Alex

My first @ITIFdc report is here! I'm so excited and proud of this one. The dichotomy between children driving the market for immersive tech while also participating in systems not designed with them in mind was a fascinating topic to explore. 3 interesting tidbits I learned: 🧵

Who's ready to tune in to another nearly-identical hearing where everyone makes the same arguments and we all get our catchy sound bytes just in time for midterms?

Great new piece by @ashljnsn for @ITIFdc analyzing state bills' impact on the SECURE Data Act and why it reflects a bipartisan, multistate consensus on key privacy provisions. Plus it's got a really cool graphic highlighting these state policies⬇️

Meta is expanding AI-based age enforcement tools across Facebook and Instagram to identify potentially underage users. ow.ly/hJCE50YYlIw

"Augmented reality in the operating room is not a distant concept — it is here, and it is transforming the outcomes we can achieve for our patients." Cool story about AR in surgery. I've written about that here: itif.org/publications/2… dbusiness.com/daily-news/blo…

Texas AG @KenPaxtonTX is suing @Netflix over alleged user tracking and “dark patterns” like autoplay designed to maximize engagement. @alexitif breaks down 3 reasons why the case follows familiar tech moral panic patterns. ⤵️

Agree with @MarshaBlackburn's opening during @SenJudiciaryGOP hearing that courts are left to fill the vacuum left by Congress's inaction on kids online safety. My colleague @ashljnsn wrote about this in relation to these social media trials: itif.org/publications/2…

We've gone so completely full circle that TV is "addictive" again. We've written a lot about the moral tech panic cycle: itif.org/publications/2…

🥳🎉

My main question about school phone bans is this: are schools also teaching healthy tech habits at home? Or are they restricting phones during the day while leaving students and parents without guidance on building balanced, healthy use outside of school?

"The largest study ever of school cell phone bans finds that they offer decidedly mixed results, with teachers reporting fewer distractions..., but little evidence the bans quickly bring improved academic achievement or better behavior."

Honored to be named to @Washingtonian’s list of the 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy. Glad to see years of obsessing over tech policy finally count for something! Grateful to the terrific team at @ITIFdc.

For those keeping score, add Colorado to the list of states protecting kidfluencers: senatedems.co/newsroom/joint….

As the Senate Judiciary considers the GUARD Act today, chatbot bans are troubling because they would hinder young people’s ability to use chatbots for legitimate purposes & require AI companies to implement problematic age verification mechanisms.

One of @ITIFdc's recent @yseali fellow's Syabil wrote about his home country of Brunei's innovative VR ecosystem and how US-Brunei partnerships can strengthen this ecosystem for both countries. Check it out here! itif.org/publications/2…

This made me happier than it should have.

I've written about the GUARD Act and more chatbot ban legislation here: itif.org/publications/2…