March 18, 2021 | 7:20 am EDT by Brooke Singman
Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz and Republican Sen. John Thune on Wednesday rolled out a bipartisan bill that would increase “accountability” for Big Tech companies and enhance transparency regarding content moderation for users, in an effort to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The bill, titled the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act and also known as the “PACT Act,” would preserve the benefits of Section 230 a rule that shields social media companies from being held liable for content on their platforms while allowing them to moderate that content while making “significant reforms” to protect Americans using the platforms.
March 17, 2021 | 5:30 am EDT by Paige Albiniak
Facebook overwhelmingly is the most important social media platform for TV stations, say executives for CBS stations, E.W. Scripps, Nexstar, NBCU stations, Fox stations and Meredith. Broadcasters’ relationship with the platform once widely viewed as a “frenemy” continues to evolve, though the opacity of its all-important algorithm still frustrates.
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Facebook and Amazon Boosted Lobbying Spending in 2020
01/24/2021 | 10:14am EDT
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By Ryan Tracy, Chad Day and Anthony DeBarros WASHINGTON Big technology companies are bracing for a new administration and new scrutiny of their businesses with a time-tested strategy: opening their pocketbooks. Facebook Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. topped all other U.S. companies in federal lobbying expenditures last year, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of the most recent disclosures. It was the second straight year they outspent all other companies, including stalwarts such as AT&T Inc. and Boeing Co. Facebook, facing federal and state antitrust lawsuits as well as a series of hearings summoning CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Washington, spent nearly $20 million in 2020, up nearly 18% from the previous year.
By Amara Omeokwe and Hannah Lang WASHINGTON Labor unions are urging President Biden to move quickly to fulfill his campaign promise to champion organized labor and workers rights, including by pushing for legislation to bolster unionizing efforts. Already, Mr. Biden has taken steps applauded by several labor groups. Yet some of Mr. Biden s early moves could create conflict with business groups and their congressional allies. Mr. Biden has called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and has picked Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a former union leader with close ties to organized labor, for Labor Department secretary.
Democrats are pouring money into the Georgia special election that will determine which party controls the Senate, with candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock together collecting more than $210 million in two months, new fundraising filings show.