Alan Butler Executive Director and President | Official website
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In a recent interview, Megan Iorio, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, highlighted the challenges of regulating speech within the confines of the First Amendment. Iorio expressed her views on the difficulty of ensuring privacy while verifying a user's age, stating that "there is no privacy-protective way" to accomplish this task.
Moreover, Iorio pointed out the inadequacy of placing the responsibility on parents to address the negative impacts of complex social media algorithms, remarking that it is "not how things should work." She stressed the importance of government intervention in enacting regulations to safeguard children from potential harms, stating firmly, "The government should be able to pass regulations to prevent harms to kids."
As Pennsylvania continues its efforts to regulate social media companies, the insights provided by Megan Iorio shed light on the complexities and challenges faced in this endeavor. The discussion surrounding the balance between free speech and protection of users, especially children, remains a pressing issue that requires careful consideration and thoughtful policymaking.