Policy
To advance evidence-based public policy and discourse, CSMaP engages directly with the policymakers, civil society groups, industry professionals, and journalists working to understand social media’s impact on society and strengthen democracy in the digital age.
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Policy
CSMaP Joins Letter Urging Meta to Maintain CrowdTangle
The letter, signed by more than 50 organizations and individuals, urges Meta to maintain full functionality of CrowdTangle, a critical tool used to investigate the flow of information on its platforms.
May 7, 2024
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Policy
Beyond Competition: Designing Data Portability to Support Research on the Digital Information Environment
Although portability is often considered through a competition lens, policymakers and companies should understand its potential impact on policy-relevant research efforts and ensure that portability can support research on the impacts of digital platforms and services.
February 26, 2024
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Policy
Why the Texas and Florida Social Media Cases are Important for Research Transparency
Two cases before the Supreme Court will address Texas & Florida laws aiming to restrict content moderation on social media. The Court's rulings could also have widespread implications for the government's ability to mandate transparency and data access from platforms.
February 23, 2024
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Policy
CSMaP Files Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Social Media Cases
When the Supreme Court considers the Florida and Texas laws, it should craft rulings that leave ample room for legislative and regulatory efforts to mandate transparency and access to data.
December 7, 2023
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Policy
Beyond Red Teaming: Facilitating User-Based Data Donation to Study Generative AI
Just like social media, a key challenge to studying the public's use of generative AI is the lack of data. AI companies could solve this by making it easier for users to donate their data to research.
November 1, 2023
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Policy
White House OSTP Comments on AI
In response to the Biden-Harris Administration's public request for information on mitigating the risks of AI, we submitted comments highlighting the importance of transparent standards for identifying and labeling AI generated content online.
July 7, 2023
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Policy
Feedback on EU Article 40
In response to the European Commission's Digital Services Act, we submitted comments highlighting the importance of data access for independent research and suggested standards for data access mechanisms.
May 23, 2023
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Policy
The Problem with TikTok’s New Researcher API is Not TikTok
While TikTok’s Researcher API is a promising step in the right direction, mandated data requirements are paramount for ensuring that these lines of research continue.
March 1, 2023
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Policy
The Social Media Data We Need to Answer Key Research Questions
Ahead of a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on platform transparency, we submitted a letter outlining the type of research questions we want to answer — and the social media data we need to answer them.
May 4, 2022
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Policy
How to Fix Social Media? Start with Independent Research.
Congress should mandate an unprecedented corporate data-sharing program to enable outside, independent researchers to conduct the kinds of analysis on social media platforms that firm insiders routinely perform.
December 1, 2021
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Policy
Why We Desperately Need More Research on Social Media’s Effects on Democracy
A new book argues academic researchers should have more access to the data locked inside Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.
January 12, 2021
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Policy
House Testimony: The Impact of Social Media on Congressional Communications Strategy
Our co-director Joshua A. Tucker testified before the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
October 31, 2019