YouTube, TikTok and Snap agreed to share internal research with the Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee, the companies' representatives told a hearing Tuesday. Chair Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told us he’s going to hold them to that promise and use the findings to develop a full picture in pursuit of legislation.
The FCC shouldn’t act on its own to combat ransomware attacks against communications networks unless a “whole of government” approach doesn’t materialize, said Commissioner Nathan Simington Thursday in a virtual Q&A with former Commissioner Robert McDowell, now at Cooley. Combating ransomware attacks like the recent strike against Sinclair isn’t outside the agency’s authority, but might be outside its capabilities, “unless Congress gives us another thousand people to man that desk,” Simington said (see 2110210045).
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is looking to advance the discussion on a measure that would prohibit online platforms from self-preferencing their own products (see 2110140068). He told us he’s in discussions with ranking member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chair Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., about a legislative hearing for the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. “I’m discussing it with both of them,” said Durbin. “We haven’t made a final decision.”
Legislation House Democrats unveiled Thursday would remove Communications Decency Act Section 230 immunity when a platform “knowingly or recklessly uses an algorithm or other technology to recommend content that materially contributes to physical or severe emotional injury.” Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, N.J., will introduce the Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act Friday with Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania, Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, and Health Subcommittee Chair Anna Eshoo of California. “Social media platforms like Facebook continue to actively amplify content that endangers our families, promotes conspiracy theories, and incites extremism to generate more clicks and ad dollars,” said Pallone.
Congress needs to identify an AI regulatory framework so companies like Facebook can be held accountable for biases and side effects associated with algorithms, said House AI Task Force Chairman Bill Foster, D-Ill., during a hearing Wednesday.
Facebook and Instagram illegally deceive users and the government by hosting murder videos violating their terms of service, gun safety advocate Andy Parker alleged in an FTC complaint Tuesday. Testimony from whistleblower Frances Haugen last week confirmed Facebook can remove videos but doesn't because it's not in the company’s financial interest, Parker told reporters at the National Press Club. He filed a similar complaint in 2020 against Google and YouTube (see 2002200049). These stem from a video of Parker’s daughter Alison, a reporter who was assassinated on live TV in 2015 (see 2002030059).
Congress will move forward with legislation to roll back Communications Decency Act Section 230 immunity and give victims of online harm legal remedies against amplified content, Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters Tuesday. Members of the subcommittee are “very engaged” on the issue, and it’s going to be a priority to find consensus, said ranking member Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaking to reporters after a hearing with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen (see 2110010047).
Thursday’s testimony from Facebook underscores the need for the FTC to update the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (see 2105110052), Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us after a Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing (see 2109240009). Members said Global Head-Safety Antigone Davis evaded questions about the company’s internal research showing a link between youth mental health issues and Instagram activity (see 2109150053). “They had information that they basically said they didn’t, which is a problem,” said Cantwell.
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday she’s deferring to Congress in deciding how to parcel out the proposed $65 billion in broadband money included in the Senate-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684). She sidestepped questions during a virtual Politico event about whether senators’ decision to parcel out the bulk of connectivity funding in HR-3684 to NTIA indicates a lack of faith in the commission. Capitol Hill leaders said during the event they continue to push for lawmakers to pass a national privacy standard and revamp Communications Decency Act Section 230 during this Congress.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, the biggest question mark as the agency considers a draft order and Further NPRM on the 4.9 GHz band, indicated Wednesday he may support a proposal to take another look at the band, teed up for a Sept. 30 commissioner vote. Carr was the lone dissenter (see 2105270071) when the FCC stayed rules OK’d last year giving states control.