TPA Opposes the Reintroduction of the Open App Markets Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224) 456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) re-introduced the Open App Markets Act (OAMA) in the Senate. This legislation would require smartphone operating systems to allow the installation of apps through third-party app stores and require app stores to accept third-party payment processing systems. The bill also includes restrictions on self-preferencing and data practices.

In response, David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) offered the following comment:

“Here we go again.  OAMA shows that bad ideas never completely go away, they just lay dormant. The shortcomings of OAMA have been evident since its introduction. There is a reason why this bill has been rejected each time it has been presented to Congress. Members of Congress and policy experts have repeatedly told its sponsors that OAMA is a deeply flawed bill and bad policy. Instead of learning that lesson, this group of senators have decided to reintroduce the bill without substantively addressing any of the concerns.

“OAMA erodes critical cybersecurity protections and parental controls on smartphones, putting tech companies in the role that ought to be reserved for parents and caretakers.

“Supporters of OAMA falsely claim that the bill will expand consumer choice. Paradoxically, the bill would, in fact, reduce consumer choice. Consumers have consistently showed a demand for simpler and closed smartphone ecosystems that prevent users from invertedly downloading malicious software. The popularity of closed mobile systems is an example of how consumers vote with their wallets for what they believe to be the product that better satisfies their needs. If users desire more open systems, there are already options in the marketplace they can choose. However, OAMA would strip users of that choice by forcing all systems to accept unauthorized and unvetted software, regardless of the potential cybersecurity risks it might introduce.

“Despite its numerous introductions and continuous political trickery, OAMA has deservedly failed to become law. That is a clear sign of the damage it can do to the American economy and cybersecurity ecosystem. Policymakers should safeguard consumers and their privacy and continue to oppose this bill.”