Graham Dufault

General Counsel, Association for Competitive Technology

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

2-day shipping & promoting the lowest prices are two reasons consumers come back to @amazon's mktplace—and small biz can convert browsers into buyers.

Now, FTC must put up or shut up: What's better than fast shipping & low prices?

1/3 🧵

https://t.co/JgSAQdLgPA

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

App review & fraud prevention are svcs developers want & pay for, even though review process can take time.

Stats like these illustrate the costs of frameworks like #DMA, #OAMA, & #AICOA, which cast mktplace curation under a shadow of liability.

https://t.co/7Xp9OSRrrd

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

What does it mean to drive innovation in practice? The R&D Tax Deduction

Jad Meouchy, founder of ACT member company @BadVR_Inc — a firm building VR data visualization tools — sees the R&D tax deduction as more than a line item. In a recent @cfo piece, he described it as a meaningful signal: when innovation is valued and there's an incentive tied to it, "all of a sudden, everybody wants to do innovation."

Unfortunately, many companies still aren't taking advantage of the deduction — not because they don't qualify, but because of outdated risk perceptions and information gaps.

The cost of that caution? Real dollars left unclaimed: https://t.co/gCTKHwhDLT

[Adam Kovacevich @adamkovac]

SNL's Hormuz Jeff only uses third party app stores

[Jack Nicastro @jack_g_nicastro]

Had a wonderful time moderating last week’s @ITIFdc panel on the demise of California’s BASED Act and the lingering threat of DMA-style federal antitrust legislation like AICOA and OAMA, featuring @melugin_p @adamkovac @GDufault @JosephVConiglio

If you couldn’t make the live webinar and would like to watch the recording, follow the link below ⬇️

https://t.co/BkiSLz0yZk

[Conservative Ladies of America 🇺🇸 @CLADIESAMERICA]

The "over 100" organizations are part of an astroturfed coalition.

[Senator Jerry Moran @JerryMoran]

“Parents Over Platforms Act offers a legally durable, common sense solution that respects the diverse realities of American families that puts parents - not platforms or government mandates - first.”
- Read more from Susan Peters in the Wichita Eagle⬇️https://t.co/o8CkJnO3Es

[Information Technology and Innovation Foundation @ITIFdc]

📢 LIVE NOW!
The BASED Act died in California, but the specter of federal DMA-like legislation looms large.

@JosephVConiglio/@GDufault/@adamkovac/@melugin_p/@jack_g_nicastro discuss what it could mean for US tech firms, innovation & consumers.

Tune in: https://t.co/v1EWC9CWKe

[Information Technology and Innovation Foundation @ITIFdc]

What could DMA-style bills like the BASED Act, AICOA, the Open App Markets Act & the AMERICA Act mean for competition in the US?

🚨 Today at 3 PM EDT, @JosephVConiglio, @GDufault, @adamkovac, @melugin_p and @jack_g_nicastro will discuss. Don't miss it 👇 https://t.co/xhA99tHYMK

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

Looking forward to discussing how the various DMA-inspired proposals (from BASED to AICOA) would harm small tech biz with @JosephVConiglio, @jack_g_nicastro, @ITIFdc, @adamkovac, and @melugin_p today at 3:00 p.m.

[Jack Nicastro @jack_g_nicastro]

Excited to moderate my first-ever event for @ITIFdc, “Beyond BASED? The Digital Market Act’s Influence on US Antitrust Legislation,” at 3 p.m. today!

After conducting a postmortem of the BASED Act, @adamkovac, @GDufault, @melugin_p, and @JosephVConiglio will dive into the nitty gritty of DMA-style bills like AICOA, the Open App Markets Act, and the AMERICA Act.

I invite everyone interested in the future of American antitrust policy to attend.

Register for the webinar at the event page below! 👇

https://t.co/rAqrIAWmCS

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

Extending pre-market review, à la the Federal Drug Administration’s (@US_FDA) process is concerning.

The FDA already reviews AI systems at the app layer marketed as bona fide medical devices, which is the appropriate point in the tech stack to address immediate safety risks.

The creation of any mandated pre-market review for foundation AI models or secondary tools needs considerable public consultation, especially with the small businesses that will be most drastically impacted.

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

💫 GAEC 2026 kicks off this week, and we couldn't be more excited to see it come together.

This week, 45+ of our U.S. member companies will be in the room with the policymakers who need to hear from them. We're grateful for every founder showing up to advocate for small tech businesses, and honored to work alongside them.

👀Follow along all week for member perspectives and the conversations shaping the future of tech.
#MemberMonday #GAECUS #GAEC2026 #USTech #TechPolicy

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

Appropriate oversight of AI is reasonable, but pre-market review is concerning.

Risks should be addressed at the appropriate level of the technology stack, and we should be relying on existing law, like the @FTC's Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices (UDAP) authority.

https://t.co/YJDoXC6ndx

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

California’s latest merger proposals could set back the startup economy by a generation.

By adding new hurdles to the acquisition process, CA is making it harder for small tech to scale and for investors to see a return.

Let’s keep the exit door open for growth and innovation.

Read more: https://t.co/BHCUNLjTCC

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

Bad AI policy doesn't just slow down tech companies—it hurts the users who need it most.

New York’s SB S7263 is a prime example of why we should regulate harmful conduct, not the technology itself.

Broad liability always lead to fewer tools for small businesses and consumers: https://t.co/y82B9MqMX3

[Senator Jacky Rosen @SenJackyRosen]

Our cellphones play a huge role in our lives by keeping us connected to others, but also pose a real risk to children and teens. We all have a responsibility to keep our children safe from harmful content and bad actors.

I’m joining @JerryMoran to introduce a bipartisan bill to help provide parents with the tools to keep their children safe by establishing rules for app stores and developers.

[Ben Thompson @benthompson]

There is nothing about this that is amazing. It was predicted endlessly, and those predictions were dismissed by people citing the fact that big companies opposed these measures. They opposed them because while their relative position is stronger, the pie is now smaller.

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

Does the weather channel app really need your government ID? 🤨

Protecting kids online is an absolute priority, but blanket age verification mandates aren’t the answer.

At a recent @FTC workshop, our General Counsel @GDufault sat with industry experts to discuss why forcing every app to collect sensitive ID data creates more privacy risks—not less.

Let’s focus on risk-based safety, because one-size-fits-all still doesn't fit.

Learn more: https://t.co/VeDXPpiBZt

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

New: The SECURE Data and GUARD Acts have been introduced, aiming to establish a comprehensive federal data privacy framework.

As @emrwilkins reports for @CNBC, these bills would preempt existing state laws to create a single national standard, something our members have been calling for for a long time.

https://t.co/xAi8Z0qvq8

[Competitive Enterprise Institute @ceidotorg]

Great discussion on AI & digital markets governance today on the Hill. Thanks to @actonline for having CEI's @melugin_p alongside @SatyaMarar, @JosephVConiglio, & Scott Weiner.

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

Hilarious to see @DailyCaller carrying @Meta’s slop.

It should come as no surprise that their surrogates are lashing out against POPA’s common sense, comprehensive solution to online safety as it gains more support by the day. 

ACT and our members are glad to be working with @JerryMoran & @SenJackyRosen who care about the needs of our kids and small tech businesses over billionaires.

And here’s our “unpublished” statement: https://t.co/UzCX8D70Gq