Project Liberty & Issue One Pop-Up: The Possibility of a New Digital Federal Agency

This panel conversation will analyze how a singular regulatory agency would be positioned to address the diversity of challenges posed by advancing technology — from aggressive data collection on digital platforms, to privacy, children’s safety, and distorted market incentives. In this conversation, we will discuss existing proposals for a new regulatory body, including one by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and the political hurdles they face. The event will also discuss how other countries have leveraged regulatory bodies to govern data and digital technologies and will consider what lessons the U.S. government should incorporate as Congress considers these proposals.

Panelists:

• Anika Collier Navaroli is a journalist, lawyer, and researcher with expertise in technology, media, policy, and human rights. She joins the Tow Center from Stanford University where her work as a Practitioner Fellow at the Digital Civil Society Lab examined the impacts of moderating hate speech on Trust & Safety employees within technology companies.
• Eli Weiner is a legislative assistant working for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). In 2023, Sen. Bennet’s team introduced the Digital Platform Commission Act, legislation to establish a new five-person commission responsible for protecting consumers in the age of Big Tech.
• Alix Fraser is the Director of the Council for Responsible Social Media at Issue One. In his role, Alix leads the crosspartisan council of political, civic, public health, business, and national security leaders working to address the threats that social media platforms pose to American society.