Publications
Research
Covert Campaigns: Safeguarding Encrypted Messaging Platforms from Voter Manipulation
Our new report on encrypted messaging platforms reveals how political propagandists are exploiting these tools to manipulate voters globally, while offering recommendations for platforms, policymakers, and researchers to mitigate these threats without undermining end-to-end encryption.
‘We Want You To Be A Proud Boy’ How Social Media Facilitates Political Intimidation and Violence
As a volatile election nears, our report reveals that social media is consistently exploited to facilitate political intimidation and violence, and recommends crucial changes that social media companies and governments can implement to reduce these harms.
Digital Risks to the 2024 Elections: Safeguarding Democracy in the Era of Disinformation
A new report by Paul M. Barrett, Justin Hendrix and Cecely Richard-Carvajal highlights that this year’s primary tech-related threat to elections isn’t AI-generated content, but the spread of false, hateful, and violent content on social media platforms.
NetChoice Amicus Brief
In this brief, the Center urged the Supreme Court not to grant the social media industry full immunity from regulation, while also arguing that content moderation laws in Florida and Texas violate the First Amendment.
Gonzalez v. Google Amicus Brief
The Center’s amicus brief urged the Supreme Court not to limit social media platforms’ liability protections to permit lawsuits over their recommendation systems.
Spreading The Big Lie: How Social Media Sites Have Amplified False Claims of U.S. Election Fraud
Our report explains how the major platforms are fueling distrust of elections and recommends reforms such as enhanced fact-checking and outside auditing.
A Platform ‘Weaponized’: How YouTube Spreads Harmful Content – And What Can Be Done About It,
Our report explains how the major platforms are fueling distrust of elections and recommends reforms such as enhanced fact-checking and outside auditing.
Enhancing the FTC’s Consumer Protection Authority to Regulate Social Media Companies
This white paper explains why the government needs to oversee platforms like Facebook and Twitter as a way to reduce misinformation, hate speech, and other forms of harmful content.
Fueling The Fire: How Social Media Intensifies U.S. Political Polarization – And What Can Be Done About It
Our report explains that while the major tech platforms may not cause partisan hatred in the first instance, they do exacerbate the problem, which has dire consequences for our democracy.
Recommendations to the Biden Administration on Regulating Disinformation and Other Harmful Content on Social Media
This white paper recommends a range of steps the Biden Administration should take to counter disinformation and other harmful content on major social media platforms.
False Accusation: The Unfounded Claim That Social Media Companies Censor Conservatives
Our report debunks the myth that the political right is suppressed online and recommends that the platforms make their content moderation practices more transparent.
Regulating Social Media: The Fight Over Section 230 — And Beyond
Our report on Section 230 and regulation of social media companies, recommends amending the foundational law of the commercial internet and creating a Digital Regulatory Agency.