The American Innovation and Choice Online Act has passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The next step is to bring it to the Senate floor for a vote. In passing the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, Congress would outlaw Big Tech's unfair treatment of competitors, end the practice of giving their own products preferential treatment, and create a bureau at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these regulations and protect competition in the digital markets our communities rely on. 

Big Tech has near-total control over online shopping, online content, and online connections. From Facebook buying Instagram—which then copied TikTok—to killing Vine, Big Tech has a history of acquiring, copying, and killing competitors. Without competitors, Big Tech can force small businesses to use their platforms while also driving them out of existence. 

Amazon has a history of copying another business’s product and ranking its copycat higher than the original product in users’ search results. Imagine trying to buy a tea kettle and the top search result is Amazon’s tea kettle while having to scroll down to find cheaper and better-reviewed tea kettles from third-party sellers. It’s not just Amazon. In Apple’s App Store, if you search for a generic version of an app, Apple will put its own apps first. Prior to Spotify’s complaints, you had to scroll past 22 apps—8 of which were Apple apps, and some of which were unrelated to music—before reaching the Spotify app you were actually looking for.

These anti-competitive actions neither promote innovation or give us free choice. When corporations expand their control of the market, they shape our lives by exploiting Black-owned small businesses and deciding how much we pay for necessary resources. When Big Tech refuses to prioritize people over profits, we should have other options that center our livelihood.

Continue fighting for antitrust reform, limits to Big Tech’s power, and economic justice for Black people! We need:

• Senate leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote,
• Leadership in the House of Representatives to bring the American Innovation and Choice Online Act to the floor for a vote,
• Congress to pass the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, and
• President Biden to sign it into law.  

Add your name and address and we'll send a postcard with the image above to your senator before the floor vote on the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. Please add a personalized message and share how Big Tech has negatively impacted your life.

Here is the Petition:

To [your senator/representative],

My name is [your name] and I am a constituent from [your city and state]. I am urging you to pass the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. Big Tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Google ruthlessly eliminate their competition. These companies also have a history of putting profits above public safety. 

I am concerned that as Big Tech companies expand their control of the market, they will have more control to shape our lives and shutter small businesses. Big Tech companies force small businesses to use their platforms while also driving them out of existence. Amazon’s practices are particularly egregious; the company has a history of copying another business’s product and ranking its copycat higher than the original product in users’ search results, even if the original product is cheaper and has better reviews. This market manipulation proves harmful to small businesses and consumers; we should not be stuck relying on Big Tech when they toy with our livelihoods for their benefit. 

Now is the time to limit the power of Big Tech. We are looking at you, Senator/Representative _____, to limit Big Tech’s monopoly power and protect the futures of your constituents and [your state]’s small businesses.