Representatives from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube denied their business models are based on maximizing user engagement, during a hearing Tuesday in which members of both parties raised concerns. The power of social media companies over people’s lives is “of great concern” to a wide number of legislators, Senate Privacy Subcommittee Chairman Chris Coons, D-Del., told us. “Exactly what statutory, regulatory or voluntary measures can best address it, I think it would be premature after the first hour of our first hearing to say I have an endgame in mind.”
Representatives from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube denied their business models are based on maximizing user engagement, during a hearing Tuesday in which members of both parties raised concerns. The power of social media companies over people’s lives is “of great concern” to a wide number of legislators, Senate Privacy Subcommittee Chairman Chris Coons, D-Del., told us. “Exactly what statutory, regulatory or voluntary measures can best address it, I think it would be premature after the first hour of our first hearing to say I have an endgame in mind.”
SpaceX's license modification approval, released Tuesday, has conditions including requirements it coordinate with radio astronomy observatories and regularly report close passes in orbit involving, in addition to restrictions on how it uses the 12 GHz band. These was as expected (see 2104260044). Some critics of the license mod saw good news in the terms.
President Joe Biden’s executive order authorizing new Russian sanctions represents a significant expansion of U.S. sanctions authority and paves the way for more trade restrictions in the coming months, law firms said. The measures will cause some companies to rethink their trade ties to Russia, the firms said, especially as tensions between the two countries continues to rise.
Investors trying to push better lobbying disclosures at communications, media and tech companies through shareholder proxy proposals face a steep uphill climb. Annual reports detailing lobbying spending and strategy were put on the yearly shareholder meeting agendas for Amazon, Boeing, Charter and Disney. They were rejected at Boeing and Disney. Experts told us odds of approval generally are slim.
Investors trying to push better lobbying disclosures at communications, media and tech companies through shareholder proxy proposals face a steep uphill climb. Annual reports detailing lobbying spending and strategy were put on the yearly shareholder meeting agendas for Amazon, Boeing, Charter and Disney. They were rejected at Boeing and Disney. Experts told us odds of approval generally are slim.
A unanimously approved FCC order requiring disclosures on broadcasts of content sponsored by foreign governments has more relaxed diligence requirements than the draft version, agency officials told us. It may not have loosened enough to satisfy industry, sector officials said. “We streamlined the nature and frequency of the compliance requirements placed on the broadcasters,” said Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey on a media call Thursday after the commissioners' meeting. NAB said the order didn’t sufficiently focus on the “handful” of stations airing foreign government-sponsored programming and creates burdens “for the vast majority of broadcasters that do not air this content.” Broadcasters indicate a legal challenge is possible (see 2104200074).
Disagreement on enforcement through private lawsuits threatens to derail two state privacy bills. The Washington state legislature ends regular session Sunday, and the Florida legislature closes April 30. Each state’s House supported including a private right of action, while their Senates seek only attorney general enforcement. Either state could become the third to pass a comprehensive law, after California and Virginia.
Disagreement on enforcement through private lawsuits threatens to derail two state privacy bills. The Washington state legislature ends regular session Sunday, and the Florida legislature closes April 30. Each state’s House supported including a private right of action, while their Senates seek only attorney general enforcement. Either state could become the third to pass a comprehensive law, after California and Virginia.
Disagreement on enforcement through private lawsuits threatens to derail two state privacy bills. The Washington state legislature ends regular session Sunday, and the Florida legislature closes April 30. Each state’s House supported including a private right of action, while their Senates seek only attorney general enforcement. Either state could become the third to pass a comprehensive law, after California and Virginia.