New caucus shows GOP split on tech regulations

House Republicans launched a GOP caucus on Big Tech, seeking to build support for antitrust changes despite a divide among Republicans. The "Freedom from Big Tech Caucus" is co-chaired by House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee top Republican Ken Buck (R-CO) and Rep Lance Gooden (R-TX), and counts Rep Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) as a vice chair. Reps Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) are also founding members. The caucus will seek to "educate Republican members about the abuses of Big Tech," garner Republican interest in antitrust reform, and discuss "political censorship" by tech platforms according to a memo from Rep Buck. The caucus comes after Republican leader Jim Jordan (R-OH) outlined an "agenda" for Judiciary Republicans that includes proposals such as speeding up consideration of Big Tech antitrust cases in court and consolidating antitrust enforcement within the Justice Department. Buck is a Judiciary Republican, but is charting his own path rather than falling in line with the Jordan approach; growth in his new caucus will reveal whether Republicans will follow him.