Center for Digital Democracy news about digital technologies and their impact on democracy, equity, fairness, community. @digitaldemoc.bsky.socia
Washington, D.C.
Joined July 2013
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Another AI financial risk. With ads & marketing core biz model for much of Gen AI, explosive corp debt will unleash more commercial surveillance to sell brands, products, influence. Public will be sold off in new & powerful ways, as digital manipulation goes full AGI.
This Boom Looks a Lot Like the Housing Bubble nytimes.com/2026/10/25/opini… via @NYTOpinion
Why should taxpayers subsidize Trillionaires and Tech Moguls funding political ads using our public airwaves. Time for a U.S.A "Democracy Dividend" that lowers streaming, wireless & broadband bills for consumers. Reform the FCC & ensure public receives fair share from benefits of our airwaves (spectrum), not special interests.
Reform of U.S. spectrum policy urgently req'd. Auctions and licensing has given few benefits to public, versus the giveaway of taxpayer assets. This election cycle broadcasters alone--who get gift of spectrum for free--will rake in $5.6 b from political ads. Profits from other spectrum giveaways can be used in ways that can undermine democracy. We need policy that really benefits Americans and also brings down costs--for wireless, streaming & ensure public gets a "democracy dividend," inc. role of big money in politics.
bit.ly/4yzDZv5
Advocates & regulators also need to follow the data+$, including Dollar General's retail media system. dgmedianetwork.com/
We need a RICO act for corporate crime. Dollar General routinely overcharges customers. In NY, it's paying $1.9M after it failed 43% of price inspections & overcharged on 14% of items. Many states have found the same. But it keeps happening, because the fines are too small.
This is the time to regulate Gen AI ad practices, as they adopt all the time-tested strategies of global commercial surveillance marketing operating (such as leveraging the "user journey"). Failure to do will bring repeats of social media & many other serious harms. This doc illustrates how rapidly the market has developed. help.openai.com/en/articles/…
The consolidation of potentially politically aligned media requires more than scrutiny. We have a vast growing global intertwined set of major media holdings, inc. Starlink, Skydance/Warner/CBS/Paramount/CNN plus one should analyze Redbird related EU and ME operations. Illustrates failure of regulation on mergers, spectrum, competition & ensuring diverse voices for democracy.
semafor.com/article/10/22/20…
New Mastercard "Max" AI-driven card (see video) illustrates why consumer & financial protection required for these systems & models, inc. addressing "engagement" tactics. "Mastercard Max surfaces relevant benefits, provides timely guidance and helps them take action in the moments that matter most, all in one place and through the issuer’s direct channel."
bit.ly/47tnCFw
New Mastercard "Max" AI-driven card (see video) illustrates why consumer & financial protection required for these systems & models, inc. addressing "engagement" tactics. "Mastercard Max surfaces relevant benefits, provides timely guidance and helps them take action in the moments that matter most, all in one place and through the issuer’s direct channel."
bit.ly/47tnCFw
Spectrum reforms at the #FCC should be a priority for Congress, inc. review of #Starlink licenses & operations. Governing the uses of public property must be instituted. See for ex. fcc.gov/document/fcc-approve…; technewsworld.com/story/spac…
Renaming AI becomes a political act. via Puck. "...Elon Musk affirmed that he’d change SpaceXAI to “SpaceXSI”; Jeff Bezos told Fox News he prefers “S.I.” to “A.I.”; and Marc Benioff announced that Salesforce would change its enterprise platform AIForce to SIForce."
Barry Steinhardt was a visionary privacy & digital rights champion, helping create the ACLU's Technology & Liberty Program & was on @privacyint board, among his many accomplishments. Barry understood that all of our freedoms are at risk in the digital era, and over decades of work, fought to protect the Internet from censorship; campaigned against surveillance; and led efforts to create laws & policies. We are all in his debt.
Bravo @RKellySlaughter for working on & offering a path to counter public & private corruption enervating our democracy.
newyorker.com/podcast/politi…
US TikTok (Oracle et al) flies the U.S. flag, but platform requires scrutiny on Gen AI centered marketing & data practices. tiktokeconomicimpact.com/tik…
We are being warned as Gen AI systems assemble the same sets of capabilities driving commercial surveillance marketing, inc. brand tests, measurement, ad systems. #Consumerprotection #privacy Example here: mi-3.com.au/06-10-2026/opena…
And creators, say goodbye to your vision as Gen AI decides what's the real final cut. theankler.com/david-ellisons…
"People in this country want champions that take on rich bullies."
WATCH: @BedoyaUSA calls out California politicians for betraying workers and settling to allow the Paramount-Skydance takeover of Warner Bros.
Center for Digital Democracy; retweeted
#EnVivo🚨 Desde @Mx_Diputados analizamos el impacto de la publicidad digital en la niñez.
Especialistas de la @opsoms, @UNICEF y organizaciones civiles, como @alsanna_ @teccheckmx @DigitalDemoc, lo debatimos en el foro “De la Pantalla al Consumo” convocado por @JoaquinZebadua
youtube.com/watch?v=xuYE5Tn6…
Attention Media/PrivacyRegulators-AI+Consumer Data+Big Adtech Product Placement alert: "The process unfolds with Omnicom Media using its RealID audience identification product within Acxiom matched with streamers’ viewership data to pick the right shows for a brand. That’s then mapped against in-content ad opportunities..." bit.ly/4rU0ZTV
Do we need "self-improving" Gen AI systems built for orchestrating our experiences for monetization & influence. "...novel LLM/Agent frameworks...that brings these LLMs and agents to life at a global scale."
Note TikTok position.
bit.ly/4iZRMXT