Legislative Action to Reign in Social Media Support for Republicans
Please support this.
I posted an informational link of an article by Thom Hartman about a new study that has just come out. This study statistically shows how Republicans and billionaire social media corporations are supporting Republicans over Democrats with their algorithms. For background, please see my post.
The good news is that we have two senators who are on the ball (Markey and Blumenthal) and have already put together reforms we need:
snip
First, Congress needs to require algorithmic transparency, as I suggested in The Hidden History of Big Brother in America. Senators Markey and Blumenthal have introduced excellent bills demanding that platforms disclose how their recommendation systems weight political content and forcing them to submit to fully independent audits. Given the political power these platforms and their billionaire owners command and how they’ll fight to hang onto it, none of these types of bills will pass without sustained public pressure.
Second, we need to repeal or substantially reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act so that algorithm-driven platforms are treated legally like the publishers they are, rather than like the telephone wires they used to travel over.
Third, the Justice Department’s antitrust division needs to be unleashed against the handful of companies that now control the political conversation in America. Standard Oil was broken up in 1911. AT&T was broken up in 1984. There is nothing about Meta, X, or Google that makes them more sacred that these behemoths that preceded them.
snip
Please call your senators today at the Capitol switchboard:
(202) 224-3121
Tell them you want algorithmic transparency legislation and Section 230 reform.
Another item is to check your voter registration at vote.org.
Check on your state-level legislators at openstates.org.
Tell everyone you know that science has now proven that the 2024 election wasn’t a free and fair contest of ideas. I, for example, am making up my own handout which I will take to the weekly demonstrations I attend.