The great AI music grift, Section 230's next fight and more Meta whistleblowers
Hello and welcome to Everything in Moderation's Week in Review, your need-to-know news and analysis about platform policy, content moderation and internet regulation. It's written by me, Ben Whitelaw and supported by members like you.
'Where there's money, there's thieves' is an old adage that applies to T&S generally but particularly to AI-generated content. Today's edition looks at the challenges music platform Deezer faces in combatting fraudulent content and plays and Mike and I go deeper in the newest edition of Ctrl-Alt-Speech . Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
If you're in London next week for the T&S Summit, drop me a line or book a slot in my calendar to say hi. I'll be on a stellar panel about the important role of Trust in Trust & Safety so come along to that and hear me try and fathom the views and behaviours of Gen Z internet users.
From sunny London, this is your Week in Review — BW
Attending the Trust & Safety Summit in London? Don’t miss our panel: “When AI Is Perfect, Why Do We Still Need Humans?”
Join Checkstep and T&S leaders from our clients Daily Mail Group and JustGiving, alongside our partners ModSquad, as we explore how content moderation and community management are evolving — and why the right blend of AI and human expertise is critical for long-term success at scale.
Catch the panel on Wednesday 25 March at 11:50am!
Policies
New and emerging internet policy and online speech regulation
Congress this week took another swing at Section 230 as a committee helmed by Ted Cruz (EiM #308) sought to understand the role that the famous internet law has played in the growth of major US tech platforms and the current state of online speech. There was the usual mix of child safety concerns, partisan complaints about government “jawboning” and some platform design critiques so I don’t blame you if don’t have time to watch the full two-hour video back. However, do skip to half way to see Stanford Law School’s Daphne Keller deliver an excellent riposte to a startled senator. Tasty.
The Canadian government are getting its online safety band (read: advisory group) back together as the country — like many other nations — grapples with how to deal with AI harms in the aftermath of the fatal Tumbler Ridge shooting. The group previously advised on the controversial Bill C-63 and will likely be expected to advise on a social media ban for kids; Prime Minister Mark Carney recently said Canadian legislation lagged behind other countries and "there is a need to at minimum ... catch up to that."