Following an “Antitrust Day of Action” where springtime tourists outside of the US Capitol might have been confused to see lawmakers including Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) posing with a man dressed in costume as a bill, lawmakers are now back in session. One would hope they would turn their attention away from discriminatory tech legislation like the American Innovation and Choice Online Act and the Open App Markets Act (OAMA), and focus instead on strengthening our digital defenses. With the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issuing a “Shields Up” warning about potential “malicious cyber activity” and recommending protective measures in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it’s fair to say Congress is taking consumer protection too lightly and putting Americans at risk.
Given warnings from the State Department, the White House, and the cybersecurity community, why is there a disconnect in Congress that would result in our most powerful “shields” being outlawed? It has become increasingly clear that the privacy and security of our devices must be a top priority. This is especially true of our mobile devices, which store many Americans’ identification, health information, and payment methods.
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