Center for Digital Democracy;

At today's @SenAdamSchiff Hollywood hearing, re Ellison's Paramount+Warner's (add TikTok US) takeover. Speak out about the chain of Big $, policy giveways & deals, including connection to further global media consolidation.

Regulators should dig into Tegna & Nexstar market power +data consolidation, inc. for ads, via use of new digital capabilities. Privacy issues too. For ex: rbr.com/dynamic-ad-ins…; oxagile.com/article/how-at…

#WarnerMount review must examine Ellison US TikTok deal. See amended litigation: "alleges that a $10 billion payment by Oracle and its co-investors to the Trump administration in the TikTok deal is a “quid pro quo” for Trump’s personal assurance that the administration would support and facilitate Paramount’s acquisition of WBD." bit.ly/4tdenCj

If the #FTC really wants to protect the privacy of children, it mus enact age "assurance" safeguards--not just age verification. @EPICprivacy @fairplayforkids @DigitalDemoc explain to FTC & public. democraticmedia.org/publishings/ft…

Commercial surveillance marketing 3.0 is shaping global GenAI operations. Look at the job openings @ #OpenAI & it's just like Facebook/Meta was a decade ago. Time to intervene is now. Ex: openai.com/careers/advert…

YouTube requires video (& privacy) regulation--it is a production+advertising+distribution conglomerate. Not a passive publisher. YouTube Lays Claim to Another Crown: The World’s Largest Media Company hollywoodreporter.com/business/digit… via @thr

We commend the Senate for passing COPPA 2.0, read our statement here: tinyurl.com/2pk7xtua Thank you @SenMarkey and @SenBillCassidy!

Congrats to @SenMarkey for decades long leadership to protect Americans online & off--and now again kids+teens. democraticmedia.org/publishings/se…

FTC again has "don't ask, don't tell me" policy on digital marketplaces harming public. FTC consumer protection head says "Surveillance pricing was a term made up by the last admin. And so I'm not sure I accept that premise either." Shows they aren't in touch with the current market developments--which is unleashing greater surveillance pricing for consumers. bit.ly/3MO7asO

The Ellison TikTok+Paramount/CBS, & soon + WBD combo requires scrutiny of all its digital operations & foreign ownership partners, investments. Lots of global issues here too.

Addressing decades of media consolidation & non-regulation--digital, data, cable TV & now Gen AI--requires sustained action. Ellison Paramount/ WBD takeover must be opposed. See too Google deal with Meta. Undoing partnerships must be on agenda too. bit.ly/4tZdI8o

This is a chilling statement from a leading US media regulator. Via Politico: "FCC Chair Brendan Carr wants broadcasters to air “patriotic, pro-America content” to support the White House’s plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary."

Hey, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta execs, AGs, others working on social media addiction case. Here's answer by Meta AI contradicting Adam Mosseri: "Adolescents (13-17 years old) are a significant market for Meta, given their high social media usage and influence on family spending. Meta's platforms have a large user base in this age group, making them a key demographic for advertisers. Advertisers target this age group to build brand awareness, drive purchases, and create trends." campaignlive.com/article/social…

Think Jeff Bezos & WaPo here. Politico: "Amazon's tax bill plunges after GOP tax cuts--ran a $1.2 billion tax bill last year, down from $9 billion the previous year, and even as its profits jumped by 45 percent to nearly $90 billion. That’s largely because of the generous new depreciation breaks GOP lawmakers included in their One Big Beautiful Bill..."

Let's see how long Anthropic keeps this promise. Betting Markets alert! "the history of ad-supported products suggests that advertising incentives, once introduced, tend to expand over time as they become integrated into revenue targets and product development, blurring boundaries that were once more clear-cut. We’ve chosen not to introduce these dynamics into Claude." anthropic.com/news/claude-is…

Commercial Surveillance marketing, which shaped operations of online since start, enables role Gen AI plays in disinformation. As AI by Platforms/Brands unleash real-time personalized media omnichannel, fake will become more commonplace. Digital media reform must be top of democratic agenda. Background ex: bit.ly/3M4h09u

The FTC under @AFergusonFTC doesn't understand the kids' digital market. Age verification is a distraction. You need to regulate the ever accelerating commercial surveillance marketing system. Real "privacy by design" eliminates the branding, selling, engagement, etc--now driven by Gen AI. adexchanger.com/data-privacy-r…

Relevant to Netflix/WBD; commercial surveillance 3.0; furthering reduction of content diversity, etc. "The Math Doesn't Work": Why 2026's $1T Ad Market Is Bad News for Storytellers, by @aagave open.substack.com/pub/parqor/p/t…

FTC fiddles while U.S. consumer privacy protections further evaporate. Under @AFergusonFTC agency ignoring the gravest threats to privacy in decades--helping usher in Commercial Surveillance 3.0 ftc.gov/news-events/ev…

No #privacy. New US TikTok owners hoovering data on immigration status, transgender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicity. mi-3.com.au/27-01-2026/new…