Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation: Lessons from Social Media. Charlie Gainey, Intern, Bates College.
Introduction. As artificial intelligence (AI) advances and permeates various aspects of our lives, the question of how to regulate it becomes increasingly pertinent. To chart the best course for AI regulation, it is essential to learn from past experience with other emerging technologies. In this regard, social media platforms offer valuable lessons on what works and what does not when it comes to developing a legal framework for innovation. In this blog post, we explore four key lessons from social media regulation that can guide the path to regulating AI. 1. Congress Needs to Be More Tech-Savvy. One of the most significant challenges in regulating social media was the apparent lack of technical understanding among policymakers. During the 2018 Senate hearing with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, many senators appeared unable to ask informed questions about the company's data privacy practices (Lapowsky, 2018). This lack of tech-savvy hindered effective regulation, as many la...