Written materials. You are the ema offices that required for all meetings. I expect all members to wear a mask expect when speaking. I recognize myself for an opening statement. More than a year ago, this subcommittee launched an investigation into Digital Markets. The twoives b have been to document problems and since then, weve received millions as well as conducting hundreds of hours of interviews. There were experts here, the subcommittees Ranking Member. We work closely with all members who have taken this work seriously and study the issues. This is the most bipartisan effort ive been involved with. The purpose of todays hearing is to examine the dominance of amaz amazon, apple, facebook and google. Amazon runs the Largest Online marketplace in america, c capturing 70 of all online marketplace sales. It operates across a vast array of businesses from cloud compute i ing. Apple is a provider of smart phones with more than 100 million in the United States alone. Services include financial, the Business Model a record breaking fines. 18 billion alone. Last thing, google is the worlds Largest Online service. More than 90 of searches online. A billion users and browsers, smart phones. They stood out as titans in our economy. Stronger and more powerful than ever before. As they shift more of their work, these giants stand to profit. Locally owned businesses mean mom and pop stores face an economic crisis like any other in recent history. As hard as it is to believe that our economy will emerge from this crisis even more consolidated than before. These companies serve as critical arteries of commerce and communications. Because these companies are so central to our modern life, their Business Practices and decisions have an outsized effect on our economy and democracy. Any single action by one of those companies can affect hundreds of millions of us in profound and lasting ways. Although these four corporations differ in important and meaningful ways, weve observed common problems over the course of this investigation. First, each platform is a bottleneck for a key channel of distribution. Whether they control access to information or a marketplace, these platforms have the incentive and ability to exploit this power. They can charge xor bah bitant fees and extract valuable data from the people and businesses that rely on them. Second, each platform uses its control over Digital Infrastructure to surveil other companies, their growth, Business Activity and whether they might pose a competitive threat. Heech pleach platform has prote power by copying or cutting off access for any actual or potential rival. Third, these platforms abuse their control over Current Technologies to extend their power. Whether its through selfpreferences, predatory pricing or requiring buying additional products. Theyve wielding their power in destructive, harmful ways in order to expand. At todays who ahearing, wheae discover how each a affects our daily lives. So, why does this matter . Many of the practices used by these companies have harmful economic effects. They discourage entrepreneurship, heighten cost. Simply put, they have too much power. This power staves off new forms of competition, creativity and innovation. And while these dominant firms may still produce new, innovative products, their dominance is killing Small Businesses and manufacturing that are the american economy. Some harvest and abuse peoples data to sell ads from everything to new books to dangerous socalled miracle cures. When every day americans learn how much of their data is being mined, they cant run away fast enough, but in many cases, theres no escape because theres no alternative. People are stuck with bad options. Theyre predicated on the idea that if a company harms people, theyll choose another option. Were here today because that choice is no longer possible. In close iing, im confident th addressing the problems we see will lead to a stronger, more vibrant economy because concentrated economic power leads to concentrated political power. This goes to the heart of whether we, as a people, govern ourselves or whether we let ourselves be governed by private monopolies. American democracy has always been a at war against moply power. Throughout history, weve recognized that concentrated markets and political control are incompatible with democratic ideals. When the American People confronted monopolists in the past, oil tycoons or at t and microsoft, we took action to ensure no private corporation controls our economy or democracy. We face similar changes today. As gate keepers of the economy, they enjoy the power to pick winners and losers, to shake down Small Businesses and enrich themselves while choking off competitors. Their ability to call the shots, upended higher sectors and inspire fear represent the powers of a private government. Our founders would not bow before a king, nor should we bow before the emperors of the online economy. With that, i recognize mr. Senser for his opening statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank the ceos for quickly working with the subcommittee to appear today. The Memorial Service for john lewis on monday required our attention. However, this is vital. Throughout my long time in congress, i have prioritized oversight as one of our seminal responsibilities. Part of that responsibility is to periodically review the effectiveness of our laws. I think its a good and timely thing to bring to all of our companies. These unexpected and unprecedented times, your companies have provided motivations to our nations can meet a myriad of our daily needs. The delivery of groceries, virtual business for doctors. Connecting socially distant families. Or keeping our small and Large Businesses connected. That responsibility comes an increased scrutiny of your dominance in the marketplace. I want to reiterate something i said throughout this investigation. Being big is not inherently bad. Quite the opposite. In america, you should be rewarded for success. Were here to better understand the role your companies have in the digital marketplace and importantly, the effect they have on consumers and the public at large. You lead some of todays more powerful companies and my colleagues and i have a great interest about what your companies do with that accumulated power. We also know that the tech marketplace place is driven by data. So it found that they control the marketplace. There are broader questions surrounding data. Who owns the data . What responsibilities do companies have to share it with their customers or competitors . What is the fair market value of that data . Is there anything monopolistic in inquiring this and what about monotizing it . These are complex issues that congress regulators and even your own companies are wrestling with in the current technological landscape and the answers to which we owe the american consumers. Since the tech investigation began, we have heard rumblingings that are quick to say your Successful Companies have grown too large. Since this hearing was announced, seems those complaints have gotten louder. While i find these complaints informative, i dont plan on litigating each of these complaints today. Antitrust law of a consumer welfare standard has served this country well for over a century. Those laws have provided the framework and creativity to make way for some of our most successful and innovative companies. I will be the first to highlight that. However, as the business la landscape evolves, we must ensure that our existing antitrust laws are applied to meet the needs of our country and its consumers. As we know Companies Like facebook, youtube and twitter have become the Public Square of today where political debate unfolds in real time. But reports that descending views often conservative views are targeted or censored is seriously troubling. Conservatives are consumers, too. And they need the protection of the antitrust laws. The power to influence the big carriers with remarkable responsibilities. So let the facts be our guide here. Your companies are large. Thats not a problem. Your companies are successful. Thats not a problem either. But i want to leave here today with a more complete picture of how your individual Companies Use your size, success and power and what it means to the american consumer. I yield back the balance of my time. Thank the gentlemen. The chair now recognizes the distinguished chairman of the full committee, mr. Nadler, for his opening statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank you and the subcommittee members for the tremendous effort that you have all put into the subcommittees investigation. I appreciate your quell icallin this hearing today so that we can hear directly from the leersd of amazon, apple, facebook and google l and i look forward to an important dialogue. Today, it is effectively impossible to use the internet without using in one way or another, the services of these four companies. I have long believed with Thomas Jefferson and lewis brandice, that concentration of power in any form, especially concentration of economic or political power, is dangerous to a democratic society. That is why we must examine these and other companies that play a dominant role in our economy and in our society. And ensure that our antitrust laws give enforcers the tools they need to preserve a healthy marketplace. These principles have guided this committees year long investigation into competition and Digital Markets and they are the lens to which i approach todays hearing. The open internet has delivered enormous benefits to americans. Including a surge of economic opportunity, massive investment and new pathways for education online. But theres growing evidence that a handful of corporations have come to capture an outside share of online commerce. From providing the dominance search platform, retail platform and online messaging platform to providing the Cloud Computing in which hundreds of thousands of other businesses rely, these dominant platforms now comprise the essential infrastructure for the 21st century. By virtue of controlling essential infrastructure, these companies have the ability to control access to market. In some basic ways, the problem is not what we faced 130 years ago when railroads transformed american life. Both enabling farmers and producers to access new markets, but also creating a key choke hold that the railroad monopolies could u exploit. Notoriously abused the power in a variety of ways. They charged tolls. They discriminated among farmers, picking winners and losers across the economy and by expanding into business, they competed directly with producers, they could use their dominance and transportation to pay for their own services. These tactics by the railroads spurred fury and despair across the country. Congress niche waiting investigations to document these problems and enacted legislative solutions to outlaw these anticompetitive practices in the Railroad Industry and other industries dominated by unregulated monopolies and trusts. Importantly, congressional oversight and legislative reforms during this period did not prevent the arrival of new technology for human progress. That it was their old congress to ensure the new monopolists could not abuse their power. Today, the Digital Economy poses similar challenges. While the Underlying Technology is dramatically different, of course, new u digital intermediaries have the ability to control access to critical markets. If you are an independent merchants, developer or content producer, you are increasingly reliant on these powerful intermediaries to access markets and consumers. Of course the economy, many businesses live in fear of exclusion from these platforms. The fact some companies have shared with committee over the past year of this investigation. The subcommittees current review in the digital marketplace continues a long tradition in this committee of oversight of the antitrust laws in our economy. From the days of chairman emanuel seller, the House Judiciary Committee and his antitrust Sub Committee have conducted careful sectors voeing signs of consolidation and conduct. This has continued on a bipartisan basis over the years through chairman brooks and conniers and others. As a 1950 report described our mandate, quote, it is the of this subcommittee to investigate factors which tend to eliminate competition, strengthen monopolies, injure Small Businesses or promote undue concentration of economic power. To ascertain the facts and make recommendations based on those findings. Following in this tradition, our investigation has held hearings with industry and government witnesses, consultations with subject Matter Experts and a careful and pain staking review of large volumes of evidence provided by industry participants and regulators. While ultimately, it is the responsibility of the antitrust enforcement agencies to enforce the law, congress has an obligation to assess whether the laws and policies and the will to enforce those laws and policies are adequate to address the competition issues facing our country and to take action if they are found to be lacking. Given the dominant role these four companies play in our economy and society, it is only reasonable that our careful examination of the antitrust laws begin with them. I appreciate all of our witnesses today. The investigation would not be complete, indeed, its hardly begun, without hearing from the decisionmakers of these. I yield back the balance of my time. I thank the gentlemen and i now recognize the Ranking Member of the full committee, the gentleman from ohio, mr. Jordan, for his opening statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I also want to thank the Ranking Member. Not sure how many more Committee Hearings this subcommittee or the full committee are going to have this congress, but i want to thank jim for his great work for the constituents of wisconsin for this many years and for the work hes done this entire committee. Big techs out to get conservatives. Thats not a suspicious. Not a hunch. Thats a fact. July 20th, 2020, google removes br breitbart. April 19th, 2020, google and youtube announce a policy censoring the content that conflicts with recommendations the world health organization. Think about that. World health organization. Organization that lied to us. The organization that chilled for china and if you contradict something they say, they can say whatever they want. They can lie for china. They can chill for china. You Say Something against them, you get censored. June 29th, 2020, amazon bans President Trumps account on twitch after he raises concerns about defunding the police. June 4th, 2020, amazon bans a book critical of the coronavirus lockdowns written by a conservative commentator. May 27th, 2020, amazon smile wont let you u give to tgive te Family Research council, but you can give to planned parenthood. Facebook, june 19th, 2020, takes down posts from trumps reelection campaign. They silence a prolife advertisement. May 19th, 2020, former facebook employees admit facebook routineroutine ly suppresses conservative views. I havent mentioned twitter. I asked for you guys to invite them as a witness. You guys said no, i havent mentioned them two years ago. Four member of congress were shadowed two years ago. 435 in the house. Only four. Only four. Gates, meadows, nuance, jordan, get shah koed. What did mr. Dorsey tell us . It was just a glitch in our algorithm. What did you put in . If i had a nickel for every time i heard it was just a glitch, i wouldnt be as wealthy as our witnesses, but i would be doing all right. Weve heard that excuse time and time again. May 28th, they sensor President Trumps tweets. Sensors the white house quoting the president s comments a about the riots in minneapolis. June 2020, twitter sensors the president again. You can tweet all you want about the autonomous zone that happened in seattle, but the president tweets hes going to have one in washington, d. C. , oh, no, you cant do that. You get banned. Censored. Dozens of examples. I forgot one. I forgot one. Just last week, july 21st. July 21st. The leader of iran, Islamic Republic of iran, largest state sponsor of terrorism. Twitter allows this tweet. Quote, the Islamic Republic of iran will never forget the mar tor dom of sul mannie and will strike a blow in the United States. So you can threaten the citizens of this great country, the le leader of the largest state sponsor of terrorism, thats just fine, but oh, the president says hes not going to allow some autonomous zone in d. C. And he gets censored. All kinds of examples. Most of them from this year and thats whats critical to understand. Thmost of them from this year, election year. Thats what concerns me and so Many Americans because we saw what google did in 2016. We all know about the email the day after the election where top executives at google talked about the silent donation. In spite of their efforts to help clinton, President Trump won. But were 97 days before an election. And the power as the previous chairman and Ranking Member have said, the power these companies have to impact what happens during an election, what people, what american citizens get to see prior to their voting is pretty darn important. Thats why this Committee Hearing is important. We all think the free mar