Tech On The Hill

Ep. 8: Navigating Tech Policy, Free Speech, and China in the Age of TikTok and Social Media

Mar 27, 2024

Policy expert John Bateman from the Carnegie Endowment for Peace discusses the challenges of disinformation in the age of TikTok and social media. Topics include data access, national security risks of Chinese-owned platforms, and the balance between combating disinformation and upholding free speech. The episode concludes with the importance of promoting media literacy and supporting local journalism in navigating the digital information landscape.

30:25

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Episode guests

John Bateman

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Need for empirical evidence in countering disinformation highlighted; focus on TikTok's impact and tech implications.

Importance of maintaining balance in social media regulation for preventing disinformation while upholding free speech.

Deep dives

Challenges in Countering Disinformation

The report discusses the challenges surrounding countering disinformation effectively, highlighting the lack of empirical evidence to support potential solutions. Policymakers worldwide recognize disinformation as a pressing issue, yet the evidence on effective strategies like fact-checking and media literacy education is sparse. Data access challenges on social media platforms hinder research efforts, while broader issues in research funding and incentives contribute to the sparse understanding of disinformation impacts.

Introduction

2min

Challenges in Accessing Social Media Data and Decline of Local Media Outlets

5min

TikTok's Scrutiny in the US

15min

Navigating Challenges of Bipartisanship in Tech Policy and Information Literacy

3min

Exploring Social Media, Media, and AI Literacy in the Digital Age

5min

In this "Tech on the Hill" podcast episode, host Tom Romanoff discusses disinformation with John Bateman from the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, focusing on the impact of TikTok and broader tech implications in society. Bateman introduces a report titled "Countering Disinformation: An Evidence-Based Policy Guide," highlighting the need for empirical evidence in crafting solutions to combat disinformation. The conversation touches on the challenges of data access from social media platforms, the historical context of disinformation, and the decline of local journalism's role in fostering public resilience against false narratives.

The dialogue shifts to TikTok's potential national security risks due to its Chinese ownership and the complexities of regulating such platforms without resorting to bans. Bateman calls for a balanced approach and cautions against acting on unverified claims. Additionally, the podcast covers the impact of recent Supreme Court cases on social media content moderation and research, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balance between preventing disinformation and upholding free speech.

The episode concludes with a consensus on the potential for bipartisan support in promoting media literacy and supporting local journalism, underscoring the necessity of a nuanced understanding of the digital information landscape, including the influence of AI.

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Tech On The Hill

Ep. 8: Navigating Tech Policy, Free Speech, and China in the Age of TikTok and Social Media

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Challenges in Countering Disinformation

Local Media Decline and Misinformation

TikTok, US-China Relations, and Policy Responses

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts