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Encourage states to use their own laws or pass new ones to curb platform abuses.
Help states act when federal bills stall by supporting state antitrust and unfair-practices laws that curb platform abuses. Focus on approaches described in the cause materials—like abuse-of-dominance standards, transparency in rankings, and fair-dealing protections—while drafting for durability against likely constitutional challenges.
Why this works
- States can sometimes act when federal stalls.
- For example, some states have mini-antitrust laws that can be more expansive (and state AGs are already co-enforcing with DOJ).
- States like New York considered a law to make it easier to prosecute abuse of dominance (not requiring proof of consumer price increase, which is hard in “free” services markets).
- If New York or California passed such a law, state enforcers could bring cases that federal law might not reach due to higher bar – potentially preventing, say, app store extortionate fees or requiring fair dealing on platforms for businesses.
- States also can address aspects like algorithmic transparency in rankings, or protecting small business users from sudden platform rule changes (like a “fairness for small businesses on platforms” act ensuring notice or appeal rights when they’re delisted).
Tech Oversight Project
AdvocacyHolding Big Tech accountable through policy and pressure
The Tech Oversight Project is a tech policy advocacy organization launched in 2022 to push for aggressive government action against Big Tech monopolies:. It is the only watchdog focused solely on advancing antitrust legislation and regulatory scrutiny of companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple. The Tech Oversight Project uses campaign-style tactics — rapid response communications, opposition research, and media outreach — to counter Big Tech’s lobbying and rally support for reforms that protect consumers, privacy, and competition:.
Mechanism
How Tech Oversight Project uses funding
- Identify states already considering stronger competition standards, such as New York.
- Draft model language for abuse-of-dominance and fair-dealing requirements.
- Support state attorneys general and lawmakers with research, testimony, and legal analysis.
- Build a coalition of business users and consumers that demonstrates in-state harm.
- Draft with interstate-commerce and constitutional challenges in mind.
- Track implementation and share lessons across states to improve durability.
Partner notes
Partner notes coming soon.