American Edge Project

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American Edge Project
Established2019
HeadDoug Kelly[1]
Location
Vienna, Virginia
Websiteamericanedgeproject.org

The American Edge Project is a political advocacy group that works on issues relevant to the technology industry. Its activities include issue advocacy, advertising, and placing op-eds. It has been criticized as a ]]front group]] for Meta.

History and mission

The group was formed in December 2019 by Facebook and other technology organizations to promote the interests of the technology interest through advertising and lobbying; according to The Washington Post its purpose is "to convince policymakers that Silicon Valley is essential to the U.S. economy and the future of free speech".[2] It funds advertising campaigns and policy research.[2][1]

In its own words the American Edge Project was founded to “tell the story about the positive impact technology and innovation have on America’s economy and businesses, particularly small ones, and how they enhance freedom of expression and our nation’s overall security."[3]

The organization was formed during a period of increased scrutiny of large technology companies by American lawmakers amid concerns over antitrust, privacy, security, and content moderation issues.[2] According to the Washington Post the intent was to "create the appearance of opposition by grass-roots groups to antitrust regulation."[4] The Benton Foundation said the purpose of American Edge is to "to burnish the image of US tech companies as they face intensifying regulatory scrutiny".[5]

Advocacy

Antitrust law

The group launched advertising campaigns addressing antitrust in the technology industry in 2020, continuing into 2021.[1] It spent $5 million on advertising in 2020 and $10 million in 2021.[1] According to CNBC, the House and Senate were at the time of the ad campaigns considering antitrust, data privacy, and other reform measures which would affect online technology platforms, almost none of which ultimately made it to a vote in either legislative body.[1] According to the Wall Street Journal, spending by groups supporting the legislation over the same period was under $200,000.[6] Governing magazine called the ads "among the most cynical" of those created at the time by various tech-industry lobbying groups.[7]

The Brookings Institution characterized the ads as "misleading" and "emotional but fact-free," describing one ad featuring a small business owner saying, “I don’t understand why some in Congress want to take away the technology we use every day".[8]

In 2021, the Committee on the Judiciary in the House of Representatives approved numerous changes to antitrust laws relevant to technology firms. The proposed rules would have required large technology firms to create capabilities for users to transfer their data to alternative platforms and services, shifted the burden of proof in certain antitrust cases away from the government and onto tech firms, stopped large platforms from running other businesses with conflicts of interest, and prohibited them from using their market power to create advantages for themselves. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate called the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. This legislation focused mainly on self-preferencing by market-dominant technology companies. This bill was approved by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in January 2022. None of this legislation became law.[1]

Federal Trade Commission

The American Edge Project supports reforming the Federal Trade Commission. Their proposed reforms include increasing transparency at the agency, circumscribing its regulatory authority more clearly, basing enforcement action more firmly on economic evidence and legal precedent, and enforcing the legal requirement that the agency not unduly burden business activity.[9]

The group also paid for the placement of op-ed columns in local newspapers throughout the country signed by representatives of local business groups; according to the Washington Post the objective was to create the impression of a grass-roots reaction to the proposed legislation.[4]

China

The American Edge Project has been very critical of China's Supermind AI project. Supermind includes 300 million scientific papers, 120 million patents, and detailed information on 130 million researchers. Supermind is being used to both build human capital and gather intelligence. China's security services are using it to place agents in jobs with access to important information, recruit technical personnel, and identify targets for hacking operations.[10][11]

In a 2022 op-ed, American Edge Project CEO Doug Kelly argued that anti-trust legislation targeting large technology companies pending in Congress could hobble the United States in its efforts to maintain its technological lead over China.[12]

In April 2024, the American Edge Project and PitchBook released a study entitled American Innovation Under Siege: Venture Capital Data Reveal Risks From Rising Global Regulatory Overreach.[13]

Management

Doug Kelly

Doug Kelly is the first CEO of the American Edge Project. Kelly is a native of rural Michigan. Kelly worked as technology director for the Democratic National Committee. In 2007, he became executive director of the Ohio Democratic Party. In 2011, he become CEO of a major chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[14]

Advisory board

Initial board members included Susana Martinez, Bradley Smith, and Chris Carney. Advisory board members included Greg Walden and Heidi Heitkamp.[1]

Members

The group is part of a "supportive coalition" that includes Bear Hill Advisors, the Center for Individual Freedom, NetChoice, 3C (trade association), the National Black Chamber of Commerce and the National Small Business Association.[1][17]

Corporate form

The organization was incorporated as a non-profit in Virginia and in April 2020 registered a connected foundation.[2] The Washington Post said the organizational structure "allows it to navigate a thicket of tax laws in such a way that it can raise money, and blitz the airwaves with ads, without the obligation of disclosing all of its donors."[2]

Funding

Facebook was a major donor early on, donating $4 million between late 2019 and early 2020 and another $34 million between late 2020 and early 2021.[1] According to technology industry watchdog group Tech Transparency Project, Facebook was possibly the group's "sole funder."[1]

In June 2020, ten advocacy groups, including Center for Humane Technology, End Citizens United, Let America Vote, MapLight, Public Citizen, and the National Association of Social Workers called on Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, to shut the organization down.[19] The organization has been characterized as a front group[19][20][21][22] and a dark money group.[17][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Feiner, Brian; Schwartz, Lauren (May 1, 2023). "Facebook was the main donor to a group that fought antitrust reforms in 2020 and 2021". CNBC. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Romm, Tony (May 12, 2020). "Facebook is quietly helping to set up a new pro-tech advocacy group to battle Washington". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  3. ^ Feiner, Laura (August 14, 2020). "Pro-tech advocacy group backed by Facebook and other silent investors releases its first ad". CNBC. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Zakrzewski, Cat; Dwoskin, Elizabeth (May 17, 2022). "Facebook quietly bankrolled small, grass-roots groups to fight its battles in Washington". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Din, Benjamin (May 21, 2021). "Heavyweights Join Facebook-backed, Pro-Tech Group, the American Edge Project". Benton Foundation. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. ^ McKinnon, John D.; Tracy, Ryan; Day, Chad (June 9, 2022). "Big Tech Has Spent $36 Million on Ads to Torpedo Antitrust Bill". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Miller, Gerard (September 13, 2022). "How Deceptive Lobbyists Are Exploiting the Goodwill of Public Employees". Governing. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "History repeats itself with Big Tech's misleading advertising". Brookings Institution. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Kelly, Doug; Agarwal, Asheesh. "Four Ways the Federal Trade Commission Can Help America Win the Global Tech Race". American Edge Project. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Kelly, Doug. "China's "Supermind" Database Aims To Steal Tech Leadership Title From U.S." American Edge Project. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  11. ^ Tatlow, Did Kirsten (March 6, 2024). "China's New AI 'Supermind' Deepens Challenge to U.S." MSN. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Kelly, Doug (July 19, 2022). "Op-Ed: Will Washington inadvertently help China win the technology race?". The Lane Report. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "AEP & PitchBook Unveil New Study Highlighting Threats To U.S. Tech Leadership". American Edge Project. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Ghose, Carrie (December 13, 2021). "Facebook-backed tech advocacy group finds its CEO in Columbus". Columbus Inno. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "ECONOMIC". American Edge Project. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d "NATIONAL SECURITY". American Edge Project. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d Din, Benjamin (May 21, 2021). "Facebook-backed group adds former lawmakers". Politico. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  18. ^ "OPEN & ACCESSIBLE INTERNET". American Edge Project. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Groups to Facebook: Shut Down 'American Edge'". Public Citizen. June 11, 2020. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  20. ^ Sullivan, Mark (June 16, 2022). "How John Oliver helped take the issue of tech antitrust into the mainstream". Fast Company. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Germanos, Andrea (May 17, 2020). "Amid growing antitrust concerns, Facebook goes "faceless" in DC with new lobby group". Salon. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "Sen. Chuck Schumer Can Pass Landmark Antitrust Bills Right Now. Why Isn't He?". HuffPost. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
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