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Tech Platforms

All articles tagged with #tech platforms

technology1 month ago•306 min saved

EU launches centralized online age-check to shield minors

The European Union unveiled a centralized online age-verification app that acts like a digital ID to confirm users’ ages without sharing birthdates or other sensitive data with every site or app. Users upload an ID to verify age (e.g., 16 or 18) and platforms can check eligibility through the app, while keeping personal details private. The system is designed to meet high privacy standards, and EU states can tailor adoption to national laws; under the Digital Services Act, platforms must show they have effective alternative age-verification methods or face sanctions. While officials say the solution will empower guardians and reduce exposure to harmful content, privacy advocates warn about practical and data-collection concerns. The app is technically ready and will be available to EU citizens soon.

via CNN|

#age-verification #digital-services-act #europe

us2 years ago•2 min saved

"Supreme Court's Impact on Social Media and the First Amendment"

The Supreme Court is set to hear cases from Florida and Texas that challenge laws aimed at protecting conservative speech on social media platforms, raising the question of whether these platforms have free speech rights to make editorial judgments. The cases will determine whether tech platforms more closely resemble newspapers, shopping centers, or phone companies in the context of free speech rights. Supporters argue that the laws foster free speech, while opponents claim they infringe on the platforms' own First Amendment rights.

via The New York Times|

#first-amendment #free-speech #social-media

technologypolitics2 years ago•4 min saved

"Senate Passes Kids Online Safety Act with Broad Support"

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has gained enough Senate co-sponsors to pass through the chamber, marking a significant milestone for the legislation. The bill aims to create a duty of care for tech platforms to protect young users and allow them to opt out of algorithm-based recommendations. Changes to the bill's text address concerns about potential censorship and enforcement by state attorneys general. While some advocacy groups have withdrawn opposition, others, including Fight for the Future and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, maintain concerns about potential censorship and filtering of online content. Leading tech platforms like Snap, Microsoft, and X have expressed support for the bill, but it still needs to be brought to a floor vote and work its way through the House.

via The Verge|

#kids-online-safety-act #lgbtq #online-safety

technology2 years ago•6 min saved

Tech Titans Abandon Traditional News, Disrupting the Media Landscape

Major online platforms, including Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), Instagram, and even Google, are distancing themselves from hosting news content, causing a significant decline in traffic and advertising revenue for news organizations. Executives from these tech companies have expressed concerns about the polarizing nature of news content and have made changes that de-emphasize traditional media. This shift has left news publishers scrambling to find alternative sources of traffic, such as intermediate platforms like SmartNews and Flipboard. While Google remains a crucial source of referral traffic, some publishers have seen recent declines, raising concerns about the future reliance on the search giant. Publishers are now exploring other strategies, such as branded newsletters and direct connections with readers, to mitigate the impact of the declining social web.

via The New York Times|

#google #news-industry #silicon-valley

technology2 years ago•1 min saved

"EU Labels Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and TikTok as Big Tech 'Gatekeepers'"

Seven major tech companies, including Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, ByteDance (TikTok), Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp), Microsoft, and Samsung, have acknowledged that they meet the criteria to be considered gatekeepers under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The companies will now be subject to scrutiny by the EU, which will designate specific platform services by September 6. The DMA's rules aim to prevent these companies from locking in users, deciding pre-installed apps, self-preferencing, and require interoperability of messaging apps. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to 10% of worldwide turnover. Apple, in particular, has expressed concerns about privacy and security vulnerabilities, but has reportedly planned to allow third-party app stores in iOS 17 with potential restrictions.

via The Verge|

#compliance #digital-markets-act #eu

technology3 years ago•1 min saved

Supreme Court sidesteps decision on social media liability shield

The Supreme Court declined to address the legal liability shield that protects tech platforms from being held responsible for their users' posts, leaving in place a broad liability shield that protects companies like Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Google's YouTube and Twitter from being held liable for their users' speech on their platforms. The court said it made that decision because the complaint "appears to state little, if any, plausible claim for relief."

via CNBC|

#liability-shield #section-230 #social-media