14 votes

Leaked white paper proposes Congressional regulation of social media

18 comments

  1. [7]
    arghdos
    Link
    The proposals in here: Label bot accounts as such, do more to identify anonymous accounts. Put punishments in place for platforms that fail to prevent re-uploading of content previously removed...

    The proposals in here:

    1. Label bot accounts as such, do more to identify anonymous accounts.
    2. Put punishments in place for platforms that fail to prevent re-uploading of content previously removed for harassment.
    3. A vague idea of implementing the 'right to be forgotten' on the web.

    Some fairly weak tea, all things considered but at least someone's thinking about how to solve this issue

    12 votes
    1. [7]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [6]
        Amarok
        Link Parent
        Indeed. Remember that the majority of our elected (and I use that term loosely) representatives don't even use email. Let that sink in for a minute. It means that the internet is an out-of-context...

        Indeed. Remember that the majority of our elected (and I use that term loosely) representatives don't even use email.

        Let that sink in for a minute. It means that the internet is an out-of-context problem for most of them. That literally guarantees the legislation will be a disaster... even without the lobbying mucking things up.

        11 votes
        1. [5]
          demifiend
          Link Parent
          Does anybody use email nowadays? Christ on a Harley, I can't even get my wife to email me. I kinda miss getting email from actual people, instead of "important messages" from...

          It means that the internet is an out-of-context problem for most of them. That literally guarantees the legislation will be a disaster... even without the lobbying mucking things up.

          Does anybody use email nowadays? Christ on a Harley, I can't even get my wife to email me. I kinda miss getting email from actual people, instead of "important messages" from "no-reply@capitalistpigs.com" and the like.

          Let that sink in for a minute. It means that the internet is an out-of-context problem for most of them. That literally guarantees the legislation will be a disaster... even without the lobbying mucking things up.

          At this point, I'd rather see Congress fuck with the internet than legislate in areas where they can do real harm.

          2 votes
          1. [4]
            Amarok
            Link Parent
            I think we need a solution to help congress out. Perhaps a three joint minimum for the house, and a three drink minimum for the senate? It'd certainly make C-SPAN more interesting.

            I think we need a solution to help congress out.

            Perhaps a three joint minimum for the house, and a three drink minimum for the senate? It'd certainly make C-SPAN more interesting.

            2 votes
            1. [3]
              demifiend
              Link Parent
              Maybe feed them the fumes through the HVAC system? Get everybody stoned?

              I think we need a solution to help congress out.

              Maybe feed them the fumes through the HVAC system? Get everybody stoned?

              1 vote
              1. [2]
                Amarok
                Link Parent
                I'm only partly joking. When you are that high, or that drunk, lying becomes very difficult. :P

                I'm only partly joking. When you are that high, or that drunk, lying becomes very difficult. :P

                2 votes
                1. demifiend
                  Link Parent
                  I've been that high, and that drunk. Lying is easy, The hard part is keeping your lies consistent.

                  I've been that high, and that drunk. Lying is easy, The hard part is keeping your lies consistent.

                  2 votes
  2. [5]
    Neverland
    Link
    Inside that article is a link to the source with much more detail: https://www.axios.com/mark-warner-google-facebook-regulation-policy-paper-023d4a52-2b25-4e44-a87c-945e73c637fa.html
    6 votes
    1. [4]
      Amarok
      Link Parent
      ... and this is why title and link editing will be useful features in the future. ;)

      ... and this is why title and link editing will be useful features in the future. ;)

      4 votes
      1. [3]
        Neverland
        Link Parent
        As long as eveyone who voted or commented on it was notified!

        As long as eveyone who voted or commented on it was notified!

        3 votes
        1. [2]
          Amarok
          Link Parent
          It'd show up in the "Topic Log" over there along with reasons. ---> You're probably wondering why that right sidebar is even here on the comment threads, since it's so empty right now. It won't be...

          It'd show up in the "Topic Log" over there along with reasons. --->

          You're probably wondering why that right sidebar is even here on the comment threads, since it's so empty right now. It won't be empty forever. ;)

          3 votes
          1. Neverland
            Link Parent
            Oh yeah, I added some tags the other day and noticed that it wasn’t empty anymore.

            Oh yeah, I added some tags the other day and noticed that it wasn’t empty anymore.

            1 vote
  3. demifiend
    (edited )
    Link
    Oh, please. I can barely tell the difference between a right-winger on Twitter and a Palestinian suicide bomber. They're both equally hungry for martyrdom, so the only real difference is that the...

    With the way people are policing twitter now and looking for anyone to throw under the social justice bus.

    Oh, please. I can barely tell the difference between a right-winger on Twitter and a Palestinian suicide bomber. They're both equally hungry for martyrdom, so the only real difference is that the right-wingers are too chickenshit to die for their cause.

    People are already beginning to limit what they say on social media.

    Good. Maybe corporate social media will finally die its long-overdue death as a result. It's not like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Tumblr actually made the Web a better place.

    6 votes
  4. [3]
    EscReality
    (edited )
    Link
    @Deimos I would be interested to hear how you feel about this subject. I know it's not technically your government, but it would obviously effect us all.

    @Deimos

    I would be interested to hear how you feel about this subject. I know it's not technically your government, but it would obviously effect us all.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      Deimos
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I haven't read the actual PDF, but in general I feel like this sort of thing is (somewhat) well-meaning but so clueless towards the actual details of implementing any changes that it would be...

      I haven't read the actual PDF, but in general I feel like this sort of thing is (somewhat) well-meaning but so clueless towards the actual details of implementing any changes that it would be completely unrealistic anyway. The issues that they seem to be concerned about definitely are important ones, but approaches like "require bots to be labeled as bots" fall apart as soon as you get past the very surface level.

      Overall, I don't know if it's a situation that can ever really be solved through regulation. Regulation moves so slowly, technology changes so quickly, and so much of the regulation is done by people that don't even have a strong understanding of what they're regulating.

      11 votes
      1. rake_tm
        Link Parent
        And that is when it ends up being written by lobbyists.

        so much of the regulation is done by people that don't even have a strong understanding of what they're regulating

        And that is when it ends up being written by lobbyists.

        3 votes
  5. [2]
    Nivlak
    Link
    I think this is inevitable. With the way people are policing twitter now and looking for anyone to throw under the social justice bus. People are already beginning to limit what they say on social...

    I think this is inevitable. With the way people are policing twitter now and looking for anyone to throw under the social justice bus. People are already beginning to limit what they say on social media.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      Comment removed by site admin
      Link Parent
      1. Neverland
        Link Parent
        I apologize for this low effort comment, but I agree with you 100%.

        I apologize for this low effort comment, but I agree with you 100%.

        3 votes