Lawmakers Expect More Social Media Regulation in the New Year

Congress approved a bipartisan spending measure in just days banning TikTok from government devicesAdvocates and legislators claim that they will regulate social media companies more in 2015, according to both advocates and legislators.

TikTok is a video sharing platform owned by ByteDance China. It has more than 500,000 users. 1 billion users Every month. Legislators and FBI Director Christopher Wray Many have expressed concerns that TikTok’s ownership structure could make U.S. users data vulnerable since it is owned by companies based out of China. are required by law to hand over user information if the government requests it.

TikTok repeatedly stated that U.S. user information are not stored in China. These assurances have not helped to alleviate concerns.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc. TikTok was compared to “digital fentanyl” Sunday, telling NBC’s “Meet the Press” He believes the ban should be extended nationwide.

“It’s highly addictive and destructive,” He said. “We’re seeing troubling data about the corrosive impact of constant social media use, particularly on young men and women here in America.”

Facebook Frances Haugen a whistleblower stated Sunday that, because similar algorithms are used by social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter, regulators should push for greater transparency as a first step.

Haugen stated that many people don’t realize the U.S. has fallen behind in regulation of social media.

“This is like we’re back in 1965, we don’t have seatbelt laws yet,” She spoke with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Several of the most important tech bills were not passed by Congress in 2022., Included antitrust legislation App stores would need to be created by this. Apple And Google Developers will be offered additional payment options and the ability to pursue legal action. mandating new guardrails to protect kids online. Congress made more progress this year towards a better tomorrow than it has in the past. compromise bill on national privacy standardsHowever, there are only a few state laws that protect consumer data.

Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democratic senator from Minnesota, stated that there is bipartisan support to many of these bill and that many of them have made it to Senate floor. She stated that bills with the tech lobby will not pass because they are so powerful. “strong, bipartisan support” Can fall apart “within 24 hours.”

Klobuchar stated on Sunday that social media companies will only change when Americans are fed up.

“We are lagging behind,” She spoke with NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “It is time for 2023, let it be our resolution, that we finally pass one of these bills.”

— CNBC’s Lauren Feiner contributed to this report