Last summer, the House Judiciary Committee rushed through a committee vote less than two weeks after the introduction of Rep. Cicilline’s American Choice and Innovation Online Act, along with a number of other anti-tech bills despite strongly voiced concerns. Looking to the Senate, we are about to see a similar scenario play out with Sen. Klobuchar’s American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which will be marked up next Thursday without a hearing. 

“Substantive and procedural concerns in tech regulation bills in the House and Senate are starting to feel like deja vu for yet another misguided anti-tech proposal,” explained CCIA’s Arthur Sidney in a disco post yesterday.

— Sidney continues: “Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results is futile, among other things. Rather than have a repeat of the 28-hour markup over two days that played out in June 2021, why not hold a hearing to allow the public and other interested stakeholders to provide input? If Senators believe the bill is in the best interest of the American people, it need not be the subject of another rush job.”

The AICOA and similar legislation would have serious consequences for American competitiveness, security, and the broader economy. Here’s what’s at stake:

1. The AICOA and similar legislation threaten to break digital services that American consumers use and enjoy.

2. National security experts warn current antitrust legislation puts American national security at risk.

3. Mandating American companies share data with foreign competitors would give adversaries access to U.S. data and intellectual property.

4. Proposed antitrust legislation will reduce economic competitiveness by arbitrarily changing the rules for only a select few companies.

5. Despite what you might have heard, anti-tech bills will increase, not reduce inflation.

View the full post on this rushed and misguided approach on DisCo.