Bennet proposes new agency to tackle American ‘misinformation’ and ‘hate speech’.

Proposed Bill Would Create Federal Agency to Regulate AI and Social Media Platforms

A new bill proposed by Democrat Senator Michael Bennet would establish a federal agency with the power to create a council responsible for defining “enforceable behavioral codes” for AI and social media platforms. The council would also include “disinformation” specialists. The Digital Platform Commission Act (DPCA) would create a “Ministry of Truth” called the Federal Digital Platform Commission, which would monitor public discourse 24/7 to combat “hate speech” and “misinformation.” The agency would have five commissioners chosen by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate. The Federal Digital Platform Commission would have the power to impose civil fines on anyone who departs from predetermined narratives set by Democrat officials.

Unconstitutional and Evil

The bill would violate the First Amendment, according to civil rights lawyer Harmeet Dillon. She tweeted that the bill is “unconstitutional, also evil and stupid.” The proposed legislation would also create a Code Council as a member of the Commission, whose role would be to develop voluntary or enforceable behavioral codes, technological standards, or other policies, such as accountability and transparency for algorithmic processes. The Council would be comprised of 18 members, including representatives from digital platforms or their associations, non-profit organizations, academics, and subject matter experts with expertise in disinformation, consumer protection, privacy, competition, and technology policy.

Protecting Consumers and Regulating Digital Platforms

Bennet’s proposed bill aims to protect consumers against “addictive design features or harmful algorithmic processes.” The legislation would create an expert federal body empowered to provide comprehensive, sector-specific regulation of digital platforms to protect consumers, promote competition, and defend the public interest. Bennet argues that technology is harming children and undermining democracy while operating unchecked. He believes that the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice lack the necessary resources and qualified employees to offer “robust and sustained” regulation of the digital platform industry.

Issues to Address

The proposed bill aims to address several issues, including undermining small businesses, aiding in the destruction of “trusted” local journalism, facilitating addiction, disseminating hate speech, undermining privacy, monetizing personal data, radicalizing people, and expressing any form of racism or misogyny. However, the bill would clearly violate the First Amendment, according to civil rights lawyer Harmeet Dillon.