Chamber of Progress
{{short description|American trade group}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Chamber of Progress
| full_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| logo = File:Chamber_of_Progress_logo.png
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map2 =
| map2_size =
| map2_alt =
| map2_caption =
| abbreviation =
| nickname =
| pronounce =
| pronounce ref =
| pronounce comment =
| pronounce 2 =
| named_after =
| predecessor =
| merged =
| successor =
| formation = November 2020
| founder =
| founding_location =
| dissolved =
| merger =
| type = Trade association
| tax_id =
| registration_id =
| status =
| purpose =
| professional_title =
| headquarters = McLean, Virginia, United States
| location_city =
| location_country =
| location_city2 =
| location_country2 =
| addnl_location_city =
| addnl_location_country =
| addnl_location_city2 =
| addnl_location_country2 =
| coordinates =
| origins =
| region_served =
| products =
| services =
| methods =
| fields =
| membership =
| membership_year =
| language =
| owner =
| sec_gen =
| leader_title = CEO
| leader_name = Adam Kovacevich
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| board_of_directors =
| key_people =
| main_organ =
| parent_organization =
| subsidiaries =
| secessions =
| affiliations =
| budget =
| budget_year =
| revenue =
| revenue_year =
| disbursements =
| expenses =
| expenses_year =
| endowment =
| endowment_year =
| funding =
| staff_year = 2021
| volunteers =
| volunteers_year =
| students =
| students_year =
| awards =
| website = {{Official website}}
| remarks =
| formerly =
| footnotes =
| bodystyle =
}}
The Chamber of Progress is an American trade group that represents technology companies on issues such as antitrust law, content moderation, and self-driving cars. The group describes itself as a progressive advocacy organization, while some have characterized it as an astroturfing corporate front group opposing government regulation and unionization. It was established in 2020 by Adam Kovacevich and is funded by Amazon, Uber, Meta, Google, Apple, Twitter, StubHub, and other technology companies.{{cite web |title=Technology's Progressive Future |url=https://progresschamber.org/#corporate-partners |website=Chamber of Progress |access-date=14 December 2021}}
History
File:Amazon_Spheres_05.jpg, whose headquarters are pictured, is among the funders of the Chamber of Progress.]]
The Chamber of Progress was incorporated in November 2020 and announced in March 2021 by its founder and CEO Adam Kovacevich, a former Google lobbyist, Lime executive, Tom Cotton campaigner, and press secretary to United States Senator Joe Lieberman.{{cite news |last1=Mann |first1=Ted |title=Google Axes Lobbyists Amid Growing Government Scrutiny |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-facing-more-scrutiny-overhauls-lobbying-and-public-affairs-operations-11560331803 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=June 12, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Craig |first1=Taylor |title=E-Scooter Startup Lime Hopes to Operate in New York by Spring |url=https://cheddar.com/media/e-scooter-startup-lime-hopes-to-operate-in-new-york-by-spring |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=Cheddar |date=15 January 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Banares |first1=Ilya |title=Ex-Google Policy Lead Founds Tech-Friendly Progressive Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-28/google-s-ex-policy-lead-founds-tech-friendly-progressive-group |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=www.bloomberg.com |date=28 March 2021}}
Leadership and organization
The Chamber of Progress is registered as a nonstock 501(c)(6) corporation in Virginia and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.{{cite web |title=Entity Information: Chamber of Progress |url=https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/EntitySearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=11137658&source=FromEntityResult&isSeries=False |website=scc.virginia.gov |publisher=Virginia State Corporation Commission |access-date=April 9, 2021}} Its CEO is Adam Kovacevich.{{cite web|title=Chamber of Progress|archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20210409170445/https://progresschamber.org/|archive-date=April 9, 2021|url=https://progresschamber.org/|website=progresschamber.org|publisher=Chamber of Progress|access-date=April 9, 2021|url-status=live}} As of 2021, the organization's advisory board consists of Colorado State Senator Jeff Bridges, New Jersey State Senator Troy Singleton, Malcom Glenn, Vikrum Aiyer, Roy Bahat, Hillary Brill, Maura Corbett, Michele Jawando, Helen Milby, Joefass Miller, Alejandro Roark, Julie Samuels and California State Assemblymember Blanca Rubio.
The organization is funded by big tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Twitter, Uber, and Zillow, as well as smaller tech companies such as DoorDash, Instacart, Lyft, Nuro, StubHub, Turo, Waymo, and Wing.{{cite news |last1=Klar |first1=Rebecca |title=Former Google executive launches left-leaning tech coalition |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/545396-former-google-executive-launches-left-leaning-tech-coalition |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=The Hill |date=April 9, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Friedman |first1=Dan |title=An Ex-Google Lobbyist Who Backed Jim Jordan Is Leading Big Tech's Bid to Court the Left |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/04/chamber-of-progress-google-facebook-amazon-twitter/ |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=Mother Jones |date=April 9, 2021}} The Chamber of Progress has a policy of not disclosing the amount of money it receives from its corporate donors.{{cite news |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Emily |title=Democrats are out for Big Tech. Google's former policy head wants to talk them down. |url=https://www.protocol.com/policy/democrats-google-policy-head-kovacevich |access-date=March 29, 2021 |work=Protocol |date=April 9, 2021}}
In May 2021, leaked emails obtained by Politico showed what it described as "a fairly cozy" relationship between the Chamber of Progress and Google. According to the email, a Google public affairs staff member had emailed the company's employees soliciting their assistance in recruiting for a new position the Chamber of Progress was seeking to fill, going on to note that Google maintained "regular communication" with the organization.{{cite web |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Emily |title=Leaked Google email reveals ties to new pro-tech group |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2021/04/30/leaked-google-email-reveals-ties-to-new-pro-tech-group-794997 |website=politico.com |date=30 April 2021 |publisher=Politico |access-date=May 9, 2021}}
As of October 2021, the organization had five employees.{{cite news |last1=Din |first1=Benjamin |title=Senate to vote on Khan as antitrust pressure heats up |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2021/06/14/senate-to-vote-on-khan-as-antitrust-pressure-heats-up-795927 |access-date=8 November 2021 |work=Politico |language=en}}
Positions
According to the organization, Chamber of Progress is a "tech industry coalition devoted to a progressive society, economy, workforce, and consumer climate. We back public policies that will build a fairer, more inclusive country in which all people benefit from technological leaps".
Kovacevich has described the organization as committed to advancing progressive policies but is not reflexively anti-business.{{Cite web |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=2021-03-29 |title=Google's former policy head wants to protect Big Tech from Dems |url=https://www.protocol.com/policy/democrats-google-policy-head-kovacevich |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Protocol |language=en}}
= Autonomous vehicles =
In an opinion article written by Kovacevich, he supports updating automobile regulations to allow for the deployment of more self-driving cars.{{cite web |last1=Kovacevich |first1=Adam |title=Congress should stop stalling autonomous vehicle technologies |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2021/07/21/congress-should-stop-stalling-autonomous-vehicle-technologies/ |website=dailynews.com |publisher=The Los Angeles Daily News |access-date=October 28, 2021 |date=July 21, 2021}} The Chamber of Progress is critical of automaker Tesla for marketing its cars as “self-driving” even though they are not fully autonomous.{{cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Faiz |title=Tesla owners can now request 'Full Self-Driving,' prompting criticism from regulators and safety advocates |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/24/tesla-full-self-driving/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 28, 2021 |date=September 25, 2021}}
=Consumer protection=
The Chamber of Progress opposed the 2021 INFORM Consumers Act, a bi-partisan bill intended by its sponsors to curtail the trafficking of fraudulent goods by ecommerce sites.{{cite news |last1=Din |first1=Benjamin |title=What to watch for at the Christchurch summit |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2021/05/14/what-to-watch-for-at-the-christchurch-summit-795321 | access-date=May 16, 2021 |work=Politico |date=May 14, 2021}}
=Corporate taxes=
The Chamber of Progress supports raising corporate taxes, in order to help fund the American Jobs Plan.{{cite web |last1=Feiner |first1=Lauren |title=Tech industry group funded by Amazon, Facebook and Google says it supports a corporate tax hike |date=15 April 2021 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/15/tech-industry-group-funded-by-amazon-facebook-and-google-supports-a-corporate-tax-hike.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=April 15, 2021}}
=Health misinformation regulation=
The Chamber of Progress has opposed legislation in Texas{{cite news |last1=Brodkin |first1=Jon |title=Texas law could force social media to host misinformation and hate speech |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/09/texas-bans-online-censorship-with-law-similar-to-one-already-blocked-in-florida/ |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=Ars Technica |date=September 10, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Tech Industry Groups Support Suit Against Texas Social Media Law |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/tech-industry-groups-support-suit-against-texas-social-media-law |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=Bloomberg Law |date=October 7, 2021}} and Florida{{cite news |last1=Loiaconi |first1=Stephen |title=Florida Republicans tout bill targeting 'Silicon Valley elites,' but challenges loom |url=https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/florida-republicans-tout-bill-targeting-silicon-valley-elites-but-legal-challenges-loom |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=ABC |date=May 25, 2021}} that would limit the ability of social media platforms to take down misinformation and other content that violates community standards. The organization also opposed legislation proposed by United States Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ben Ray Lujan that would hold social media companies liable for the dissemination of false or erroneous health and medical information and advice.{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Siobhan |title=Bill Would Strip Social Media of Protections for Health Misinformation |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-to-strip-social-media-of-protections-for-health-misinformation-11626976800 |access-date=July 24, 2021 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=July 22, 2021}}
=Monopolization=
In 2021, Chamber of Progress submitted comments opposing the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) proposed revocation of a 2015 policy statement that prohibited the FTC from challenging unfair competition that stops short of violating antirust laws.{{cite news |last1=Klar |first1=Rebecca |title=FTC votes to expand antitrust enforcement powers |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/561174-ftc-votes-to-expand-antitrust-enforcement-powers |access-date=July 24, 2021 |work=The Hill |date=July 1, 2021}} The statement was ultimately revoked over the Chamber of Progress' objections. The same year it took the lead in opposing a package of new antitrust legislation proposed by David Cicilline and Pramila Jayapal and according to Slate, sought to "slow down the legislative process so that ... [they'd] have more time to win over lawmakers to vote the bills down".{{cite news |last1=Mak |first1=Aaron |title=All the Ways Silicon Valley Is Freaking Out About Congress' Plan to Break Up Big Tech |url=https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/congress-antitrust-big-tech-silicon-valley-freakout.html |access-date=July 24, 2021 |work=Slate |date=June 28, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Maruri |first1=Katya |title=What Do the House Antitrust Bills Mean for Big Tech? |url=https://www.governing.com/security/what-do-the-house-antitrust-bills-mean-for-big-tech |access-date=June 27, 2021 |work=Governing Magazine |date=July 24, 2021}}
=Tech regulation=
The Chamber of Progress supports proposals to provide additional funding for the Federal Trade Commission to create a new tech bureau focused on privacy, data security, and identity theft.{{cite web |title=Chamber of Progress Applauds FTC Privacy & Security Boost |url=https://progresschamber.org/chamber-of-progress-applauds-ftc-privacy-security-boost/ |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=Chamber of Progress |date=September 13, 2021}} The organization opposes reform or repeal of Section 230, arguing that this internet legislation incentivizes companies to delete lawful but objectionable content, like hate speech.{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Wendy |title=Google Veteran Launches Tech Policy Organization |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/361805/google-veteran-launches-tech-policy-organization.html |publisher=MediaPost |date=March 28, 2021|access-date=April 26, 2021}}
=Ticketing reform=
Chamber of Progress has opposed federal and state legislation backed by musicians, arts nonprofits and independent venues targeting predatory resale practices by secondary ticketing platforms, including the Fans First Act {{cite web |title=Klobuchar Ticketing Bill Includes Ticketmaster Sweetheart Deal |url=https://progresschamber.org/klobuchar-ticketing-bill-includes-ticketmaster-sweetheart-deal/ |access-date=June 7, 2024 |work=Chamber of Progress |date=December 13, 2023}} and Maryland's SB 539.{{cite web |title=Testimony to MD Lawmakers: Oppose Ticketing Bill (SB 539) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y77f_zTRweg |access-date=June 7, 2024 |work=Chamber of Progress |date=March 18, 2024}}
=Unionizing=
In April 2021, the Chamber of Progress released a statement opposing Amazon worker unionizing efforts in Alabama and denouncing "union activists".{{cite web |title=The Alabama Amazon employees' rejection ... |url=https://twitter.com/ProgressChamber/status/1380544072486637568 |website=@ProgressChamber |publisher=Twitter |access-date=April 9, 2021}} According to Vice, the organization said that "Amazon employees' rejection of the union was a 'progressive story'".{{cite news |last1=Gurley |first1=Lauren Kaori |title=World's Most Powerful Tech Companies Celebrate Bessemer Union Loss |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzg7d/worlds-most-powerful-tech-companies-celebrate-bessemer-union-loss |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=Vice |date=April 9, 2021}}
=Voting legislation=
The Chamber of Progress supports the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.{{cite news |last1=Sabin |first1=Sam |title=As Democrats' Once-Cozy Relationship With Tech Is Tested, Ex-Google Policy Lead's New Trade Group Touts Industry's Benefits |url=https://morningconsult.com/2021/03/28/chamber-of-progress-tech-trade-association/ |access-date=March 28, 2021 |work=Morning Consult |date=March 28, 2021}}
Analysis
Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, has described the organization as an "astroturf group" which masquerades as a progressive organization but is designed to head-off governmental regulation of its member companies. Mike Lux of American Family Voices has said of the organization that it shows no evidence "that tech companies are going to put any energy or money or muscle or attention to supporting progressive causes".
Vivek Ramaswamy has dismissed the organization as "crony capitalism at its heart".{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Joshua |title=Big Tech 'blowing woke smoke' with new 'Chamber of Progress' coalition: 'Woke Inc.' author |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/big-tech-woke-smoke-chamber-of-progress-coalition |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=Fox News |date=March 30, 2021}} Writing in Jewish Currents, Cilo Chang called the group "progressive camouflage" for anti-union organizing.{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Cilo |title=The Fight for the Right to Organize |url=https://jewishcurrents.org/the-fight-for-the-right-to-organize/ |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=Jewish Currents |date=April 2, 2021}} Public Citizen's Jane Chung has said Chamber of Progress is "sleight of hand" and that it uses "progressive slogans, and interests like 'democracy reform' and 'income equality' ... all the while, we know that this is really just a front group for advancing corporate interests in Washington".{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Janine |title='We Really Can't Take Anything These Companies Say at Face Value' |url=https://fair.org/home/we-really-cant-take-anything-these-companies-say-at-face-value/ |website=fair.org |date=9 April 2021 |publisher=Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting |access-date=April 9, 2021}}
United States Senator Amy Klobuchar has expressed skepticism with the Chamber of Progress, saying – with respect to the group's name – "you're honest that what you are is really the tech companies' Chamber of Commerce. But at least the Chamber of Commerce has a real name".{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Mark |title=Amy Klobuchar is busy holding Apple's and Google's feet to the fire |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90666421/amy-klobuchar-apple-google-app-stores-broadband-misinformation |access-date=September 25, 2021 |work=Fast Company |date=August 17, 2021}}
United States Representative Ami Bera has applauded the organization and said that the Democratic Party will be working with the group "in defining the next chapter of tech policy". In her email newsletter, Nancy Scola says the Chamber is positioned to take advantage of the disconnect between lawmakers' opposition to tech companies and consumers' embrace of them.{{cite web |last1=Scola |first1=Nancy |title=Welcome to Slow Build |url=https://slowbuild.substack.com/p/welcome-to-slow-build |publisher=Substack |date=April 2, 2021| access-date=April 26, 2021}}
Emily Birnbaum, a journalist with Politico, noted in 2021 that the Chamber of Progress now receives much of the media attention that used to go to the Internet Association.{{cite news |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Emily |title='Nowhere to be found': The internet industry's D.C. powerhouse recedes |url=https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/07/11/nowhere-to-be-found-the-internet-industrys-dc-powerhouse-recedes-1388216 |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=Politico |date=July 11, 2021}}