With
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Q: How would your bipartisan American Innovation and Choice
Online Act reform Big Tech platforms?
A: Americans may view technology as a curse or a
blessing, particularly in the context of Big Tech’s grip on digital platforms.
Advances in communication tools, streaming services and online shopping have
helped millions of Americans access telehealth services, groceries, medication,
digital learning and remote work, especially during the pandemic. Big Tech has
transformed the economy and how Americans communicate and obtain goods and
services, including news, entertainment and more. However, the biggest players
in Big Tech have cornered the marketplace and exploit their size and dominance
to unfairly stifle competition. My bipartisan bill with Sen. Amy Klobuchar,
American Innovation and Choice Online Act would
rein in anticompetitive practices that push out small businesses and
entrepreneurs from gaining market share in the first place. Squeezing out the
competition harms consumers and dampens innovation. Our bill would prohibit
companies from unfairly giving an advantage to their own products over
competitors who depend on their platforms to do business. It would toughen antitrust
enforcement and level the playing field for fair competition. Let’s be clear
what the bill does not do. It does not trim the sails of Big Tech titans merely
to punish their success. It does not break or destroy products that consumers
enjoy like Amazon Prime or Google Maps. It seeks to restore the competitive
edge and innovation that makes America’s system of free enterprise the pillar
of opportunity and prosperity and to help ensure consumers get the most bang
for their buck. Our bill would help restore competition on the digital
platforms to allow small and mid-sized start-ups to grow their business, gain
market share, and win over consumers with innovation, better products and
services and lower prices. That’s a win-win for the economy, consumers and
start-ups.
Q: Do you see a path forward to get signed into law this
Congress?
A: Since passing out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in
January with a strong 16-6 bipartisan vote, I’ve worked to build momentum
despite roadblocks put up along the way. The counter efforts by those who want
to keep the status quo are ramping up as our bill inches closer to a vote in
Congress. I’m not deterred in the slightest. I have worked on other commonsense
reforms to tackle Goliaths of American industry whose anticompetitive business
practices harm consumers, such as Big Pharma and Big Packers. In this particular case, I’m
doubling down and leaning in to Midwestern pragmatism to rein in Big Tech’s
abusive practices. I’m continuing my work at the policymaking table to improve
our bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help advance the reforms through
Congress. Specifically, we’ve updated our bill to increase user privacy and
security, improve cybersecurity protections and ensure enforcement applies only
to dominant online platforms. It explicitly does not impact subscription
services, such as Amazon Prime. Reining in abusive practices will help cull the
herd mentality that stifles competition and subverts entrepreneurs from jumping
in the saddle. At my 99 county meetings, Iowans tell me they’re fed up with
gatekeepers that censor content and decide what products and services are
available in the marketplace. Americans ought to have the economic freedom to
decide what they read, buy and consume. Ensuring the dominant digital platforms
give free rein to the free market is good for consumers, good for innovation
and better for the free exchange of ideas, content and products.
