A Democratic agenda for regulating tech: Follow the Republican Roosevelt

With Democrats in control of the House of Representatives, at least one chamber of Congress could be poised to meaningfully update consumer and competition protection rules for the internet age. In doing so, they would be well advised to follow Republican Theodore Roosevelt’s efforts in the industrial age. Today, the internet barons are making the rules for the new economy. Roosevelt’s admonition is simple: There must be a “still higher power” that makes rules for the protection of the public interest.

Today, like a century earlier, the first step in rebalancing between the people and the powerful begins with oversight of the dominant network. Roosevelt spoke of the necessity to “keep the great highways of commerce open alike to all in reasonable and equitable terms.” In the 21st century, that highway is the internet. Keeping it open on a non-discriminatory basis has been labeled “net neutrality.” The second step comes with the establishment of rules for those who ride on the internet. The Trump Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made noises, but has yet to step up to this challenge. New rules need to supersede the self-interests of internet barons with a basic duty to protect both consumers and competition.