Bill Overview
Title: Digital Services Oversight and Safety Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes the Bureau of Digital Services Oversight and Safety within the Federal Trade Commission to provide oversight for content moderation by online platforms (e.g., social media companies). Content moderation includes actions taken by a platform to detect and address user content that is illegal or incompatible with the platform's community standards. Specifically, the commission and the bureau may conduct investigative studies concerning the dissemination of illegal content or goods through the platforms, discrimination of individuals by the platforms, and the risk of harm caused by the malfunction or intentional manipulation of the platforms. The bill also provides whistleblower protections for individuals who assist with federal investigations related to such platforms. Further, platforms must include in their community standards the policies and procedures for content moderation, and they must publish transparency reports about the platform's content moderation. Additionally, platforms with at least 10 million average monthly users must provide a complaint-handling system that allows users to appeal content moderation actions by the platform. Platforms with at least 66 million average monthly users must conduct risk assessments and report on the measures taken to minimize the risk of the potential widespread dissemination of illegal content or content that violates the platform's community standards. The bill also provides for the regulation of automated content recommendations to users of these large platforms. The bill provides for enforcement by the commission. The bill also provides for various research activities related to online content moderation.
Sponsors: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
Target Audience
Population: Global internet and social media users
Estimated Size: 239000000
- The bill targets online platforms and social media companies specifically engaged in content moderation.
- Around 4.9 billion people use the internet globally (as of 2021).
- Social media platforms have billions of monthly users globally, with platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok having large shares.
- Assuming a significant portion of internet users interact with or on these platforms, nearly all users of the internet could be impacted.
- The bill mandates policies for large platforms, which would affect both the companies and individuals who use these services globally.
- The bill also impacts companies and professionals involved in tech, legal, and cybersecurity sectors.
Reasoning
- The Digital Services Oversight and Safety Act aims to regulate content moderation. Its impact is widespread given the vast number of internet users and its focus on large platforms affecting millions, including those in the U.S.
- The policy will impact various demographics differently based on their interaction level with such platforms.
- The budget allows for substantial implementation but must be efficiently allocated to cover a large population and enforce compliance.
- A balanced view of opinions from users, professionals, and those unaffected is presented.
Simulated Interviews
Social Media Influencer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy could be good because it might make social media a safer place.
- I worry about the impact on my content reach if too much moderation occurs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Software Developer (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is necessary to keep harmful content in check.
- It will require more work and resources for our team, which could be challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Lawyer specializing in tech policy (Chicago, IL)
Age: 46 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I foresee an increase in demand for legal compliance services, which is beneficial for my career.
- The policy could create a more orderly digital space.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that the policy will reduce cyberbullying.
- I am concerned about privacy and the moderation of personal content.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The transparency might be good for my business, improving customer trust.
- I am worried about increased costs to comply with new regulations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Data Analyst (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our analytics work might be constrained by new regulations.
- However, there might be an opportunity in reporting and advising on compliance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Content Creator (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about my videos being flagged or demonetized unfairly.
- This policy might level the playing field by holding big platforms accountable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Tech Manager (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Algorithm regulation could improve content quality but might limit innovation.
- We must adapt quickly to comply.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might not directly impact me much since I don't use social media frequently.
- It could make online spaces safer for my grandchildren.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
University Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The act presents new research opportunities and could enrich academic conversations.
- It might also restrict data availability, posing challenges for some studies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $230000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $280000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $260000000)
Year 3: $200000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $250000000)
Year 5: $200000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $250000000)
Year 10: $210000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $260000000)
Year 100: $230000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $280000000)
Key Considerations
- Initial setup and operational costs for the new bureau will be substantial.
- Platforms may pass compliance costs onto consumers.
- Potential improvement in market safety and trust could benefit GDP and tax revenue in the long term.