Biden Executive Order Urges Greater Scrutiny of Big Tech M&A, Restoring Net Neutrality Rules

President Biden is signing an executive order Friday urging federal agencies to more aggressively police conduct by Big Tech -- including to more closely review acquisitions that thwart competition. The action comes amid a growing backlash by lawmakers and regulators against massive Silicon Valley firms. From a report: Biden's order doesn't name the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon or Apple but the White House says it addresses 'areas in which dominant tech firms are undermining competition and reducing innovation,' including M&A, data collection and the 'right to repair' devices. The order, 'Promoting Competition in the American Economy,' isn't just aimed at Big Tech. The sweeping set of recommendations also includes provisions targeted at internet service providers -- including an official call to restore net neutrality rules repealed under Trump -- as well as healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and banking and consumer finance. All told, Biden's executive order includes 72 initiatives directed at more than a dozen federal agencies to 'promptly tackle some of the most pressing competition problems across our economy,' according to a White House press release.

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