Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., on Wednesday proposed legislation that would prohibit big tech companies from creating even larger monopolies that reduce competition.
The "preemptive prohibition," according to Hawley, would prevent corporations such as Amazon and Google from getting even bigger.
Hawley's proposal was similar to an attempt by Democrats on the House antitrust subcommittee last fall, per Axios.
Normally, that could suggest bipartisan support; however, because Hawley's proposal was an amendment to Congress' proposed budget resolution, it was unclear if Senate leadership would take up the issue.
Also, Hawley has become a bit of a polarizing figure after objecting to the Electoral College vote totals just hours following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
In October, a Democrat congressional staff report recommended changes to antitrust laws and enforcement in relation to big tech companies. The report came after a 16-month investigation into competitive practices at Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Apple, per CNBC.
The House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust found the four businesses enjoyed monopoly power that needed to be reined in. The report suggested spinning off or separating parts of their businesses or making it harder to buy smaller companies.
This was not the first time Hawley suggested legislation aimed at digital platforms. In June 2019, he proposed a bill that would have required social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter "to prove to the FTC by clear and convincing evidence that their algorithms and content-removal practices are politically neutral."
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