Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Monday he won’t post videos on YouTube unless he’s criticizing the platform or drawing attention to "censorship." “Today I begin my exodus from Big Tech, starting with the worst censor of all, YouTube,” he said in a statement. Private companies have a right to ban users, but those who believe in open discourse should “shun the close-minded censors and take our ideas elsewhere,” he said. He cited YouTube censorship of videos about COVID-19 and masks. His content can be seen on Rumble.com, he said. Google didn’t comment.

Google and Microsoft should remove a website that encourages suicide from search engines, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote the companies Monday (see 2112200073). The companies have “not only the ability but also the legal authority” to remove the site from search results under the Good Samaritan provision of Communications Decency Act Section 230, Blumenthal wrote. Microsoft declined comment Tuesday. A Google spokesperson said the platform’s features promote suicide prevention hotlines for users searching for information about suicide. Google has “specialized ranking systems designed to prioritize the highest quality results available for self-harm queries,” and Google blocks such autocomplete predictions, the company said: “We balance these safeguards with our commitment to give people open access to information. We’re guided by local law when it comes to the important and complex questions of what information people should be able to find online.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., acknowledged Friday that the Senate won’t be able to act on the House-passed Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package (HR-5376) this year while talks with centrist Democrats remain at an impasse. The measure includes $500 million for NTIA connected device vouchers, $490 million for next-generation 911 tech upgrades and $300 million for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund (see 2111190042). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and some 85 other groups are urging the Senate to remove the FTC privacy bureau funding (see 2112160038), and the National Emergency Number Association wants the chamber to restore the full $10 billion for NG-911 lawmakers originally proposed. Schumer acknowledged the delay after President Joe Biden said Thursday his talks with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, will “continue next week.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., urged Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to use funding for the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act included in the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and additional money targeted for inclusion in legislation under House-Senate negotiation to “push back against … consolidation” in that industry. The chambers are working to produce a conference bill marrying elements of the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260), which includes $52 billion to boost chipmaking, and a set of similar House-passed measures. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., abandoned efforts (see 2111180073) to include S-1260 in the FY 2022 NDAA (S-1605), which the chamber passed Wednesday 88-11. President Joe Biden is expected to sign that measure. “The semiconductor industry has undergone significant consolidation in the last decade,” which “has reduced competition” and “has harmed consumers by enabling these dominant companies to increase prices and underinvest in key capabilities, which has the effect of also reducing product innovation and product quality,” Warren said in a letter to Raimondo Thursday. Warren praised the recent FTC lawsuit to block Nvidia buying Arm from Softbank (see 2112030002), but believes “the U.S. government has other tools beyond antitrust enforcement that could increase competition, protect consumers and workers, and promote supply-chain resiliency.” She cited S-1260’s proposed $19 billion in FY 2022 and $5 billion in annual funding for FY 2023-26 for incentivizing U.S. chip manufacturing.

The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed the vote Thursday on the nomination of Katherine Vidal to be Patent and Trademark Office director (see 2110290071). Nominees are traditionally held over at least one week after being included on the agenda for the first time. Republicans requested the hold, Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Thursday.

The Senate plans to vote Monday on confirmation for 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judicial nominee Lucy Koh. The chamber voted 51-38 Thursday to invoke cloture on Koh, a U.S. District judge in San Jose who presided over many tech sector intellectual property cases (see 2008190043). The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Koh's nomination in October despite resistance from some Republicans (see 2110280044).

Legislation introduced Thursday would require social media companies to “provide vetted, independent researchers and the public with access to certain platform data.” Introduced by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Chris Coons, D-Del., the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act is intended to increase transparency into companies’ internal data, which was a focus of the recent Facebook whistleblower testimony. Independent researchers would submit proposals to the National Science Foundation, and if approved, the companies would have to provide the “necessary data subject to certain privacy protections.”

House Commerce Committee members hailed passage Wednesday of three 6G and cybersecurity measures by lopsided margins. The House passed the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act (HR-2685) 404-19, the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act (HR-4045) 394-27 and the American Cybersecurity Literacy Act (HR-4055) 408-17. “Together, these bills will promote the secure, thoughtful deployment of our next generation 6G networks, arm Americans with the information and tools they need to protect themselves from cyberattacks, and improve wireless network security in the face of growing cybersecurity attacks on our critical infrastructure,” said House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa. “To ensure America wins the future, it is imperative that we are leading the development of next generation technologies and that our networks are secure,” said committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and subcommittee ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., touted her sponsorship of HR-2685 and HR-4055. “These bills take important steps to ensure our wireless networks are safe and protect the privacy and security of the American people,” she said. HR-2685 would require NTIA to report on cybersecurity of wireless networks and vulnerabilities to cyberattacks and surveillance by adversaries. HR-4045 directs the FCC to establish a 6G task force to provide recommendations on how to ensure U.S. leadership in developing that technology’s standards. HR-4055 would require that NTIA establish a cybersecurity literacy campaign to increase public knowledge and awareness of cybersecurity risks, including best practices for preventing cyberattacks.

Facebook must address “misleading” information regarding targeted advertising for teens, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., wrote the company Monday with Reps. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla. They noted Facebook’s recent announcement about a policy change to “significantly limit” targeted ads for children and teens on the platform. New research shows Facebook “continues to target teens with ads based on those users’ personal information.” The lawmakers asked the company to detail the “process by which targeted ads reach young teens” and address these reported misleading practices. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the company received the letter and cited a statement from last week: “It’s wrong to say that because we show data in our transparency tools it’s automatically used for ads. We don’t use data from our advertisers' and partners' websites and apps to personalize ads to people under 18. The reason this information shows up in our transparency tools is because teens visit sites or apps that use our business tools.”

Two House Commerce Committee subcommittees plan hearings Dec. 1 and Dec. 9 on legislation to “hold Big Tech accountable,” Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., announced Wednesday. The Communications Subcommittee scheduled a hearing Dec. 1 on Communications Decency Act Section 230 and how to “recalibrate the law in a way that better incentivizes responsible actions by tech companies.” The Consumer Protection Subcommittee will meet Dec. 9 on “an array of proposals to enhance transparency, promote online safety, and hold Big Tech accountable.” Legislation to be discussed will be announced the week before each hearing.