New Section 230 Bill Would Make Platforms Liable For Civil Rights Violations

A senior Democratic Member of the primary committee of jurisdiction over 47 USC 230 (aka Section 230) has floated a discussion draft that would remove liability protection for technology companies for targeted advertising that violates civil rights laws. This bill is likely one of the opening salvos in the coming war on Capitol Hill between … Continue reading New Section 230 Bill Would Make Platforms Liable For Civil Rights Violations

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (13 and 14 January 2021)

Further Reading “YouTube Suspends Trump’s Channel for at Least Seven Days” By Daisuke Wakabayashi — The New York Times. Even Google is getting further into the water. Its YouTube platform flagged a video of President Donald Trump’s for inciting violence and citing the “ongoing potential for violence,” Trump and his team will not be able … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (13 and 14 January 2021)

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (11 January 2021)

Further Reading “Why the Russian hack is so significant, and why it's close to a worst-case scenario” By Kevin Collier — NBC News. This article quotes experts who paint a very ugly picture for the United States (U.S.) in trying to recover from the Russian Federation’s hack. Firstly, the Russians are very good at what … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (11 January 2021)

Social Media Reckoning

The U.S. President was widely banned on social media platforms after his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol during the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s win. Because of the role President Donald Trump played directly and indirectly in the events of 6 January 2021 at the United States (U.S.) Capitol, Twitter, Facebook, and … Continue reading Social Media Reckoning

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (5 January 2021)

Further Reading “China Used Stolen Data To Expose CIA Operatives In Africa And Europe;” “Beijing Ransacked Data as U.S. Sources Went Dark in China;” “Tech Giants Are Giving China A Vital Edge In Espionage” By Zach Dorfman — Foreign Policy. This terrifying trio of articles lays bare the 180 degree change in espionage advantage the … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (5 January 2021)

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (10 December)

Further Reading “Social media superspreaders: Why Instagram, not Facebook, will be the real battleground for COVID-19 vaccine misinformation” By Isobel Asher Hamilton — Business Insider. According to one group, COVID-19 anti-vaccination lies and misinformation are proliferating on Instagram despite its parent company’s, Facebook, efforts to find and remove such content. There has been dramatic growth … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (10 December)

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (9 December)

Further Reading “Secret Amazon Reports Expose the Company’s Surveillance of Labor and Environmental Groups” By Lauren Kaori Gurley — Vice’s Motherboard. Yet another article by Vice drawing back the curtain on Amazon’s labor practices, especially its apparently fervent desire to stop unionizing. This piece shines light on the company’s Global Security Operations Center that tracks … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (9 December)

Further Reading, Other Development, and Coming Events (8 December)

Further Reading “Facebook failed to put fact-check labels on 60% of the most viral posts containing Georgia election misinformation that its own fact-checkers had debunked, a new report says” By Tyler Sonnemaker — Business Insider. Despite its vows to improve its managing of untrue and false content, the platform is not consistently taking down such … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Development, and Coming Events (8 December)

Further Reading, Other Development, and Coming Events (7 December)

Further Reading “Facebook steps up campaign to ban false information about coronavirus vaccines” By Elizabeth Dwoskin — The Washington Post. In its latest step to find and remove lies, misinformation, and disinformation, the social media giant is now committing to removing and blocking untrue material about COVID-19 vaccines, especially from the anti-vaccine community. Will the … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Development, and Coming Events (7 December)

Biden Administration Tech Policy: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC could be a major force for technology policy in the Biden Administration. The next Administration will change many of the technology policies put in place under President Donald Trump, but among the highest profile policy reversals will be the Biden Administration’s reestablishment of net neutrality rules. This signature accomplishment of the Obama Administration … Continue reading Biden Administration Tech Policy: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)