Author: cmackenzie
Texas Republicans Pass “Must Carry Hate Online” Bill, Vote to Protect Holocaust Denial, Terrorist Speech
On Friday night, Aug. 27, Republican members of the Texas House of Representatives passed HB 20, a “must carry hate online” bill prohibiting social media companies from removing content based on the “viewpoint of the user” — even if that content violates the platform’s community standards. Democrats raised serious concerns during hearings last week that the legislation would… Continue reading Texas Republicans Pass “Must Carry Hate Online” Bill, Vote to Protect Holocaust Denial, Terrorist Speech
NYC Passes Delivery Fee Caps That Will Increase Prices for Customers
On Thursday, the New York City Council passed legislation making pandemic-era food delivery fee caps permanent, limiting the ability of delivery apps to share delivery costs with restaurants.Chamber of Progress, a center-left tech industry association, testified in opposition to the bill during a City Council hearing in July, making the case that the delivery fee caps put… Continue reading NYC Passes Delivery Fee Caps That Will Increase Prices for Customers
Letter to Texas Democrats: Speak Out Against HB 20
New FTC Facebook Complaint, Same Old Mistakes
Amended complaint against Facebook fails to credibly define social media market On Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed an amended antitrust complaint against Facebook over its 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp and 2012 acquisition of Instagram. The FTC’s initial complaint was thrown out by a federal judge in June for failing to provide credible evidence… Continue reading New FTC Facebook Complaint, Same Old Mistakes
Proposed Tech Regulations Would Break Apps and Services Consumers Love
Usually when someone talks about breaking the Internet, it’s because Cardi B just posted some fresh content. Not this time. Right now, a handful of lawmakers are trying to push through a package of extreme tech regulations that would, very seriously, break the internet as we know it. In the House of Representatives, the package… Continue reading Proposed Tech Regulations Would Break Apps and Services Consumers Love
Senate Bill Pushes Consumers Toward Risky Third-Party App Stores
On Wednesday, Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, and Marsha Blackburn introduced legislation (S. 2710) mandating that phone and tablet makers allow the installation of risky third party app stores and the use of alternative payment systems. Chamber of Progress, a center-left tech industry organization, said that these mandates would erode the security, trust, and convenience… Continue reading Senate Bill Pushes Consumers Toward Risky Third-Party App Stores
Sacramento Bee Op-Ed: California bill targeting social media hate speech would hand keys to online extremists
Sen. Klobuchar Introduces Section 230 Bill Endangering Online Speech
On Thursday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) proposed legislation changing the internet law Section 230 in order to crack down on health misinformation on social media. Sen. Klobuchar’s bill would task the Secretary of Health and Human Services with defining what qualifies as health misinformation. “We all want less misinformation online, but this approach would turn… Continue reading Sen. Klobuchar Introduces Section 230 Bill Endangering Online Speech