Biden's win gives tech industry the chance for a Washington reset

Joe Biden's transformation into president-elect Saturday kicks off a new era for tech, giving an industry that's found itself increasingly at odds with government the chance for a reset. Biden's ascent could see the restoration of some tech-friendly Obama-era policies but is unlikely to end the bipartisan techlash that grew during Trump's term. Privacy, surveillance and hate speech online are all on the agenda. Expect little immediate change in the progress of antitrust enforcement against tech companies — including the Justice Department's lawsuit against Google and a possible move by the Federal Trade Commission and/or several states against Facebook. With control of the Federal Communications Commission passing to Democrats, look for:

  • pushes to increase subsidies for universal high-speed internet and possibly to help municipalities build public broadband networks;
  • an effort to revive Obama-era net neutrality rules; and
  • quick rejection of continued action on Trump’s Section 230 executive order.

Tech's Biden-era reset What can Silicon Valley expect from Joe Biden? (FT) Biden’s victory was just what tech wanted. Now what? (Protocol)