Google

Facebook, Twitter, and Google Testify about Russia Meddling

By Jacqueline McGuinness, J.D. Candidate 2017 | Posted on

This week, Facebook, Twitter, and Google testified before the House and Senate Committees about Russia’s interference with the 2016 election.  These hearings revealed that an estimated 126 million Americans were exposed to content disseminated on Facebook generated by a Russian government-linked Troll Farm.  During the hearing, lawmakers asked pressing questions about why it is so easy to spread misinformation on their platforms and how these companies plan to protect their platforms against use hostile to U.S. values.

These social media companies and Congress seem to agree that online political ads require greater oversight, though there is disagreement regarding whether internet companies can adequately self-regulate these ads.

For years, the government has given online companies much freedom for innovation and growth, with little government interference.  But the recent Russian investigations have opened the door to increasing congressional discussions about regulating online advertising.

Republicans and Democrats complain that it has taken Facebook a year to reveal how many Americans were exposed to Russia-linked content, and that Facebook, Twitter, and Google do not grasp the threat that foreign election interference poses to U.S. democracy. Accordingly, House and Senate bills are calling for greater regulation of online political ads. Three senators have introduced a new piece of legislation called the Honest Ads Act, which would require online social media companies to disclose who is buying political ads on their platforms.

Social media companies have an interest in keeping the government out of their business, and are therefore resistant to invasive regulation. Facebook and Twitter have taken pre-emptive steps to prove their ability to self-regulate.  Facebook revealed its plan to invest more in safety and security and to require political advertisers to disclose more information about their campaign and targeted audience.

While social media platforms are critical of government regulation, lawmakers also do not want to hamper innovation.  Accordingly, the proposed bills are very light, only targeting political ads.

Facebook, Twitter, and Google Testify about Russia Meddling (PDF)

California’s Draft Regulations Concern Autonomous Vehicle Developers

By Maribeth Hunsinger, J.D. Candidate 2019 | Posted on

On the heels of a progressive new bill that will allow Contra Costa Transportation Authority to test autonomous vehicles without human oversight, California issued a regulatory proposal for autonomous vehicle testing that has some members of the automotive industry concerned. On October 19, California’s Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) met to discuss the current proposal, which automakers have contested on the grounds that certain terms could hinder the further development of autonomous vehicle technology.

(more…)

Tech Giants Invest in Local Cloud Infrastructure to Build Credibility in Europe

By Nicole Danesh, J.D. Candidate 2019 | Posted on

Silicon Valley’s tech giants, including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, have recently invested billions of dollars into Europe’s cloud market. Amazon, already running data centers in Germany, is planning on opening additional centers in France and Great Britain. Google is also opening a new data center in the Netherlands, adding to its already existing centers in Finland and Belgium. Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft are also working on similar projects. In doing so, these tech giants foster benefits for both themselves, their European customers, and the economies of European nations.

(more…)

Google Pushes for Federal Regulation of Self-Driving Cars

By Joyce Li, J.D. Candidate 2018 | Posted on

The self-driving car race is on and Google is in the lead. Google plans to move full speed ahead, but faces some hefty regulatory roadblocks.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles approved and implemented a set of “testing” regulations for self-driving cars in September 2014, but has been reluctant to allow much leeway in its “deployment” guidelines. A preliminary draft released in December 2015 outlined extensive constraints on autonomous vehicle design, such as a steering wheel, brake pedal and licensed driver capable of taking immediate control, among other limitations. The draft was a blow to Google who hopes bring its self-driving car to market by 2020 without the traditional manual controls.

(more…)

GM Entering the Race toward the Future of Driverless Cars

By Thao Thai, J.D. Candidate 2018 | Posted on

With places like California, Nevada, Florida, Michigan, and D.C. already allowing autonomous car testing and federal legislation being considered to make such cars safer, driverless cars are in our near future. Google has been eager to dominate this untapped market, but it’s starting to see competition from large automakers. General Motors’ Cadillac CT6 will be the first GM model to be equipped with Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous system that permits hands-free driving on the highway.

(more…)

Antitrust Regulators Take Aim at Google

By Yu Tanebe, J.D. Candidate 2017 | Posted on

Technology giant Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is facing mounting scrutiny from antitrust regulators across several continents.

Last month, Google received a preliminary report from the Competition Commission of India who, after a three-year investigation, voiced concerns about the company’s dominant position in search and online advertising, and its anti-competitive behavior.

More recently, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service, the country’s antitrust regulator, found Google guilty of “abusing its dominant market position.” The agency’s probe began in February 2015 after Yandex NV, Russia’s biggest internet firm, accused Google of unfair practices with respect to how the company bundles apps with its Android mobile operating system. While the probe did not find the company guilty of “unfair competition practices,” the agency was expected to issue a full ruling on the case later this month.

(more…)