Big test awaits Big Tech companies at Capitol Hill
US House Judiciary Committee will next week vote on new anti-trust bills that could hit big technology companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google.
FollowThe US House Judiciary Committee will next week vote on six anti-trust bills, including several that will target the market power of Big Tech.
The bills, which will be marked up in committee to consider changes, will be voted on by the committee to decide whether the full House of Representatives should vote on the measures.
Two out of the six bills address the issue of giant companies like Amazon and Google that create a platform for other businesses and then compete against those same businesses.
These bills, one that could force companies to sell their businesses, have attracted much opposition.
Pro-tech groups have said that these bills could mean the end of popular promotions like Amazon Prime free shipping and iMessage in iPhones.
A third bill will require a platform to refrain from any merger unless it can prove that the acquired firm does not compete with any product or service the platform is in.
The fourth bill will require platforms to allow users to transfer their data elsewhere, including to a competing company.
A fifth was also introduced by the House, which is a companion to a measure that has already been passed by the Senate and would increase the budgets for anti-trust enforces and make companies planning big mergers pay more.
The sixth bill ensures that state attorney generals are able to remain in the court they select rather than having their cases moved to the defendant's court of preference.
Colorado Republican Representative Ken Buck, the ranking member on the House anti-trust subcommittee, listed Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google among companies that prioritised power over innovation.
Claiming that these companies harmed American businesses and consumers, Buck said that companies like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google maintained a monopoly in the online marketplace by utilising anti-competitive behaviour to stifle competition.
