i2Coalition March 2024 Legislative Update

Your update on important Internet policy issues

OUTLOOK

The U.S. Congress finally completed the two-phase, contentious federal government funding process for FY 2024 on March 22, just prior to the start of a two-week spring recess period and almost halfway through the current fiscal year. President Biden signed the FY 2024 spending legislation into law, and federal government agencies avoided major shutdowns. After the recess ends in early April, Congress will reset legislative priorities as the Presidential and Congressional campaign season accelerates. Due to the early departures of several retiring Members, by later this spring, the slim House Republican majority is on track to narrow to a one-vote margin. Legislative debate will resume on unsettled matters, including the provision of foreign aid to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel and improving security at the southern border. While the completion of FY 2024 appropriations took center stage in March, the appropriations process has already started in Congress for FY 2025, which begins on October 1. After the spring recess, the Senate also will be required to conduct an impeachment trial proceeding in response to the earlier partisan House vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border. The House Oversight Committee Republicans are trying to advance a Biden impeachment inquiry into alleged corruption involving his family’s foreign business dealings while he was Vice President. Meanwhile, former President Trump is campaigning as the presumptive Republican nominee for President in 2024 while managing his court appearances in multiple legal proceedings pending against him.

TECH POLICY PRIORITIES

Section 230/Intermediary Liability/Content Moderation. So far, multiple attempts in the Senate by several Senate Judiciary Committee members to pass quickly by unanimous consent a package of Section 230 reform and CSAM bills, including the STOP CSAM bill and the EARN IT Act, have been unsuccessful. In late February, a large group of technology trade associations and civil society groups sent a letter to bipartisan Senate and House leadership expressing strong support for the enactment of The Invest in Child Safety Act of 2024, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA), which would give law enforcement more resources against online child predators. In the House, social media content moderation policy debates among members of the Republican majority have continued to focus on exploring alleged censorship of conservative voices by large platforms.

Federal Privacy. Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Blackburn (R-TN) are continuing their efforts to advance a Senate floor vote on a revised version of their legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which now has more than 60 sponsors. Senators Markey (D-MA) and Cassidy (R-LA), the sponsors of a new version of the bill known as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 2.0, seek similar Senate floor action as soon as possible. Bipartisan companion KOSA and COPPA 2.0 bills to be introduced in the House are under continuing discussion; however, to date, the House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican leadership reportedly continues to support a comprehensive federal privacy and data security bill in which children’s measures such as KOSA and COPPA 2.0 could be included and would not be considered on a stand-alone basis. After the spring recess, the Senate will consider how to respond to the House’s rapid, overwhelming bipartisan passage of two newly introduced data security measures, one which would mandate either a forced sale of Chinese TikTok ownership interests or a ban on TIkTok in the U.S., and the other to prohibit data brokers from selling Americans’ sensitive personal data to foreign adversaries.

Copyright/IP. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Emerging Technologies (ET) Partnership scheduled a public symposium on IP and AI on March 27, 2024, to facilitate the USPTO’s efforts to implement its obligations under the President’s Executive Order 14110, the“Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” More news organizations (The Intercept, Raw Story, and AlterNet) have suedOpenAI in federal court in the Southern District of New York, claiming that the company unlawfully utilized copyright-protected articles to develop and operate ChatGPT.

Antitrust/Competition. On March 21, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit accusing Apple of monopolistic smartphone practices. Sixteen state attorneys general joined the federal department in the lawsuit. The two new recently Senate-confirmed Republican FTC Commissioners, Andrew Ferguson, and Melissa Holyoak, began their terms on March 25, giving the FTC a full 5-member bipartisan panel.

Broadband. To date, Congress has not provided the additional $7 billion estimated to be needed to sustain the Affordable Connectivity Program which provides monthly subsidies to eligible households for internet subscription costs. A bipartisan, bicameral Universal Service Working Group in the Congress is reportedly developing a universal service reform framework for which text may be released in the coming weeks. It has now been more than one year since Congress allowed the FCC’s spectrum auction authority to lapse.

ISSUES

Section 230/Intermediary Liability/Content Moderation 

Senate: Status of Attempts to Pass 230 & CSAM Bills Package Unanimous Consent – On March 6, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made a unanimous consent request for the immediate passage of the EARN IT Act of 2023, the STOP CSAM Act of 2023, and the SHIELD Act of 2023 to address the sexual exploitation of children online and increase Big Tech accountability. He was supported by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Dick Durbin (D-IL). However, the requests to pass the EARN IT and STOP CSAM Acts were blocked by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and the SHIELD Act was blocked by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). On March 10, during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press at which he was asked about TikTok, Senator Graham shifted the subject to complain about harms from social media and said Section 230 “needs to go.”

Senate: Judiciary Committee Posts Tech CEO Online Child Safety Responses – On March 25, the Senate Judiciary Committee posted the responses that CEOs of TikTok, X, Snap, Meta, and Discord provided to questions that Senators sent after a Jan. 31 online child safety hearing. The responses addressed how platforms directed trust and safety resources and addressed harmful content like financial sextortion of kids online.

Congress: Tech and Civil Society Letter Strongly Supporting Invest in Child Safety Act – In late February, a large group of technology trade associations–including the i2Coalition–and leading civil society groups sent a letter to bipartisan Senate and House leaders expressing strong support for enactment of The Invest in Child Safety Act of 2024, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA). The bill would mandate substantially more funding resources to law enforcement to effectively investigate and prosecute child predators and bad actors reported to them. The bill also recognizes the mental health needs of victims and their families by providing funding and support.

SCOTUS: Oral Argument Held Addressing Legal Challenge to Florida and Texas Social Media Laws – The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on February 26 in cases challenging the legality of state social media laws in Florida and Texas. A number of the Justices seemed skeptical about the constitutionality of the laws’ regulation of how large social media companies control content posted on their sites. During nearly four hours of arguments, several Justices suggested that the laws violate the First Amendment because they infringe on the ability of companies like Facebook and YouTube to make decisions about the content that appears on their platforms. But at the same time, the Justices expressed some concern about the posture in which the companies’ challenge came to the court, suggesting that it could prevent them from weighing in on the Florida law in particular.

SCOTUS: Oral Argument Held to Address Alleged Online Censorship by Federal Officials – The Supreme Court heard oral argument on March 18 in the case that will decide the dispute between conservatives and the Biden Administration over social media platforms’ right to moderate content. The ruling could have implications for the 2024 elections and freedom of expression online. The case involves federal officials pressuring platforms to suppress certain content, raising concerns about coercion and infringement of free speech. The decision could also affect a President’s ability to use digital platforms as a public megaphone, reflecting a broader debate over free speech and regulation on digital platforms with implications for both government and social media companies.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition will continue its work to educate policymakers about the complexities of the Section 230 debate and threats posed to the entire Internet ecosystem beyond the largest tech social media platforms if uninformed legislation is adopted or legal cases are wrongly decided. In 2023, the i2Coalition joined other prominent tech trade associations in a letter and related efforts directed to the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose the ill-advised, re-introduced EARN IT Act. In 2024, the I2Coalition joined numerous tech trade associations and civil society groups in a letter to Congressional leaders expressing strong support for The Invest in Child Safety Act, which would directly give law enforcement authorities more resources to battle online child predators and would provide support to victims and their families. The i2Coalition continues to build on its collaboration with key allies in the library and higher education communities to promote a full understanding of the scope of Section 230. The i2Coalition filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Gonzalez v. Google on Jan. 18, 2023, to advance the Court’s accurate understanding of the scope and impact of Section 230’s immunity protections for Internet intermediary providers. Similarly, in the 118th Congress, the i2Coalition will continue to inform and educate policymakers if misplaced enforcement and procedural approaches to other online problems are proposed (e.g., the DRUGs Act).

Privacy

Biden EO Aims to Block Transfer of Americans’ Data to Foreign Adversaries – President Biden issued an executive order to prevent large-scale transfers of Americans’ personal data to entities in hostile nations. The order aims to close loopholes that allow data brokers to engage in deals compromising sensitive American data, including biometrics, health, and finances. The rules will be crafted to minimize the impact on legitimate commercial activity and preserve data flows with international partners. The DOJ will work with other departments to issue licenses allowing exemptions to the rules, and the rules will carry the force of law.

House Unanimously Approves Bill to Ban Data Brokers from Sharing U.S. Data with Foreign Adversaries – On March 20, the House unanimously approved a bill (414-0 vote) to ban data brokers from sharing sensitive U.S. information with foreign adversaries like China. In response, the Senate is also considering legislative options and held a classified briefing on the national security threats posed by TikTok and its links to China.

House Approves TikTok Divestiture/Ban Bill – The so-called TikTok ban bill has yet to land a timeline in the Senate after it overwhelmingly passed the House 325-65 on March 13. The bill aims to force the Chinese company Bytedance to sell its ownership interest in TikTok in order for the app to continue to be distributed in the U.S. The legislation gives the President authority– after notifying Congress– to require divestment of an app if it is determined to be controlled by a foreign adversary or face a ban on U.S.-based app stores or web hosting sites. As drafted, it would apply to apps controlled by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Cantwell (D-WA) has signaled she may call for a hearing following the spring recess. Cantwell is said to prefer “more robust” legislation, like her alternative proposal to allow the Commerce Department to ban foreign-owned apps like TikTok. Senate Intel Committee chairman Warner and ranking member Rubio announced that they support the House-passed bill. Senator Warner also reportedly believes that a hearing is a good idea. Justice Department senior officials planned closed-door briefings with senators to advance the legislation. If enacted into law, this bill could lead to a U.S. ban on TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned social media app. Lawmakers argue that apps like TikTok pose national security risks due to their ties to China and Russia. However, some lawmakers have raised concerns about the legislation’s potential violation of First Amendment rights.

FTC: TikTok Investigation – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been investigating TikTok over allegedly faulty privacy and data security practices and reportedly could decide in the coming weeks to bring a lawsuit or settlement in partnership with the DOJ. The FTC is said to be weighing allegations that TikTok, and its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, deceived its users by denying that individuals in China had access to their data, and also violated a children’s privacy law. This FTC case is unrelated to the forced-sale bill passed quickly by the House in March and now under consideration in the Senate.

FTC: PrivacyCon 2024 Event – The Federal Trade Commission held PrivacyCon 2024, a virtual event on March 6. The event featured discussions on various privacy and data security research topics, including consumer attitudes, economics of privacy, privacy-enhancing technologies, health privacy, AI and machine learning, mobile device security, and deepfakes.

FTC: COPPA Rule Amendment Comments – The FTC accepted comments on March 11 regarding its proposed COPPA rule amendments. The NPRM reflects the FTC’s continued effort to modernize the COPPA Rule, which implements the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and regulates operators of websites and online services that collect personal information from children. The i2Coalition filed brief comments that urged the Commission to be mindful of broader impacts the new rule amendments may have on the entire Internet ecosystem – such as the neutral Internet infrastructure intermediaries i2Coalition represents. The comments also asserted that a modified COPPA Rule also should not undermine other fundamental Internet policy goals, including network efficiency and cybersecurity. The i2Coalition voiced its support for the actual knowledge standard and for maintaining the continued utility of the internal operations exception, as well as sensible approaches to data retention and security.

FTC Orders Software Provider to Pay Penalty and Prohibits Them for Selling Data – Software provider Avast has been ordered to pay $16.5 million by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for selling web browsing data to third parties without consumer consent. Avast’s subsidiary, Jumpshot, allegedly sold detailed browsing data to over 100 third parties while claiming their product would protect privacy. As part of the settlement, Avast is prohibited from selling browsing data, must obtain consumer consent before selling non-Avast browsing data, delete transferred browsing information, inform affected consumers, and implement a comprehensive privacy program.

FTC & DOT: Transportation-Related Privacy – The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on privacy concerns around cars. The agency posted calls on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) to report issues about the data that cars collect and how it’s used. The posts are a part of the FTC’s efforts to learn more about the automobile industry’s data collection practices. The inquiry comes about a week after press reports about carmakers sharing drivers’ data with insurance companies and data brokers. Concerns are rising over cars’ increasing collection of personal data on drivers, fueling a growing industry of data brokers leveraging that information. Relatedly, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that the agency will be conducting a privacy review of the U.S.’s ten largest airlines. The review is the first time the Department of Transportation will examine airlines’ privacy practices and will look at how airlines collect and use passengers’ data.

Florida: Kids Social Media Law – Florida enacted the nation’s strictest social media law, prohibiting platforms from allowing users younger than 14 to create accounts on their sites. Court challenges to the law on First Amendment grounds are expected. The law aims to prohibit minors younger than 14 from accessing social media in an effort to protect them against alleged harms to their mental health and well-being. The legislation is a revamped version of an earlier bill, H.B. 1, that DeSantis vetoed earlier this month. The original bill would have blocked minors younger than 16 from many social media sites and did not give parents veto power. The newer law lets parents consent to kids aged 14 and 15 opening accounts on the platforms. The original bill required platforms to verify ages; the newer version leaves it to companies to meet the requirements.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition works closely with U.S. policymakers to educate about and maximize understanding of the business impacts of privacy and data collection legislation and regulation affecting the technology sector in the U.S. and globally. On Oct. 6, 2022, in Washington, and on Dec. 6 in Brussels, the i2Coalition and eco hosted timely webinars on the status of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, with panelists from government, industry, and civil society. The i2Coalition will continue to follow EU-US efforts on transatlantic data flows policy making and engage with the responsible U.S. Department of Commerce officials and staff and with our EU allies and partners. In the 118th Congress, we will continue to focus on presenting substantive updates and educational resources to Congress and federal policymakers about the work we are doing and the progress being made with ICANN and NTIA on the development of a sound, workable global access model for domain name registration data meeting the requirements of the GDPR and federal and state laws, and the needs of law enforcement agencies. In Congress and before the Biden Administration, we will continue to emphasize the need to combine enhanced privacy policies with the ability to deploy strong encryption, unencumbered by backdoors, as primary tools we leverage to keep people safe online.

Copyright/IP

Tennessee Adopts “Elvis Act,” Protecting Artists from AI Impersonation – In March, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the “Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act of 2024” (or “ELVIS Act”) into law. The bill broadens the state’s existing right of publicity law to include a person’s voice as a protected right and expressly prohibits several uses of an individual’s name, image, or photograph. The passage of the Elvis Act at the state level is not expected to generate momentum for similar legislation at the federal level. Generally speaking, the music industry would like to see a federal right of publicity enacted. The film and television industry remains opposed. Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) posted on X that he looks forward to working with his colleagues on the Bipartisan AI Taskforce and IP Subcommittee to address these concerns at the federal level. 

Researchers Test Leading AI Models for Copyright Infringement – PatronusAI, an AI model evaluation company, recently tested OpenAI’s GPT-4, Anthropic’s Claude 2, Meta’s Llama 2, and Mistrial’s AI’s Mixtral to determine how often the systems, when prompted, would generate text from popular books protected under U.S. copyright law. According to the company, all four models produced copyrighted content upon request, with OpenAI allegedly performing the worst. This research comes as the legal battle between OpenAI and the New York Times begins to take shape.

AI Litigation: New York Times Denies Hacking OpenAI – As a follow-up to the NY Times lawsuit against OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement, OpenAI has recently submitted a response claiming that the newspaper’s allegations “lack merit” and accusing the publication of having “intentionally manipulated prompts to get the chatbot to regurgitate their stories.” The Times has denied OpenAI’s claims and on March 11 filed a court response accusing OpenAI of using the attention-grabbing term “hacking” as a publicity stunt to discredit the publication’s meritorious lawsuit.

AI Litigation: Additional News Organizations Sue OpenAI – In late February, The Intercept, Raw Story, and AlterNet filed separate federal lawsuits against OpenAI in the Southern District of New York, claiming that the company plagiarized copyright-protected articles to develop and operate ChatGPT. The lawsuits reflect an industry-wide concern among those in the media industry that generative AI will compete with established news publishers and further erode already declining advertising revenues. While several news outlets have chosen to pursue legal action against OpenAI, other publishers, such as Axel Springer, have opted to partner with OpenAI via licensing agreements.

US PTO: March 27 Symposium on AI and IP – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Emerging Technologies (ET) Partnership, held a hybrid public symposium on IP and AI on March 27, 2024. The symposium was intended to help facilitate the USPTO’s efforts to implement its obligations under the President’s Executive Order 14110, titled “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.”

DMCA Litigation: Billion Dollar Verdict Against Cox Overturned – Last week, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a $1 billion dollar verdict won by the major record labels against Cox Communications for the alleged illegal downloading by the company’s subscribers. The recent decision does not absolve Cox of its responsibility from allegedly violating the Digital Millennium Communications Act (“DMCA”) by failing to implement an effective strategy for terminating repeat infringers. It simply means the damages awarded for those violations will be considerably reduced. 

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition will continue to actively fight for the preservation of Section 512 safe harbors of the DMCA that its members have relied upon, including particularly the conduit provisions, to launch and operate their businesses successfully without being deluged with litigation threats. We will work to educate policymakers in Congress and the Biden administration to ensure balanced policy outcomes for our members. In addition, the i2Coalition will engage through outreach, dialog, and the public comments process in any future Canadian copyright consultations to urge continuity of balanced approaches in consideration of any reforms of Canada’s safe harbor framework for online intermediaries.

Cybersecurity

CISA: CIRCIA NPRM Released – On March 27, the text of the CISA CIRCIA NPRM was released regarding critical infrastructure incident and ransomware reporting. The NPRM will be published in the Federal Register on April 4 and the public comment period will be open for 60 days. A key issue for Internet providers responding to the request for public comments is the scope of the Domain Name System exemption and its regulatory implementation.

NIST: CSF 2.0 Released – On Feb. 26, NIST released Cybersecurity Framework version 2.0 to cater to a wider range of organizations. The update introduces additional guidance, features a searchable reference catalog, and highlights the importance of governance. It aims to assist organizations in managing cybersecurity risks more efficiently and align with broader national cybersecurity strategies. Feedback and contributions from users are welcomed to enhance global cybersecurity risk management.

NIST Stresses the Importance of Zero Trust as Long-Term Strategy – Recently, Cherilyn Pascoe, the Director of the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at NIST, stressed the significance of seeing zero trust as a long-term strategy rather than just a single technology solution. She highlighted the crucial role of basic cybersecurity practices such as identity and asset management. Pascoe mentioned that the NCCoE is collaborating with technology vendors to create comprehensive zero-trust architecture examples, with the goal of helping agencies overcome challenges and successfully implement zero-trust strategies.

Senate: Blumenthal/Blackburn Call for Declassification on TikTok Risks – Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn are urging for the declassification of TikTok briefings to inform the public about the national security threat posed by the Chinese-owned app. This comes in the wake of the bill to force ByteDance to divest from TikTok which passed the House.

House: CCP Committee Chair Gallagher Departs House in April – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), one of the key lawmakers spearheading efforts in the House to counter China’s influence in the U.S., announced on March 22 that he would leave Congress on April 19. Gallagher, who chairs the House Select Committee on China and the House Armed Services Committee’s cyber subcommittee, is the lead sponsor on the bill that would force a sale of or ban TikTok from U.S. app stores. Gallagher reportedly plans to take a job at Palantir, a data analytics company co-founded and chaired by tech billionaire and China hawk Peter Thiel.

House: CCP Committee Sends Letter to FCC on Cell Phone Security – The Chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, Mike Gallagher, wrote to FCC Chair Rosenworcel expressing concerns over reports of U.S. cell phones and devices receiving signals from unauthorized Chinese and Russian satellites. The committee asked for answers from the FCC by March 30, 2024, regarding the use of unauthorized signals and potential statutory authorities needed to address the issue.

CISA, FBI, MS-ISAC Update Guidance DDOS Attacks – CISA, FBI, and Multi-State Information Sharing Analysis Center have released updated guidance on understanding and responding to DDoS attacks. The guide covers different attack types, motivations, potential impacts, preventative measures, and incident response techniques. It emphasizes the importance of organizations focusing on emerging DDoS trends and technologies to better defend against malicious activity. The updated guide targets governmental entities and includes steps for preparation, detection, response, recovery, and mitigation measures for organizations that have suffered a DDoS attack.

CISA and OMB Seek Feedback on Self-Attestation Common Form – CISA and OMB have released a common form of secure software self-attestation based on the NIST Secure Software Development Framework. The form fulfills the 2021 cyber executive order mandate and will initially be required for “critical software” before eventually extending to other software. Enforcement mechanisms and tracking of security improvements are still being determined. More information is expected to be provided in the future.

House Republican Report Finds US Ports Susceptible to Chinese – The House investigated Chinese state-owned manufacturer ZPMC for potential spying and interference by Beijing. ZPMC installed cellular modems on cranes used at U.S. ports, raising concerns about the manipulation of U.S. maritime equipment. The Chinese government dismissed the claims, leading to heightened tensions. President Biden gave the Coast Guard new authorities to counter potential cyber threats to ports, and ongoing investigations have found vulnerabilities in cranes.

Treasury Dept. Sanctions European Spyware Maker – The Biden administration sanctioned individuals and entities associated with the Intellexa consortium, a network of European firms selling the Predator mobile surveillance software. The move aims to address the misuse of commercial spyware globally, particularly in Europe. The sanctions target two individuals and five firms to disrupt the market for similar companies. The action comes ahead of the March 18 Summit for Democracy in South Korea, where the U.S. and its partners were set to discuss the use of commercial surveillance tools.

White House Advisory Board Recommends New Incentives to Raise Industry Cyber Standards – The National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee recommended new economic incentives to enhance cybersecurity for critical infrastructure owners due to insufficient market forces and a lack of awareness about federal assistance. The report suggested financial incentives, information-sharing liability protections, and clearer language around liability protections.

GAO Report: FBI and DHS Lack Cohesive Strategy for Social Media – The FBI and DHS lack a clear strategy for sharing information on domestic extremist threats with social media and gaming companies, according to the Government Accountability Office. The GAO recommended that they develop a strategy and goals for sharing information on domestic violent extremism with social media and gaming companies. DHS expects to complete the strategy by June.

Commerce Department to Investigate Connected Chinese Vehicles, Seeks Comment on Connected Vehicles and Securing Communications Supply Chain – The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security requested public input by April 30 in response to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking related to connected vehicles and securing the information and communications technology and services supply chain. This rulemaking aims to help the department identify the technologies and market participants that may need regulation. According to various sources, the Department of Commerce is investigating the national security risks posed by connected vehicles and associated technologies sourced from China or other U.S. adversaries. President Biden has expressed concerns about potential data collection and remote access by foreign entities. The investigation also considers cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in connected vehicles.

Senator Wyden Letter to WH Urging Wireless Carrier Cybersecurity Regulation – Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) urged regulation of wireless carriers’ cybersecurity standards to prevent exploitation. He highlighted the threat posed by surveillance companies and authoritarian governments exploiting these vulnerabilities. Wyden requested regular updates from the Biden administration on addressing the cybersecurity threat. 

i2Coalition’s Perspective – As policymakers’ concerns and efforts intensify regarding how to improve cybersecurity and guard against growing attacks and threats, i2Coalition has increased its monitoring of this area. We will continue to engage in targeted policy matters and proceedings where the i2Coalition’s participation can enhance understanding and support improvements. In this regard, on November 14, 2022, the i2Coalition filed comments with CISA in response to the RFI on CIRCIA implementation. On March 3, 2023, the i2Coalition filed comments on NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 Concept Paper. On November 6, 2023, the i2Coalition filed comments on the public draft of NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework 2.0.

Antitrust/Competition

DOJ: Antitrust Lawsuit Filed Against Apple – The Justice Department and several states have sued Apple, alleging that the company has unlawfully monopolized the smartphone market and raised costs for users and developers. They claim that Apple restricts competition through its App Store, limits super apps, blocks cloud streaming gaming apps, ties Apple Watches exclusively to iPhones, controls digital wallets, and disrupts cross-platform messaging.

FTC: Two New Republican Commissioners Terms Began on March 25 – The two new recently confirmed 

Republican FTC Commissioners, Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak, began their terms on March 25. The FTC Chair Lina Khan reportedly asked for the “bureaucratic paperwork” pertaining to their security clearances to be waived to have a full commission as soon as possible. The Democratic Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter was reconfirmed by the Senate for another term.

FTC: Telemarketing Sales Rules Amendment – The FTC amended the Telemarketing Sales Rule to protect consumers from tech support scams better. Telemarketers will be required to retain call detail records, and the FTC will have legal tools to penalize scammers and provide redress for affected consumers. The public can provide feedback for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

FTC: March 21 Meeting Agenda – The FTC held an open meeting on March 21. The agenda included 

a presentation on the amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule and a discussion of a report on supply chain disruptions.

Colorado: FTC Testifies in Support of Colorado’s Right-to-Repair Law – The FTC supports proposed legislation in Colorado that would expand right-to-repair laws to include digital electronic equipment and address parts pairing, a type of repair restriction. The FTC’s testimony outlined the impact of repair restrictions on consumers and highlighted findings from its “Nixing the Fix” report.

FTC: National Consumer Protection Week – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its partners participated in National Consumer Protection Week (NPCW) from March 2-8, 2024. The events aimed to educate the public about consumer rights, fraud prevention, and identity theft protection. Activities included webinars, in-person presentations, social media events, and distribution of educational materials.

House: FTC Chair Accused of Abuse of Power by House Judiciary Committee GOP – Last week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) released an internal staff report accusing FTC Chair Lina Khan of engaging in an abuse of power, misuse of resources and instilling a culture of fear throughout the agency. The report is not likely to influence any of the enforcement actions currently undertaken by the FTC, but will make it less likely that Congress provides additional funding to carry out additional investigations or hire more personnel.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition monitors but has not actively engaged on this issue.

Trade/Tax

Senate: Durbin and Lee Bill to Renew and Reform Section 702 FISA – The SAFE Act, introduced by Senators Dick Durbin and Mike Lee, reauthorizes Section 702 of FISA while enacting safeguards against warrantless surveillance and government abuses. It requires intelligence agencies to obtain a warrant before accessing Americans’ communications collected under Section 702, closes the “data broker loophole,” and enhances the role of amici curiae in evaluating arguments presented to the FISA Court.

Sen. Wyden Criticizes DOJ For Seeking FISA Extension – Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) criticized the DOJ for requesting a one-year extension of government surveillance under Section 702 of FISA despite the law expiring soon. He and a group of lawmakers are advocating for reforms to protect Americans’ rights, such as requiring a warrant before viewing citizens’ communication content and implementing safeguards against the government obtaining personal data without a warrant.

Senate: Crapo Signals Opposition to Moving Forward on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act – On March 20, Majority Leader Schumer took the procedural step of putting the House-passed Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act on the Senate’s legislative calendar, but that doesn’t mean that the Wyden/Smith negotiated tax deal has a path forward in the Senate. At a recent Republican Senators’ weekly policy meeting, Senate Finance Committee ranking member Mike Crapo (R-ID) announced that he opposes moving any tax bill this year that is a deal with Democrats. Minority Leader McConnell then urged all Republican senators to support Crapo’s position. Even Sen. Romney (R-MA), who has supported the child tax credit (CTC) expansion, spoke against the deal. While most Senate Democrats continue to support the tax package, they need Republican votes to get to 60 to pass it in the Senate. With McConnell’s objections, it is unlikely that it can be added to a must-pass legislative vehicle to avoid this 60-vote threshold. Sen. Crapo has expressed concerns that the bill’s CTC provisions undermine the work requirement and represent a significant shift to transform the CTC from primarily working family tax relief into a government subsidy. Crapo has signaled he does not want to “rubber stamp” the agreement that was reached by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO).

House: Granger Announces Plans to Leave House Appropriations Early – Kay Granger, the House Appropriations Committee Chair, plans to step down early and has asked Republicans to choose her successor soon. She will serve the remainder of her term and then serve as “chair emeritus.” Rep. Tom Cole is running to replace her, and Rep. Robert Aderholt is also considering a bid for the gavel.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition continues to work for balanced trade agreements that foster digital trade, and we generally support efforts to put trade with China on a more level footing. We support the global digital trade principles articulated in the global industry letter to the G20. We will continue our engagement with USTR in support of those principles and against non-tariff trade barriers. The i2Coalition will also continue our work with our EU-based members on the DSA, DMA, and the NIS2 Directive toward balanced and transparent regulations, including providing input on major relevant U.S. policy discussions having an impact on evolving global intermediary liability principles (e.g., the Section 230 debate in the U.S. Congress). The i2Coalition will continue to underscore and educate USTR officials in the Special 301 proceedings about the key point that USTR should not confuse “notorious markets” with neutral intermediaries such as Internet infrastructure providers. The i2Coalition’s efforts before USTR are succeeding, as demonstrated in the 2023 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report issued on January 30, 2024, in which not one of our Internet intermediary members or any other traditional Internet infrastructure company was cited in the online markets list.

Artificial Intelligence

NTIA AI Comments on March 27 – The NTIA issued a Request for Comment on the potential benefits and risks of AI dual-use foundation models with widely available uses. These models may benefit less-resourced technology and aim to support scientific advancements but may pose risks related to security, equity, and civil rights. The request seeks input on defining “open” or “widely available,” comparing risks to closed models, benefits of open models, legal and regulatory implications, and decision-making for open models in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The comments will inform a report to the President with NTIA’s policy recommendations.

House: Bipartisan Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act – Reps. Eshoo (D-CA), Dunn (R-FL), Beyer (D-VA), and Foushee (D-NC) introduced a new AI bill on March 21. The legislation aims to mandate that NIST create standards for watermarking AI-generated content to help users identify and label such content. The bill imposes requirements on generative AI developers and social media platforms to include disclosures on AI-generated content.

House AI Task Force Meets – The House AI Task Force, led by Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA), held its first official meeting in March. The purpose was to decide which AI legislative proposals should be prioritized. Afterward, Lieu mentioned that this first task force meeting aimed to identify priority areas, acknowledging the broad spectrum of AI-related issues. Jay Obernolte emphasized that the task force would consider proposals with significant bipartisan and bicameral support with White House buy-in.

Congress: CRS Exploring Use of AI for Bill Summaries, Previous Attempts Not Successful – The Congressional Research Service is considering the use of AI to generate bill summaries and alleviate their backlog, noting that the agency is careful to ensure quality and accuracy. Other organizations have tried using AI for bill summaries, but concerns about accuracy have been raised. Additionally, CRS is facing difficulties obtaining information from federal agencies, prompting the need for legislative support. Rep. Bice is leading a bipartisan bill to address this issue, with bipartisan support from Reps. Kilmer and Carey.

Senate: New Bipartisan AI Elections Bill Would Require Disclosure Statement – The “AI Transparency in Elections Act“ is a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Senators Klobuchar and Murkowski, which aims to regulate the use of AI-generated content in political advertising. It requires disclosure of AI-generated images, audio, or video in ads, with the Federal Election Commission creating criteria for identifying such content. The legislation focuses on the substantial use of AI and aims to address concerns about the use of “deepfakes” in the upcoming election cycle.

Biden Administration FY25 Budget Requests $3 Billion for AI – The Biden Administration has proposed a $7.3 trillion budget for fiscal 2025, allocating significant funding for AI initiatives. The budget includes over $3 billion for the development and integration of AI applications across federal agencies and $300 million to increase agency funding for AI. Additionally, there are provisions for the establishment of Chief AI Officers, the National AI Research Resource pilot, and support for the Department of Commerce’s AI Safety Institute. The budget appears to enhance AI and tech talent within the government and address risks associated with AI, such as harmful content and privacy concerns.

NIST: US AI Safety Institute Receives $10 Million in FY 2024 Commerce Spending Bill – Included in the FY 2024 appropriations bills Congress passed in March was $10 million to advance the efforts of the NIST US AI Safety Institute. This provision was led by Senate Commerce Chair Cantwell (D-WA) and Sens. Young (R-Young), Heinrich (D-NM), and Rounds (R-SD). The provision is included in the Commerce Justice Science title. The Commerce Department announced the creation of the USAISI in November as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the nation’s global leadership in setting standards for AI innovation and use. NIST will use the funding to enhance the USAISI team with experts in red teaming and capability evaluation, support the formation of a Joint Research Center for advancing AI system evaluation techniques and safety research, and support the USAISI Consortium.

House Oversight Committee Advances Federal Government AI-Related Legislation – The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability recently passed two significant pieces of AI-related legislation – H.R. 7532 and H.R. 4552. H.R. 7532 aims to improve transparency, oversight, and the responsible use of federal AI systems, while H.R. 4552 seeks to enhance federal cybersecurity. These efforts mark significant strides in addressing modern challenges and technological advancements in government operations.

Biden Administration Enhancement of AI Use Case Inventories w/ Metadata – The Biden administration is working to improve AI use case inventories by adding metadata and expanding them with safety and risk management information. The focus is on transparency and equity, with the federal government reporting over 700 public uses of AI.

Export-Import Bank Adopting Permissive Approach to AI – The Export-Import Bank and Securities and Exchange Commission are taking different approaches to allow employees access to generative AI tools. The Ex-Im bank is permissive and focuses on low-risk environments, while the SEC is cautious and prioritizes staff training.

Senate: Warner (D-VA)/Blackburn (R-TN) Introduce AI Bill to Promote AI Leadership – The Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024 is a bipartisan Senate bill that aims to enhance US participation in international standards-setting bodies for emerging technologies like AI. It proposes to fund hosting standard-setting meetings in the US and allocate $10 million in grants. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a web portal to facilitate engagement in international standardization efforts.

OPM: AI Integration Should Be Top Priority – The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a workforce playbook for federal agencies, outlining 12 priorities, including integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven decision-making. OPM emphasizes the importance of leveraging AI in HR, upskilling teams with AI competencies, and using data to inform policy decisions. The Biden administration also encourages agencies to explore generative AI to improve efficiency. OPM will provide training and technical assistance to help agencies implement these strategies.

G7 Issues Statement on AI and Technology – G7 leaders have committed to self-regulated guidelines for AI called the Hiroshima Process, which focuses on ethical creation, transparent operations, and risk reduction. They plan to extend it globally and promote AI use in small and medium enterprises and say they are committed to preserving a competitive industry. These topics will be discussed further at the upcoming G7 summit on digital competition.

U.S. Reaction to EU Approval of Final Text of AI Act – Reactions and analyses in the U.S. are pouring in following the European Union’s finalizing of the AI Act, regulating artificial intelligence based on risk. It covers areas such as biometric surveillance and transparency rules. The act will be enforced in 2026 after further legislative steps and a compromise between member states. It also includes measures to support local AI developers and establish an AI Office.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition monitors but has not actively engaged on this issue.

Tech

Biden Admin. CHIPs Act Award to Intel – The Biden administration awarded Intel $8.5 billion in US grants earlier this week as part of the CHIPS and Science Act. The chip company will utilize the funds to build out its proposed domestic semiconductor plants in the US. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the deal reached through her department would put the nation in a position to produce 20% of the world’s most advanced chips by 2030, up from the current level of zero. The U.S. designs advanced chips, but its inability to make them domestically has emerged as a national security and economic risk.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition monitors but has not actively engaged on this issue.

Telecommunications

NTIA Files Comments with FCC Supporting Net Neutrality & i2Coalition’s BIAS Viewpoint – On March 20, the NTIA filed ex parte comments in the FCC’s Open Internet rulemaking. The NTIA filing supports reinstating net neutrality rules, noting that an open Internet is crucial for innovation, growth, and national security. Also, the NTIA said that the FCC should have authority over ISPs for national security concerns and follow principles to address these issues. NTIA also said broadband is significant in critical sectors, and the government should protect the nation’s infrastructure.

• For i2Coalition, a key point is that the NTIA has endorsed maintaining the Obama-era definitions for what counts as broadband internet access service (BIAS) or not.
  • Significantly, the NTIA position aligns with i2Coalition’s comments about the proper scope of the FCC’s proposed BIAS definition. In footnote 7, NTIA agrees with i2Coalition that the definition does not include virtual private network services (VPNs), content delivery networks (CDNs), hosting or data storage services, or internet backbone services, at least “to the extent those services are separate from broadband Internet access service.” Also, in footnote 4 the NTIA said that that stand-alone DNS provided by an entity other than the provider of Internet access service is not a telecommunications service.

• The NTIA filing also generally supports the use of a multistakeholder, whole-of-government approach to national security. NTIA’s filing outlines three principles for the FCC to consider when addressing national security issues. The principles encourage the FCC to:

1. Work closely with the Executive Branch on issues of overlapping jurisdiction and deferring as appropriate to expert agencies;
2. Rely on well-established and successful multistakeholder processes; and
3. When a regulatory approach is necessary, craft rules that are carefully targeted to remedy the national security problem while preserving important Open Internet principles.

Senate: Daines, Wicker, and Lummis Introduce Standalone to Fund Bill for Rip and Replace – During the Senate’s consideration of FY2024 appropriations on March 22, Daines (R-MT) and Lummis (R-WY) proposed an amendment (SA 1736) to fund the rip and replace program, but it was not accepted. After the failed attempt to resolve rip and replace via the funding bill, Senators Daines, Lummis, and Wicker (R-MS) introduced the “Supporting National Security with Spectrum Act.” The bill would fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. The bill authorizes the FCC to reauction the 197 AWS-3 licenses that Dish and affiliated designated entities returned to the FCC and allocates the proceeds to cover the $3.08 billion rip and replace program shortfall. Without this funding, impacted carriers may have to reduce or eliminate wireless service, impacting subscribers and emergency services.  

FCC: Open Meeting Disagreement on “All-In” Cable and Satellite Pricing – At the FCC’s March 14 open meeting, the Commission discussed requiring cable and satellite companies to provide all-in pricing. This decision, however, drew opposition from Commissioners Carr and Simington. They agreed on cable service transparency but were unsure about the FCC’s authority over satellite services and promotional materials due to the 2019 TV Viewer Protection Act that rejected the extension of FCC authority over promotional materials. The order aims to “simplify” consumer billing by including all costs in one line item, though changes were made to give smaller operators more time to comply and to clarify promotion requirements.

New Rules for NHPA Offer Alternative Approach to Sec. 106 Compliance of NHPA – The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has approved an amendment to facilitate the deployment of next-gen communication technologies while considering the effects on historic properties. The amendment broadens the scope of changes made in 2017 and aims to expedite broadband deployment efforts. The amendment excludes federal agency undertakings affecting National Monuments, Memorials, Parks, Trails, Sites, Military Parks, and Battlefields unless the agency consults with the National Park Service first.  

FCC: Carr Releases Statement on Biden Spectrum Plan Calling it “Malaise” – FCC Commissioner Carr issued a statement criticizing the Biden Administration’s Spectrum Implementation Plan, calling it a “malaise” and accusing it of inaction. Carr argued that the plan fails to prioritize the release of mid-band spectrum for commercial use, pushing back band studies until 2026 and potentially delaying availability until 2028. Carr emphasizes the need for bold action and highlights the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2024 as a promising alternative to get the U.S. back on track.  

Senate: Cruz and Thune Introduce Spectrum Pipeline Bill – The Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2024, introduced by Senators Cruz and Thune, aims to expand commercial access to mid-band spectrum for wireless technologies while protecting national security interests. The legislation seeks to identify and reallocate at least 2,500 megahertz of mid-band spectrum from federal to non-federal use within five years, renew the FCC’s auction authority, promote unlicensed innovation, and ensure effective oversight through new reporting requirements. The act also allows federal agencies to upgrade their systems using spectrum auction proceeds.

FCC: Input on Releasing Unassigned Spectrum Licenses – The Federal Communications Commission is seeking feedback on how to release unassigned spectrum licenses. Three approaches are outlined: dynamic spectrum sharing, non-exclusive site-based licensing, and spectrum inventory license leasing. Comments are due by April 8, with replies due by April 22, referencing docket 24-72. March marks the one-year anniversary of the lapse of FCC’s auction authority. While the House has passed legislation to reinstate auction authority, efforts remain stalled in the Senate as both the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee have yet to release and advance legislative proposals.

GAO Assesses NTIA Attempt to Modernize Spectrum Management Systems – The NTIA is modernizing its spectrum management systems, but the GAO found that the project faces challenges due to incomplete project schedules, lack of communication with stakeholders, and insufficient performance measures. The GAO made four recommendations to address these issues and emphasized the importance of incorporating these practices for the success of the modernization effort- to develop a reliable cost estimate, develop an integrated project schedule, finalize its stakeholder management plan, and establish performance measures.

Rosenworcel Proposes $9 Billion 5G Fund – FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed a $9 billion 5G Fund to target 14 million homes and businesses without mobile 5G coverage. The fund includes incentives for incorporating open radio access network technologies and will rely on an updated broadband coverage map. The order also aims to include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, increase the budget for the 5G Fund auction, and require support recipients to implement cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans.

Senate Commerce Committee March 21 Spectrum Hearing – The hearing planned to cover domestic spectrum policy and U.S. national security. There are reports of ongoing negotiations, led by Chairwoman Cantwell, to provide funds to the Rip and Replace program and the Affordable Connectivity Program through legislation that would reauthorize the FCC’s spectrum auction authority. Some reports indicate that CBO has scored a Cantwell proposal.

House: Latta/Matsui Send Letter to Biden Administration on 3 GHz – Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) have asked for an explanation from the DOD and NTIA about their plans to study the 3.1-3.45 GHz band in response to Biden’s spectrum strategy. They want to know the process for studying the band and its impact on government and commercial use.

House: NTIA Reauthorization Bill Removed from Floor Consideration – The NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-4510) was removed from floor consideration due to objections. The NTIA Reauthorization Act is intended to enhance federal spectrum coordination and elevate the position of the NTIA administrator. The Consolidated Appropriations Act FY24 reduced NTIA funding and increased DOJ Antitrust Division funding. The House did pass the 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act and DiasporaLink Act. The DiasporaLink Act seeks to establish a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States with Africa and the Caribbean to enhance internet connectivity and national security.

NTIA: Final Waiver BABA Requirements for BEAD Announced – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a final waiver on “Build America, Buy America” (BABA) rules for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The waiver requires roughly 90% of BEAD products to be domestically manufactured.

FCC Says 68% of ACP Households Report Inconsistent or No Internet Before ACP – The FCC has reported that 68% of Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) households had unreliable or no Internet access before joining. Affordability was the main reason. A majority of respondents said they would have to change or cancel their internet service if they lost ACP benefits. Chair Rosenworcel emphasized the program’s critical importance and that progress should not be reversed.  

Senate: Cruz USF Blueprint Proposal – Senator Ted Cruz, the Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member, is proposing that Congress take control of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and limit the FCC’s ability to set USF spending and create new programs. Cruz argues that the current approach of expanding the pool of companies and products subject to the USF contribution factor is unfair to taxpayers and would ultimately lead to increased tax burdens. Instead, Senator Cruz supports a direct appropriation to fund a reformed USF program.

Congress: USF Reform Working Group Framework – The bipartisan group of Senators and House members working to revamp the FCC’s USF program are reported to have a framework in place and are expected to have text sometime next month. The group comprises Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Senator John Thune (R-SD), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Representative Bob Latta (R-OH), and Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA). Senator Lujan and the FCC Chair Rosenworcel have corresponded on the issue of USF reform. 

House: E&C Ranking Member Pallone Wants ACP Funding – Pallone said he would do everything possible to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through the upcoming omnibus funding bill. The ACP provides monthly subsidies to eligible households for internet subscription costs. Pallone said he is determined to secure $7 billion in funding for the program to prevent its expiration.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – The i2Coalition filed comments in the FCC’s Open Internet proceeding on December 14, 2023, to protect the interests of our members that provide VPN, stand-alone DNS, CDN services, web hosting, and data storage services. Our comments pointed out that none of those services are within the scope of broadband Internet access service (BIAS), as defined by the FCC. We will carefully monitor the course of the rulemaking and participate as necessary before the agency as the FCC develops a proposed decision.

Energy/Environment

House GOP’s Energy Week Message Bills Promoting Fossil Fuels – In a flurry of activity for the majority’s “Energy Week” in late March, the House passed an array of energy bills, from stopping Biden’s ban on liquefied natural gas exports to preventing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve from being sold to China and repealing the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Neither has much potential to advance in the Senate.

SEC to Vote on Climate Risk Disclosure Rule – The Securities and Exchange Commission voted on a rule that would require corporate America to disclose material risks posed by climate change. The climate rule was first proposed in the spring of 2022 and included sweeping Scope 1 (company’s direct emissions), Scope 2 (indirect emissions) & Scope 3 disclosure requirements. Climate advocates supported it, but industry heavily pushed back, arguing that Scope 3 – emissions from industry supply Chinese and users of their products, was too onerous. In the wake of the strong opposition to the original proposal, the SEC approved a scaled-back ​​rule.

Interior/EPA FY 2024 Bill Budget Cut – The Interior Appropriations bill, which funds the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, took a $1.5 billion cut in the compromise for FY 24 funding. Interior gets $14.7 billion, a $398 million cut. The EPA would be funded at $9.2 billion – a $232 million reduction from FY 23. Most of the cuts come out of EPA’s Superfund, but this is a little gamey because the Superfund can rely on $1.2 billion in tax revenue to fund it. Most EPA programs would not see funding decreases. Democrats said EPW would maintain current staff levels.

i2Coalition’s Perspective – i2Coalition monitors but has not actively engaged on this issue.

RELEVANT HEARINGS & EVENTS TRACKED BY i2COALITION IN MARCH 

March 6

• House Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, “A Voice for the Voiceless–CSAM Identification.”

March 7 

• House Judiciary, Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, “The Weaponization of the Federal Government.”

March 11

• Senate Intelligence, “Worldwide Threats.”
  • Avril D. Haines: Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
  • William J. Burns: Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Brett M. Holmgren: Assistant Secretary, Intelligence and Research, Department of State
  • Timothy D. Haugh: Director, National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS)
  • Christopher A. Wray: Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Jeffrey A. Kruse: Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

March 12

• Senate Finance, “American Made: Growing U.S. Manufacturing Through the Tax Code.”
• House Oversight, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, “Addressing Real Harm Done by Deepfakes.” 
• House Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Markup
  • H.R. 2864, the Countering CCP Drones Act (Stefanik) [PDF 221KB]
  • H.R. 820, the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (Stefanik) [PDF 224KB]
  • H.R. 1513, the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhancing Networks (FUTURE Networks) Act (Matsui) [PDF 228KB]
  • H.R. 7589, the Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act (Latta) [PDF 35KB]
• Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee, “Youth Apprenticeships: Building Partnerships, Strengthening Career Pathways.” 

March 13

• House Armed Services, Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation, “Too Critical to Fail: Getting Software Right in an Age of Rapid Innovation.”

March 14 

• Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, “Workers Should Benefit from New Technology and Increased Productivity: The Need for a 32-Hour Work Week with No Loss in Pay.”.

March 20

• House Science, Full Committee Markup, Markup
  • H.R. 7630, ANCHOR Act (Garcia/Stevens)

March 21

• House Foreign Affairs, Full Committee, “Countering China on the World Stage: Empowering American Business and Denying Chinese Military Our Technology.”
• House Oversight, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, “White House Overreach AI.” 
• Senate Commerce, Full Committee, “Spectrum and National Security.”