CfA's June 3, 2022 Newsletter

• CfA joined a coalition of advocates in calling on the FTC take action on loot boxes in videos games. These chance-based, pay-to-win systems—used by Electronic Arts (EA) and other video game companies to reap enormous profits—are little more than a form of gambling that is regularly marketed to kids.
  • The letter, citing an in-depth report from the Norwegian Consumer Council, was covered by Axios, Reuters, Bloomberg, and others.
• On Saturday, CfA's Tech Transparency Project (TTP) released a report outlining Google’s quiet efforts to build a network of progressives to advance the company’s tech policy agenda with arguments framed in the language of racial and social justice. The initiative, called Next Gen Policy Leaders, operates largely under the radar, but internal documents obtained by TTP appear to show the company boasting about program participants taking meetings with lawmakers and other influential policy figures.
  • Speaking to Protocol for its coverage of TTP's report, one former lobbyist said that he "had 'no doubt' that the program could help improve Google’s standing among the participants and even potentially mute criticism."
• On Tuesday, TTP updated its Tech Funding Database to include third-party groups that receive funding from Apple, adding to previously available data on groups that receive support from Google, Facebook, and Amazon.
  • TTP discovered that Apple is supporting multiple groups with a history of fighting against regulations designed to curb carbon emissions, undermining CEO Tim Cook’s efforts to build a reputation as a “green” corporate leader taking action on climate change.
  • TTP's findings were covered by E&E News, Politico, TechCrunch and others.

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