How US Tech Policy Could Change if Democrats Win Back the Senate
If Democrats win back the Senate tech policy could shift significantly. Antitrust action privacy legislation and platform regulation all hang in the balance.
The current gridlock on tech legislation reflects divided government. Neither party can pass its preferred approach. A Democratic Senate changes the math.
Politico examined the likely policy changes under different electoral outcomes.
Big Tech has enemies in both parties but for different reasons. Democrats focus on privacy and content moderation. Republicans focus on perceived bias. Common ground is hard to find.
Technology regulation lags years behind actual innovation. Whatever passes will already be outdated.
Antitrust enforcement could accelerate under a Democratic Senate. The DOJ and FTC have been building cases but Congressional support matters for resources and messaging.
Privacy legislation is the perennial almost-there issue. Europe has GDPR. California has CCPA. A federal standard keeps being discussed and never passing.
The tech industry has spent enormously on lobbying both parties. Whoever wins will face pressure to moderate their regulatory ambitions.
Analysis September 2020
