Colo. Senators Seek to Study Social Media Regulation

Colorado Senate President Pro Tempore Kerry Donovan (D) received threats on social media for her proposal to stop hate speech on those platforms, she told a Senate State Committee livestreamed hearing: "This bill is a new idea in an uncomfortable space.” The committee voted 3-2 Tuesday to adopt the bill with an amendment proposed by Donovan to order a study. The original bill (SB-132) would have created a digital communications division and commission to regulate social media platforms. "The division shall investigate and the commission may hold hearings on claims filed with the division alleging that a digital communications platform has allowed a person to engage in one or more unfair or discriminatory digital communications practices on the platform," including hate speech, intentional disinformation and conspiracy theories, it said. Social media companies have been "petulant children" for not acknowledging what happens on their platforms, said Donovan, author of Colorado's 2019 net neutrality law. Their business model is to keep people engaged online and gather their information, she said. "What we are seeing from these social media companies is not a bug." The Senate leader added, "Russia didn't hack Facebook. It just used the platform.” The Internet Association didn't comment Wednesday. Government should “step in and bring an ax down to start protecting consumers,” testified Joe Toscano, a former Google consultant. “We are not their customer. We are their product.” The Computer and Communications Industry Association worried "that Colorado is one of multiple states proposing a patchwork of contradictory regulations. Complying with these would be difficult and costly for all platforms, particularly so for smaller companies." CCIA supports "the decision to study consumer protection concerns related to digital communications platforms," said President Matt Schruers Wednesday. "We encourage the study committee to consult with industry and issue area experts.”