WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican who was a strong critic of Big Tech, said Monday he has introduced a bill that would ban all mergers and acquisitions by any company with a market value of more than $ 100 billion. dollars, a category that will ban it includes the five largest U.S. technology companies.
Hawley, who accuses the largest companies on social media of stifling conservative voices, has also criticized other sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, which he said were too concentrated and possessed too much market power.
Its new bill will effectively ban Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Google and Facebook Inc from Alphabet Inc from any transactions and try to prevent their platforms from favoring their own products over those of competitors.
Hawley’s bill addresses the same issues as an antitrust bill introduced by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in February, and contains similar measures.
Asked about Klobuchar’s bill, Hawley said: ‘I am prepared to work with her and anyone from any party and any background. I really like what Senator Klobuchar suggested. ”
He described his bill as “significantly tougher”.
Representative David Cicilline said in the House of Representatives that he intends to introduce a series of antitrust bills.
Hawley was also asked if he would support tech critic Lina Khan, a progressive nominated to be a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, who works with the Department of Justice to enforce antitrust legislation. Hawley said he was “very impressed” by her, but added: “I did not make a final decision.”
Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Edited by Matthew Lewis