CR’s newest report, “A Raw Deal for US Consumers” highlights the risk that during the next year American consumers will be denied access to better products and services by the largest American companies like Facebook (Meta), Google (Alphabet), Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. Over the next year Consumer Reports will continue highlighting the pro-consumer product and service changes introduced by American Big Tech companies in Europe but not in the US. These companies will make various pro-consumer changes in Europe to comply with the Digital Markets Act but there is no obligation on these companies to introduce similar changes in the US.
The Report
In the report we set out some possible examples of how US consumers could have fewer choices, degraded functionality, worse privacy, and pay higher prices when it comes to smartphones and apps; connected devices and services; and online shopping and e-commerce.
These possible examples are not meant to be exhaustive but illustrate why policy action is required so that US consumers are not left behind, and the US is a participant in setting rules for online markets and services and not just a rule taker. We also urge Facebook (Meta), Google (Alphabet), Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft to not short-change US consumers. They must not deny Americans the innovations and choices they provide to European consumers.
