October offered some seismic change in the technology regulation space. Over the weekend, President Biden released an executive order addressing a broad range of technology concerns, from government use, AI, efficiency and security, to big tech and privacy.

While debate continues at the federal level about digital access and formal regulation, false and misleading information continues to appear across social media channels, including ‘deepfakes’ mimicking artists, public figures, or even your friends and family.

Finally, all is not dire. AI and the metaverse are being implemented to enact positive change - collecting and synthesizing real-time data to promote sustainable cities and digitizing museum collections to enhance access and curation. Read below to learn more about each of these key topics.

Net Neutrality

The Biden administration announced plans to reinstate F.C.C. net neutrality rules which were rescinded during the previous administration. These rules classify internet access as an essential service and bar service providers from blocking or slowing access to businesses that may compete with their own. This supports the $40 billion plan to provide high-speed internet access across the country by 2030, which was announced by the administration this June.

Many in opposition view these as an overreach of government regulation and some legislators are pushing to leverage distribution of federal internet subsidies to require schools to block social media and limit screen time.

Image: Rules should reflect that “internet access is a necessity for daily life,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, shown in 2022.
Image Source: *The NY Times* (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Social Media & Disinformation:

Social media regulation and censorship was popular in the news this month, as the supreme court temporarily paused the 5th circuit decision restricting executive influence on regulating social media disinformation. This will stand until the court can hear the case in June 2024. Though government agencies, like the F.C.C., often intervene with big tech to seek out and stop fraud - questions are being raised about where to draw the line.

This comes as X (formerly Twitter) faces backlash for a series of updates. The social media platform recently revoked verification status for the New York Times official account, which has a following of over 55 million, and removed headlines from news articles shared to the site. These changes could discourage users from accessing pertinent context and open the door for imposter accounts to share misleading information.

As the company seeks new ways to restore advertising sales, X users raised questions this month as a new kind of ad appeared in their feeds. The unmarked ads resemble standard posts, with no indication of sponsorship, and direct users to third-party websites. This sounded alarms about data privacy and may constitute an F.C.C. violation, not only for X, but also companies that chose to advertise on the platform.

Image: Amazon Alexa
Image Source: Unsplash

X isn’t the only company under scrutiny. In light of a recent Washington Post report that Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant recites claims of fraud in the 2020 election, the company faces questioning about their plans to limit false information in the 2024.

All platforms are considering how to identify and flag disinformation, particularly as AI deepfake audio and video becomes more advanced and easily accessible.

Deepfakes: Mimicking Public Figures

Earlier this month, a group of public figures including Tom Hanks, Gayle King, and Jimmy Donaldson (“MrBeast”), warned of AI deepfakes using their likeness to promote products with which they had no association. Hanks noted that advertisements were circulating in which an AI rendering of him was promoting an unknown dental plan.

Beyond promotional efforts, deepfakes are also being deployed in a political framework. An allegedly fake audio clip of UK labor party leader Keir Starmer was circulated in which he seemed to inappropriately berate staff members. In a recent TikTok, AI-generated audio mimicking former president Barack Obama, addressed conspiracy theories about his former chief of staff.

This doesn’t only affect public figures - fake audio is also being used by scammers to impersonate friends or family members over the phone. A recent Washington Post article recommends establishing a ‘safe word’, to better tell if you are experiencing a scam.

Image: Tom Hanks, left, Gayle King and Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast
Image Source: *The Washington Post* (Joe Maher/Getty Images/Invision/AP)

Digitizing Collections:

Museums are racing to digitize their collections in order to expand access, curation, and exploration in the metaverse.

The UK’s innovation accelerator program announced a £5.6 million “Museums in the Metaverse” plan, digitizing museum collections through 3D scanning in partnership with the University of Glasgow. This initiative brings stored pieces into public view and creates space for digital curation - for professionals and amateurs alike. Additionally, the British Museum plans to digitize their entire collection, including more than 2.4 million pieces, over the next 5 years. This effort seeks to enhance familiarity with the collection, reacting in part to recent theft of more than 2000 pieces.

Image: *Voices of the Forgotten*
Image Source: Luc Bernard, *The Art Newspaper*

Digital collections are making cultural resources accessible to visitors in new ways. In response to reports that Fortnite users were expressing antisemitism through the platform,, the company partnered with designer Luc Bernard to develop a virtual Holocaust Museum, “Voices of the Forgotten.” All players can explore the collection, but dancing and other playful features are disabled in the space.

Tech for Climate Solutions

Tech companies are raising the question - can they be part of the climate solution? The use of AI is growing in smart cities to collect data and enact real-time solutions.

This month, Google DeepMind’s climate action lead Sims Witherspoon shared about plans to use AI to support three main initiatives - prediction modeling, optimization, and assisting in breakthrough science. Google Research also announced “Green Light” - a project which integrates AI into street lights to optimize performance, decrease wait times, and limit emissions. The technology works with existing infrastructure to optimize traffic patterns.

Video: Can Google AI help cities reduce traffic emissions?

Video Source: YouTube

The use of digital twins, or virtual replicas, is expanding in the urban planning space to create more sustainable cities. The city of Campo de Cartagena, Spain, is developing the country’s first digital twin to predict and avoid future disasters. Sensors throughout the city collect real-time data on water levels, plant life, and even parking, and channel information into data visualizations.