Big Tech killed California's anti-self-preferencing bill in a month

California’s BASED Act, which would have curbed Big Tech self-preferencing in app stores and search results, was defeated in a Senate committee.

The bill faced heavy opposition from Google, Apple, Amazon, trade groups, and tech allies, who argued it would hurt innovation and consumers.

Its collapse underscores how effectively major platforms can block state-level antitrust efforts in the U.S.

The outcome leaves U.S. rules far looser than Europe’s Digital Markets Act, preserving a practice central to Big Tech’s business models.