Small Business Group Criticizes Senate Judiciary Members For Overlooking Millions

Sep 21, 2021 (Washington, DC): The Connected Commerce Council (3C) today questioned why the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on “big data” focused only on giant corporations and individuals, and ignored millions of small businesses that are consumers of Big Data-powered services provided by digital platforms. The hearing featured Google, Facebook, a global advertising agency, a research service, and a consumer advocate, but ignored digitally-powered small businesses that made more money, held onto more customers and are more optimistic about the future thanks to their utilization of digital advertising, marketing, e-commerce and other business tools.

“Subcommittee Chair Klobuchar and Ranking Member Lee built public service careers standing up for small businesses, but the war against digital platforms may have blinded them to home state small businesses that utilize digital tools to build, operate and grow,” said 3C President Jake Ward. “If Congress makes Big Data and Big Tech into whipping posts and it becomes harder for digital platforms to collect, analyze and put data to work, then small business services and customers will pay the price when their digital tools cost more and deliver less. That’s not what small businesses desire or expect from their elected officials.”

3C recently published the Digitally Driven report, a survey of more than 5,000 business owners which documented that Big Data-powered free and low-cost digital tools were a substantial pandemic survival weapon. Digital small business services are often affordable and valuable because they are powered by Big Data and delivered by large platforms that offer scale. 

“We use digital ads to help people throughout Iowa find our farm for sunflower and pumpkin picking and our fall family festivals,” said Katie Colony, owner and operator of Colony Pumpkin Patch in North Liberty, IA. “With the pandemic cutting into our margins, affordable advertising was more important than ever, and digital tools help us compete against big businesses like concerts and even college football. Hopefully Congress will keep us in mind when they legislate digital economy rules, this year and in the future.”