Congress eyes new rules for tech: What's under consideration
Most Democrats and Republicans agree that the federal government should better regulate the biggest technology companies, particularly social media platforms
WASHINGTON (AP) — Should TikTok be banned? Should younger children be prevented from engaging with social media? Can the government make sure private information is secure? What about brand new artificial intelligence interfaces? Or should users be regulating themselves, leaving the government out of it?
Tech regulation has been gathering momentum on Capitol Hill amid concerns about China’s ownership of TikTok and as parents are growing increasingly worried about the effects of social media on a post-pandemic mental health crisis. Noting that many young people are struggling, President Joe Biden said in his February State of the Union speech that “it’s time” to pass bipartisan legislation to impose stricter limits on the collection of personal data and ban targeted advertising to children.
Lawmakers have introduced a slew of bipartisan bills to regulate tech, and it’s one of the few major policy issues where Republicans and Democrats generally align, boosting hopes for compromise in a split Congress.
