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 [...]
Tech Founders and Startups Across Europe Gathered in Brussels to Engage with Policymakers
Annual Global App Economy Conference Shares Top SME Tech Policy Priorities with EU Leaders Brussels, Belgium - Twenty-two founders and tech startup leaders representing 19 ACT member companies from 11 countries across the European Union (EU) traveled to Brussels this week for in-person meetings with the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union. Founders, startups, scaleups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) know better than anyone the practical impacts of regulation. As EU [...]
Always Be Filing: ACT Filing Activity January 2026
Throughout the year, our policy team submits filings with government bodies worldwide to advocate for a regulatory environment that inspires and rewards innovation. From issues around regulating artificial intelligence to digital trade, our team is ACTive on a wide range of topics that could have a positive or negative impact on our small business members driving the app economy. Below is a roundup of our filings from around the globe this past month. Title: ACT | The App [...]
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 [...]