We at Public Knowledge have written and presented extensively on the uniquely perilous market dynamics of digital platform markets. Economic terms like “steep barriers to entry,” “network effects,” and “economies of scope and scale” don’t fully convey how these economic problems harm real people every day. That’s why we are launching this “Movin’ On Up A Little Higher” blog post series whose title was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement songstress Mahalia Jackson’s spirit-stirring ballad.
Over the next few weeks, we will release this series of blogs highlighting a few real-world scenarios based on news stories, the House Judiciary investigation, and research that inform our policy work. The objective of this series is to demonstrate how the largest technology companies can exploit the inherent market dynamics of digital platforms to the detriment of smaller Black-owned and Black-serving businesses and consumers. Each blog concludes by explaining how key provisions from the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (S.2992 / H.R.3816) and the Open App Markets Act (S.2710 / H.R.5017) could address the exploitative harms incurred by African-American communities, by other diverse communities, and by the American public writ large.
Download detailed charts of both legislative proposals below to follow along. The first scenario is coming soon! (Update: You can view Part 1 at publicknowledge.org/Part1.)