Washington, D.C. – The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement after the introduction of the Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act (HB4599/SB3417) in the Illinois Assembly. The bill would rein in Apple and Google’s power by requiring them to allow Illinois app developers to use alternative payments systems and engage in direct communication with customers through their app stores.

“Apple and Google use their power over app stores to harm Illinois businesses, force consumers to pay higher prices, and blunt Illinois’ economic development,” said Pat Garofalo, director of state and local policy at the American Economic Liberties Project. “The Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act is pro-business and pro-consumer. By breaking Big Tech’s stranglehold on the app economy, it will free Illinois entrepreneurs and innovators from Apple and Google’s tyranny and allow Illinois consumers to spend their dollars on businesses they actually support. We applaud Sens. Feigenholtz, Stadelman and Peters and Rep. Gonzalez for introducing this important bill and hope it becomes law quickly.”

Similar bills have been introduced in several other states and at the federal level, showing significant momentum to address Apple and Google’s abusive tactics. As “Tools for Taking on Big Tech’s Economic Power: A Guide for State Lawmakers” explains, this legislation is one of many policy solutions state lawmakers can advance to rein in the power of Big Tech.

To learn more, read “States Are Right to Rebel Against Big Tech” in The New York Times.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.