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AI & Tech
There’s Broad Agreement on AI Red Lines – So Why Aren’t They Law?
While there is broad bipartisan agreement on two key AI “red lines” — banning warrantless AI-powered mass surveillance and keeping humans in control of lethal force decisions — Congress has failed to turn that consensus into law.
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AI & Tech
What Trump Said — and Didn’t Say — About AI in His State of the Union
In a record-breaking 107-minute address, President Trump referenced artificial intelligence only three times. Here's what he said — and what he conspicuously left out.
Media
How one Fox News Host Altered the Course of U.S. Gender Politics
Tucker Carlson helped transform modern American conservatism into a movement fixated on gender, paving the way for a wave of anti-trans legislation across the country.
AI & Tech
Consumers say they want reliable news. But are they willing to pay for it?
Americans overwhelmingly say they want credible news that is free from false or misleading information. But it appears they are less eager to pay for tools that would help them be more discerning in their news consumption.
AI & Tech
Could a Narrowing of America’s Digital Divide be a Positive Legacy of the Pandemic?
The pandemic’s harms to children – in the form of learning loss, stymied socialization and mental health troubles – have been well-documented. At the same time, in the long run, the pandemic will likely be a catalyst for bridging the…
AI & Tech
To Fight Disinformation on Digital Platforms, Policymakers should Promote Credibility Labels
To address the present dysfunction in the social media information ecosystem, policymakers should prioritize expanding the use of credibility labels.
AI & Tech
Policies Alone Won't Fix our Problems with Social Media. Public Interest Campaigns Must be Part of the Solution
During Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen's testimony to Congress last week, multiple Senators compared Big Tech to Big Tobacco. If this analogy is prescient, then regulation and legislation will only go so far in curbing the harms caused by social media.
AI & Tech
3 Reasons Why the U.S. Lacks Federal Social Media Regulation, and Why That’s Likely to Change Soon
Today, the largest social media companies are subject to limited federal oversight in the United States. But that is likely to change soon.
Media
The Asymmetric Media Ecosystem at the Heart of America’s Post-Truth Era
The spread of mis- and disinformation in the American media ecosystem undermines effective governance and a functional democracy. How did we get here? And what is our way out?
Politics
Who are QAnon Supporters? 5 Revealing Findings from Survey Data
To assess the scope of QAnon’s support, and to identify common demographic and psychographic characteristics of QAnon supporters, I analyzed survey data collected by the Pew Research Center between August 31, 2020 – September 7, 2020.
AI & Tech
High-Tech Continues to Excuse Anti-Black Discrimination
For years, executives at big tech firms have pointed to a “limited pool of Black talent” to excuse the persistent underrepresentation of African Americans in their companies. But recent data illuminates the shortcomings of this oft-cited explanation.
Government
In New Role, Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr Seeks to Harness University Knowledge to aid COVID-19 Response
I had a chance to speak with Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a University Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine at Columbia University, about her career accomplishments, and how her experience working on the HIV pandemic has prepared her for COVID-19.
AI & Tech
A Federal Data Privacy Law May Be the Best Tool to Combat Online Disinformation
Online platforms like Facebook and Google make money by collecting user data and selling it to advertisers. At the federal level, existing regulations do little to limit what data these companies are able to collect, and with whom they can…
Education
A Solution to NYC's Teacher Shortage: Teacher Residencies
New York City’s public schools have among the highest rates of teacher attrition in the country. Frequent turnover has contributed to a teacher shortage in the city. A strategic investment in a year-long teacher residency program would address the shortage…
AI & Tech
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act Should be Modified to Target Algorithms
Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act (CDA) exempts providers of an interactive computer service, such as social media platforms, from legal liability for user-generated content. It also allows platforms to moderate content as they see fit without fear…
