Week of February 6, 2023
It’s a bird, it’s a plane…it’s a Chinese spy balloon? Indeed it was. Chinese efforts at a surveillance technique considered cutting edge during the American Civil War did not end well for the balloon as the F-22 is a much better countermeasure than those used in the 19th century. And while this gambit made for some enjoyable social media bits over the weekend, the more practical effect of this incident has been to highlight (again) the bipartisan nature of animus towards Chinese aggression, as congressional leaders in both parties have called on the Biden Administration to provide briefings on this situation.President Biden will deliver his second State of the Union Address this Tuesday. This bully pulpit opportunity allows the President to highlight successes of the past year as well lay out an agenda for this year and the future. We will be closely watching for any nods towards bi-partisan opportunities with congressional Republicans. We have noted that issues related to China fall into this category. Likewise, President Biden published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in January highlighting the bi-partisan messaging around “reining in Big Tech'' and citing common ground on issues such as privacy reform, antitrust, and content moderation. We expect at least some mention of those notes during his Tuesday night remarks.
What We’re Watching:
Congressional Committees Zero In On China: Numerous committees with varying jurisdiction are holding hearings this week (see schedule below) to examine the current landscape of China relations, and the threats posed by the CCP in a variety of industries from national security concerns, defense, economic threats, digital and emerging technology competition.
The House Energy and Commerce has already noticed a hearing for March to hear testimony from the TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, as Members continue to introduce legislation to limit, and even ban, the use of TikTok in the U.S. in the name of national security concerns.
NTIA Targets Apple and Google App Store Competition Practices: Following the DOJ’s suit against Google for anticompetitive practices in the ad-tech space, Google gets hit with another antitrust allegation. The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a new report last week accusing Apple and Google of anticompetitive practices in the mobile apps market, and encouraging regulations to prevent antitrust abuses. The report concludes with a series of recommendations to promote alternative means of app distribution by considering measures to limit pre-installation or reducing restrictions on sideloading, competing app stores, and competing browsers that would allow fully-featured web apps. Additionally, the report calls for regulations to remove technical limitations on developers by supporting stronger antitrust enforcement and encouraging interoperability.
Biden Calls on Congress to Address Junk Fees: President Biden unveiled a new proposal to curb junk fees placed on consumers in various industries, including live entertainment ticket fees, internet and cable service fees, airline fees, and tourism fees at resorts and travel destinations. During the fourth meeting of the President’s Competition Council, Biden outlined proposed legislation encouraging Congress to act to reduce junk fees in various industries, and encourage competition within the U.S. economy deemed, “junk fee prevention act.” Biden in his remarks specifically called out Ticketmaster for their anticompetitive practices and the burdens imposed on consumers from excessive junk fees, following the barrage on the live entertainment giant from the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the matter.
What’s Happening This Week:
Tech Hearings
House Financial Services hearing on combating the economic threat of China - Tuesday, February 7 at 10:00 AM ET
House Armed Services hearing on the threat of the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. National Defense - Tuesday, February 7 at 10:00 AM ET
House Oversight and Accountability hearing on protecting free speech and Twitter involvement - Wednesday, February 8 at 10:00 AM ET
House Armed Services hearing on the state of the defense industrial base - Wednesday, February 8 at 11:00 AM ET - second tier
House Financial Services subcommittee hearing on revamping banking - Wednesday, February 8 at 10:00 AM ET
House Financial Services subcommittee hearing on capital access for small businesses - Wednesday, February 8 at 2:00 PM ET
Senate Foreign Relations hearing on U.S.-China competition - Thursday, February 9 at 10:30 AM ET
House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on the weaponization of the Federal Government - Thursday, February 9 at 12:00 PM ET
Tech Events
The Center for American Progress - "Safer Internet Day, focusing on the European Union's implementation of new digital regulations” - Monday, February 6 at 1:00 PM ET
Securities and Exchange Commission - meeting to discuss rules and regulations affecting small and emerging businesses and their investors under the federal securities laws - Tuesday, February 7 at 10:00 AM ET
The National Endowment for Democracy - "Smart Cities and Democratic Vulnerabilities: Digital Risks amid Global Backsliding" - Tuesday, February 7 at 12:00 PM ET
The Economic Club - Discussion with Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell - Tuesday, February 7 at 12:30 PM ET
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation - "What Will It Take for Congress to Pass Bipartisan Privacy Legislation?" - Tuesday, February 7 at 2:00 PM ET
Punchbowl News - Pop-Up Conversation with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers - Wednesday, February 8 at 9:00 AM ET
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - AI/ET Partnership Series #3: AI-driven innovation - February 8 at 11:00 AM CT
Commerce Department; Economic Development Administration - meeting of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Thursday, February 9 at 9:00 AM ET
The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a virtual discussion - "Implications of the European Union's Digital Regulations on U.S. and EU Economic and Strategic Interests" - Thursday, February 9 at 9:00 AM
The United States Institute of Peace - "China and Strategic Stability in Space: Pathways to Peace in an Era of U.S. - China Strategic Competition" - Thursday, February 9 at 11:30 AM ET
The Hudson Institute - "State Threats, Illicit Finance, and Economic Security" - Friday, February 10 at 10:00 AM ET
What’s Interesting This Week:
Checkmate… February 10, 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov lost a game to the computer Deep Blue during a match set up using standard championship rules. This was the first time a computer defeated a world chess champion using these rules (although chess computers had been kicking my butt since the 1980’s). Kasparov went on to defeat Deep Blue 4-2 during this match. However, he lost against Deep Blue a year later, marking the first time a computer defeated a world chess champion in a match.
