Regulation
After years of moving fast and breaking things, governments around the world are waking up to the dangers of uncontrolled tech platforms and starting to think of ways to rein in those platforms. Sometimes, that means data privacy measures like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or more recent measures passed in the wake of Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal. On the smaller side, it takes the form of specific ad restrictions, transparency measures, or anti-tracking protocols. With such a broad problem, nearly any solution is on the table. It’s still too early to say whether those measures will be focused on Facebook, Google, or the tech industry at large. At the same time, conservative lawmakers are eager to use accusations of bias as a way to influence moderation policy, making the specter of strong regulation all the more controversial. Whatever next steps Congress and the courts decide to take, you can track the latest updates here.
Can we regulate social media without breaking the First Amendment?
Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, helps us answer the question
As tech founders resign, Congress loses its favorite targets
But they stand to gain a real chance at change
Eight things we learned from the Facebook Papers
A massive new document release shows chaos and confusion inside the world’s most powerful social network
