DOJ backs bills that could kneecap Big Tech – Axios

The Justice Department endorsed House and Senate bills Monday that would keep the biggest digital platforms like Meta, Google, Apple and Amazon from giving preferential treatment to their own products.

Why it matters: Support from the Biden Administration's DOJ gives the bipartisan bills a boost, and shows that the department thinks they can be enforced and help boost tech competition in the U.S.

The big picture: "The fact that the DOJs regulatory goals are consistent with the Hill show the seriousness of the DOJs antitrust concerns in the technology sector," Jeffrey Jacobovitz, senior counsel at law firm Arnall Golden Gregory LLP and former Federal Trade Commission attorney, told Axios.

Driving the news: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved its bill, the American Competition and Innovation Act, in January. A companion bill awaits full House approval.

Yes, but: The bills still have to pass the full Senate and House, and face a packed congressional agenda along with bitter partisanship.

What they're saying: "The Department views the rise of dominant platforms as presenting a threat to open markets and competition, with risks for consumers, business, innovation, resiliency, global competitiveness, and our democracy," the letter, signed by acting assistant attorney general Peter Hyun, reads.

The other side: Tech companies and their defenders have called the bills discriminatory and argued that they would hurt privacy and security, along with taking away services consumers enjoy.

Meanwhile: Last week, Europe pushed ahead with a proposal, the Digital Markets Act, that would ban many of the Big Tech behaviors outlined in the U.S. bills.

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DOJ backs bills that could kneecap Big Tech - Axios