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Social Media Regulation

All articles tagged with #social media regulation

Internal Meta Messages Reveal Algorithmic Bias in Brazil Election
politics3 days ago

Internal Meta Messages Reveal Algorithmic Bias in Brazil Election

Internal communications from Meta employees, reported by Folha de S Paulo, acknowledge that Instagram restrictions negatively impacted President Lula da Silva’s accounts during the Brazilian election. The messages also confirm that the platform actively recommended the profile and WhatsApp channel of challenger Flavio Bolsonaro. This revelation follows a court order requiring Meta to ensure equal algorithmic treatment for both candidates ahead of the October 25 runoff. Meta denies political interference, attributing the issues to technical glitches, but faces a daily fine of 500,000 reais for non-compliance with the ruling.

via Al Jazeera|
#brazil-election#flavio-bolsonaro#lula
Australia's Digital Duty of Care Bill Forces Tech Giants to Offer Algorithm Off-Switches
technology-and-policy3 days ago

Australia's Digital Duty of Care Bill Forces Tech Giants to Offer Algorithm Off-Switches

The Australian government has introduced the Digital Duty of Care bill into parliament, proposing mandatory 'off switches' for social media algorithms. The legislation aims to allow users to opt out of recommender systems and view only content from accounts they follow, with fines up to A$100m for non-compliance. While proponents argue this restores user control and protects mental health, critics warn of potential censorship and implementation failures, noting that similar measures in the EU and Netherlands have faced low adoption rates due to poor user experience.

via BBC|
#algorithmic-curation#australia#digital-duty-of-care
politics26 days ago

U.S. Embassy Warns Australia’s Algorithm Opt-Out Law Is Censorship

The U.S. Embassy in Canberra has formally warned that Australia’s proposed 'digital duty of care' legislation constitutes censorship, arguing it would restrict the reach of American content and journalists. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the criticism, stating the reforms aim to give users control over algorithmic feeds rather than impose government censorship. Australian MPs from Labor and the Greens condemned the U.S. intervention as unprecedented foreign interference, while the Coalition criticized the bill for vague definitions of harm and excessive ministerial power. The dispute highlights a growing trans-Pacific friction over the regulation of U.S.-based tech giants, with Australia insisting its national interest supersedes U.S. commercial concerns.

via Politico|
#anthony-albanese#australia#digital-duty-of-care
US Embassy Calls Australia’s Algorithm Opt-Out Law 'Censorship' Amid UN Summit
international-relations27 days ago

US Embassy Calls Australia’s Algorithm Opt-Out Law 'Censorship' Amid UN Summit

The US government has formally criticized Australia’s draft digital duty of care laws, labeling the proposed algorithm opt-out requirements as extraterritorial censorship. While Canberra defends the measures as user empowerment, Washington argues they force global platforms to over-moderate protected speech, potentially affecting users worldwide.

via BBC|
#anthony-albanese#australia#digital-duty-of-care
EU Proposes 'Kids Act' to Ban Social Media for Under-13s and Impose Strict Age Gates
technology1 month ago

EU Proposes 'Kids Act' to Ban Social Media for Under-13s and Impose Strict Age Gates

The European Commission has formally proposed the 'EU Kids Act,' a sweeping regulation that would ban social media access for children under 13 and limit teens aged 13 to 15 to one hour of daily use via parental-controlled 'mini accounts.' The legislation requires tech companies to prove their platforms are 'safe by design' or face fines up to 6% of global sales, marking a significant shift in regulatory burden. While the plan aims to protect child wellbeing and curb addictive features like infinite scroll, it faces potential legal challenges over privacy concerns regarding age verification and enforcement difficulties, as seen in Australia. Member states must approve the binding regulation, which would supersede existing national laws in countries like France and Spain.

via BBC|
#age-verification#child-safety#eu-kids-act
EU Commission to Launch Kids Act with Strict Age Gates and Design Bans
technology1 month ago

EU Commission to Launch Kids Act with Strict Age Gates and Design Bans

The European Commission is set to unveil the EU Kids Act, a legislative proposal restricting minors' access to social media, video-sharing platforms, online games, and AI chatbots. The plan mandates a minimum age of 15 for autonomous accounts, bans addictive design features like infinite scrolling, and requires companies to prove compliance through a supervisory fee. While the scope has expanded to include AI companions and gaming, the legislation excludes educational and industrial tools, aiming to standardize safety rules across the bloc.

via Euronews.com|
#age-verification#child-safety#digital-services-act
Meta’s $17.1B Settlement: A Flawed Compromise or Industry Standard?
technology-and-law1 month ago

Meta’s $17.1B Settlement: A Flawed Compromise or Industry Standard?

Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to settle claims that its platforms harmed children, but critics argue the deal is weak. The settlement is contingent on competitors like TikTok and YouTube adopting similar rules, and it does not admit wrongdoing. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are debating how to spend the funds, while shareholders criticize the corporate governance structure that allowed the crisis to occur.

via fortune.com|
#child-safety#mark-zuckerberg#meta
Australia's 'My Feed, My Way' Bill Sparks US Pushback and Big Tech Fines
technology-and-policy1 month ago

Australia's 'My Feed, My Way' Bill Sparks US Pushback and Big Tech Fines

Australia has proposed legislation requiring social media platforms to allow users over 16 to opt out of algorithm-driven feeds, giving them the choice to view only content from followed accounts. The 'My Feed, My Way' initiative, part of a broader 'digital duty of care' framework, aims to protect minors from harmful content and addictive design features. Non-compliance could result in fines up to AU$109.2 million. The move follows a previous ban on under-16 accounts, which had limited success in reducing teen usage.

via AP News|
#algorithm-opt-out#australia#big-tech
Australia Proposes 'My Feed, My Way' Law to Force Algorithm Opt-Outs
technology-and-policy1 month ago

Australia Proposes 'My Feed, My Way' Law to Force Algorithm Opt-Outs

Australia’s government has released draft legislation titled 'My Feed, My Way,' which would require social media platforms to allow users over 16 to opt out of algorithm-driven feeds. The law aims to give users control over their content consumption, limiting them to posts from accounts they actively follow. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to A$109.2 million. This move follows recent global legal actions against major tech firms regarding youth safety and addictive design.

via CNBC|
#algorithm-transparency#australia#big-tech
Tobacco veteran Mike Moore pushes for national social media settlement
technology-and-policy1 month ago

Tobacco veteran Mike Moore pushes for national social media settlement

Former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, a key figure in the 1998 tobacco settlement, is advocating for a comprehensive national agreement with social media companies to address youth addiction. While Meta recently agreed to a $17 billion settlement with state attorneys general, Moore argues this is merely a starting point. He is working with the newly formed Attention Initiative to draft master settlement language that includes a permanent national public education fund. Critics note that unlike tobacco, technology evolves rapidly, making broad regulatory frameworks difficult to implement without unintended consequences.

via CNBC|
#legal-reform#meta-settlement#public-health
Meta's $17B settlement forces industry-wide teen safety reforms after brief trial
technology1 month ago

Meta's $17B settlement forces industry-wide teen safety reforms after brief trial

Meta agreed to a $17 billion settlement with California and other states, ending a brief trial that exposed internal evidence of harm to young users. The deal mandates sweeping changes, including a two-hour daily usage limit for teens, stricter age verification, and alerts for predatory behavior. A portion of the payout is conditional on competitors like TikTok and YouTube adopting similar measures, signaling a shift toward industry-wide regulation.

via Los Angeles Times|
#california-lawsuit#meta#platform-policy
Meta Agrees to $17 Billion Settlement and Decade-Long Youth Safeguards
technology1 month ago

Meta Agrees to $17 Billion Settlement and Decade-Long Youth Safeguards

Meta has agreed to pay approximately $17 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by 52 U.S. attorneys general alleging that Facebook and Instagram were designed to be addictive and harmful to minors. The agreement, reached mid-trial in California, mandates significant platform changes for users under 18, including a two-hour daily usage limit, a 'night mode' that restricts feeds between midnight and 6 a.m., and the removal of like and reaction statistics. Most of these safeguards must remain in place for 10 years, with payments distributed annually. While Meta avoided admitting guilt, the settlement includes the creation of an independent research foundation and an auditor to monitor compliance. Critics note that some features, like disabling autoplay, require manual user action, which may limit their effectiveness.

via CNBC|
#california-ag#legal-settlement#meta