Lawmaker pursuing big tech regulation with open mind

WASHINGTON — Legislation and more regulation of technology companies such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. is possible, but lawmakers are approaching scrutiny with an open mind, the federal lawmaker leading an antitrust investigation of the industry said.

“This is an investigation to collect the best data and best information,” Rpe. David Cicilline, the Rhode Island Democrat who leads the House Antitrust, Commercial & Administrative Law Subcommittee, said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Cicilline’s committee is set to hold its first hearing on the dominance of Big Tech on Tuesday, part of a wider probe of the industry that the lawmaker said may lead to legislation. The goal, he said, is to “bring more competition to the space.”

The companies provide platforms for consumers and gather information that is then used by advertising companies, political parties and other groups. It’s become controversial, particularly after private information from Facebook was mined by a British political consultancy tied to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

“The data that’s collected is used to generate revenue, so they’re not really free,” Cicilline said.

Consumer advocates and a newspaper trade group are scheduled to testify on the effect of digital platforms on news media organizations, possible anti-competitive conduct of “dominant firms,” and whether current laws and enforcement policies are adequate, a person familiar with the hearing has said.

The U.S. government is ramping up its antitrust scrutiny of Big Tech on several fronts. The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission recently signaled that formal investigations may be forthcoming by divvying up antitrust oversight for Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google.