Further Reading “‘A kiss of death’: Top GOP tech critics are personae non gratae after election challenge” By Cristiano Lima — Politico. I take these articles with a block of salt, not least of which because many inside the Beltway articles lack perspective and a sense of history. For sure, in the short term the … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (8 February 2021)
The focus was on how the U.S. and EU can reach agreement on an arrangement that will not be struck down by the EU’s highest court. Last week, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the now invalidated European Union (EU)-United States (U.S.) Privacy Shield, a mechanism that allowed companies to … Continue reading Privacy Shield Hearing
The Section 230 hearing was largely political theater. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held its long awaited hearing ostensibly on 47 U.S.C. 230 (Section 230) with the CEOs of Facebook, Google, and Twitter. I suppose the title of the hearing should have told us all we need to know about the approach of … Continue reading Section 230 Hearing Almost Devoid Of Discussion About Section 230
The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee seek to frame the 28 October hearing on Section 230 in the light they favor. Before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held its hearing today on 47 U.S.C. 230 (Section 230), both Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sought … Continue reading Setting The Plate For Section 230 Hearing
Further Reading “False Rumors Often Start at the Top” By Shira Ovide — The New York Times. This piece traces how misinformation can arise from poorly phrased or ambiguous statements and utterances from authorities or famous people. Throw in a very liberal dose of people misinterpreting, and it’s a miracle there’s any clear communication online.“With … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (13 October)
Republicans continue to spotlight Section 230 and supposed bias against conservatives on social media platforms. On 1 October , against a backdrop of coordinated, increasing Republican focus on 47 U.S.C. 230 (aka Section 230), the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted unanimously to subpoena three technology CEOs: Jack Dorsey, Chief Executive Officer of Twitter;Sundar … Continue reading Section 230 Hearings
Senate stakeholders appear no closer to resolving the two key impasses in privacy legislation: preemption and a private right of action. A week after the introduction of the “Setting an American Framework to Ensure Data Access, Transparency, and Accountability (SAFE DATA) Act” (S.4626) was introduced, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing … Continue reading Senate Commerce Hearing On Privacy
Senate Commerce Republicans revise and release privacy bill that does not budge on main issues setting them apart from their Democratic colleagues. Last week, in advance of tomorrow’s hearing on privacy legislation, the chair and key Republicans released a revised version of draft legislation released last year to mark their position on what United States … Continue reading Another Federal Privacy Bill
It is still not clear how matters will play out with a proposed Oracle/TikTok deal and the ban on WeChat (and possibly TikTok if an acceptable deal cannot be made.) Today, the Trump Administration issued orders barring TikTok and WeChat pursuant to executive orders issued an “Executive Order on Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok” … Continue reading Uncertainty As Deadlines Approach On TikTok and WeChat EOs
Democratic stakeholders answer a Republican proposal on how to regulate privacy issues raised by COVID-19 contact tracing. The proposals have little chance of enactment and are mostly about positioning. First things first, if you would like to receive my Technology Policy Update, email me. You can find some of these Updates from 2019 and … Continue reading Dueling COVID-19 Privacy Bills Released
Michael Kans 