U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Peter Welch have proposed the first-ever legislation to create a federal agency overseeing digital platforms, the Digital Platform Commission Act.
- This initiative arises amidst escalating calls for more stringent regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media companies.
Why it matters: Big Tech, with its outsized influence over society and economy, has been largely unregulated.
- In response to tech’s unchecked influence on democracy and mental health, this proposed agency will seek to protect consumers, encourage competition, and safeguard public interest.
The bigger picture: This bill follows a precedent of Congress establishing expert, sector-specific federal agencies to manage complex economic sectors, such as the Food and Drug Administration, Federal Communications Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- But: Public outrage forced the closure of the DHS (Disinformation Governance Board) before it could get off the ground. This effort could follow the same fate.