The Pressing Need to Address Harmful Platform Regulation in Trade Negotiations
Small business innovators are key to the success of the U.S. digital economy. As trade negotiations between the United States and a range of trading partners go forward, ACT | The App Association is making sure that small tech businesses’ voices are heard. This is important because many countries are proposing or implementing regulatory schemes that make it harder for small developers to compete, grow, and create jobs. As a prime example, a range of harmful government interventions into [...]
ACTivating the App Economy Across the U.S.
From the Vegas Strip to Capitol Hill, ACT | The App Association has spent the past several weeks doing what we do best: creating space for small tech companies to connect, be heard, and shape the future of the digital economy. As AI, privacy and safety, and platform policies evolve faster than ever, especially at the state level, our members are leading conversations with fellow startup founders and small business owners. This May and June, we activated our U.S. [...]
Developed: EU – An Open Letter to Policymakers
Europe’s Tech SMEs discuss what they need to thrive Dear Members of the European Union Parliament and European Union Commission, With Europe having entered into a new mandate with competitiveness high on the agenda, ACT | The App Association launched the Developed: EU tour, bringing Europe’s innovation ecosystem together for a series of frank conversations. Over five weeks and across nine cities, founders, policymakers, and investors shared their concerns, their opportunities, and their support for [...]
Statement from Morgan Reed, president of ACT | The App Association on the Re-Introduction of the Open App Markets Act
“This bill is a mistake,” said Morgan Reed, president of ACT | The App Association. “Without a federal privacy and data security framework, this bill sacrifices consumer protections and small businesses to fill the coffers of multi-billion-dollar companies that want free distribution from mobile platform operators. This is another example of how small businesses and entrepreneurs are being crushed underfoot while 800-pound gorilla tech companies are fighting it out.” Background ACT | The App Association continues its opposition to [...]
State of Confusion: How a Patchwork of AI Laws Hurts Small Businesses and U.S. Competitiveness
As Congress advances the reconciliation package, a proposal to enact a 10-year moratorium on state AI laws has emerged as a key consideration. This moratorium has come in response to more than 1,000 AI-related bills introduced by state policymakers in the first few months of 2025 alone. Though well-intentioned, these bills risk creating a fragmented regulatory landscape that could slow innovation and place disproportionate burdens on small businesses developing or adopting AI tools. Small businesses have already made AI [...]
The EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy: A New Chapter for European Innovation?
On 28 May 2025, the European Commission released its new Startup and Scaleup Strategy, aiming to make the EU a more attractive destination to launch and grow tech-driven businesses. At ACT | The App Association, we welcome the strategy as a meaningful step forward. More than a political ambition, it's a practical roadmap to tackle the fragmentation, funding gaps, and regulatory hurdles that have held back too many European startups for too long. Earlier this year, we submitted input [...]