WASHINGTON – 2022 is being marked as a crucial year for lawmakers in their efforts to enforce rules on social media and other Internet platforms – and they are pushing President Biden to step aside.
Democrats and Republicans are working on half a dozen or more major legal categories involving online privacy and child safety, transparency of corporate data collection, accountability for content posted on social media, and market dominance by a few key players.
But these and other resolutions are met with strong opposition from big tech companies and party differences between Republicans and Democrats. When members of both parties criticize Big Tech, Democrats often prefer strict restrictions – for example, on dangerous content – Republicans typically support simple tactics and oppose actions that could restrict speech.
A.D. Increasing pressure in 2022 is the hope that Republicans will be able to take control of the House or Senate after the mid-November election, which is declining policy priorities. That will only give Democrats a few months to push through, and most of them are still preparing.
Cowen Washington Research Group noted that the key to preventing large technology companies from choosing their own products and services on platforms is whether or not private participation is a priority. Investment Analysis gives the company a 65% chance of passing the account with Biden’s participation, and not 40%.
The White House has dropped out of this year’s debate on technology law, instead focusing on what it calls a $ 1 trillion infrastructure plan and a $ 2 trillion education, health and climate proposition.
In a statement, Mr. Biden, a senior administration official, has long supported measures, including the amendment of Section 230 of the Consumer Accountability Act on its website. Mr Biden called on the Federal Trade Commission (FEC) to address “unfair data collection and monitoring practices” by large technology companies.
“President Biden should be held accountable for the damage caused by technology platforms and be a supporter of fundamental reform to achieve that goal,” the official said. “Privacy and anti-trust improvements as well as greater transparency should all be on the table as we look at the incentives for large-scale business models to promote business models and content.”
The statement did not comment on the value or accuracy of the information which was allegedly leaked to the media by the White House.
Senator Richard Bloemintal (D.C.) chairs the Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee.
“If the president is with us this time, there is a real victory,” said Mr Bloomenthal, who is planning legislation to improve online privacy and child protection.
Senator Richard Bloemintal, who chairs the Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee, is drafting legislation to improve online privacy and child protection.
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Michael Brochstein / Zuma Press
Senator John Tune (R., SD), Senate No. 2 Republican, joined in the effort to control Big Tech.
“The White House has made it clear that it can participate in the priorities of the legislature at any time, so I hope the president and his team will stand up and provide the most important and long-term leadership in this regard,” Mr Tune said. Press release.
Lawmakers say the motivation for the change was made public by an internal survey of users of Instagram and Facebook platforms owned by Meta Platform. Inc.
The documents were collected by former Facebook employee Francis Hawgen, according to The Wall Street Journal in a series of Facebook files.
“How many more rumors should we greet?” Said Senator Mark Warner (D., V.). “This is where I think about them. [the White House] More involvement will be helpful in terms of doing things.
Meta Platform said most of the research papers released by Ms. Hawgen were misinterpreted and that the company had “invested heavily in people and technology to secure the platform.”
They say big technology companies generally operate in a highly competitive market, want to give consumers a meaningful choice in how their information is handled, and work hard to make their platforms safer for users, including children.
Former Facebook user Francis Hawgen testified at the Senate hearing in October.
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Pool / Reuters
Technology companies are reminding policymakers of their important role in the economy. Amazon.com Ink.,
Last year, for example, he spoke about the huge investment in new infrastructure and employment and the impact it has had on revitalizing cities and creating jobs.
When it comes to what to do, the White House has come under increasing scrutiny by supporters of the administration, among others, who support strong regulation and are concerned about the impact of technological invasion on the economy and the impact of the Covi-19 epidemic, especially after Omelon. According to someone familiar with the subject, the difference is as dangerous as it gets.
Mr Biden himself emphasized the importance of Big Tech in a December 21 press release, saying the administration had worked with Alphabet. Inc
Google consumers will be able to search more closely for their respective CVD-19 test sites.
Silicon Valley has recently banned the most unfriendly law in Congress, although its impact on many aspects of the Internet ecosystem and its impact on users, especially children, has increased.
But tech experts have personally acknowledged that new wars are looming in the new year.
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The first opposition bill to move is probably the No. 1 concern for many tech giants, a bill designed to prevent companies from offering their own products and services on their platforms.
He has broad support among the leaders of the Judiciary Committee, supported by Sensie Amy Clobuchar (D., Mini) and Chak Grassley (R., Iowa). Legislators and technology representatives say it will be approved by the committee in the first months of 2022, according to the European Commission.
But the hope beyond that is uncertain. Tech lobbyists argue that the unintended consequences of trying to block it could ruin their business and disrupt the Internet economy.
The key to the final approval by the Senate and the House of Representatives may be mobilizing sufficient support for other technological control measures to ensure congressional leaders have not had enough floor time, she said.
“We know what we’re up against,” she said of the upcoming lobby wars. “Everything is not over … but we have to start moving.”
Mr. Biden says it helps to prioritize.
The senators on the trade committee are working on measures to strengthen consumer privacy, children’s online safety, forum accountability, algorithmic transparency and more. But the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
Still, it appears that efforts are being made to protect children, especially in the face of adversity, such as online exploitation or restricted transparency.
“We’re in the watershed,” said James Steer, co-founder of Common Sense Media, which seeks to improve children’s online experiences. “We’d better take the time.”
– Ryan Tracy contributed to this article.
Write John D. McKinnon at john.mckinnon@wsj.com
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