Articles by Todd Shields and Ben Brody

Smaller Websites Nervous Over Giant Facebook’s Support for Liability Reform

Facebook Inc. says it’s time to rethink the legal immunity that protects it from lawsuits over what users post online, a position that’s leaving smaller websites concerned about the cost of accepting more responsibility for what appears on their platforms. …

Justice Department Outlines Proposed Overhaul of Social Media Immunity

The Justice Department on Wednesday outlined a broad overhaul of legal protections for online platforms such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. if they deliberately promote illegal speech on their websites. The proposals, which could upend the companies’ business …

Trump Executive Order Aims to Shrink Liability Shield for Social Media Giants

Donald Trump has been raging against Twitter Inc. since the social media platform that helped vault him to the presidency slapped fact-check links on a pair of his tweets. Now, he’s poised to take action Thursday that could bring a …

Debate Over Business Liability in Pandemic Turns to OSHA Regulation, CDC Guidelines

Congressional Republicans have made liability protection for employers a nonnegotiable demand in any new coronavirus stimulus, but Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President Donald Trump, says that regulators have a role to play in the workplace. The government must …

Justice Department Targets Internet Firms’ Liability Shield

Attorney General William Barr is taking aim at a legal shield enjoyed by companies such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. as the provision comes under increasing fire from both liberals and conservatives. Barr has accused social media companies …

Key House Member Eyes Internet Liability Changes Before Election

Representative Jan Schakowsky has asked her staff to examine changes to a liability shield that protects tech platforms such as Facebook Inc. from lawsuits because of her concerns about how fake information could be used in the 2020 presidential election. …

IBM Calls For Rules to Curb Bias in Artificial Intelligence

IBM called for rules aimed at eliminating bias in artificial intelligence to ease concerns that the technology relies on data that bakes in past discriminatory practices and could harm women, minorities, the disabled, older Americans and others. As it seeks …

Chamber of Commerce to Fight Corporate Breakups, Gig Worker Benefits

The leader of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the powerful business group will fight to reverse liberal policies being pushed in the states and by some Democratic candidates for president. “We will lead the opposition to policies that undermine …

Bipartisan Internet Privacy Proposal Calls for User OK to Share Data But Is Mum on Suits

A top House panel unveiled long-awaited draft privacy legislation that calls for limits on sharing consumers’ information and would allow users to correct their personal data. The draft, which also calls for the Federal Trade Commission to establish a new …

FTC Democrat Tells States: ‘BalI Is In Your Court’ on Facebook Privacy Compliance

A Democratic member on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission urged states investigating Facebook Inc. to examine whether the company disregarded earlier promises to protect privacy in order to perpetuate its dominance in violation of antitrust laws. “Now, the ball really …