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]

Glad to see @RepAdrianSmith & several of his colleagues fighting for #SmallTech businesses.

Pushing back on a Brazil version of #DMA should be (and is) a top priority for @USTradeRep.

It's not too late for Brazil to learn from EU's #DMA mistakes.

[Rep. Adrian Smith @RepAdrianSmith]

Today, I urged @USTradeRep to address Brazil's discriminatory actions targeting American companies.

We cannot afford to let these proposed digital regulations threaten innovation, undermine U.S. competitiveness, and unfairly single out American businesses.

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

Small tech biz around the world oppose #DMA-style frameworks. They worsen the integrated distribution pathways startups & small innovators benefit from most.

Heartening to see so many members prioritizing this, as well as @POTUS response:

https://t.co/16vftTpkLJ

[Darin LaHood @RepLaHood]

For too long, the EU has unfairly targeted American companies with discriminatory digital trade practices and policies.

I was proud to lead a letter alongside several of my colleagues encouraging @potus to hold these countries accountable and ensure American workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field.

[Rep. Adrian Smith @RepAdrianSmith]

Today, I urged @USTradeRep to address Brazil's discriminatory actions targeting American companies.

We cannot afford to let these proposed digital regulations threaten innovation, undermine U.S. competitiveness, and unfairly single out American businesses.

[Kedharnath Sankararaman @KedharDC]

More than 100 attendees joined @actonline's packed Hill briefing on AICOA with @JosephVConiglio, @melugin_p, Chris Grimm, and K.J. Bagchi

Read the recap: https://t.co/CkGeNj7nDU

#TechPolicy #DigitalMarkets

[David Williams @tpapres]

Very grateful for the true conservative organizations that signed our letter. https://t.co/jVHNX2rhCZ

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

It's crunch time for @SenateCommerce on kids' safety, with a markup next week.

Here's my latest in @rc_markets, "When Meta Wants Accountability, Watch Your Wallet."

Bottom Line? Reject #ASAA, support #POPA.

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

When @Meta wants accountability, watch your wallet!

In a new op-ed for @rc_markets @GDufault lays out why the social media giant is bankrolling the massive campaign to trick policymakers & parents into supporting blanket age verification for apps.

On the heels of yesterday’s meeting between @SenTedCruz, @MarshaBlackburn & @WhiteHouse and ahead of next week’s potential @SenateCommerce markup this is a must read:

https://t.co/kfCHhOpeYK

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

@pberenbroick No, we don't represent #MiddleTech; we do rep #SmallTech. Our members are not on board w/ mandating unrestricted access to users' device & operating system features. That's how #DMA's being implemented & it's harmful rather than helpful to #smalltech.

https://t.co/XDgCGo2mXl

[TRUSTED FUTURE @atrustedfuture]

We’ve seen that @HouseCommerce is once again looking at the App Store Freedom Act. While we are thrilled to see the committee focus on consumer protection, which we see as essential to building trust in the digital economy, this bill misses the mark. As we’ve previously noted, the App Store Freedom Act, and similar proposals such as the Open App Markets Act (OAMA) essentially copies Europe’s failed Digital Markets Act (DMA) – and undermines core consumer safeguards designed to protect user privacy, safety, and security.

These proposals would allow for unsafe alternative app stores that have as much as 50 times more malware and opens up risky payment options that do not have the basic protection necessary to protect users against malicious actors. They also require key smartphone security safeguards to be disabled in order to allow other third parties unprotected access to core features like the content of private notifications, near unrestrained access to almost everything on your phone, and access to almost anything a bad actor might want.

Proposals like this degrade trust at a time when it is needed more than ever. Read more here: https://t.co/9Ycq17NGY0

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

@geneburrus @USTradeRep @TimSweeneyEpic Ehh, the whole framing of the 2011 change as some cataclysmic antitrust issue is hollow. These conditions enabled Spotify to dominate the mkt for music streaming, small devs get low barriers to entry, etc.

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

The U.S. and EU agree on more than they don't.

But @USTradeRep Greer is right: the #DMA unfairly targets U.S. tech firms and tries to "decide what their business models should be."

Add it to #SmallTech's long list of #DMA objections.

[Axios @axios]

.@USTradeRep Jamieson Greer says the U.S. won't let Europe become "the arbiter" of regulating American tech companies.

#AxiosHouse

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

@geneburrus @USTradeRep @TimSweeneyEpic What’s evading you is that Spotify’s experience as a developer aggrieved by a 2011 policy change is not shared by all developers. This fee structure works very well for the vast majority. Rational for you to fight it, annoying to see it get ad hominem.

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

@geneburrus @USTradeRep @TimSweeneyEpic 70/30 was always the split, you’re talking about InApp purchases being subject to the fee in 2011. This is the fee Spotify’s now trying to evade, so I understand why you’re characterizing it as a bait & switch. Problem is it’s a progressive fee structure benefiting small devs.

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

@geneburrus @USTradeRep @TimSweeneyEpic No, I’m right, the 30 pct revenue share began in 2008, not 2011. This is a 2011 press release saying if Spotify acquires the customer off the platform there’s no revenue share.

That’s still in place, how’s that a bait & switch?

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

@geneburrus @USTradeRep No, all mobile app stores were a 70/30 split from the beginning. Ovi, BlackBerry, etc .. & all were curated. Consumers gravitated to the ones that worked best as trust signals. Diffusing trust benefits Big App (Spotify etc), to detriment of smaller rivals.

[Graham Dufault @GDufault]

@TimSweeneyEpic @USTradeRep No, you created CAF to pretend to represent small developers as you pull up the ladder with DMA

[Association For Competitive Technology (ACT) @actonline]

In today’s AI ecosystem, a slow regulatory review is a death sentence for American small business innovation.

In 2025, U.S. M&A reviews dragged out to a historic average of 12.3 months. For tech breakthroughs—which face obsolescence within months—this timing is devastating.

Acquisitions are the primary exit path for over 90% of venture-backed startups. When regulators run out the clock, they starve the small businesses driving competition.

Read our new report, "M&A Review in the AI Era," to see why America needs faster, more predictable merger guidelines to keep our tech edge. 👇
https://t.co/i1uMFPRQZY

[535 News @the535news]

Morgan Reed, President of @actonline, tells @BrodyMullinsDC how small businesses are already using AI to respond to RFPs faster, manage inventory, hire employees and grow.

[Kedharnath Sankararaman @KedharDC]

Yesterday, I had the privilege of moderating @actonline packed Hill lunch briefing on #AICOA and small-business growth.

Thank you to @morganwreed for keynote remarks and to @JosephVConiglio , @melugin_p , K.J. Bagchi, and Chris Grimm for a great panel discussion.

[Kedharnath Sankararaman @KedharDC]

A coalition led by @actonline is urging California to reject AB 1776, the COMPETE Act.

@GDufault: "AB 1776 would replace predictable competition rules with an uncertain, litigation-driven framework..."

#antitrust #AB1776

https://t.co/UqInIUIOUh

[Information Technology and Innovation Foundation @ITIFdc]

📅 TOMORROW, June 30 @ 12 PM ET:

Federal privacy legislation could reshape how data is governed across the U.S.

Join ITIF for a webinar examining the tradeoffs, debates, & legislative outlook.

Register here:
https://t.co/BhQikB1rbk