The American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) has “numerous, significant flaws,” writes Sean Heather, Senior Vice President of International Regulatory Affairs and Antitrust at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Heather warns that AICOA “has raised major concerns across diverse industry groups and the political spectrum regarding its impact on issues such as national security, privacy, consumer choice and benefits, and America’s economic competitiveness.”  

Here are the highlights:

— Anti-tech regulations are not high on voters’ priorities list. “Moreover, one would expect that if there were considerable harm to consumers from the technology sector that legislation to further regulate and constrain it would be high on voters’ priorities list. It is not. In fact, a poll released by the U.S. Chamber in partnership with AXIS Research found just the opposite: 70% of voters oppose Congressional proposals to add new antitrust regulations for technology companies.”

— A CRS study found AICOA would limit popular tools consumers love. “Congress’ own non-partisan research arm, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), has found in its analysis of the bill, this legislation would limit popular practices that consumers widely support such as Google embedding Google Maps support on its website or Amazon’s preferred shipping options.”

— AICOA is a “significant departure” from the consumer welfare standard. “AICOA is a significant departure from the history of American antitrust legislation which has long been based on the consumer welfare standard.” 

— A number of diverse voices oppose AICOA. “[I]individuals and organizations such as President Obama’s Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, distinguished fellow in economics at the Heritage Foundation Stephen Moore, the Progressive Policy Institute, more than 175 state and local chambers of commerce, and the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board all oppose the bill.”

See here for more from Springboard on AICOA’s negative impacts.