Explainer: “Big Tech’s Broken Promises” Tracker

National Security: Policies or promises regarding foreign malign interference operations, international coordinated inauthentic behavior, or state-affiliated media.
Elections: Policies or promises made regarding any U.S. election from 2016 to the present.
Hate Speech: Policies or promises made regarding speech that targets protected characteristics, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
Radicalization/Extremism: Policies or promises aimed at keeping platforms free from extremist groups, individuals, or organizations that promote violence or recruit other users into these ideologies.
Trust and Safety: Policies or promises claiming to strengthen the platform&#8217;s information environment, such as labeling misleading content or downgrading borderline content in an algorithm.
Privacy: Policies or promises vowing to protect user’s private information and data.
Transparency: Policies or promises made about enhanced platform transparency and accountability, including tools for third-party oversight of the platforms.
Kids’ Safety: Policies or promises made about protecting children not allowed on their platform (those under 13 years of age) or promises made about making the platform safe and appropriate for users ages 13-17.

A data dictionary for understanding the tracker's categories, dates, and type of announcement.

Date of Promise: Refers to the date the promise or policy announcement was made. If the promise is part of company policy, the date may correspond with a blog post announcing a policy update or with an archived version of the policy.
Date of Promise Broken: This date often corresponds to the publication of an article or report demonstrating a clear discrepancy with the stated promise or policy. For reports demonstrating these discrepancies, the date may refer to when research or data collection began as opposed to the report’s publication. In most cases, this date will come after the date of the promise made. However, sometimes the platforms make promises or public statements that contradict existing evidence; in these cases, the date of the promise broken precedes the date of the promise made.

Congressional Testimony: Platform executives or staff statements at a U.S. House or Senate hearing through written or oral testimony.
Product Launch: The rollout of new devices, applications, or features, including tools designed to improve transparency and accountability.
Public Announcement: When an employee or company spokesperson interacts with the press or when the company produces a statement through its official blog or newsroom.
Terms and Conditions: Policies that are subject to all platform users. They are also referred to as community guidelines.