Bill Overview
Title: Digital Platform Commission Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes a commission to regulate digital platforms. These are online services that facilitate interactions between users and between users and entities (including online services) that offer goods and services. The bill provides the commission with rulemaking, investigative, and related authorities to regulate access to, competition among, and consumer protections for digital platforms. The bill also provides for administrative and judicial enforcement of the regulations. The commission must establish a council of technical experts, representatives of digital platforms, and other experts (e.g., representatives of nonprofit public interest groups and academics) to recommend standards for algorithmic processes and other policies. Additionally, the commission may designate systemically important digital platforms. The bill includes criteria for the commission to use when designating a platform as systemically important (e.g., whether its operations have significant nationwide economic, social, or political impacts). The President must appoint an independent panel to evaluate the commission after five years and recommend whether to extend the commission.
Sponsors: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: individuals using digital platforms globally
Estimated Size: 300000000
- Digital platforms have billions of users worldwide, including users of social media, e-commerce, and other online services.
- The regulation of digital platforms affects both the users of those platforms and the businesses operating them.
- Users impacted will include individuals who rely on these platforms for communication, commerce, entertainment, and information.
- The number of affected individuals could be estimated by considering the global population with access to internet services.
- A significant portion of global digital platform users is concentrated in countries with high internet penetration, such as the US, China, India, Europe, and others.
Reasoning
- The Digital Platform Commission Act of 2022 is likely to impact a wide range of individuals, from average users of digital platforms to small business operators who rely on these platforms for their daily operations.
- Given that approximately 312 million Americans are internet users, a substantial portion will likely be influenced by the regulatory changes aimed at ensuring consumer protection and competition.
- The policy budget suggests a significant but not unlimited capacity for enforcement and oversight activities, allowing for some change but with realistic limits on the depth and breadth of impact.
- The policy aims to address systemic issues at a high level, which may not translate into visible short-term changes for all users. However, long-term effects could be more pronounced, especially for vulnerable groups or small business owners.
- Larger platforms might experience more substantial changes due to their designation as 'systemically important,' affecting a broad spectrum of users.
Simulated Interviews
software engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy is necessary to provide more oversight and regulation over how data is used and shared.
- While it might create more work for tech companies initially, it sets the groundwork for safer online spaces.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
college student (Austin, TX)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to know that the platforms I use are being regulated to prevent misuse.
- I hope the policy addresses things like misinformation and privacy breaches.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
small business owner (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am concerned about how these new regulations will affect my business operations and costs.
- There's a need for transparency on how digital platforms impact small businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The commission seems like a good step to protect consumers, especially older individuals who might be less savvy.
- Ensuring fair competition is also important to prevent monopolies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
freelance graphic designer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Regulating platforms is good, but I hope it doesn't create more barriers for freelancers finding gigs.
- Improved protections against information misuse are appreciated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
high school student (Miami, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not too involved with policy, but anything that makes platforms safer is good.
- It would be great if there's a way to control harmful content better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
online marketer (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new commission could affect my job if ad targeting is restricted.
- I'm anxious about how changes might disrupt my workflow.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
data analyst (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better regulation means better protection of data, which is crucial in finance.
- It's important that regulatory changes are clear and precise.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
content creator (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm all for regulation, but if platforms get new rules, creators need to understand how these affect us.
- Our income can be volatile with every minor platform change, so clear communication is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
healthcare professional (Boston, MA)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Regulation should mean my health data is safer, which is a plus.
- I hope these changes help streamline some of the frustrating interactions I have with health management apps.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $490000000 (Low: $390000000, High: $590000000)
Year 3: $480000000 (Low: $380000000, High: $580000000)
Year 5: $460000000 (Low: $360000000, High: $560000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The rapid pace of technological changes could challenge the commission's ability to keep regulations updated and effective.
- The balance between protecting consumers and imposing regulatory burdens on businesses needs careful consideration to avoid stifling innovation.
- Coordination and consistency with existing international digital regulations would be crucial for effectiveness and to avoid conflicts.