D.C. Attorney General Sues Zuckerberg, Carr Criticizes Infrastructure Bill Details, Vermont to Expand Fiber Builds
The lawsuit comes years after Facebook was found to have been used to harvest personal data for political purposes.
Privacy
Federal Communications Commissioner Starks Seeks to Encourage Democratic Principles Online
The commissioner noted the peril democracy and citizen privacy finds themselves in around the world.
Facebook Wins Data Privacy Lawsuit, Carriers Oppose Backup Power Mandates, Action on Suicide Site
A judge ruled Facebook cannot be held liable for securities fraud in data leaks related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Section 230
Social Media Needs to Be Held Accountable to a Higher Standard Than No Standard
February 8, 2021— The spread of disinformation and misinformation can be controlled if the same rules on transparency required of the broadcast industry are applied to social media, an Atlantic Council webinar heard Wednesday. That includes making changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency
Big Tech
Should Conservatives Be For or Against Big Tech? A Question Raised at CES 2021
January 14, 2021 – Big tech companies like Google literally control the flow of information, with significant significant network effects, said Rachel Bovard, a self-described conservative invited to speak at a panel on “What to do about Big Tech” at CES 2021. Speaking at the Consumer Technology Ass
Big Tech
The Techlash May Be Due for a Comeuppance, Say Gigi Sohn and Techdirt Founder Mike Masnick
November 9, 2020 — Two technology policy intellectuals said on Friday at the Reboot conference that the “techlash” may due for a comeuppance. Gigi Sohn, distinguished fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology and Policy, and Techdirt Founder Mike Masnick critiqued the techlash movement a
Privacy
Data Privacy Regulation Will Undergo Subtle But Massive Shift Due to the Coronavirus, Experts Say
April 10, 2020 – Data privacy regulation will undergo a subtle but massive shift due to the coronavirus, according to panelists in a webinar hosted by the Technology Policy Institute on Tuesday. “The pandemic has revealed ways in which tradeoffs need to be made with privacy,” said Jane Bambaur, a la
Broadband's Impact
Pro-Technology Advocates Change More Minds than their Anti-Tech Counterparts During Silicon Flatirons Debate
Pro-tech advocates changed more minds than their anti-tech counterparts at a Silicon Flatirons debate on Sunday. Pro-tech and anti-tech advocates engaged in an Oxford-style debate at the Silicon Flatirons conference, “Technology Optimism and Pessimism” at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Both
Privacy
Panelists Call Federal Privacy Legislation Necessary and Express Optimism Toward That Goal
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2020 – Federal privacy legislation is necessary to ensure standardization of legal treatment, technology experts said Tuesday at the 2020 State of the Net conference. On a panel on “Privacy and Preemption” at the annual tech policy gathering, speakers acknowledged the role of
Privacy
Public Knowledge Blasts Latest Privacy Meltdown, This One at Instagram Affiliate Hyp3r
WASHINGTON, August 8, 2019 – News of another data breach at Facebook marketing partner Hyp3r on Thursday prompted more demands for federal privacy legislation. According to the non-profit group Public Knowledge, Hyp3r collected public records of Instagram users’ geolocation, personal bios, followers
Congress
Historic Facebook Settlement Criticized for Ineffectiveness; FTC Calls For Federal Privacy Law
WASHINGTON, July 24, 2019 — The Federal Trade Commission announced on Wednesday details of its $5 billion settlement with Facebook over privacy violations such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In addition to the fine, the company will have to provide quarterly compliance reports and form an indep
Democratization
U.S. is Falling Behind in Internet Influence to Europe, Russia and China, Cybersecurity Experts Tell Senate
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2018 – The U.S. is falling behind in internet regulation and risks losing the global internet leadership position to the EU, China, and Russia, some internet privacy experts said at a Senate subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. On July 31, the Subcommittee on Communications, Technol
Broadband's Impact
Digital Advertising Experts Square Off on Privacy Against Skeptical Members of Congress
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2018 – Top digital advertising experts defended the importance of data collection against a committee skeptical of ad companies’ ethics. With data privacy increasingly at the forefront of tech policy debate, a June 14 House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the digital ad
Broadband's Impact
Technologist at Heart of Cambridge Analytica Privacy Scandal Defends Himself Before Senate Committee
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2018 – The man behind the app at the heart of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal defended the company’s use of personal data in front of the Senate, claiming he believed there was “almost no chance” that the data helped political campaigns in the 2016 election. The U.S. Senate
Broadband's Impact
Facebook Faces Tough Scrutiny From Many Directions, Even at CATO Institute
WASHINGTON, June 4, 2018 – If the tenor of a Thursday event at the CATO Institute is any indication, Facebook continues to face tough scrutiny from many sides in Washington. Although the event was titled, “Will Social Media Save Democracy?”, the panel instead became a multi-pronged attack on the com
Big Tech
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Began Testimony Before Senate Committee with an Apology for Company’s History
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2018 – After months of seemingly-unending scandal over his company’s role in the 2018 election, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg began his first of two days of testimony on Capitol Hill Tuesday by making it clear he was well aware of the laundry list of problems with the company he
