[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4Cast #641: Is regulating Big Tech a Herculean task?

Wed Apr 10 10:30:06 EDT 2019

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OPLIN 4Cast #641: Is regulating Big Tech a Herculean task?
April 10th, 2019

[image: Businesswoman pulling stone on the hill] To date, Big Tech has not
been having a great 2019. It's now commonly acknowledged that too few of
these companies have too much influence and power, and now governments are
beginning to discuss how they can either crack down on the tech giants, or
how they can be broken apart entirely, <https://4cast.oplin.org/?p=7476>
This week is no exception, as lawmakers are going to be questioning both
Facebook and Google
<https://thehill.com/policy/technology/437944-lawmakers-to-grill-tech-companies-over-white-nationalism>
about how they may be fueling the rise of white nationalism in the United
States.

Regulating massive technology companies isn't going to be an easy job, but
some governments are already making inroads. Needless to say, the companies
threatened with fines and regulation are not happy.

   -
   - How France's new digital minister plans to regulate tech
   <https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/03/how-frances-new-digital-minister-plans-to-regulate-tech/>
   [TechCrunch] " On this topic, Cédric O has a subtle stance that involves
   cooperation between European countries, a clear regulatory framework and a
   new type of regulator. He doesn’t necessarily want to break them up. "
   - The Week in Tech: Facebook Is Desperate to Shape Tech Regulation.
   Should It?
   <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/technology/tech-regulation-antitrust.html>
   [The New York Times] "So who’s right? Mr. Zuckerberg, at least when he
   says regulatory intervention is inevitable. There’s strong bipartisan
   support for such regulation. As for where a line should be drawn, that’s
   harder to say. "
   - UK to tech execs: Clean up your platforms or face 'substantial' fines
   <https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/07/tech/uk-social-media-regulations/index.html>
   [CNN] "The penalties were set out Monday in a government position paper
   <https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/793360/Online_Harms_White_Paper.pdf/>
that
   says the United Kingdom will make internet companies legally responsible
   for unlawful content and material that is damaging to individuals or the
   country. "
   - Tech companies warn U.K. to consider free speech as it proposes fines
   for harmful content
   <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-technology-202/2019/04/08/the-technology-202-tech-companies-warn-u-k-to-consider-free-speech-as-it-proposes-fines-for-harmful-content/5caad9411b326b0f7f38f34a/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4be1c0bd42d5>
   [The Washington Post] " Some categories of content the proposal targets in
   its white paper -- such as terrorist activity and child exploitation-- are
   clear cut under the law. But others, such as disinformation and
   cyberbullying, are far murkier. So tech companies are calling on
   policymakers to provide clearer legal definitions for content that must be
   removed, before imposing any kind of rule that could impact free speech. "

*From the Ohio Web Library <http://ohioweblibrary.org>:*

   - Big tech regulation must learn from history, Microsoft urges
   <http://proxy.oplin.org:2054/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cmh&AN=DOC74QART1B1XYZDTQD85B>
   ( Paul Smith. (2019, April 2). Big tech regulation must learn from history,
   Microsoft urges. *Australian Financial Review*, p. 19. )
   - Trump cited my Google study. But I oppose regulation
   <https://proxy.oplin.org:2111/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bwh&AN=wapo.15bdaae2-abaa-11e8-8f4b-aee063e14538&site=ehost-live>(
   Paula Bolyard. (8AD 2018). Trump cited my Google study. But I oppose
   regulation. *Washington Post, The*.)
   - Mark Zuckerberg Survived Congress. Now Facebook Has to Survive the FTC
   <https://proxy.oplin.org:2111/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=129036627&site=ehost-live>
   ( Steinmetz, K. (2018). Mark Zuckerberg Survived Congress. Now Facebook Has
   to Survive the FTC. *Time.Com*, )

------------------------------
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