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CfA's July 19, 2019 Newsletter
Thank you for your continued support of CfA. Here's a recap of our work from the past month:
On Tuesday, CfA released a new report, Plumbers, Pub-Keepers and Notaries: Big Tech’s New Disguise, revealing that the Connected Commerce Council (3C), a small, newly-founded Washington-based nonprofit that bills itself as the “voice of small business,” appears to be an Astroturf-style front group for the nation’s largest technology companies.
Additionally, on June 26, CfA sent letters to executives at Apple and Google calling on the companies to remove from their platforms apps belonging to the anti-abortion behemoth Susan B. Anthony List and anti-choice/anti-LGBT group, the Family Research Council, for violating company policies.
Also on June 26, CfA called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate Susan B. Anthony List for violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Finally, on June 17, CfA, along with American Oversight, American Bridge 21st Century Foundation, Democracy Forward, and Western Values Project, filed a complaint with the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of the Interior calling for an investigation of the agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Awareness Process.
Read more about our recent actions below: |
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On Tuesday, CfA released a new report, Plumbers, Pub-Keepers and Notaries: Big Tech’s New Disguise, revealing that the Connected Commerce Council (3C), a small, newly-founded Washington-based nonprofit that bills itself as the “voice of small business,” appears to be an Astroturf-style front group for the nation’s largest technology companies.
Founded just a year ago, 3C already has met with more than 50 members of Congress, filed at least seven official comments at regulatory agencies, and sent at least two representatives to testify before Congress. The new group has published a raft of materials painting a rosy picture of the tech giants, complete with quotes from small business owners heaping praise on them.
CfA’s review of 3C’s origins, structure, and activities, however, strongly suggests that 3C is little more than a front for the technology platforms themselves. (Read more; The American Prospect )
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On June 26, CfA sent letters to executives at Apple and Google calling on the companies to remove from their platforms apps belonging to the anti-abortion behemoth Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) and anti-choice/anti-LGBT group, the Family Research Council (FRC), for violating company policies.
CfA’s letters document how apps belonging to FRC and SBA List have violated App Store and Google Play rules by 1) misusing users’ personal information to recruit new members, 2) failing to provide privacy policies, 3) utilizing template-designed apps that have been banned, and 4) requiring users to sign in to an app before they are able to access its features. (Read more)
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On June 26, CfA called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate the anti-abortion behemoth Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) for violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
A recently settled class action lawsuit in Florida and new reporting in Pennsylvania indicate that SBA List, and a firm run by its treasurer Robert Kania, conspired to violate the TCPA by sending mass robotexts to voters in Florida and Pennsylvania. (Read more)
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On June 17, CfA, along with American Oversight, American Bridge 21st Century Foundation, Democracy Forward, and Western Values Project, filed a complaint with the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of the Interior calling for an investigation of the agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Awareness Process. Political appointees at Interior appear to be using the Awareness Process to interfere with the release of documents in response to FOIA requests. (Read more; The Washington Post )
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We thank you for your continued support. Without people like you, our work would not be possible.
Here is how you can stay involved and help us accomplish our mission:
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
- Tell your friends and colleagues about CfA.
- Send us a tip.
- Make a tax-deductible donation.
Be on the lookout for more updates about our work in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again for signing up to be a part of CfA!
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Daniel Stevens
Executive Director, Campaign for Accountability
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