Senators Graham and Warren Take Aim at Big Tech, Propose New Agency

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined forces to craft a proposal for a new federal agency to impose and enforce regulations on Big Tech companies such as Google, Amazon, Meta, and more. 

“Enough is Enough”: In an op-ed for the New York Times Opinion (Left bias), the bipartisan pair laid out their argument for the proposed agency, writing, “Piecemeal efforts to stop abusive and dangerous practices have failed… Meaningful change — the change worth engaging every member of Congress to fight for — is structural.” The proposed bill to create the agency is called the Digital Consumer Protection Commission Act, and it would “create an independent, bipartisan regulator charged with licensing and policing the nation’s biggest tech companies — like Meta, Google and Amazon — to prevent online harm, promote free speech and competition, guard Americans’ privacy and protect national security.”

Innovation Killer: In the Wall Street Journal Opinion (Lean Right bias), tech entrepreneur Joe Lonsdale called the proposed agency a “terrible idea” that would be a “disaster for tens of thousands of small and medium-size technology businesses—the beating heart of our innovation ecosystem.” Lonsdale argues additional interference from Washington would stifle creativity in the tech sector and rob America of its competitive global edge in digital innovation, arguing such an agency “might give China a leg up over the U.S.” Lonsdale determines, “It’s ludicrous to assess what is working in our country and what isn’t and conclude that we need more unaccountable bureaucrats in charge of technology.”