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And I don't agree with that, but we can agree to disagree on that point! I would expect any transparency requirement to be limited to only services with a user

And I don't agree with that, but we can agree to disagree on that point! I would expect any transparency requirement to be limited to only services with a userbase over a certain size, since the concern is with very large entities that have an oversized impact on public communication. So if you're a small community or a startup, fine, no need for disclosure. But if you're a public company or have more than X users, I truly believe these companies have far too much control over public communication for us to be comfortable with the current model of total opacity in algorithmic behaviour.

basch 4y ago
And I believe data portability and interoperability would achieve the same ends. If you can just migrate to not-Facebook and still see posts from Facebook and message Facebook people, I can be on my opaque platform, and you can move to your transparent one. That said, I could see a requirement for support commitments. Being able to get human support and transparent answers to account questions. If you can’t support people you accidentally lock out, you are too big. Like fire department requirements for a city population. Another product I could see requiring regulation is login auth services. If I use my social media account to auth against other websites, you can’t just take that auth away from me if you don’t want to serve me anymore. Force a forwarder so I can use my new auth service to log into my old accounts.
- BaseballPhysics 4y ago
  Honestly those are great ideas, as well, and maybe should be the starting point. I admit I'm deeply skeptical that reducing barriers to transition between services would allow the market to actually function in a way that results in better outcomes--the reality is the information asymmetry between users and tech companies is enormously high, hence my belief in the value of mandated transparency--but it's a very good place to begin.

basch 4y ago

And I believe data portability and interoperability would achieve the same ends. If you can just migrate to not-Facebook and still see posts from Facebook and message Facebook people, I can be on my opaque platform, and you can move to your transparent one. That said, I could see a requirement for support commitments. Being able to get human support and transparent answers to account questions. If you can’t support people you accidentally lock out, you are too big. Like fire department requirements for a city population. Another product I could see requiring regulation is login auth services. If I use my social media account to auth against other websites, you can’t just take that auth away from me if you don’t want to serve me anymore. Force a forwarder so I can use my new auth service to log into my old accounts.

BaseballPhysics 4y ago
Honestly those are great ideas, as well, and maybe should be the starting point. I admit I'm deeply skeptical that reducing barriers to transition between services would allow the market to actually function in a way that results in better outcomes--the reality is the information asymmetry between users and tech companies is enormously high, hence my belief in the value of mandated transparency--but it's a very good place to begin.