For Immediate Release: June 24, 2021
Media contact: media@colorofchange.org
Color Of Change Endorses Sweeping Antitrust Legislative Package
NATIONWIDE — In response to the House Judiciary Committee’s vote, concluded today, on the Ending Platform Monopolies Act; American Choice and Innovation Online Act; Platform Competition and Opportunity Act; Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching (ACCESS) Act; and Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act, Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson released the following statement:
“Color Of Change applauds the House Antitrust Subcommittee for taking steps to make the marketplace fairer and prioritizing reform to protect our communities from anti-competitive actions. Though we wish the commitment to racial equity were made explicit in the text, the tools outlined in this package are crucial to reining in the abuses of Big Tech.
For too long, racial justice has been viewed as a separate component of antitrust and competition law, but this sweeping legislative package will begin the urgent process of ensuring that monopoly powers can no longer wreak havoc on our communities. Tech companies have been operating without adequate federal regulation and enforcement for years, forcing Black consumers, workers and small business owners to rely on extortive online marketplaces and racially-biased search algorithms that curb their profits.
We call on House leadership to bring this package to a full floor vote and encourage members of the House to vote in favor of the legislation. Color Of Change looks forward to continued efforts to equip antitrust enforcers with robust budgets and additional staff with racial justice expertise to ensure the safety of Black communities and our allies.
Antitrust reform is the first step in creating digital spaces that are humane for Black people. Breaking up the dominance of tech firms will ensure more meaningful regulation of their data practices. Color Of Change will continue to engage in conversations on the Hill and look forward to seeing algorithmic accountability and privacy legislation that incorporates civil rights protections to safeguard our communities from harmful and discriminatory uses. ”
###
About Color Of Change:
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org