Don't let anyone — not even the US Secretary of State — tell you that the European Commission's €120 million enforcement against Elon Musk’s X under the Digital Service Act is about censorship, writes Daphne Keller. It’s just the EU enforcing some normal, boring requirements of its law, she says.

Scream it from the roof tops!

Folks who care about social media research, data access, and data ethics issues should be sure to check out this new report on research use of data from high-reach individuals from @annalenhart.bsky.social Lenhart and Brandon Silverman. iddp.gwu.edu/performing-a...

Publicly available social media data may appear low-risk, but it raises complex privacy questions, writes @annalenhart.bsky.social. A new report, “Performing in Autonomy Theater: Perspectives of High Profile Figures,” explores this issue and outlines ethical guidelines for researchers to follow.

🖥️ 📈 The SMM market thrives on secrecy. Some tools have privileged access, most scrape, few disclose. We need standards that put the public interest first. Read the report by @cmilez.bsky.social, @brandonsilverman.bsky.social, and @annalenhart.bsky.social at iddp.gwu.edu/dashboard-data-acquisition

New @gwiddp.bsky.social report: 250+ tools track what we see online. Big brands pay $$$ for insights, but researchers & the public are less considered. That imbalance has to change. #DataTransparency iddp.gwu.edu/dashboard-da...

This spring we (IDDP) hosted workshops on designing a new digital regulator ('FDA for AI'), it was really fun and generative. The Summary Report is here iddp.gwu.edu/designing-ne...

For now…

GWU IDDP organized a Council to reflect on the comments submitted to NTIA’s Request For Comment (RFC) regarding Ethical Guidelines for Research Using Pervasive Data. Check out the findings here: iddp.gwu.edu/ethical-use-...

stop 👏 anthropomorphizing 👏 the 👏 chatbot 👏

The next digital frontier: Europe must decide how to respond to America’s “Tech Right.” Understand the risks to democracy so we can shape a stronger, fairer digital future together. 🌍📢 Register now for our event in one week with @annalenhart.bsky.social! 👇 calendar.boell.de/en/event/ris...

HERE’S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE AI MORATORIUM: They put the amendment in. They took the amendment out. They put the amendment in and they shook it all about. They did the Hokey Pokey and they turned themselves around. That’s what the Senate’s all about.

Spread the word! 3rd and final New Digital Regulator Workshop (Virtual, July 17th). Let your recent civil servant friends know! iddp.gwu.edu/calling-all-...

Calling All Recent Civil Servants: Design Thinking and Networking Workshop. IDDP is hosting a series of workshops. The first one was really fun, generative and fostered several new connections. Next workshop on June 13th, please share with your DC networks! gsl.one/mICCpNd

Agree with Dr. Roberts —Harvard has been surprising me. More of this please!

States are and will reference international standards. We should think about building infrastructure so states (and civil society) can make those standards stronger…instead of erasing state “AI laws”. techpolicy.press/do-we-need-a...

“AI is new” has been a dangerous narrative since lawmakers embraced it—first it led to silly insight forums and erasure of Congressional efforts, now it is being used to attempt to erase state consumer protection laws. Fight this narrative!

What is extra frustrating about this is that the people who will most struggle with increased energy costs are the people least likely to be using or benefiting from generative AI tools. Sigh.

Recent civil servants! IDDP still has space at our upcoming 'New Digital Regulator' idea workshop/networking activity. Join us! iddp.gwu.edu/calling-all-... #GovTech #DigitalGov #TechPolicy

Hi Friends, I could use help circulating this workshop among recent civil servants. IDDP wants to engage civil servant's unique expertise into designing a 'New Digital Platform Regulator' (we are imagining a brighter future one afternoon at a time): iddp.gwu.edu/calling-all-...

Tech companies are talking about the need to protect the welfare and rights of the AI models they are creating...while at the same time pushing back against any meaningful legislation to protect the welfare and rights of actual humans affected by their AI models. www.axios.com/2025/04/29/a...

Researchers who have had grants terminated--tell your story! The #DefendResearch team is collecting testimonials about this impact of #censorship on research that we will use as part of a toolkit for contacting elected officials. #NSF, #NEH, #NIH www.defendresearch.org/testimonials

Amidst some very dark news, we must hold hope for a time when we are able to build thoughtful, trusted government institutions including a new digital regulator! I’m excited for this conversation:

As an AmeriCorps Alum and active longtime DC Alums board member this news is particularly heartbreaking. AmeriCorps’ values represent the best of us, our communities our ability to see and connect with one another. This is beyond ‘inefficient’ it’s immoral.

Yes! This is the creative thinking and use of power I want from every Member of Congress right now. Be a check on the executive branch, then be a check on the executive branch, then be a check on the executive branch 🔁

Really enjoyed being a part of this symposium and hope this article is the start of a broader conversation and area for brilliant minds across tech policy to collaborate.

Question: has anyone built a tool that allows the public to search all state legislation (like Congress.gov) but for all the states in one place?

Join us and @publiccitizen.bsky.social to discuss the US tech right. We'll examine how the ideological shift in Silicon Valley could alter digital policies and reshape 🇪🇺-🇺🇸 relations in #tech, #democracy, and #trade. Tuesday, April 1 from 9-10 am EDT. 🔗 calendar.boell.de/en/event/dis...

I was able to review NTIA’s recent public Request for Comments (RFC) on Ethical Guidelines for Research Using Pervasive Data, more thoughts soon, but here are some initial themes and takeaways: (1/9)

NTIA is seeking public input on ethical guidelines for researching online data or "pervasive data." @benlennett.bsky.social covers why it matters, what information the agency is seeking, and how to participate.

Hi everyone, I’m in a less public role at the moment (will be more public soon) but in the meantime see my first post from last year.

Special thanks to our contributors @annalenhart.bsky.social, @halcyene.bsky.social, Raktima Roy, and all who participated in the workshop. Read more: ainowinstitute.org/lessons-from...

New Generative AI legislative proposals: Lawmakers have been focused on liability for fraud/content made using generative AI tools and ensuring consumers have rights to their likeness. iddp.gwu.edu/federal-legi...

When it comes to bills proposed in the 118th US Congress that pertain to AI, what were the themes from 2023, and what should we look out for in 2024? @annalenhart.bsky.social is tracking new legislation: www.techpolicy.press/welcome-to-s...

It's #CyberMonday so I updated the list of Federal AI leg introductions. We have the Thune/Klobuchar S.3312 risk assessment and self-cert process overseen by Commerce (listed under risk) and the Warner/Moran S.3205 operationalization of the RMF throughout gov (listed under procurement)

GW IDDP launched a new project tracking platform transparency globally and attempting to measure the Brussels effect of new EU transparency policies. We hope this will be a tool for advocates, and researchers. (Thanks techpolicypress and @justinhendrix.bsky.social)

AI EO has a lot of "standards" and "best practices" this can sound soft but nearly every comprehensive AI regulations requires the creation of standards (see AAA). Standards are “pre-recs” — the more in place, the faster new regulations can go into effect once passed by legislature (state of fed).

A must read for anyone who wants to see the DSA implemented thoughtfully and centered around transparency processes even in crisis.

A few updates to the 118th list of AI bills - we are officially in the era of "every Member needs their own watermark bill" which is fun I guess 🤷‍♀️

Generative AI bill list updated with our first bipartisan approach to addressing the rise of fraudulent identities (POST ID Act):

Lots of additions to the list of “generative AI bills” including use in elections, research investments, intel auth and commentary on data protection #techpolicy

The AI Insight Forums are being framed as a way for Congress to learn about a “new” technology. It's a good time to remember that a) Members can speak directly to experts whenever they like and b) Members have been asking questions on the record about AI for years! Clips here: x.com/annaclenhart...

Watch July's Congressional Internet Caucus briefing: "AI Regulation Roundup" Audio too. Video - https://youtu.be/m4mHK1Q7SAs Audio -https://otter.ai/u/n0gnEwOsUE3nVX1yxdaJnqsioLM PDF - https://www.netcaucus.org/wp-content/uploads/AI-Regulation-Roundup_Transcript.pdf MT @annalenhart.bsky.social

The Hill is in Recess so I took a look at how the generative AI craze is impacting policy proposals (if at all). Here is a new list of generative AI bills from the 118th (will be dynamic for the next 18 mo) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A1bJ1mkIfE3eZuSbDmz3HGVtOvQDegHl53q3ArO7m44/mobilebasic

Senators Propose a Licensing Agency For AI and Other Digital Things @annalenhart.bsky.social digs into Title VI of the proposed Digital Consumer Protection Commission Act of 2023, which would create an "Office of Licensing for Dominant Platforms":

I wrote a “tweet thread” on KOSA and researcher access to social media data but I can’t “thread” here so this is a link https://twitter.com/annaclenhart/status/1684986528223637504?s=46&t=2IKRcwYM-nC-bsTnpDuzqA

Yup, field trip white sands episode is a must listen if you are watching Oppenheimer https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/field-trip/white-sands-national-park/

Does anyone know why when I use this app I am not seeing any tech policy news/discourse? Where is that happening? I’m following most of the crew I followed on Twitter :-(

The Terms-of-Service Labeling, Design and Readability (TLDR) Act, reintroduced today, offers a pathway to consumer understanding and independent oversight of digital services, says @annalenhart.bsky.social:

The “list” has been updated with more proposals from the 117th Congress related to generative AI. In response to popular demand, I added the members that led the introduction of the text. https://techpolicy.press/roundup-of-federal-legislative-proposals-that-pertain-to-generative-ai/