Statements
2024

Accountable Tech on Enactment of Maryland Kids Code

Accountable Tech Executive Director and Co-Founder Nicole Gill issued the following statement on the Maryland Kids Code coming into effect: 

“Thanks to the advocates, young leaders, and parents, 1.4 million Maryland kids and teens have the chance to experience an online environment that prioritizes their well-being above all else. Young people have borne the brunt of Big Tech’s toxic business practices and deserve a digital future that prioritizes their safety and privacy.

“Legislators and Governor Wes Moore aptly chose the side of protecting their constituents over the interests of the tech industry, which for too long has gotten away without any accountability for the harms they’ve perpetuated on their platforms in the name of reaping profits. Today’s enactment symbolizes that it is indeed possible to stand up against Big Tech, if we are bold enough to fight back.”

Accountable Tech is a member of the Maryland Kids Code Coalition and worked to pass the first-of-its-kind California Age Appropriate Design Code signed by Governor Gavin Newsom into law in 2022 requiring online platforms to provide safety-by-design and privacy-by-default to children and teens.

###

About Accountable Tech

Accountable Tech is a non-profit organization advocating for digital justice by reining in Big Tech’s threats to society and democracy with legislative, regulatory, and structural solutions. Through strategic initiatives and creative campaigns, Accountable Tech is challenging the industry’s toxic business model in order to protect data privacy, preserve the health of democracy, and create safer online platforms. We are leading the movement to advance a better, more human-centered digital future, and tech for the common good. To learn more, visit accountabletech.org.

From the Newsroom

Statements
Oct 03, 2024
Accountable Tech on Injunction Against California Anti-Deepfakes Law

Accountable Tech Co-Founder and Executive Director Nicole Gill issued the following statement on U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez’s ruling to pause enforcement of AB 2389, a California law recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom to prevent the distribution of deepfakes made about political candidates within a certain proximity to an election:

Statements
Sep 29, 2024
Accountable Tech Statement on Gov. Newsom’s Veto of California’s Landmark AI Safety Bill

Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act (SB 1047) — a landmark bill that would have implemented crucial guardrails around AI development, including requiring pre-deployment safety testing and third-party auditing. The bill passed the State Legislature with broad bipartisan support but was opposed by Big Tech companies including Meta, OpenAI, and Google.

Join the fight to rein in Big Tech.

Big Tech companies are some of the most powerful and profitable companies in history, presenting new threats to the safety of communities and the health of democracy. We’re taking them on through legislation, regulation and direct advocacy.