Public Knowledge

Public Knowledge Warns Against Bills Limiting Children’s Internet Access, Barring States from Protecting Kids Online Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

Today, @housecommerce.bsky.social marked up a series of kids’ online safety bills limiting young people’s autonomy and internet access — many of which shift responsibility for product safety from the platforms designing unsafe products onto families instead. Our statement from @mwils.bsky.social:

FCC Formally Approves Cox/Charter Merger in $34.5 Billion Deal Reducing Broadband Competition Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission released its Order formally approving the $34.5 billion Cox Communications/Charter merger that would leave Charter with majority control of the new combined company. Read our statement from @bergmayer.net:

Nonprofit Coalition Asks Courts to Prevent Coercive Federal Investigation Tactics Seventeen organizations filed an amicus brief calling out pretextual federal investigations and arguing for judicial oversight.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit should prevent the FTC from conducting retaliatory investigations like the one targeting @mmfa.bsky.social.

Read more about the brief we joined urging the courts to intervene in @theintercept.com.

Late last week, FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued what some are describing as a new veiled threat to the nation's broadcasters. @haroldfeld.bsky.social joined @thebradblog.bsky.social for a breakdown of what this could lead to:

bradblog.com?p=15648

Google Wants To Hit Pause on Search Remedies. The Court Should Say “No.” Public Knowledge submitted an amicus brief recently opposing Google’s motion for a partial stay of the remedies in the search monopoly case.

Google requested that the court pause most of the remedies while it appeals the ruling — and last week, we filed an amicus brief urging the court to deny their motion. @bergmayer.net explains why in his latest:

Following the landmark ruling in the Department of Justice v. Google that found the tech company had monopolized the online search market, Judge Amit Mehta issued several remedies to address Google’s abuse of its market power.

Happening today at 2 pm! Join us for a webinar discussion of our latest paper, "Diversity in Early-Career Tech Policy Roles: Surveying Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Field." Link below!

publicknowledge.org/diversityint...

Graphic with Public Knowledge and Howard University logo. Text that reads, "The Telecommunications Act of 1996 at 30: An Analysis of Policy, Power, and the Public Interest. Tuesday, February 24, 2026. 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM ET. Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library. 4th Floor Open Space Atrium. 501 W. Street, NW Washington, DC 20059"

On Tuesday Feb. 24 at 3:00 p.m., join @publicknowledge.bsky.social and the Cathy Hughes School of Communications Department of Communications Studies at @howard.edu for a landmark discussion celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996!

An old broadcasting rule comes back into focus Dustup between Stephen Colbert and CBS highlights the little-enforced equal time rule

“Somehow it seems like all of his fine rhetoric about how he’s going to enforce the law only cuts in one direction.” @haroldfeld.bsky.social joins World News Group to discuss FCC Chair Brendan Carr's "equal time rule" campaign.

wng.org/roundups/an-...

Graphic with Public Knowledge logo, and text that reads, "More Than a Seat: Who Gets To Shape technology Policy. Wednesday, February 25. 2 pm to 3 pm ET via Zoom."

We invite you to join us for our upcoming webinar, "More than a Seat: Who Gets to Shape Tech Policy," as we reflect on the findings and examine where gaps and opportunities remain in the technology policy field. RSVP today at the link below!

publicknowledge.org/diversityint...

Diversity in Early-Career Tech Policy Roles: Surveying Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Field Public Knowledge is excited to announce, “Diversity in Early-Career Tech Policy Roles: Surveying Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Field,” a new report by Public Knowledge Fellow and Rese...

@publicknowledge.bsky.social is proud to announce the release of our new report, “Diversity in Early-Career Tech Policy Roles: Surveying Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Field,” from Tinuola Adebukola, Public Knowledge Fellow and Research Lead.

publicknowledge.org/policy/diver...

Copyright and AI Policy Needs Precision, Not Panic Luke Hogg and Nick Garcia examine the debates over generative AI copyright and creator rights and the risks of expanding takedown and enforcement regimes.

Last month, nearly 1000 artists signed their names on a @nytimes.com ad that argued that generative A.I. is built on “theft — plain and simple.” But while the ad itself doesn't specify a policy agenda, its organizers have one. Read from @nickgarcia.bsky.social for @techpolicypress.bsky.social:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 at 30 An Analysis of Policy, Power, and the Public Interest

We'll also be joined by @mcclellan.house.gov, policy advocates & academics as we examine how past frameworks influence the public interest issues of today. RSVP today to join us at the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library on Feb 24. at 3 p.m. Link below!

www.eventbrite.com/e/the-teleco...

Graphic with Public Knowledge and Howard University logo. Text that reads, "The Telecommunications Act of 1996 at 30: An Analysis of Policy, Power, and the Public Interest. Tuesday, February 24, 2026. 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM ET. Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library. 4th Floor Open Space Atrium. 501 W. Street, NW Washington, DC 20059"

On Tuesday Feb. 24 at 3:00 p.m., join @publicknowledge.bsky.social and the Cathy Hughes School of Communications Department of Communications Studies at @howard.edu for a landmark discussion celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996!

Public Knowledge Opposes FCC Vote Jeopardizing Lifeline Program Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

"Too often, ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ rhetoric is used as a political shield to sidestep meaningful reform and instead revives debates about ‘deservingness’ to distract from what is truly at stake." Read our statement from Broadband Po.icy Director @alisavalentin.bsky.social:

Today, the FCC voted to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on Lifeline program reforms that risk making enrollment and participation more complicated, more surveilled, and more punitive in an already underutilized program.

You are correct. It is NOT the law. You can get the actual version of the law here: publicknowledge.org/equal-time-u...

Which also predicts this will be used as an *excuse* by those who want to appease Trump, and this gives them political cover.
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Join us in telling Congress to pursue real reform, and not reckless repeal. Take action today at the link below:

www.votervoice.net/PublicKnowle...

Stronger privacy laws, limits on manipulative design, transparency requirements, and targeted changes to Section 230 itself could address platform harms without breaking what works. But repeal would be disastrous.

Over the past month, we've shown why getting this right matters for independent creators, marginalized communities, small platforms, and everyone who uses the internet to speak, organize, and create. A better, safer internet for kids is possible.

Graphic of a cell phone receiving notifications from various apps, with text that reads: Public Knowledge. Section 230 30th anniversary

Today marks the end of our #Section230 30th Anniversary campaign! As Section 230 enters its fourth decade, Congress faces a choice: either pursue thoughtful reform that addresses real harms, or pursue wholesale repeal that would silence the very voices it claims to protect.

Sorry Sydney: Generative AI Doesn't (and Shouldn't) Have a Liability Shield Section 230 doesn't protect generative AI chatbots – and that's a good thing.

Read the 2023 blog from @bergmayer.net on why generative AI isn't – and shouldn't be – covered by #Section230:

Graphic of a cell phone receiving notifications from various apps, with text that reads: Public Knowledge. Section 230 30th anniversary

The rise of #generativeAI has coincided with alarming reports of harm to kids from interacting with online chatbots. But #Section230 repeal wouldn't mitigate these harms – especially since AI outputs are not covered by the law anyway.

Public Knowledge Applauds Bill Protecting the Public’s Right to Repair Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

🔧 Following the introduction of the Fair Repair Act, which would protect consumers’ right to repair their own electronic products, @publicknowledge.bsky.social shared a statement applauding lawmakers for working to ensure that consumers can exercise their legal right to repair devices that they own:

Repealing Section 230 Won’t Protect Kids Online Congress continues to attempt to improve kids' safety online by doing away with one of the most important laws affecting the internet.

Congress seems to think that by getting rid of #Section230, they can help protect kids online — but it's much more likely that doing so will only have the opposite effect. Read the latest from Director of Government Affairs Sara Collins:

This week, we're tackling the argument driving much of the repeal momentum: the claim that Section 230 prevents platforms from keeping kids safe online. Stay tuned for more!

Graphic of a cell phone receiving notifications from various apps, with text that reads: Public Knowledge. Section 230 30th anniversary

#Section230 turned 30 yesterday! Over the past few weeks, we've explained what the law does, highlighted positive outcomes it enables for independent creators & marginalized voices, established our principles for evaluating reform, and explored what thoughtful changes could look like.

HTTP Recognizes Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Nicholas P. Garcia as 2026 Tech Innovadores Awardee Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

Today, Hispanic Tech & Telecommunications Partnerships recognized @publicknowledge.bsky.social Senior Policy Counsel @nickgarcia.bsky.social as one of HTTP’s 2026 Tech Innovadores! Read our statement at the link below:

publicknowledge.org/http-recogni...

Congress Is Still Getting Kids’ Online Safety Wrong Congress claims it wants to protect kids online, but the kids safety bills been moving forward do far more to restrict kids' online freedoms than anything else.

Though Congress claims it wants to protect kids online, the kids safety bills been moving forward do far more to restrict kids' online freedom than anything else. Read the latest from Director of Government Affairs Sara Collins:

publicknowledge.org/congress-is-...

Public Knowledge Proposes Section 230 Reforms That Address Harms While Protecting Free Expression The potential harms of digital content online can be devastating — but removing Section 230 would only devastate freedom of expression in its place.

Last year, Policy Director @lisahmacpherson.bsky.social laid out two reform ideas that both avoid infringing on either the user or platform’s free expression, and could meaningfully allow for platform accountability for user harm – especially for kids.