USRESIST NEWS GROUP OP ED
It is a technological age, but America lacks the semblance of a policy to regulate our use of technology. We have so far failed to develop policies to help assure us that our economic and social well-being is not being picked apart by our use of unregulated technological platforms.
The US has enacted regulations that more or less effectively guide our use of mass media communications; why not technology? Is it in part because of the enormous power that technology companies hold in our economy; because of their lobbying efforts? because our politicians are frightened of losing funding support from technology billionaires? Because of fears that regulating technology also would be a violation of free speech?
Whatever the reasons, we at USRESIST NEWS believe our country needs to take greater action. The abuses that technology causes have begun to outweigh their benefits. We propose that Congress and the administration take immediate action and enact policies to regulate our use of technology. Such policires would cover the following issues.
1.Regulating cell phone use by children
The major focus for regulating the use of technology by children , mainly cell phones, has been at the school and classroom level. While major federal legislation has yet to be enacted, a great many US states have put in place legislation banning cell phone use. As of late 2025, a majority of U.S. states—at least 37—have enacted laws or policies that ban or restrict student cellphone use in schools to improve academic focus and mental health.
The push for these laws is largely bipartisan, driven by a growing consensus that cell phones are a major source of academic distraction and contribute to youth mental health problems. Research suggests that bans can lead to improved test scores and increased social interaction among students. For example, a proposed Danish law would give victims, who are primarily girls and women, removal and compensation rights.
At the Federal level some, including the Department of Education, believe that cell phone use is a matter of local control, and does not come under the Federal Government’s jurisdiction. However, there recently has been an encouraging initiative at the federal level. The Focus on Learning Act is bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tom Cotton and Tim Kaine The Act aims to: (a)require the U.S. Department of Education to study the effects of cell phones on academic performance, mental health, and other student outcomes; and (b) create a pilot program to award grants to school districts that implement cellphone-free policies. The Focus on Learning Act has yet to be passed and is currently being reviewed by a Senate Committee. However policy like this would go a long way to helping our country identify what best practice is in relation to the disruptive use of cell phones in schools.
- Banning the promotion of hate speech and violence
Technology is used to promote hate speech and violence through platforms like social media, which can amplify aggressive language and ideologies that lead to offline harm. This includes online harassment, which can escalate to physical violence, and the creation of deepfakes or other manipulated content that spreads disinformation. The ease of online communication allows hateful ideologies to find and connect like-minded people, creating a sense of normalcy around prejudice and potentially leading to radicalization.
So far the Federal government has done little to regulate the use of online hate speech. There have been no effective efforts to establish digital governance that include principles of transparency and algorithmic accountability to prevent violence. Many politicians take refuge in the belief that efforts to curb online hate speech are a violation of first amendment (freedom of speech rights). However, it is useful to recognize that the use of 21st century online communications is much different than face to face proclamations. A message posted on the Internet can indiscriminately reach large numbers of people across the world some of whom may be motivated to react violently or in self-destructive ways
.The European Union provides an example we could learn from. It has implemented significant legislative initiatives, most notably the Digital Services Act (DSA), which impose a duty of care and due diligence obligations on large online platforms to mitigate systemic risks like the dissemination of illegal content, including hate speech. The EU also established a Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online in partnership with tech companies, which led to commitments to review and remove illegal content quickly.
- Protecting the right to privacy
In the US the lone existing federal technology privacy law is outdated. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986 was an early attempt to protect digital communications but is now considered outdated given modern technology. Lawmakers and civil liberties advocates are pushing for a federal privacy law specific to emerging technologies like facial recognition, or broader legislation that addresses general data collection practices.
A new “Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act” has been introduced in (but not yet passed by) the U.S. Congress. It seeks to ban federal law enforcement from using such technologies and withholding funds from state and local agencies that do. There are also ongoing discussions about a federal “Delete Act” to allow consumers a one-step mechanism to have data brokers delete their information.
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is worth looking at. It is considered one of the world’s toughest privacy laws. It broadly prohibits data collection and use by default unless it falls under specific legal exceptions. The EU has also introduced the AI Act, which places restrictions on certain high-risk AI and biometric technologies.
The need for a new regulatory agency
We also believe there is a need for a Federal Technology Commission — a new agency that can carry out Congressional mandates in the three areas targeted above and help ensure the safe, effective and equitable use of information and education technologies. Given the common use of algorithms and other technology tools, there is wisdom in having a single agency oversee efforts in all three areas. Existing agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communication Commission, already have extensive agendas that would limit their abilities to serve in this new capacity.