Auchincloss eyes new tech regs in Democratic reboot
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Deehan here, back with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss wants Democrats to go on the offensive against big tech companies and make it a defining party principle.
Why it matters: The Newton congressman has been trying to influence the messaging, goals and philosophy of the Democratic Party since last year's election.
- He's part of a group of more center-oriented Dems trying to rebuild a Democratic coalition that can win.
- To do that, Auchincloss says, the party will need new issues to appeal to voters.
Behind the scenes: Auchincloss made his argument at a fundraiser event in Boston alongside Gov. Maura Healey last month.
He wants the Dems to rebuild around three pillars: middle-class economics, law and order, and freedom — specifically freedom from what he called the "digital dopamine merchants" of big tech.
- He framed social media giants as unprecedented threats, describing the "unholy trinity" of modern gatekeepers: Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and the Chinese Communist Party via TikTok.
- He wants regulations to crack down on the digital platforms that profit by "making us miserable" and exploiting developing brains.
State of play: Auchincloss contends that Democrats have spent years on cultural defense and need areas to assert the party's values.
- Regulating tech would be the offensive terrain he's looking for, where the blue party can frame itself as the champions of practical innovation over addictive apps.
The bottom line: Auchincloss thinks adding aggressive crackdowns on Big Tech to the Democratic playbook will be a winner in 2026 and beyond.