WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Democrats and Republicans agree that the federal government needs to better regulate the biggest tech companies, especially social media platforms. But there is little consensus on how it should be done.
Should TikTok be banned? Should young children stay away from social media? Can the government make sure personal information is safe? What about all-new artificial intelligence interfaces? do you need?
As concerns over China’s ownership of TikTok skyrocket and parents navigating a post-pandemic mental health crisis become increasingly concerned about what their children are watching online, tech regulation is coming to parliament. It’s gaining momentum in the Capitol. Lawmakers have introduced a number of bipartisan bills, raising hopes of compromise. But attempts to regulate the mammoth industry will face major obstacles as technology companies battle interference.
Noting that many young people are struggling, President Joe Biden announced in his State of the Union address in February that he would impose tighter limits on personal data collection and ban advertising aimed at children. “The time has come” to pass the law, he said.
“Ultimately, social media companies must be held accountable for their experiments that benefit children,” Biden said.
Tech companies have fought aggressively against federal interference, but decades of operating without strict federal oversight make new rules and guidelines even more complex.
Let’s take a look at some of the potential regulatory areas.
child safety
Several House and Senate bills aim to make social media, and the internet in general, safer for kids who inevitably go online. Lawmakers have cited numerous examples of teenagers who have committed suicide after being cyberbullyed or who have died engaging in risky behavior promoted on social media.
At least two competing bills in the Senate focus on children’s online safety. A law passed by the Senate Commerce Committee last year by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) will make social media companies more transparent about their operations and prevent defaults. It is the one that asks you to enable Child Safety settings in Minors have the option to disable addictive product features and algorithms that push certain content.
The senator said the platform should be “secure by design.” The law, which Blumenthal and Blackburn reintroduced last week, requires social media companies to prevent certain dangers to minors, such as promoting suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation and other illegal activities. There is also a thing.
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It was introduced last month by four senators: Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Senator Katie Britt of Alabama2. The second bill would take a more aggressive approach, banning children under the age of 13. From using social media platforms or soliciting parental consent from teens. It also prohibits companies from algorithmically recommending content to users under the age of 18.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., did not mention specific legislation, but told reporters on the Internet last week, “I think we need some kind of child protection.” rice field.
Critics of the bill, including some civil rights groups and advocacy groups affiliated with technology companies, said the proposal threatens online privacy for teens and helps those contemplating suicide or dealing with sexual issues. It may block access to content that may help teens, such as resources for .and gender identity.
Carl Szabo of NetChoice, a group that partners with companies like Meta, TikTok, Google and Amazon, said:
Data privacy
Biden’s State of the Union address expands child privacy protections online by Senators Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Bill Cassidy (R-Rep), banning companies from collecting personal data from teens appeared to be in favor of a bill to ban Prohibition of advertising targeting children and teens. The bill, also reintroduced last week, would create a so-called “eraser button” that would allow parents and children to delete personal data where possible.
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A broader effort in the House of Representatives seeks to give adults, as well as children, more control over their data, using what lawmakers call “national privacy standards.” The bill, which passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee last year with broad bipartisan support, seeks to minimize the data collected, make it illegal to target ads to children and impose privacy restrictions. It violates state law. But the bill, which also gave consumers more rights to sue for violations of privacy, didn’t reach the House.
With Republicans now in control, the prospects for the House bill are uncertain. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Kathy McMorris Rogers (R-Wash..) made the issue a priority, holding multiple hearings on Data Her Privacy. However, the commission has yet to move forward with the new bill.
Ban on TikTok
Lawmakers from both parties have banned TikTok or made it easier to ban after a March House hearing in which they criticized TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew for its ties to the Communist Party of China government, data security and harmful content. Many bills have been submitted to do so. app.
Chew tried to assure lawmakers that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned because of its links to China. But the testimony gave the effort new impetus.
Shortly after the hearing, Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley tried to force a Senate vote on a law banning TikTok from operating in the United States. But fellow Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said the ban was unconstitutional and would anger millions of voters who use the app.
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Another bill, backed by Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, would ban U.S. economic dealings with TikTok, similar to Hawley’s, but with a line to block foreign apps deemed hostile. It also creates a new framework for government.
The bipartisan bill, backed by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) and South Dakota Senator John Tune (second-ranked Republican in the Senate), has widespread support in the Senate. Powers to review and potentially limit foreign threats to technology platforms.
The White House has indicated its intention to support the bill, but it is unclear whether it will be taken up in the Senate or whether it will be able to garner support among House Republicans.
TikTok has launched extensive lobbying to survive, including using influencers and young voters to argue that the app is not harmful.
artificial intelligence
A new problem for Congress is that as rapidly developing and potentially innovative products like the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT begin to enter the market, capable of mimicking human behavior in many ways, Congress will The question is whether lawmakers should move to regulate artificial intelligence.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer has made emerging technologies a priority, arguing that the U.S. needs to stay ahead of China and other countries looking to regulate AI products. He worked with his AI experts to put forward a general framework for what the regulations might look like. This includes increased disclosure of the people and data involved in developing the technology, greater transparency, and explanations of how bots respond.
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Schumer says the final regulation should “prevent potentially catastrophic damage to our country while ensuring that the United States moves forward and leads in this revolutionary technology.” .
The White House has also taken note of the issue, recently announcing a $140 million investment to create seven new AI research institutes. Vice President Kamala Harris met Thursday with heads of Google, Microsoft and other companies developing her AI products.
