The Chicago Journal

Social media faces more regulations in 2023

Edward Anderson Edward Anderson on March 20, 2023

Image source: Tech.co

Social media: The bipartisan spending bill passed by Congress last week essentially forbade the installation of TikTok on devices used by the government.

This year, advocates and legislators revealed proposals for tighter regulation of social media companies as 2023 kicks into gear.

TikTok

The video-sharing app, which receives more than 1 billion monthly users, is owned by the Chinese corporation ByteDance.

Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, and lawmakers have publicly stated their positions on TikTik’s ownership structure.

They claimed that the structure exposes information about US users.

In addition, Chinese-based businesses are compelled by law to provide the government with user information on request.

The concern

The National Intelligence Law of 2017 and the Counter-Espionage Law of 2014 are the two Chinese laws that have alarmed the US government since 2019.

According to the Counter-Espionage law, businesses and individuals “may not refuse” to divulge information when the state security agency conducts an espionage investigation and discovers crucial information.

Organizations or people are expected to support, help, and cooperate with governmental intelligence initiatives, as stated in Article 7 of the Intelligence Law.

The state also protects those who assist them.

Response

Despite TikTok’s repeated assurances that US user data is not kept in China, little has changed from their comments.

TikTok has been compared to “digital fentanyl” by Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher.

Additionally, he thinks that the software has to be banned outright nationwide.

“It’s highly addictive and destructive,” said Gallagher.

“We’re seeing troubling data about the corrosive impact of constant social media use, particularly on young men and women here in America.”

Read also: Migrants delivered to Kamala Harris on Christmas

Social media regulation

Twitter, YouTube, and other social networking sites, like TikTok, use the same algorithms, claims Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

She thinks that increasing the transparency of their operations should be the regulators’ first move.

According to Haugen, the majority of people are unaware of the US’s gap in social media regulation compared to other countries.

“This is like we’re back in 1965,” said Haugen. “We don’t have seatbelt laws yet.”

Tech bills in 2022

Congress failed to pass some of the most radical elements of technology-related legislation the year before.

Antitrust law and a bill aimed at protecting children were among the legislations that were vetoed.

Antitrust legislation

Early in 2022, lawmakers created a bill that specifically targeted Apple’s and Google’s app stores for mobile devices.

The legislation also placed limitations on developers.

The American Innovation and Choice Online Act was advanced, which has some of the same objectives.

The Act forbids larger companies from unfairly treating or preferring their own products over those of competitors.

The plan states that developers would not be required to use the platform’s payment method for distribution if the app store had more than 50 million US users.

Additionally, app developers cannot be punished for selling their products elsewhere for a lower price.

Kids Online Safety Act

In November, bipartisan legislation was launched by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal to put regulations on websites that children 16 and younger can view.

The proposed law would compel platforms to restrict content that could cause minor users bodily injury or psychological trauma, including the following:

  • Self-harm/suicide
  • Encouragement of addictive behavior
  • Enabling online bullying
  • Predatory marketing

Additionally, websites have to follow the law’s requirements regarding connection restrictions and default privacy settings.

Even after the legislation underwent changes, several organizations still opposed it.

Read also: Sherrod Brown looking to have cryptocurrency banned in the US

Change

There is still a patchwork of state rules dictating how to maintain customer data, even though Congress made significant progress toward a consensus measure on national privacy standards in 2022.

Many of the bills that have reached the Senate floor enjoy bipartisan support, according to Senator Amy Klobuchar.

However, she cautioned that the tremendous influence of the tech industry might cause huge bipartisan support to collapse over the next 24 hours.

According to Klobuchar, the American people won’t demand social media company reform until they declare that “enough is enough.”

“We are lagging behind,” said Klobuchar.

“It is time for 2023, let it be our resolution, that we finally pass one of these bills.”

References:

More social media regulation is coming in 2023, members of Congress say

Huawei says it would never hand data to China’s government. Experts say it wouldn’t have a choice

Senate committee advances bill targeting Google and Apple’s app store profitability

Kids Online Safety Act may harm minors, civil society groups warn lawmakers

TikTok receives ban on government devices

Claire Peterson Claire Peterson on December 26, 2022

Image source: NY Times

TikTok: It’s a new step that the bipartisan spending agreement will forbid TikTok from being utilized on equipment used by the government.

On Friday, the legislation was approved by both Houses of Congress.

The decision highlights the growing anxiety surrounding the popular video-sharing app, which is owned by the Chinese corporation ByteDance.

The bill

President Joe Biden has not yet given his approval to the bipartisan spending plan.

It urges e-commerce retailers to conduct more research to halt the sale of counterfeit goods online.

The measure also increases the filing fees for companies seeking to merge with federal antitrust regulators.

However, Congress was unable to pass a number of strict measures aimed at the tech industry, including:

  • Antitrust legislation that requires Apple and Google app stores to give developers more payment options
  • A measure mandating new guardrails to protect children online

In spite of progress made by Congress in 2022 toward a compromise measure on national privacy standards, a patchwork of state laws continue to govern the protection of consumer data.

Reaction to the bill

The Chamber of Progress, a center-left-leaning organization in the tech sector, praised the rejection of many antitrust bills that would have targeted its donors which included:

  • Amazon
  • Apple
  • Google
  • Meta

Following the presentation of the package, Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the Chamber of Progress, made the following official statement:

“What you don’t see in this year’s omnibus are the more controversial measures that have raised red flags on issues like content moderation.”

The company has previously expressed worries about the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, a well-known antitrust statute.

NetChoice, another tech organization, praised Congress for refusing to include unrestrained extremist progressive ideas to alter American antitrust law.

However, the legislation that was enacted by lawmakers as part of the budget package would have an impact on the industry in a number of different ways.

Read also: Sam Bankman-Fried to receive bail for $250 million

TikTok ban

The removal of TikTok from devices provided by the government may have an influence on rival platforms like Snap, Facebook, and Instagram that are fighting for the attention of younger users.

Exemptions from the law are also provided for research, national security, and law enforcement purposes.

Lawmakers and FBI Director Christopher Wray are concerned that TikTok’s ownership structure may expose US user data to Chinese firms that may be required by law to turn over user information.

Although TikTok has often stated that the information it gathers from US users is not kept in China, these assertions have had little impact.

The company has been attempting to come to an agreement with the government through the US Committee on Foreign Investment to allay worries about national security.

A spokesperson for TikTok released the following statement after the announcement:

“We’re disappointed that Congress has moved to ban TikTok on government devices – a political gesture that will do nothing to advance national security interests – rather than encouraging the Administration to conclude its national security review.”

“The agreement under review by CFIUS will meaningfully address any security concerns that have been raised at both the federal and state level.”

“These plans have been developed under the oversight of our country’s top national security agencies – plans that we are well underway in implementing – to further secure our platform in the United States, and we will continue to brief lawmakers on them.”

Mergers

Even though other antitrust measures targeting digital platforms were not included in the end-of-year legislation, a bill that helps raise funds for the antitrust institutions that investigate mergers did.

The Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act raises the filing fee that companies pursuing significant mergers must pay to the antitrust agencies in order to comply with the law’s requirements.

Additionally, the bill lowers the cost of smaller fees and allows for yearly charge adjustments in accordance with the CPI.

The measure’s targeted beneficiaries are the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division.

Both have seen a large increase in merger filings over the past few years without adequate budget increases.

Despite falling short of antitrust groups’ hopes, the measure incorporating the merger filing fee was praised.

According to Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, the bill would strengthen antitrust law for the first time since 1976.

“This is a major milestone for the anti-monopoly movement,” said Miller.

“Big Tech, Big Ag, and Big Pharma spent extraordinary sums in an unprecedented effort to keep Congress from delivering on antitrust reform and undermine the ability of state and federal enforcers to uphold the law – and they lost.”

The bill’s proponent, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, claimed that updating merger fees after decades is vital to provide antitrust enforcers with the resources they require to carry out their duties.

“This is clearly the beginning of this fight and not the end,” she said.

“I will continue to work across the aisle to protect consumers and strengthen competition.”

Read also: Twitter and Elon Musk sued by former workers

Tech impact on children

The bill contains the Children and Media Research Advancement (CAMRA) Act.

It authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to do research on how media and technology affect young children, teenagers, and infants.

According to the law, the following technological advancements may have an effect on physical, mental, and cognitive health:

  • Social media
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Video games
  • Virtual reality

The director of the National Institutes of Health must provide a report to Congress on the organization’s operations within two years of the law’s adoption.

Reference:

TikTok banned on government devices under spending bill passed by Congress

Drag in danger as Tennessee law seeks to ban shows

Nicholas Alexander Nicholas Alexander on November 11, 2022

Image source: Local Memphis

Drag has been on the rise for the past few decades but now shows in Tennessee are in danger of being banned.

Reports say Tennessee Republicans want to ban drag shows on public or private property.

The report

In a reverse turn of events, GOP members introduced a bill that would make drag appearances a crime if legislated.

Under Bill SB.3, charges range from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Although the bill is broad, it ranges from comedy to drag shows to story hours at local libraries.

Read also: President Joe Biden wary of Elon Musk

Statements

Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson makes it clear that the laws will identify those in drag.

“I don’t want to ban a theater company from doing a production of Mrs. Doubtfire in a public park,” he said.

“Most people have seen that movie where Robin Williams was dressing up as a woman. We don’t have an issue with that.”

“We do have an issue with men dressed as women simulating sex acts in public parks in front of kids.”

The bill

If approved, Johnson’s bill will change a Tennessee state law that prevents adult-oriented businesses from operating within 300 meters of a school, public park or a place of worship to include “cabaret shows for adults.”

The law stretches to exotic dancers and “male or female impersonators.”

If the bill passes through the Republican-controlled Legislature and wins Governor Bill Lee’s approval, first-time offenders could be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Additionally, the offense is punishable by up to one year in jail and a harsh $2,500 fine.

Repeat offenders will be charged with a Class E felony, resulting in a harsher sentence for drag queens.

Finally, the sentence could go as high as six years in prison with fines of up to $3,000.

Read also: Hillary Clinton calls out Republicans on their hypocrisy

Jack Johnson

The Tennessee Senate Majority Leader won re-election in the midterm elections and vowed to uphold the state’s conservative values.

One of Johnson’s success factors was his belief that marriage should be the sacred union of a man and a woman.

This week, Jack Johnson joined Tennessee House Majority Leader and fellow Republican William Lamberth to present a new bill.

The bill would prevent doctors from providing life-saving and gender-affirming health care to transgender young people under 18.

Reference:

Republicans submit bill that would criminalize drag performances in Tennessee

Bill for Health, Tax, and Climate Passes the Senate

Claire Peterson Claire Peterson on August 15, 2022

Image source: NBC News

President Joe Biden and his party bagged a significant victory when the Senate passed the $750 billion Democratic Health, Tax and Climate Bill.

The bill

The bill, called the Inflation Reduction Act, represents the most significant climate investment in US history.

It adds significant changes to health policy, giving Medicare the power to negotiate the prices of certain prescription drugs — the first time in history to do so.

In addition, the bill extends the declining health allowance by three years.

The Inflation Reduction Act reduces the deficit, which must be paid for through new taxes, including a minimum 15% tax on large corporations and a 1% tax on share buybacks.

It also increases the collection capacity of the tax authorities.

The bill will generate more than $ 700 billion in government revenue over ten years.

It is also spending more than $ 430 billion to reduce carbon emissions and expand health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and use the remaining new revenue to reduce the deficit.

Read also: Women’s Rights Gets Boost as President Joe Biden Signs Order for Abortion Services

The vote

The party’s final vote was 51-50, in favor of the bill rejected when Vice President Kamala Harris broke the deadlock.

Senate Democrats have shown a united front to pass the legislation, using a single filibuster-proof process to pass the bill without Republican votes.

The latest decision came after a series of controversial changes called “vote-a-rama,” which lasted nearly 16 hours from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon.

How the law was passed in a party-line vote

Senate Democrats are hoping for an opportunity to sign a bill that could include essential items on the party’s agenda.

However, they struggled for months to reach an agreement that could win their faction’s full support.

West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin was instrumental in crafting the legislation.

Things accelerated when he and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer announced a settlement in late July, a big step forward for Democrats after initial negotiations stalled.

On Thursday, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema offered critical support after leaders agreed to amend the new tax proposals.

The senators worked all weekend to make crucial changes to the bill.

To prevent the bill from failing at the last minute, Democrats have devised a plan to acquire Sinema, particularly concerned about the impact of the 15% corporation tax on private equity subsidiaries.

As a compromise, the Democrats in the Senate accepted a more restrictive tax bill.

While the South Dakota Senate has proposed paying GOP Whip John Thune through an amendment to state and local tax deductions, it has extended the limit on the number of losses companies can deduct by an additional two years.

They switched to ensure Coastal District House Democrats don’t break the agreement.

Read also: Americans Abroad Warned to Stay Vigilant, US State Department Wary of Anti-American Violence

Statements

“I think we’ll all benefit from it; the country will,” said Senator Joe Manchin.

“We have energy security, that’s what we’re looking for. And we have the ability to invest in the energy of the future.”

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden praised the Senate for passing the bill.

In a released statement, Biden thanked House Democrats and touted the legislation’s climate investments and health care. The statement reads:

“Today, Senate Democrats sided with American families over special interests, voting to lower the cost of prescription drugs, health insurance, and everyday energy costs and reduce the deficit, while making the wealthiest corporations finally pay their fair share.”

When the Senate passed the bill, Sinema released a statement saying it would “help Arizonans build better lives for themselves and their families by lowering prices, making health care more affordable and accessible, and securing Arizona’s water and energy future.”

Meanwhile, New Jersey representative Josh Gottheimer, who was originally part of the “No SALT, no Deal” caucus, said the bill passed the test because it failed to raise unemployment rates and taxation of individuals.

New Jersey adviser Mikie Sherrill agreed with Gottheimer, saying:

“I will also remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring that any discussion of reforms to the 2017 tax law begins with addressing SALT.”

“Because this legislation does not raise taxes on families in my district, but in fact significantly lowers their costs, I will be voting for it.”

Reference:

Senate passes Democrats’ sweeping health care and climate bill