The Senate Commerce Committee plans a confirmation hearing in April for FTC nominee Lina Khan (see 2103220056), Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us, calling Khan a “strong nomination.” Meanwhile, Commissioner Christine Wilson and former FTC officials credited acting Chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter for forming a new rulemaking group within the General Counsel’s Office (see 2103250056).
The Washington House broke with the Senate again on enforcement issues that stymied past state privacy legislation. Before voting 11-6 at a livestreamed meeting to clear SB-5062, the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee adopted by voice an amendment by Chair Drew Hansen (D) that included adding a private right of action and sunsetting a right-to-cure provision after one year. Municipal broadband and 988 bills advanced in later meetings Friday.
Facebook, Google and Twitter support Communications Decency Act Section 230 proposals to increase content moderation transparency, their respective CEOs, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Jack Dorsey, told House Commerce Committee members Thursday during a virtual hearing. Noting Zuckerberg’s support for “thoughtful changes” to 230 (see 2103240076), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, asked the Facebook chief for specific proposals. Zuckerberg supported two specific changes, saying Congress should be careful about removing protections for smaller companies.
More industry groups urged the Commerce Department in docket 210113-0009 to delay implementing an interim final rule on securing the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain. The Information Technology Industry Council previously sought a delay, while Microsoft proposed an alternative (see 2103230062).
Communications Decency Act Section 230 “would benefit from thoughtful changes,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to tell House Commerce Committee members during Thursday’s virtual hearing (see 2103190054). Google CEO Sundar Pichai defends the statute in prepared testimony, saying recent proposals could have unintended consequences. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey instead focuses on transparency, procedural fairness, algorithmic choice and privacy.
Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is pressing to get the FCC’s first version of broadband maps ready in four months, which Commissioner Brendan Carr supports. Experts said in recent interviews that it's doable to get something out, but the kinds of maps the FCC needs will likely take much longer. The maps are considered critical to the 5G Fund auction and the next phase of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Those representing smaller carriers, likely to contend for the 5G Fund, were hopeful but uncertain that maps can be developed in a tight time frame.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., will introduce legislation, potentially this week, to amend Communications Decency Act Section 230 liability protections, giving consumers the ability to sue when harmed by illegal online content, she said Monday (see 2009240062). Her Online Consumer Protection Act will be part of the discussion when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testify Thursday before House Commerce Committee members (see 2103190054), said Schakowsky during an event hosted by Common Sense Media and the Real Facebook Oversight Board.
House Commerce Committee members divided on broadband and next-generation 911 language in Democrats’ Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act during Monday's hearing. Republicans indicated they may not support HR-1848 without significant changes. A similar partisan divide was on display last week during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on federal connectivity programs (see 2103170068).
The FTC shouldn’t police speech, but it can enforce whether platforms are honoring terms of service through content moderation and Communications Decency Act Section 230 activity, FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson said Friday. Speaking on a Free State Foundation webcast, she said Section 230 blanket immunity is an intrusion into the market with a significant impact on competition.
The FTC needs to review past agency antitrust analysis to determine where tools have been misused and what predictions have been incorrect, acting Chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter told the House Antitrust Subcommittee Thursday. She responded to Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., and ranking member Ken Buck, R-Colo. Those lawmakers' opening remarks questioned FTC reported reluctance in 2013 to pursue an antitrust lawsuit against Google, despite a recommendation from agency investigators.