Thread by @evan_greer

THREAD: The Biden admin has been talking a big game about being "tough on Big Tech" and Silicon Valley monopolies. But right now they're quietly defending a provision in the #InfrastructureBill that targets software developers who are trying to build alternatives to Big Tech

Here's what's going on: the administration has been pushing a "pay-for" measure in the bipartisan infrastructure package that would expand US government surveillance of #cryptocurrency projects. @EFF has a good summary of concerns with the provision here: eff.org/deeplinks/2021…

The provision has been sold as being about taxes. But it's so poorly written that it would create reporting requirements that would demand people like software developers and even volunteers within decentralized tech projects hand over data or conduct surveillance of their users.

There are plenty of valid concerns around #cryptocurrencies & ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of taxes. But the provision in the #infrastructure bill would demand data from people who don't have it, effectively crushing a wide range of decentralized projects.

And that would be disaster for global human rights, freedom of expression, and democracy. Because #cryptocurrencies and decentralized tech projects could be part of the *solution* to address the harms of Big Tech. Decentralization could help end the era of surveillance capitalism

If @JoeBiden is serious about taking on Big Tech, he shouldn't be actively trying to shut down communities of developers, volunteers, people who run nodes, and other participants in the very software projects that could one day help us escape the clutches of Facebook & Google

The original #cryptocurrency provision in the #InfrastructureBill amounts to a dramatic expansion of government surveillance tacked on to a must-pass piece of legislation at the last minute. Policy that impacts human rights & the future of the Internet shouldn't be made this way.

Fortunately @RonWyden & others have introduced an amendment that would fix the #cryptocurrency language in the #InfrastructureBill. It's a win win: it ensures actual crypto brokers like Coinbase pay their taxes, but clarifies the measure can't be abused for broader surveillance.

It appears that now even @senrobportman, who apparently drafted the original #cryptocurrency surveillance proposal in the #InfrastructureBill with support from the @WhiteHouse is supporting the common-sense amendment from @RonWyden @SenLummis @SenToomey coindesk.com/sen-portman-an…

But weirdly, the Biden admin seems to still be pushing the original language. They simultaneously claim that the current language doesn't target "small players" in the #cryptocurrency ecosystem like miners & developers, but oppose the amendment that would clarify that in the law

They also say that they think the amendment, which would just clarify that the reporting requirements don't apply to people who ... wouldn't have the data being requested (like software developers making wallets, for example) would "put a dent" in the tax revenue generated...

.@WhiteHouse can't have it both ways on this. Either the language only targets actual #cryptocurrency brokers in which case the amendment would have no impact on the tax revenue generated, or the admin's "pinky swear" that it won't use this to go after developers etc is ... false

We can and should have real conversations about what types of policies should be in place to protect people, especially low income folks and communities vulnerable to surveillance, from #cryptocurrency scams, and to ensure that giant corporations & millionaires pay their taxes

But if the Biden administration really cares about holding Big Tech companies accountable and giving people alternatives to Silicon Valley giants, they need to start getting smarter about how technology actually works, and advance policies that actually accomplish stated goals.

TL;DR: The #cryptocurrency surveillance provision in the #infrastructurebill is a huge mess. There's an amendment from @RonWyden and others that would fix it. Dem Senators and the Biden admin should support it if they care about "reining in Big Tech."
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