Based on a series of self-assessments, the report offers a window into what big tech companies say are their biggest blind spots when it comes to keeping users safe.
The Digital Trust and Safety Partnership’s inaugural report, shared exclusively with The Technology 202, found that platforms tended to lack formal processes to support external research and to consider input from users and outside groups in their policies. of security.
The Digital Trust and Safety Partnership, launched last year with funding from more than a dozen tech companies, asked platforms to rate and report how well they adhere to a set of security measures. of “best practices” designed by the coalition.
Ten companies participated in the review: the parent company of Facebook, Meta, Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, Discord, Shopify and Vimeo. While the report does not disclose the performance of individual platforms, it does provide insight into the status of industry-wide security trends.
The results only reflect where platforms — not independent auditors — fall short. But according to the report, it highlights how security initiatives have “grown with less external engagement outside of business until recently.”
“For a long time, trust and safety in content moderation has been a one-way street, where companies sort of create the rules of the service and enforce the rules,” said the executive director of the Digital Trust and Safety Partnership. . David Sullivan said.
He added: “But actually understanding user perspectives in these things and working with credible third-party groups, human rights organizations, academics, investors, that’s where it’s at. has a lot of work to do.”
Another key area where companies are underdeveloped is having processes in place to assess whether products meet safety standards after launch, according to the report.
Where the companies excelled, Sullivan said, was in their “essential content moderation functions,” such as crafting rules to deal with online harms and setting up teams to monitor and monitor them. apply them. “That’s where I think you can see there’s been a lot of attention,” he said.
Self-assessments can also serve as a test for tech companies, the largest of which will soon be subject to independent audits under new EU regulations.
The European Union’s historic security measure, the Digital Services Act, will require major platforms to be vetted to ensure they are mitigate the risks posed by disinformation, election interference, cyber violence against women and child abuse.
“These companies have realized that instead of waiting for regulations to arrive and complying with them, it’s something to look forward to, both to figure out what will work for all of their products…and to make that happen. be a contribution to” the debate over content moderation and regulation, Sullivan said.
The findings could bolster calls for legislation requiring tech companies to provide more internal data to researchers, as some U.S. lawmakers have proposed.
In December, Sens. Chris Coon (D-Delete), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) unveiled a bill that would allow researchers to ask a federal agency to access platform data to conduct an approved study. The bipartisan measure is one of Congress’ most significant attempts to open the so-called social media “black box.”
“It’s an area where there’s a lot of heat but not enough light,” Coons said. told me in May.
But the bill has yet to be officially introduced, which means it is unlikely to become law anytime soon.
In the meantime, Sullivan said his group plans to implement an independent safety assessment that won’t simply rely on self-assessments by companies.
“We hope to have… more to share on what that third-party assessment will look like before the end of this year,” he said.
The Senate is expected to hold a vote on chip funding this week
The bill includes $52 billion in semiconductor grants and tens of billions of dollars for regional tech start-ups and the National Science Foundation, Jeanne Whalen reports. The Senate is expected to hold a closing vote today on the bill, which would move to a full Senate vote this week if it crosses a 60-vote threshold.
“After months of debate and setbacks, the legislation resembles the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, the original form of the bill to boost U.S. competitiveness against China, which authorized the Senate last year but failed in the House,” wrote Jeanne. If it passes the Senate this week, the bill would go to the House.
Grassley steps up pressure on Schumer to hold antitrust vote
Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), a sponsor of the legislation, wants the majority leader in the Senate Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y.) to schedule a vote for legislation that would prevent big tech companies from “self-preferring” their products and services, the New York Post’s Lydia Moynihan and Theo Wayt report. Many legislators say they are still reviewing the bill, which tech companies and industry groups have criticized in ads and pressure.
“It’s long overdue for the Majority Leader to introduce our bipartisan antitrust bill cracking down on Big Tech’s anti-competitive behavior,” Grassley told Moynihan and Wayt. “We need a certain date for a vote, and I’m calling on Senator Schumer to name one — if not before August recess, then this fall.”
Tech sector braces for potential recession, surprising other industries
Big tech companies hinted they were rushing ahead of earnings reports this week, Rachel Leman and Gerrit DeVynck report. Big tech companies have an outsized influence on perceptions of the economy, and the tech sector has been signaling for months that the boom period is coming to an end.
“It may become a self-fulfilling prophecy, say market pundits, if other companies immediately respond to Big Tech’s downfall by tightening up their own businesses,” my colleagues write. “But the moves aren’t straightforward – many believe tech is bracing for an economic downturn, not freaking out over falling trade metrics.”
The Wall Street Journal reported this Elon Muskthe alleged affair of with the co-founder of Google Sergey Brinhis wife, Nicole Shanahan, caused divorce requests and the end of the friendship between the two men. Technology Analyst Benedict Evans:
How often do activities and reports overlap? And where is Elon Musk going all this time? 🤷🏻♀️$MUSC
Elon Musk’s alleged brief affair with Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s wife led to the couple’s divorce. https://t.co/lOa6W6mG2l— Nivedita Balu (@niveditabalu) July 24, 2022
- Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Committee Rostin Behnam discuss cryptocurrency regulation at a Brookings Institution event today at 2 p.m.
- Sense. Kirsten Sinema (D-Arizona) and Todd C. Young (Rind.) discuss semiconductor legislation at a Washington Post Live event Tuesday at 4:10 p.m.
- ParentGoogle Alphabet and Microsoft hold earnings calls on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- The Senate Commerce Committee discuss privacy and child safety legislation Wednesday at 10 a.m.
- A panel of the House Homeland Security Committee holds a hearing on the use of facial recognition technology by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Wednesday at 2 p.m.
- Facebook meta parent holds a call for results on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
- Apple and Amazon hold earnings calls on Thursdays at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
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