Tech behemoths like Google and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta are throwing colossal sums of money into a lobbying blitz to thwart a couple of New York bills that aim to shield children from the perils of the digital world. The expenditure to sink these proposals is expected to eclipse the $1 million mark.
Per insights from the New York Post, a collective of tech giants along with various advocacy consortia and companies from assorted industries have already fronted $823,235 on lobbying efforts directed at Albany lawmakers up until mid-March. Their focus lies primarily on two pivotal proposals: the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act.
The SAFE Act seeks to rein in the manipulative algorithms employed by social media platforms by mandating default chronological feeds for users under 18 unless parents provide explicit consent. This Act also empowers parents to enforce time restrictions on social media use and manage in-app notifications. Meanwhile, the New York Child Data Protection Act aims to prevent apps from collecting or monetizing personal or location data from users under 18 without their approval, while children under 13 would require parental consent.
Reports suggest that the real extent of Big Tech’s financial efforts to derail these regulations could very well cross the million-dollar threshold as further disclosures are awaited next month. Danny Weiss, chief advocacy officer at Common Sense Media, a proponent of the bills, noted, “The magnitude of their spending to counter these bills suggests they view them as a significant threat to their operations in New York.”
Endorsed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and State Attorney General Letitia James, these bills are criticized by tech firms who argue that such legislation could curb free speech, impede teen privacy online, restrict internet access for marginalized groups, and hinder algorithms designed to combat hate speech.
The joint sponsor of the bills, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, expressed the difficulty of countering the overwhelming influence of these corporations. “These enterprises employ an endless array of lobbyists who constantly hover around the capital, whispering into legislators’ ears,” he said, exemplifying the staggering resources Big Tech deploys to safeguard their interests.
Meta has emerged as the largest spender in opposition to these bills, preferring a federal mandate over state-specific laws to regulate app downloads for children under 16. Not far behind are Google and TikTok, the latter battling a federal lawsuit challenging a divestiture bill aiming to sever its Chinese ties due to national security concerns.
It’s evident that Big Tech is flexing its monetary might against these critical child safety bills—bills designed with the well-being of our children in mind. The fight is on, with liberty and the safety of our younger generations hanging in the balance.
