In this enlightening discussion, Kate Klonick, an Associate Professor at St. John's University Law School, dives into the shifting landscape of tech regulation as the Trump administration begins its second term. She reveals how Meta is adapting its content policies amid political turmoil and the rising influence of tech giants akin to nation states. Klonick also unpacks the geopolitical tensions between U.S. and Chinese social media strategies, the implications of content moderation, and the challenges of online speech in this new era.
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insights INSIGHT
Internet's Geopolitical Significance
Governments worldwide are increasingly recognizing the internet's power in shaping beliefs and politics.
They aim to regulate or control online spaces, impacting how regular people communicate.
insights INSIGHT
Governments' Understanding of Internet Power
Governments now understand the internet's power without needing deep technical knowledge.
Tech companies, despite their economic leverage, are vulnerable to state power like asset seizures.
insights INSIGHT
Tech CEOs vs. Governments
Tech CEOs act like statesmen, wielding economic leverage but lacking traditional state power.
Governments hold ultimate power, including the ability to arrest CEOs and seize assets.
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In this provocative book, Jack Goldsmith and Tim Wu tell the story of the Internet's challenge to governmental rule in the 1990s and the ensuing battles with governments worldwide. The authors discuss how the original vision of the Internet as a liberating force from government and borders has been uprooted as governments assert their power. They explore cases such as Google's struggles with the French government, Yahoo's capitulation to the Chinese regime, and eBay's struggles with fraud. The book argues that the future of the Internet will reflect the interests of powerful nations and their conflicts, while also highlighting the rediscovery of the importance of territorial government and the rule of law in controlling the Internet.
It’s been a messy couple of weeks for big tech companies as the second Trump administration kicks off an unprecedented era of how we think about who controls the internet. Right now, there's a major collision, or maybe merger, happening between billionaire power and state power, and everyone who uses tech to communicate — so, basically everyone — is stuck in the middle. I sat down with law professor and online speech expert Kate Klonick to break it all down.
Links:
Welcome to the era of gangster tech regulation | Verge
Trump signs order refusing to enforce TikTok ban for 75 days | Verge
Inside Zuckerberg’s sprint to remake Meta for Trump era | New York Times
The internet’s future is looking bleaker by the day | Wired
Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech | Verge
Mark Zuckerberg lies about content moderation to Joe Rogan’s face | Verge
Meta’s ‘tipping point’ is about aligning with power | WashPo
Decoder with Nilay Patel 