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BIG TECH BILL: Consumers beware

| July 6, 2022 1:00 AM

Once again, big government thinks they know best. The American Innovation and Choice Online Act moving in the Senate supposedly breaks up big tech and prevents self-preferencing by major tech platforms. “Self-preferencing” for example is when we sign up for free shipping from Amazon or use Google for locating a business and it automatically includes a map.

Living in rural Idaho and frequent traveler, I greatly depend on the convenience factors some of these major platforms provide.

Should this “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” bill be enacted, it will lead to reduced services, privacy concerns, higher prices, and complexity for consumers. Consumers might be outraged when they learn the bill does little to address concerns about Big Tech’s content moderation — except to give Congress and the bureaucracy more control.

S. 2992 will harm consumers and small business more than it will affect Big Tech. I am highly concerned with placing such choices under the government's direct control - especially when the government can’t seem to control their own spending. Our federal government should be focusing on issues such as inflation, gasoline prices and fixing the supply chain issue.

I strongly urge consumers to read up on this bill and urge our senators to oppose S. 2992, American Innovation and Choice Online Act until they come up with a better solution to big tech issues.

ROBYN POLLEY

Rathdrum