https://www.techradar.com/news/duckduckgo-proton-mozilla-throw-weight-behind-bill-targeting-big-tech-surveillance Skip to main content * * (*) ( ) TechRadar IT Insights for Business [ ] Search [ ] Subscribe RSS (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) Asia India Singapore Middle East Europe Danmark Suomi Norge Sverige UK Italia Nederland Belgie (Nederlands) France Deutschland Espana North America US (English) Canada US (Espanol) Australasia Australia New Zealand No offers found * * News * Reviews * Website builders * Features * Web hosting * Dell SB * Perimeter 81 * Security Trending * Windows 11 for business * Best hybrid working tech * Microsoft Teams updates * Latest Mobile news * Office 2021 TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. 1. Home 2. News 3. Computing DuckDuckGo, Proton, Mozilla throw weight behind bill targeting Big Tech 'surveillance' By Luke Hughes published 14 September 2022 Tech companies fighting for data privacy in the US want to resurrect a forgotten old bill * (opens in new tab) * (opens in new tab) * * (opens in new tab) * (opens in new tab) * A padlock against a black computer screen. (Image credit: Pixabay) Audio player loading... A group of privacy-focused organizations have signed a letter imploring US Congress leaders to schedule a vote on a bill that would hamper data collection by tech giants and promote user access to online privacy tools. In its letter (opens in new tab) to Congress, addressed to the likes of Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi, the alliance argued that the continued suppression of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) (opens in new tab) allows "dominant firms" to "limit competition and restrict user choice" when accessing privacy-focused technologies and products. It also accused tech giants of forcing users into accepting their policies of "perpetual surveillance" because of their positions as "gatekeepers", and of using their "influence in society" to steer users away from rival services more committed to privacy. Online privacy in the US Signatories included the likes of DuckDuckGo, Proton, Brave and Mozilla, among others, representing sectors ranging from VPN and search to web browsers, office software, and more. The letter to Congress fighting for the revival of the AICOA hit back at the idea that the US technology industry is a free market. The 13 signatories, all of which are relatively small in stature, claim the tech giants deliberately wield the depth and breadth of their product portfolios to establish unassailable monopolies. However, the resources and lobbying power at the disposal of companies like Google and Meta mean the economic interests of corporations have often taken precedence over the online privacy of the people that use their platforms. READ MORE > Check out our list of the best router VPNs right now > VPNs on iOS are "broken" and Apple doesn't seem to be doing anything to fix it > Exclusive: Free VPNs are on the rise, but so are the risks for your privacy In this case, as the bill poses a direct threat to large tech companies' abilities to collect data and squash the push for online privacy in the US, it's likely that tech giants will succeed in persuading politicians to suppress the AICOA, at least in part because the thirteen-strong collective does not have the same resources at its disposal. As a result, the AICOA is unlikely to be tabled for discussion, and even more unlikely to be passed into law before the November midterms, by a House of Representatives with a slim Democratic majority of nine and an evenly split Senate. As for the fate of the bill after the midterms, only time will tell. TechRadar Pro has asked Meta and Google for a response to the letter to Congress. * Here's a list of the best VPNs for PCs right now Luke Hughes Luke Hughes Graduate Writer Luke Hughes holds the role of Graduate Writer at TechRadar Pro, producing news, features and deals content across topics ranging from computing to cloud services, cybersecurity, data privacy and business software. See more Computing news Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to theTechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! [ ] [ ] [ ] Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands [ ] Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors [Sign me up] Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED 1. Samsung SmartSSD 1 A whole new breed of SSDs is about to break through 2. 2 Which iPhone models has Apple discontinued now the iPhone 14 is here? 3. 3 Microsoft Excel update will give power users plenty to dig their teeth into 4. 4 New Galaxy S23 leak suggests Samsung will be following Apple's iPhone 14 path 5. 5 The greatest Lord of the Rings strategy game still isn't legally available 1. iPhone 13 Pro Max 1 Which iPhone models has Apple discontinued now the iPhone 14 is here? 2. 2 iPhone 14 battery capacity shows Apple making a gamble on its specs 3. 3 iOS 16 users were unable to download apps as Store error hit global launch 4. 4 GoPro action cams are about to get their biggest shake-up in years 5. 5 iOS 16 launch live blog - it's here, but what does it have? TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). * About Us (opens in new tab) * Contact Us (opens in new tab) * Terms and conditions (opens in new tab) * Privacy policy (opens in new tab) * Cookies policy (opens in new tab) * Advertise with us (opens in new tab) * Web notifications (opens in new tab) * Accessibility Statement * Careers (opens in new tab) (c) Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.