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           Biden Executive Order Could Significantly Impact Big Tech

   Josh Centers

   US President Joe Biden has signed an [1]expansive executive order with
   72 initiatives aimed at promoting competition, encouraging growth and
   innovation, raising wages, and lowering prices for consumers. Many of
   the provisions are aimed at the tech industry'here's a small sample of
   some that are relevant to TidBITS readers:
     * Calls upon the Federal Trade Commission to enact right-to-repair
       regulations
     * Encourages greater scrutiny of mergers, especially by 'dominant
       Internet platforms'
     * Asks the FTC to establish rules on surveillance and accumulation of
       data
     * Bans early termination fees on Internet services
     * Lets hearing aids be sold over the counter at drug stores

   The tech press has focused on the right-to-repair provision, which
   calls out cell phone manufacturers, along with farm equipment makers.
   Specifically, the order 'encourages the FTC to issue rules against
   anti-competitive restrictions on using independent repair shops or
   doing DIY repairs of your own devices and equipment.'

   We're generally supportive of right-to-repair (as is Apple co-founder
   [2]Steve Wozniak), but the devil is in the details. Would Apple be:
     * Required to replace pentalobe screws with regular Philips head
       screws?
     * Prohibited from using glue to seal products shut?
     * Obligated to publish detailed repair manuals?
     * Forced to sell parts to anyone who wants them?
     * Compelled to provide proprietary diagnostic and repair tools to
       independent repair shops?

   Many of the executive order's initiatives seem like steps in a positive
   direction, but it will likely take quite some time for the relevant
   agencies to come up with specific regulations, and those will surely
   lead to legal challenges that could take more time to shake out.

   [3]Read original article

References

   1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/09/fact-sheet-executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/
   2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN1djPMooVY
   3. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/09/fact-sheet-executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/

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