Author: cmackenzie

On Tuesday, the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee held a hearing exploring the connection between antitrust issues and issues of data collection, use, and privacy. The hearing featured witnesses from Facebook and Google, but not TikTok, the most downloaded app since 2020 and one which has raised repeated data usage and privacy concerns. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is expected to introduce antitrust legislation targeting Facebook and Google later this Congress, chaired the hearing. “If… Continue reading Senate Hearing Overstates Data’s Role in Online Competition

On Monday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee considered a $1 billion proposal to create a new bureau at the FTC focused on privacy, data security, and identity theft. The proposal was packaged with the Democrats’ proposed $3.5 trillion budget plan making its way through Congress. “Protecting consumers’ privacy and security in the digital age… Continue reading Chamber of Progress Applauds FTC Privacy & Security Boost

On Thursday, Grubhub, DoorDash, and UberEats announced a lawsuit challenging New York City’s recently enacted permanent fee cap on delivery services. The fee cap limits the ability of delivery services to share the cost of delivery with restaurants, leaving consumers, drivers and delivery apps with the tab. For more on the damaging impact of delivery… Continue reading Grubhub, DoorDash, UberEats Sue NYC Over Fee Caps

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers announced a decision in the antitrust lawsuit between Epic Games and Apple Inc., ruling that Apple’s 30 percent commission cap and app developer restrictions are not a violation of antitrust law. The judge’s decision reaffirmed the principle that marketplace owners are allowed to set their own marketplace terms,… Continue reading Court Sides with Apple in Apple v. Epic Case

On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 20, a must-carry hate online bill, into law. The controversial legislation prohibits social media companies from removing content based on the “viewpoint” of the user — even if that content violates the platform’s community standards. During debate last week, Texas Democrats offered amendments that would explicitly allow social… Continue reading Texas Governor Signs Must-Carry Hate Online Bill into Law

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has informed Coinbase that it will sue if the company launches Coinbase Lend, a new product allowing users to lend digital assets. The threat comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of the crypto industry, despite a lack of guidelines that have left many businesses in a regulatory grey area.… Continue reading SEC Threatens to Sue Coinbase Over Crypto Lending

On Thursday, September 2, the Texas House accepted Senate amendments to a must-carry-hate-online bill (HB20), clearing a final legislative hurdle and sending the bill on to Texas Governor Greg Abbott for signature. The bill prohibits social media companies from removing content based on the “viewpoint” of the user — even if that content violates the platform’s community standards. Texas Democrats raised serious concerns during… Continue reading Texas Social Media Bill Clears State Legislature

On Wednesday, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) held a public hearing on new proposed restrictions on the testing of autonomous vehicles in New York City. The new rules would slow or halt the testing of AVs by imposing a new citywide permitting process, including some requirements that duplicate state permitting and other… Continue reading NYC Holds Hearing on New Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Restrictions