Knight-Georgetown Institute

Calling all researchers! NTIA is hosting a Public Listening Session today from 3:30–5:00 PM EST to gather feedback from researchers, civil society, industry and the public about conducting ethical research using data from social media platforms, AI systems, and other online sources. Check out the details below! Public comments are also accepted through January 15. 

Want to understand the nuances of the potential remedies in the Google search antitrust case? Check out the latest @Tech Policy Press podcast moderated by @KGI ‘s Alissa Cooper with expert guests Cristina Caffarra, Kate Brennan, and David Dinielli unpacking the latest developments in the case.

The lack of comprehensive, independent access to digital platform data leaves the public in the dark about social media platform impacts, both positive and negative. Barriers to data access also hinder efforts to identify and assess effective policy responses, everything from efforts to strengthen kids’ online safety to the prevention of cyber crime. The European Commission is taking important steps to tackle data access problems – but there is more the Commission can do to unlock the data needed to understand and respond to social media dynamics. KGI is pleased to submit comments in response to the Commission’s efforts to develop standards and guidance for vetted researcher access under Article 40 of the DSA. Our comments focus on clarifying the relationship between vetted researcher access and access to publicly accessible data. We also offer several recommendations to strengthen the Delegated Act as a whole. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3Zxkbt7

The Georgetown Initiative on Technology and Society is seeking a Postdoctoral Fritz Research Fellow with research interests at the intersection of technology policy, computational methods, and research translation to work with the Knight–Georgetown Institute (KGI) and Communication, Culture & Technology (CCT) Program. We seek to understand how often and what types of research are currently being used in the process around tech policymaking. While there are dozens of entities that engage in tech policymaking, this project will focus on understanding how research is used in several judicial settings within state and federal courts deciding platform governance cases (e.g, social media regulation, consumer protection and product liability cases, design code cases, age verification cases, etc). Specific project aims related to this goal include understanding: What research is cited in briefs for platform governance claims at each level of state and federal cases? What research is cited in amicus briefs for platform governance claims at each level of state and federal cases?  How have courts used (or not used) that research? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gKBjphhF

📅 Last call for submissions! Share your research on tech competition at a leading conference. KGI and the Yale Tobin Center are bringing together leading voices in tech competition policy for the DMA and Beyond conference (February 6-7, 2025 in Washington, DC). As the EU's Digital Markets Act completes its first year, we invite researchers to share insights on the evolving landscape of tech and competition policy. Submit your expression of interest by December 6th to attend or to present your work! We're seeking submissions on: - The impact of digital regulation and enforcement on markets and consumers - Empirical study of competition interventions in various digital markets - Technical and business aspects of data sharing, privacy, interface design & choice architecture - Comparisons between jurisdictions and their regulatory approaches Don't miss this opportunity to shape the conversation around tech competition policy! Submit by December 6th: https://bit.ly/3ZBC7mr #DigitalRegulation #TechPolicy #Competition #DMA

📅 Last call for submissions! Share your research on tech competition at a leading conference. KGI and the Yale Tobin Center are bringing together leading voices in tech competition policy for the DMA and Beyond conference (February 6-7, 2025 in Washington, DC). As the EU's Digital Markets Act completes its first year, we invite researchers to share insights on the evolving landscape of tech and competition policy. Submit your expression of interest by December 6th to attend or to present your work! We're seeking submissions on: - The impact of digital regulation and enforcement on markets and consumers - Empirical study of competition interventions in various digital markets - Technical and business aspects of data sharing, privacy, interface design & choice architecture - Comparisons between jurisdictions and their regulatory approaches Don't miss this opportunity to shape the conversation around tech competition policy! Submit by December 6th: https://bit.ly/3ZBC7mr #DigitalRegulation #TechPolicy #Competition #DMA

On November 20th, the DOJ and States submitted their proposed remedies in the Google search antitrust case. Let’s break down how the proposal reflects the insights of independent researchers. Here’s what you need to know about the proposal: overall it’s robust! It restricts illegal contracts; requires the divestiture of Chrome; prohibits self-preferencing using Android; supports data sharing; and relies on technical committee oversight. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4eG28X5 The DOJ’s proposal aligns with many findings from KGI’s recently published search remedies report 💡(https://bit.ly/4hT42qh) The remedies package is comprehensive and multi-faceted. Contractual restrictions apply to all search access points. The technical committee sets data security and privacy rules. The package is modifiable if remedies fail. The proposal also aligns with what we know DOESN’T work. ❌ It is not solely reliant on choice screens. Scholars have found that even carefully designed choice screens have little impact. (https://bit.ly/490jL2E, https://bit.ly/3Z1vw4b) The proposal requires Google to divest 🌐Chrome, Google’s web browser. Scholars have documented how Google uses Chrome to undermine competition. (https://bit.ly/3AVzSls) 📱The proposal prohibits using Android to advantage Google’s other products and, should that fail, forces its sale. This backstop is consistent with recent analysis showing that Android self-preferencing 🔄may be difficult to police. (https://bit.ly/4fCRYry) 🗄️The proposal mandates that Google provide access to its index of the public web to qualified competitors. Index access helps search engines respond to less popular queries. Scholars have argued that this access could boost competition. (https://bit.ly/4fYsa8X) The proposal recognizes that users may need an incentive to try new search engines. This echoes forthcoming research showing that search engines are “experience goods”, so users struggle to assess search engine quality without direct usage. (https://bit.ly/40ZvWee) The proposal demonstrates the crucial role independent researchers have played in the conversation around search remedies. Their rigorous analysis of choice screens, browsers, mobile operating systems, and user behavior has directly informed the proposal. This moment highlights how independent research can make an impact.

🔍Can Google Search antitrust remedies be designed to ignite competition? The answer is yes. As the DOJ prepares to submit its remedies proposal in the Google monopolization case today, KGI’s @Alissa Cooper and @Zander Arnao explain why a comprehensive remedies package is crucial for jump starting competition in online search. Here are the highlights! - Contractual restrictions must cover ALL search access points, including AI products - Android/Chrome structural remedies need complementary behavioral restrictions - Data-sharing remedies require precise specifications to avoid technical pitfalls - Strong enforcement mechanisms and performance benchmarks are essential This historic case presents a rare opportunity to stimulate effective competition. Simple conduct remedies won't be enough – we need a multi-faceted approach that addresses distribution, data access, and user choice. Read our full analysis in the @Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State’s ProMarket blog: https://shorturl.at/VZSUH

📢 Calling All Researchers! The Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) and Yale Tobin Center's Digital Economy Project are seeking submissions of new research for talks on competition regulation in digital markets at our upcoming conference DMA and Beyond, scheduled for February 6-7, 2025 in Washington DC. As landmark enforcement actions and legislation like the EU’s Digital Markets Act ramp up, we're at a crucial juncture in tech regulation. We are looking for your insights on: - The effects of competition policy on markets and consumers - The empirical outcomes of previous pro-competition interventions  - The business and technical aspects of data sharing, interface design, and choice architecture - Lessons and learning from policy and enforcement actions across jurisdictions Join leading researchers, regulators, and industry experts in shaping the future of tech competition policy. Travel reimbursement and lodging will be available for speakers. The deadline for research submissions is December 6, 2024. Details and submission info can be found here: https://shorturl.at/BQs2r #DigitalMarkets #TechPolicy #Competition #DMA #Research #TechRegulation

The Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) is hiring a Communications Director! KGI is a new institute at Georgetown University dedicated to connecting independent research with technology policy and design, with a focus on the online information environment. Effective communication is at the heart of everything we do. Our Communications Director will lead the creation and implementation of a communications strategy that builds relationships with key audiences and shapes how KGI appears in the world. The ideal candidate will be an excellent policy communicator and strategist with deep knowledge of the media ecosystems influencing tech policy today. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g7CY69Yu