A letter from progressive members of the U.S. House of Representatives this week urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to call for votes soon on a pair of antitrust bills that would rein in the power of tech giants like Apple and Google in an attempt to open up competition from more companies.
Without votes “in the next few weeks,” lawmakers’ upcoming months-long recess could delay action considerably.
Lawmakers call for quick votes on American Innovation and Choice Online Act and Open Markets Act
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which represents 100 reps from 34 states, wrote the letter, dated Wednesday.
It urges Schumer to call a vote on the American Innovation and Choice Online Act and Open Markets Act. The two pieces of antitrust legislation are currently sitting in Congress, finalized and out of bipartisan committees.
Lawmakers’ failure to fit everything into the first of those two bills resulted in the creation of the second.
The lawmakers want Schumer to hold a vote on the two bills before the upcoming months-long recess.
As they said in the letter:
It is time for Congress to vote on this legislation. The House Judiciary Committee held an extensive markup over a year ago and reported H.R. 3816, the companion to S. 2992, with bipartisan support. S. 2992 and S. 2710 were reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee nearly six months ago, also with bipartisan support. In the intervening months, the bills’ sponsors have worked closely with other Members to address concerns, answer questions, and ensure the legislation is narrowly tailored. As a result of this work, these bills are ready for a vote and we urge you to schedule the vote on them in the next few weeks.
Congressional investigation into tech giants
Lawmakers introduced the two bills after a 16-month congressional investigation of tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Meta (Facebook) and Google.
The bills would restrict tech giants in various ways. The American Choice and Innovation Act would prohibit them from favoring their own products and services. The Open Markets Act, which outlines regulations on app stores and marketplaces, is likely the bigger threat to Apple.
Some of that bill’s changes include:
- Competing app stores could appear on both iPhones and Android phones.
- Consumers would choose which app store app to download.
- Consumers would choose their default apps.
- Apple and Google could not do anything to give their own app stores an advantage.
What could be in store for Apple
As far as Apple goes, the bills could force the company to allow alternate app stores and payment systems in its own App Store. Apple has lobbied against the bills, arguing they would threaten the privacy and security of its platforms.
Lawmakers have called the bills a result of a thorough investigation, saying they have the full support of the Biden Administration and are viewed favorably by the American public.
“These bills are ready for a vote and we urge you to schedule the vote on them in the next few weeks,” legislators wrote.
International scrutiny
Apple and other tech giants endure increased antitrust scrutiny in different parts of the world, such as the European Union.
The EU is poised to adopt two new legislative packages. They could place restrictions on tech giants ranging from barring self-preferential treatment to forcing Apple to open up its software platforms to practices like side loading.
