Committee Republican Staff Consider Legislative Options to Rein in Big Tech
Washington, D.C. — Today, Energy and Commerce Committee Republican staff circulated a memo on Big Tech to Energy and Commerce Committee Republican members’ staff, stakeholders, and the public. The memo outlined several legislative concepts and is intended to start a considerate, inclusive, and transparent dialogue as Committee staff consider and develop legislation under the Big Tech Accountability Platform.
Excerpts from the memo:
“Earlier this year, Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers unveiled our “Big Tech Accountability Platform” as a framework to bring much-needed reform and oversight to Big Tech. As E&C Republican staff continue to engage stakeholders and interested parties, we want to make three things clear:
- We will protect free speech: Republicans worked hard to repeal the Federal Communications Commission’s Fairness Doctrine and we will not advocate for a new one.
- We will be mindful of small businesses and entrepreneurship: Any policy we pursue will balance these essential interests to preserve competition.
- We will promote American tech leadership and innovation: We will continue to promote American global leadership while working to address issues here at home.
“Resolving these complex issues will not be easy. We must embrace our conservative principles to find a viable solution consistent with the First Amendment that enables individuals to express themselves freely and protects the right of private companies to control their property. Accordingly, this outreach is to start a considerate, inclusive, and transparent process as staff consider and develop legislation under our Platform. This initial outreach is to first focus on legislative concepts and then work with stakeholders and interested parties as we develop legislative text.”
CLICK HERE to see the full memo.