Big Tech Ramps Up Efforts to Challenge US Antitrust Bill as Senate Prepares to Take Decision This Month 55396o Technology News

Amazon argued that the bill targets one retailer by requiring a market value of at least $550 billion to qualify for regulation. 4g3p2j

By Reuters | Updated: 2 June 2022 10:48 IST

Big Tech Ramps Up Efforts to Challenge US Antitrust Bill as Senate Prepares to Take Decision This Month

Photo Credit: Reuters 3v6d2p

Pro-tech groups like the US Chamber of Commerce and TechNet have opposed the bill

Highlights

Amazon has criticised an bipartisan antitrust bill in the US
The bill will bar firms from giving preference to their own businesses
Amazon argues that Walmart and Target will be excluded from regulation

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Big tech has launched a media blitz aimed at derailing one of the most ground-breaking bipartisan bills in the US that would bar tech companies, like Amazon, from giving preference to their own businesses on their websites.

Amazon Prime."

It argued the bill targets one retailer, Amazon, by requiring a market value of at least $550 billion (roughly Rs. 38,80,500 crore) to qualify for regulation, thus excluding Target.

Amazon Accuses US Antitrust Bill for Unfairly Targeting the Retailer

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican, are lead co-sponsors of the bill.

A spokesperson for Klobuchar, when asked about the Amazon post, said: "Who do you trust? The largest online retailer in America with a demonstrated record of stiffing small businesses and lying about this bill's impact, or small businesses themselves?"

The spokesperson also listed business groups, which back the bill, including Small Business Rising and Main Street Alliance.

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The Senate could vote on the bill as early as this month, a source familiar with the situation said, helping explain the growing voice of opposition. The measure ed the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, despite hefty lobbying from top executives like Apple CEO Tim Cook. It also ed the House Judiciary Committee last year.

The US Chamber of Commerce, in a letter to the Senate Tuesday, called the bill "misguided" and said it would "be an overhaul of the American economy, one sector at a time."

Pro-tech groups that oppose the bill include the Chamber of Progress, TechNet and the Computer & Communications Industry Association.

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The Chamber of Progress said late last month that the bill, if it became law, would "break popular consumer products," specifically Amazon Prime, iPhone. It's been running an online ad saying "Senator Klobuchar wants to erase Amazon Basics," Amazon branded products.

Senate sponsors have said if the bill becomes law that Alphabet's Google would be allowed to show maps and answer queries, that companies could offer free shipping and cell phones that could be sold with pre-installed apps.

Amazon argued the bill could harm the hundreds of thousands of small businesses that sell goods on its website as its large fines for violations "would make it difficult to justify the risk of Amazon offering a marketplace in which selling partners can participate."

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