TPA Urges Senators to Oppose the Open App Markets Act

For Immediate Release                                                 Contact: Abigail Graham: (202) 417-7235

December 8, 2022                                                                               

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) strongly urges members of Congress to oppose the Open App Markets Act (OAMA). This bill would put millions of consumers’ devices at risk and open app ecosystems to foreign adversaries.

In response, TPA Executive Director Patrick Hedger, offered the following comment:

“The Open App Markets Act breaks critical cybersecurity protections and parental controls on smartphones essentially to subsidize multibillion dollar companies that produce violent video games and dating apps. The government should not be making it easier for bad actors in basements and foreign military bases to gain access to the devices that power our daily lives just to pad the bottom lines of huge developers. 

“Proponents of OAMA claim the legislation is about expanding consumer choice, but all it does is deny consumers the choice of the most secure and closed software ecosystems for their smart devices. Consumers already have the choice of open (and less secure) systems that OAMA seeks to standardize for all devices. 

“Instead of addressing the very real cybersecurity concerns of this bill, some supporters have suggested it’s on Americans to shell out extra money for antivirus software for their devices where it currently isn’t needed.

“OAMA was rammed through committee without any legislative hearings and is now being ‘hotlined’ in a rushed attempt to avoid any further debate on this controversial bill. This is beyond reckless for most legislation, but particularly so for a bill that fundamentally alters the security of the devices in almost every American’s pocket. We encourage all Senators to put a stop to this.”

###

Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.