and react.”

The House companion of the AICOA puts “politics and optics over our nation’s post-COVID recovery and small business success,” reminds Rob Retzlaff, Connected Commerce Council Executive Director. “This bill, like its companion in the House which has not been moderated at all, demonstrates, again, that Members of Congress do not understand how the digital economy works, or perhaps they are putting politics and optics over our nation’s post COVID recovery and small business success. Millions of small businesses rely on Amazon Marketplace to grow, but this bill is so broadly written that it could define Amazon’s warehousing, logistics, and transportation activities as unfair competition against longtime Amazon partners UPS and FedEx. Additionally, Google My Business and reviews are very important to small businesses. Will Congress outlaw Google My Business because Yelp and TripAdvisor complain?”