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 bill also requires that the commission receive pre-merger notifications concerning designated platforms. The commission may provide recommendations about such mergers to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and those agencies must give the recommendations substantial weight when reviewing such mergers. The bill also requires the commission and any relevant federal agency to consult each other when investigating or regulating the effects of digital platforms on certain matters, including competition and consumer protection. The President must appoint an independent panel to evaluate the commission after five years and recommend whether to extend the commission.
Sponsors: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide using digital platforms
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The Digital Platform Commission Act of 2022 is focused on regulating digital platforms, which are used globally by billions of people.
- Digital platforms include a wide range of services such as social media, e-commerce, and streaming services, all of which have massive user bases.
- Almost everyone who uses the internet interacts with digital platforms in some way, meaning their lives could be directly or indirectly impacted by the changes in regulation proposed by this bill.
- The legislation's aim to regulate competition, protect consumers, and address access issues transcends geographical boundaries as digital platforms operate globally.
Reasoning
- The Digital Platform Commission Act of 2022 could have varying impacts on different demographics, depending on their dependence on digital platforms.
- The population includes users who may benefit from increased consumer protection, as well as platform operators who might face stricter regulations.
- Startup entrepreneurs may see this as an opportunity to compete more fairly, while established large platforms might view additional oversight as a hindrance.
- Consumer wellbeing could improve due to enhanced security and privacy standards, but the policy's costs might result in increased prices for some services.
- People less engaged with technology could see negligible impacts, thus their wellbeing scores might not change significantly.
- The policy budget constraints mean there's a need to prioritize certain regulatory efforts, which might result in uneven implementation or impact.
- The broad reach of digital platforms means even a high budget is not sufficient for comprehensive regulation across all aspects and platforms. This necessitates strategic choices in policy application.
- There might be an initial adjustment period where users and companies align with new regulations, potentially causing short-term disruptions but long-term benefits.
Simulated Interviews
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The regulation might level the playing field for smaller companies.
- Concerned about increased compliance costs for her startup.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Entrepreneur (New York, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopes for better market access against big players.
- Worried about the potential stifling of innovation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopeful for better privacy protections.
- Skeptical about the real impact on reducing misinformation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Austin, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Believes regulations might affect costs of services indirectly.
- Uncertain about the need for such regulations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Social Media Influencer (Portland, OR)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes in algorithms could impact income.
- Hope for fairer platform policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Welcomes regulations for fairer competition.
- Worried about bureaucracy increasing costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopes for better protection against misinformation.
- Worried about potential restrictions on content access.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Senior Manager at Large Tech Company (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about increased regulatory oversight impacting company performance.
- Believes some regulation is necessary but should be balanced.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Digital Artist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about visibility and reach affected by new regulations.
- Hopes for fair and transparent platform policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Freelance Writer (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopeful for greater digital rights protections.
- Concerned about impact on platform fee structures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 3: $260000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $310000000)
Year 5: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $320000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Key Considerations
- Enforcement and compliance costs could vary significantly based on the specifics of the regulations and cooperation from digital platforms.
- Coordination with existing agencies like the FTC and DOJ is crucial to avoid redundancy and inefficiency.
- The potential for legal challenges from powerful digital platform entities could influence the cost and implementation timeline.
- Technological advancements and changes in the digital landscape may necessitate continual adjustments to regulatory strategies and budget allocations.