The Fly in the AI Package Ointment: Why ASAA Doesn’t Belong
As federal negotiators scramble to assemble a comprehensive AI legislative package—one that would ideally preempt the mounting state-by-state patchwork threatening to fragment America's AI ecosystem—there's pressure to sweeten the deal with provisions addressing children's safety online. The impulse is understandable with AI chatbots like Meta’s that are having “sensual” conversations with minors. But if the App Store Accountability Act (ASAA), also a product of Meta, ends up as the "children's safety" component of any AI bill, Congress will have [...]
The U.S. Has an Opportunity to Protect Marketplace Management for Small Tech Businesses
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives in Washington next week for his second official visit since taking office, bringing with him a raft of bilateral priorities to discuss with Trump Administration officials. Trade, defense, and transatlantic cooperation will top the agenda—but U.S. officials shouldn't let the occasion pass without raising a glaring example of European government overreach that directly harms American small businesses: Germany's Federal Cartel Office (FCO) has fined Amazon for using price-filtering tools that help prevent price gouging [...]
ACT| The App Association Comment on App Store Announcement from Competition Markets Authority, Apple, and Google
LONDON - ACT | The App Association (ACT) welcomes Apple and Google’s recently announced commitments around the App Store and Google Play in the UK following the Competition Markets Authority’s (CMA) ‘strategic market status’ ruling last October. Commenting on the changes Stephen Tulip, UK Country Manager for ACT, said: ‘The commitments from Apple and Google are good news for small British app developers and a sensible solution to the CMA’s concerns. ‘ACT and our members have long called for [...]
ACT | The App Association Statement on Financing and Scaling Report
LONDON - Commenting on the Government’s response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report on Financing and Scaling UK Science and Technology, ACT | The App Association (ACT) UK Country Manager Stephen Tulip said: ‘It is encouraging to see the Government engaging positively with the recommendations in the report, but activity does not necessarily equal achievement. It remains to be seen how effective these Government initiatives are at supporting startups and small businesses like ACT’s members. [...]