NCTA
Politically Divided FTC Adopts Click-to-Cancel Mandate
Opponents argue the FTC overstepped with the new rules.
New York
New York Signs Social Media Algorithm Block for Minors
The bill requires social media platforms to cease using algorithms for children's online accounts.
FCC
TikTok Fights Montana Ban, FCC Investigates ACP Qualification, Starry Digital Equity Work
A TikTok spokesperson argued that the ban violates the First Amendment.
Energy and Commerce
House Democrats Interrogate TikTok as Montana Moves Toward Complete Ban
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s recent testimony left Congress with more questions than answers.
FCC
Congress Prepares to Reintroduce Privacy Law, GOP Introduces Hatch Act Expansion, $20 Million ECF Round
Lawmakers from both parties highlighted concerns about targeted advertising practices.
Social Media
Must Internet Platforms Host Objectionable Content? Appeals Courts Consider ‘Must Carry’ Rules
Court decisions on Texas and Florida “must-carry” laws disagreed on whether online platforms should be regulated as common carriers.
FSF
Section 230 Interpretation Debate Heats Up Ahead of Landmark Supreme Court Case
Panelists disagreed over the merits of Section 230’s protections and the extent to which they apply.
Biden-Harris Administration
Supreme Court Seeks Biden Administration’s Input on Texas and Florida Social Media Laws
The court has not yet agreed to hear the cases, but multiple justices have commented on their importance.
11 Th Circuit
Noted Classical Liberal Legal Scholar Countenances Regulation of Social Media
Georgetown University professor Randy Barnett said that the ability to post on social media might be a civil right.
BBLO
Reforming Section 230 Won’t Help With Content Moderation, Event Hears
Government is ‘worst person’ to manage content moderation.
Exclusive
Exclusive Drew Clark Column: The Section 230 Disconnect at the Heart of Trump’s New Lawsuit
The speech Democrats view as dangerous and offensive is the same speech that Republicans feel is being silenced.
Florida Social Media Law Halted, Ohio GOP Drops Muni Broadband Ban, Online Privacy Protections For Children
Judge rules against Florida social media law, Ohio GOP cuts muni broadband ban, Democrats want increased child privacy protections.
Explainers
Explainer: With Florida Social Media Law, Section 230 Now Positioned In Legal Spotlight
As Florida’s governor signs new social media law, Section 230 is on a collision course with reform and the law.
Free Speech
Conflicting Arguments on Internet Censorship at Research Session on Free Speech and Societal Harmony
February 22, 2021 – Panelists at a communications research conference on Thursday were divided about how to reconcile free speech rights and regulating disinformation on the internet. The townhall at TPRC48 – which stand for Telecommunications Policy Research Conference – generally followed the Chat
EFF
Supporters of Section 230 Agreed About Concerns, But Counterarguments Dominated Panel Discussion
February 13, 2021 – With many current proposals to revise Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, supporters of the landmark internet law on Tuesday discussed how new proposals could heavily interfere with the First Amendment. The general angst about how people are using the internet badly, c
FCC
Biased Data Causing Racist AI, Free Speech and Digital Advertising, Detroit Suburb Offers Gigabit Network
Facial recognition technology has malfunctioned more frequently for people of color, Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said at the Multicultural Media Telecom and Internet Council event on Wednesday. “Dirty data is a big problem,” he said, and defined that term as missing or wrong
