All articles tagged with #tech policy
A planned AI and cybersecurity executive order was postponed after a top adviser and several tech leaders pushed back against regulation, with Trump noting he dislikes regulation. The delay fuels uncertainty about future AI rules and signals ongoing internal disagreements within government and industry over how to approach AI safety and oversight.
BBC’s investigation shows simple online posts can manipulate AI chatbots (including ChatGPT and Google’s AI overviews) to spread biased or false information on topics like health and finances. Google and other firms are updating anti-spam rules and refining how sources are cited, with signs of caveats and downranking for manipulated content. Experts warn these measures are a game of whack-a-mole, and AI tools may still present a single confident answer, so users should verify AI outputs with multiple sources.
New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez won $375 million against Meta, and a three-week public nuisance trial will decide what remedies Meta must implement on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Proposed measures include age verification, prohibiting end-to-end encryption for users under 18, capping teen use at 90 hours per month, limiting engagement features like infinite scroll and autoplay, and aiming for 99% CSAM detection. The court’s ruling could influence tech regulation and settlements beyond New Mexico, though Meta argues the mandates would threaten privacy and parental rights.
Apple and Google helped kill a California bill that would have forced big platforms to stop privileging their own products. Backed by startups like Y Combinator, the measure collapsed after a major lobbying push by big tech and business groups, including the Chamber of Progress and California Chamber of Commerce. Opponents argued the bill could worsen search results, slow services, and weaken device security, while supporters say it would level the playing field. A revised version could reappear in the future, as concerns over tech power persist and Europe’s rules provide a precedent.
A landmark U.S. trial alleges Meta and Google deliberately engineered addictive features in their platforms to maximize engagement and ad revenue, citing internal memos and tactics like rapid hooks and constant scrolling. The proceedings explore accountability, the ethics of targeted engagement, and possible regulatory responses, including concerns about effects on minors and the broader online ecosystem.
NewsGuard, a firm that rates the reliability of online news outlets, has sued President Trump’s Federal Trade Commission, alleging the agency tried to drive it out of business by barring a major ad agency from using NewsGuard’s ratings in retaliation for disagreements with its assessments. The company frames the move as censorship and argues it violates First and Fourth Amendment rights, illustrating a clash between a government regulator and a private ratings provider over online news credibility.
Capgemini said it will immediately sell its U.S. unit that works with ICE after French officials criticized the contract over immigrant surveillance; a Canadian company also canceled a sale to ICE, signaling growing political pressure on contractors doing business with the agency.
A Wall Street Journal report suggests the EU is drafting legislation to boost tech sovereignty, potentially wielding tools like the Anti-Coercion Instrument to curb U.S. tech dependencies, with the Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy seeking public feedback and EU players like ASML seen as strategic leverage in AI, cloud, and hardware sovereignty.
In Minneapolis, federal ICE agents confront protesters as activists attempt to identify officers while keeping their own identities hidden, sparking a parallel fight over sensitive data, privacy, and accountability that unfolds both in court and on the street near a site tied to a recent ICE-related fatality.
Governor Newsom announced new initiatives in California to foster responsible AI development, including partnerships with top tech policy experts, the launch of the California Innovation Council, and the deployment of Poppy, an AI digital assistant for state employees, aiming to modernize government services and ensure ethical AI use.
The failure of a proposed ban on state-level AI regulation in the US Senate has increased pressure for federal AI rules, as states continue to develop their own regulations amid public support for national standards; the debate highlights political divisions and the challenge of regulating AI at the federal level.
Meta has donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund, marking a significant shift in its relationship with Trump. This move follows a private meeting between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, suggesting Zuckerberg's interest in influencing tech policy under the new administration. This donation is notable given Meta's previous ban on Trump from its platforms following the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew has sought insights from Elon Musk, who has a close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, as a key deadline approaches for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a U.S. ban. While Musk and Chew did not discuss specific strategies for TikTok, Chew has been updating ByteDance executives, who remain cautiously optimistic. The law requiring TikTok's divestment goes into effect on January 19, but Trump, who opposed the law, may attempt to block the ban or facilitate a U.S. buyer deal.
President Trump has been re-elected, prompting analysis of how his administration might impact the tech industry based on his previous term's policies. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's successful acquisition of Twitter is reshaping perceptions of the platform. The article also promotes Stratechery Plus, a subscription service offering in-depth tech analysis and interviews with industry leaders.