Facebook Co-Founder Endorses New York Bill to Regulate Meta

ALBANY, NY (05/28/2024) (readMedia)-- Last week, over a dozen technologists sent a memo of support to Albany leadership calling for the passage of the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act (SAFE for Kids Act) before the end of New York State's legislative session on June 6th. Signatories include Chris Hughes, one of the original co-founders of Facebook, and Joe Toscano, a former Google Experience Design consultant. The memo reads:

"We are a group of individuals who have founded, led, and dedicated a significant amount of our professional lives to technology companies. We write to you because we are concerned by the alarming mental health risks posed by social media on children and teens, and because, as technologists, we disagree with the role that Big Tech has played in both creating and trying to pass off responsibility for the youth mental health crisis... In light of the seriousness of the problem that social media presents to our youth and the technologies that already exist, we urge you to pass the SAFE for Kids Act."

The memo refutes many of Big Tech's false claims as they lobby to keep the status quo, including the claim that prohibiting the use of addictive algorithmic feeds would "make things worse" for minors. The technologists write, "the fact is that eliminating the algorithmic feed wrests control of content out of the hands of Big Tech and restores it to the user themselves."

Read the full memo attached and pasted below.

Despite Big Tech's lobbying efforts, dozens of organizations and unions are also backing the legislation, and support amongst lawmakers continues to grow. The SAFE for Kids Act currently has 94 sponsors in the Assembly and 25 sponsors in the State Senate. And just last week, the New York City Council passed a resolution calling on the Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, both pieces of legislation.

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT:

MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT FOR THE SAFE FOR KIDS ACT

S.7694 (Gounardes) – A.8148 (Rozic)

We are a group of individuals who have founded, led, and dedicated a significant amount of our professional lives to technology companies. We write to you because we are concerned by the alarming mental health risks posed by social media on children and teens, and because, as technologists, we disagree with the role that Big Tech has played in both creating and trying to pass off responsibility for the youth mental health crisis.

More specifically, we are concerned by the claims from large social media platforms that age assurance cannot be successfully done with existing technology and without relying on government-issued identification. These arguments are being used by industry to argue against passage of the SAFE for Kids Act (S.7694/A.8148). Despite their claims, the fact is that most large social media platforms already ascertain the approximate age of their users – with high degrees of accuracy. They not only possess the technology, but they also use it to great effect.

We are also very dubious of the claims made by platforms that halting the use of addictive feeds, or algorithmic feeds that promote or recommend content, for a user's feed would "make things worse" for minors. The fact is that eliminating the algorithmic feed wrests control of content out of the hands of Big Tech and restores it to the user themselves. Contrary to the claim that the legislation would block vulnerable teens from accessing valuable resources, this bill would give users the ability to seek out the resources that they want rather than filling their feed with the material that Big Tech wants them to see. It is also plainly false that the legislation does not allow content moderation to prevent hate speech or ensure an age-appropriate experience. The bill only precludes the promotion of certain material while explicitly allowing for content moderation.

We understand and appreciate the pressure placed on legislators like yourselves to make consequential decisions about laws with imperfect information, often provided by stakeholders with a direct interest in the issues you legislate. It is our firm belief that technology companies can readily meet the requirements put forward by this legislation.

The legislation creates a sensible framework and process to enable platforms to meet the bill's requirements. Using the definition of 'commercially reasonable' ensures flexibility: no particular method or technology is favored and it can adapt as technology changes and improves. At the same time, the standard incorporates – by definition – only methods that are reasonable and therefore what is attainable for industry. As the legislative intent notes, that solution could vary depending on the size, financial resources, and technical capabilities of the platform, which allows the type of flexibility that will enable platforms of differing sizes to comply.

We believe deeply in the ability of technology to solve the problems presented in our day-to-day lives. The issue of age assurance is no different. In light of the seriousness of the problem that social media presents to our youth and the technologies that already exist, we urge you to pass the SAFE for Kids Act.

Chris Hughes - Co-Founder & Chair, Economic Security Project

Joe Toscano - Founder & CEO, DataGrade

Raj Doyle - CEO, Goyle Ventures; Former CEO Bodhala

Dixon Siu - MyData4Children, Co-Founder of MyData Global Community

Hind Arroub - AI ethicist; GeoPolitical, Legal & Social Scientist / All Tech is Human

Tazin Khan - CEO & Founder, Cyber Collective

Raymond Amumpaire - Team Lead, Center for Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Governance in Africa (CAIEGA)

Naomi R. Aguiar, Ph.D. - Associate Director of Research, OSU Ecampus

Collin Walke - Attorney/Former Legislator

Linda M. Holliday - CEO, Citia

Marcelle Ngounou - MyData & AfroLeadership

Joel Smernoff - COO, Citia

Judy Shapiro - CEO, The Trust Web

Heidi Hysell - Founder, FUTURE | FUTURE

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