Secretary Johnson and Other Former National Security Officials Raise Alarm Over Tech Antitrust Bill

Litigation partner Jeh Johnson and other former senior intelligence, defense and homeland security officials drafted an open letter calling for a national security review of recent congressional tech legislation. The former officials warn that antitrust legislation aimed at reining in Big Tech companies may leave the platforms unprepared to protect against disinformation and cybersecurity risks and could pose a threat to U.S. security.

Legislation requiring non-discriminatory access to certain platforms would “provide an open door for foreign adversaries to gain access to the software and hardware of American technology companies,” the letter states. “Unfettered access to software and hardware could result in major cyber threats, misinformation, access to data of U.S. persons, and intellectual property theft.”

The former officials also argue that recently proposed legislation would prohibit U.S. tech companies from running their own software to keep out misinformation, forcing search engines such as Google to treat all information equally—possibly allowing Russian and Chinese propaganda to flourish.

» read the letter