Rep Porter Introduces Bill to Boost Social Media Transparency

Rep Katie Porter (D-CA) introduced legislation to protect social media users from hate speech and increase transparency from tech companies. In 2023, more than half of adults and teens reported being harassed online, up 12% from 2022, but experts lack data to evaluate how well social media companies are protecting users from hate speech. The Digital Social Platform Transparency Act would require social media companies to provide clear and accessible Terms of Service to users and report on internal content regulation processes. Under this bill, data collected about content violations, which include metrics on hate speech, racism, extremism, misinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference, would be available to the public. Additionally, companies must disclose their terms of service agreements, which must contain information on moderation practices and prohibited content, so that users can better understand how to safeguard their online communities.