Congress has been unable to pass legislation aimed at Big Tech, and it doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon. Since the beginning of 2021, Big Tech spending on advertising to fend off regulation has exceeded $100 million. That money and the industry’s lobbying muscle have helped tip the scales in Big Tech’s favor so far, according to supporters of the legislation. According to the Wall Street Journal, much of the antiregulation advertising has run in lawmakers’ home districts, which supporters say has added to the pressure on lawmakers to avoid taking tough votes. In addition, lobbyists for big technology companies say the tech-targeted legislation addresses issues that most Americans don’t see as needing to be fixed.
Meanwhile, the new European Union (EU) rules targeting Big Tech are to be phased in now through 2024. The new rules will give users real control over and insight into the content they engage with and will offer protections from pervasive and harmful aspects of online spaces. The European Commission (EC) will focus on implementation as it works to develop enforcement mechanisms. Here is an opinion piece we found of interest relating to Big Tech’s efforts to prevent Congress from enacting legislation.
Big Tech Giving European Consumers What They Deny Americans
In an opinion piece for Brookings, “Big Tech giving European consumers what they deny Americans,” Tom Wheeler, visiting fellow in Governance Studies at The Brookings Institution, writes that Big Tech companies have built a perfect record so far in blocking major legislation in Congress. He attributes this success to Big Tech’s lavish spending to influence Congress not to pass tech-related legislation, which has exceeded $100 million since the beginning of 2021.
Wheeler reports that, due to Big Tech lobbying, the American Data Privacy and Protection Act never made it to the House floor despite being reported out of the House Commerce Committee with a bipartisan 53-2 vote. A similar situation occurred for antitrust legislation. Meanwhile in the EU, the Big Tech companies that spend lavishly to oppose American consumer protection efforts face new rules that will be phased in between now and 2024. Read the full article on Brookings.
Disclosure: Fatty Fish is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
The Fatty Fish Editorial Team includes a diverse group of industry analysts, researchers, and advisors who spend most of their days diving into the most important topics impacting the future of the technology sector. Our team focuses on the potential impact of tech-related IP policy, legislation, regulation, and litigation, along with critical global and geostrategic trends — and delivers content that makes it easier for journalists, lobbyists, and policy makers to understand these issues.
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