PRESS CONTACT: Jimmy Wyderko, jwyderko@economicliberties.us
Washington, D.C. — Rethink Trade today released a first-of-its-kind interactive online map and database alerting lawmakers and the public to more than 100 bills in 42 states and Washington, D.C. that could be undermined by “digital trade” provisions being pushed by Big Tech lobbyists.
“The goal of this tracker is to demonstrate how Big Tech-supported ‘digital trade’ rules clash with state lawmakers’ policy agendas,” said Daniel Rangel, Research Director at Rethink Trade. “As states respond to the growing demand for AI regulation, kids’ online safety, Right to Repair, and stronger data privacy protections, tech lobbyists are working behind the scenes to embed international preemption into trade deals and undermine these efforts.”
The tracker found that:
- 60 Right to Repair bills introduced or in effect since 2021 could be affected, including eight signed into law in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon.
- 39 AI regulation bills introduced since 2021 could be affected, including six signed into law in California, Colorado, Idaho, and Maryland.
- Six kids’ online safety bills introduced since 2021 could be affected, including three signed into law in California, Texas, and Utah.
- Three data privacy laws in California, Maryland, and Montana could be affected.
Rethink Trade’s previous report, International Preemption by “Trade” Agreement, provides further analysis on conflicts between bipartisan U.S. legislation and proposed “digital trade” rules.
View the interactive state policy tracker and map here.
The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.