Navigating Uncertainty: The Power of Small Business Advocacy

Top 10 Questions Answered – 2025 Edition

Ahead of Congress’s August recess, we hosted a timely webinar to help equip small business leaders with the tools they need to advocate for digital policies that will help their businesses grow, compete, and succeed in today’s uncertain economy. 

On July 29, hundreds of small business leaders tuned in to hear directly from fellow entrepreneurs who’ve stepped into advocacy, navigating policy challenges, and made their voices heard on major issues facing digitally empowered small businesses today. 

Attendees came with smart, thoughtful questions about what’s at stake and how to get involved. Below, we’ve pulled together the top 10 questions and answered them to help you stay informed and take action. If you missed the webinar or want to rewatch the event, you can view the full recording here.

A big thank you to Loycent Gordon (Neir’s Tavern), Becky App (eCreamery), Melanie Bolin (MERSEA), and Garrett Peters (Duncan & Stone Paper Co.) for sharing their insights and experience with us!

1. What federal and state legislation should small businesses be paying attention to? 

3C is tracking a number of legislative issues that have big implications for small businesses using digital tools. These include: 

• Data Privacy and AI Regulation. Congress’s failure to pass a comprehensive national data privacy law has led to a complex patchwork of state privacy laws, driving up compliance costs and creating legal risks for small businesses. In addition, ongoing congressional inaction on AI is opening the door to the same problem: a confusing patchwork of state-by-state AI rules. To support small businesses and promote innovation, Congress must act quickly to pass a comprehensive national data privacy law and smart, forward-looking national AI legislation.
• Section 230 Reform. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing to scale back or repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Section 230 protects platforms from liability for user content, allowing small businesses and their customers to post valuable reviews, comments, and marketing and content. Without Section 230, small businesses could lose access to customer reviews, user-generated content, and key marketing opportunities. Tools used every day to build trust and drive sales. 
• DOJ’s Google Ad Tech Lawsuit. The Department of Justice is pushing to break apart Google’s integrated advertising tools, which would make it much harder and more expensive for small businesses to reach the right audiences for their products and services. DOJ officials don’t seem to realize that Google’s ability to connect ad-buyers (small businesses that want to run ads) and ad sellers (websites and blogs that want to sell ad space) makes its ad system incredibly convenient, affordable, and effective for small businesses. 

2. Why should small businesses be concerned about topics like data privacy regulation?  

While well-intentioned, many data privacy proposals could have unintended consequences for small businesses. Data powers many of small businesses’ most valuable digital tools — including digital ads and marketing campaigns — and offers valuable customer insights. Lawmakers don’t seem to realize that limiting access to data means blunting those tools — and hurting small businesses.  

3: What policies could affect how small businesses use digital advertising? 

Proposals at the state and federal level could unintentionally make digital ads more expensive and less effective for small businesses. 

Some proposed state privacy laws, for example, would restrict how businesses collect and use customer data. That could make it harder for small businesses to reach the right audiences, forcing them to spend more to achieve the same results.

At the federal level, the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google threatens to upend the current digital ad ecosystem. The DOJ is pushing to break apart Google’s integrated ad tools, which millions of small businesses rely on to run simple, cost-effective campaigns. 

That’s why lawmakers need to hear from small businesses now – and why 3C is working to make that easier for you. 

4. There’s bipartisan support in Congress to change or repeal Section 230. Why should small businesses care?

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act makes the internet what it is today. It allows online platforms to publish user-generated content like reviews, social media posts, and product listings without being legally liable for that content. It also allows platforms to moderate potentially harmful or misleading content without being punished for doing so. 

Changing or repealing Section 230 could have major consequences for small businesses. Without it, small businesses would be held liable for all content posted on their websites. Only the biggest businesses could handle the risks and costs of that liability. In addition, small businesses would likely lose valuable marketing opportunities, for instance, Amazon customer reviews, helpful social media posts, or users’ product descriptions. 

5. How are small businesses using AI, and why should policymakers be cautious about regulating AI too broadly or too soon?

Small businesses are quickly adopting AI tools to save time, reduce costs, and boost productivity. From customer service and inventory management to email automation, AI allows small businesses to streamline core operations and focus on growth, while boosting competitiveness. Our recent report showed that 64% of SMB leaders agree that AI tools help level the playing field for businesses of all sizes. 

Hasty overregulation — often rooted in fear or misunderstanding of how AI works — could make AI-powered tools prohibitively expensive for small businesses. If regulations become too complex or costly, small businesses won’t be able to afford AI tools. And AI toolmakers may be forced to reduce features or raise prices, putting small businesses at a disadvantage.

6. What are the different ways that small businesses can get involved in advocacy? 

There are many ways for small-business leaders to be effective advocates. Working with organizations like 3C can help amplify your voice and streamline the process. For example, advocacy can be as simple as adding your name to a sign-on letter that 3C sends to elected officials. Additionally, 3C helps schedule and prepare small business owners for meetings with lawmakers, whether in person or virtually, to share how policies impact their day-to-day operations. We also support small businesses in attending legislative hearings, submitting comments, and sharing their stories with the media and policymakers. If you’d like to find out more, please reach out to us here. 

7. When reaching out to my elected officials, do you have any tips for how to get my message across?

Yes —and 3C is here to help. If you want to contact your elected officials, reach out to 3C. We’ll help you craft a clear, compelling message that reflects your experience as a small business owner. We’ve worked with thousands of small businesses to:

• Write letters and emails to lawmakers
• Submit op-eds to local newspapers
• Join virtual or in-person meetings with elected officials 

3C will support you every step of the way so that your story is heard and remembered. You don’t need to be a policy expert to make an impact. You just need to speak up — and we’ll help you do that. 

8. I am not a policy expert. How do I communicate the potential effects of things like data privacy legislation to my member of Congress?

You don’t need to be a policy expert to make a difference. What matters most to legislators is hearing directly from the people they represent, especially small-business owners like you. The most effective way to make an impact is to share your story and explain how digital tools like data-powered ads, AI, or data analytics help you run and grow your business.

When lawmakers better understand how these tools power your success, they’re more likely to protect the policies that keep them accessible and affordable to you. 

9. Can we expect more advocacy webinars and events from 3C in the future?

Yes! We organize a variety of small business networking, advocacy, and educational workshops throughout the year. Our events are designed to offer valuable opportunities to connect, learn, and advocate for the issues that are most important to digitally powered small businesses. 

10. How can I stay up-to-date on current issues that may affect small businesses? How do I get more involved? 

To stay informed about public policy issues and legislation affecting digital tools your small business uses, sign up for the 3C Insider newsletter. This valuable resource provides updates on key topics like data privacy, AI regulations, and digital ads taxes. By subscribing, you’ll receive the latest information and insight to help you navigate the evolving landscape of tech policy issues.