Platforms

In a November 21 FedSoc Blog post, the Phoenix Center’s Lawrence J. Spiwak convincingly argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024) eliminated the Federal Communications Commission’s power to make binding authoritative legal interpretations of federal statutes. However, Mr.

Federal agencies have already begun leveraging AI to empower existing agency missions and streamline programs. While use cases vary in application and maturity, the benefits of responsible government use of AI are potentially transformative. However, irresponsible or improper use fosters risks to individual privacy, security, and the fair and equal treatment of all citizens by their government. Key findings include:

Middleware, third-party software intermediaries between users and platforms, offers a promising solution to counter the concentrated power of social media platforms. The term has referred to a variety of technologies and systems over the years, including third-party provider tools that platforms themselves use internally.

Donald Trump is undergoing quite the fêting ahead of his second term—and it’s a whole lot cozier than his descent into Washington eight years ago. Tech titans are pouring millions of dollars into his inauguration and parading through West Palm Beach for meetings with the president-elect. 

The internet loves a good neologism, especially if it can capture a purported vibe shift or explain a new trend. In 2013, the columnist Adrian Wooldridge coined a word that eventually did both.

Journalism is facing a trust crisis. Audiences are increasingly skeptical that mainstream media serves their interests and are turning their attention away from traditional news outlets. Meanwhile, online content creators who engage in journalist-style work are building huge, loyal audiences that eclipse those of traditional media. This shift in attention can be attributed, in part, to the different types of relationships that journalists and creators have with their audiences. This paper examines these relationships through the lens of trustworthiness.

Two years ago, a New York company enforced an “attorney exclusion list” at its venues, including Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, sparking a civil rights clash. Using artificial intelligence-enabled facial recognition technology, MSG Entertainment identified lawyers from firms involved in litigation against the company and barred them from entering concerts, shows and ice hockey and basketball games. Naturally, being lawyers, they sued, denouncing the ban as dystopian.

The Federal Communications Commission announced the launch of a major update to the Mapping Broadband Health in America platform, expanding its capacity to analyze the intersection of broadband connectivity and a range of critical health outcomes, including new variables to better examine maternal health.

Amid national concerns about technology’s impact on youth, many teens are as digitally connected as ever. Most teens use social media and have a smartphone, and nearly half say they’re online almost constantly, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted Sept. 18-Oct. 10, 2024. Some key takeaways:

Women have exerted historic levels of influence over technology policy in the past four years, holding prominent roles across the federal government and overseeing major issues including artificial intelligence, antitrust, chip manufacturing and internet connectivity. The Republican sweep in this year’s elections, coupled with at least one key retirement, is poised to usher many out of power—with men set to step in. Incoming changes in the Trump administration represent a setback for women’s representation in top tech roles in government after it had reached unprecedented heights.