Press Releases

3C Urges Governor Newsom to Veto AB 566
On September 30, the Connected Commerce Council (3C) sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to veto AB 566. While 3C supports sensible data privacy protections, this bill’s browser opt-out mandate would make affordable, data-driven advertising far less effective, raising costs and reducing opportunities for California’s small businesses. At a time of…

3C Expresses Concern Ahead of Google Ad Tech Remedies Trial
WASHINGTON (Sept. 22, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council Executive Director Rob Retzlaff released the following statement ahead of the remedies phase of the United States v. Google LLC ad tech trial. Starting September 22, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema will hear remedy proposals from Google and the Department of Justice — including the DOJ’s radical…

3C Responds to Decision in Google Search Remedies Case
WASHINGTON (September 2, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council Executive Director Rob Retzlaff released the following statement in response to the remedies Judge Amit P. Mehta imposed on Google in United States et al. v. Google. The remedies decision follows Judge Mehta’s ruling earlier this year that some of Google’s contracts with phone makers violated antitrust…

California Small Business Owners Sound Alarm on Harmful Tech Policy Proposals
SACRAMENTO, California (August 20, 2025) – Earlier today, Michelle Mak, founder of Mewl Baby, and Jerick Sobie, co-owner of Lucky Feet Shoes, spoke out against Assembly Bills 566, 1018, and 446. These bills would stifle small businesses’ ability to reach new customers, grow, and compete with bigger companies. AB 1018 would impose burdensome new requirements…

Small Business Owners Fight Back Against Heavy-Handed Digital Mandates
SACRAMENTO, California (July 2, 2025) – Affordability continues to drive the conversation in Sacramento with more than 500 small business owners speaking out against legislation that would stifle competition and limit access to critical digital tools. Assembly Bill 566, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D- Long Beach), places restrictions on data-driven advertising that would make…

3C Offers Comments Ahead of Closing Arguments in Google Search Remedies Trial
WASHINGTON (May 28, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council Executive Director Rob Retzlaff released the following statement ahead of closing arguments in the Google Search remedies trial. “The DOJ’s proposed remedies may be aimed at Google, but they’ll hit — and badly hurt — America’s small businesses, too. “Dismantling Google’s integrated search services would break the…

3C Responds After DOJ Rests its Case in Google Search Remedies Hearing
WASHINGTON (April 30, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council (3C) Executive Director Rob Retzlaff today issued a statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) rested its case in the Google “search” antitrust trial remedies hearing. “The DOJ’s radical proposed remedies are wildly out of proportion with the contractual issues identified by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta…

3C Criticizes DOJ’s Radical Proposals Ahead of Google Search Case Remedies Hearing
WASHINGTON (April 21, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council (3C) Executive Director Rob Retzlaff today issued the following statement ahead of a remedies hearing during which U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta will consider sweeping changes to Google’s search business. The hearing marks the final stage in the United States v. Google LLC trial. “The Department of…

3C Reacts to Judge’s Decision in Google’s Ad Tech Trial
WASHINGTON (April 17, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council (3C) Executive Director Rob Retzlaff today issued the following statement in response to Judge Leonie M. Brinkema’s ruling in the U.S. v. Google LLC “ad tech” trial. “While we’re relieved by the Court’s ruling on Google’s status in the market for ad-purchasing tools, we’re concerned by its…
