US President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on the US Congress to “hold tech giants to account” and legislate to strengthen government control over big tech companies.
In a column posted on the website of the Wall Street JournalThe US president called on elected officials from both sides to unite to strengthen legislation on the protection of personal data and minor users, as well as to fight discrimination, “sexual exploitation” and “cyberbullying”.
The Democratic president said he was “proud” of what the technology sector had achieved, but also “concerned”, “like many Americans”, “about the way this industry collects, shares and exploits our most personal data, which reinforces extremism” and “puts our children at risk.
“Millions of young people are struggling with bullying, violence, trauma” and “mental health” issues, the president insisted. “We must hold social networks accountable for the experiments they perform on our children, to generate profit.”
How will the Republicans behave?
After decades of immobility, various initiatives in Congress have begun to move the ranks. In September, a text on competition was adopted in the House of Representatives in order to strengthen the prerogatives of States to sue technology companies and increase the financial means of regulators. It has not yet been considered in the Senate.
A bill to protect minors on the Internet, supported by elected Republicans and Democrats, has also been introduced in the Senate.
Some of the elected Republicans strongly oppose a tougher fight against anti-competitive practices, arguing that the government does not have to interfere in the operation of the private sector and that such measures could stifle innovation.
.
Source: BFM TV
