Democratic Party's 2024 Platform: A Focus on Tech Antitrust and Online Safety

The 2024 Democratic Platform: A Shift Towards Competition and Tech Regulation

As the political landscape heats up for the 2024 elections, the Democratic Party is positioning itself firmly on the side of competition and tech regulation, as highlighted by recent developments in its platform. Despite pressure from billionaires for Vice President Kamala Harris to deviate from President Joe Biden’s antitrust policy, the party appears to be embracing a more robust stance on these critical issues.

Increasing Focus on Competition

The term “competition” appears a striking 18 times in the Democratic Party’s 2024 platform, significantly up from just nine mentions in the 2020 version. Additionally, key policy areas such as tackling junk fees and noncompete clauses have gained traction, with multiple references compared to scant mentions in previous documents. This reflects the party's commitment, particularly through the lens of the Federal Trade Commission and its current chair, Lina Khan, who has been vocal about enforcing stricter antitrust regulations.

Understanding the Party's Direction

The party platform serves as an essential indicator of the Democrats' stance on major issues, making it crucial for Harris to gauge the sentiments within the party base. The platform, reiterating Biden’s agenda, includes references to “Biden’s second term,” despite the changing dynamics of Democratic leadership. According to co-chair Regina Romero, the platform integrates diverse viewpoints from various party factions, establishing a forward-looking vision.

Tech Policy and Kamala Harris

While it's been challenging to pin down Vice President Harris's specific views on tech policy areas such as antitrust enforcement or a potential TikTok ban, as she has largely adhered to Biden's positions, the narrative is shifting now that she is the presumptive nominee. The Democratic platform brings more clarity regarding her agenda and commitment to tech regulations.

Protecting Americans in the Digital Age

The 2024 platform places great emphasis on safeguarding Americans against the potential dangers posed by technology. A dedicated section titled “Protecting Kids Online, Strengthening Americans’ Data Privacy, & Promoting Competition” highlights legislative goals that align with Harris’s past support for bills aimed at enhancing online safety for children.

• Support for the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA), which aims to create a safer online environment.
• Legislation to curb targeted advertising aimed at children and stricter data collection regulations.
• Enhancing legal protections for survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery.

The platform asserts, "Democrats will pass bipartisan legislation to protect kids’ privacy and to stop Big Tech from collecting personal data on kids and teenagers online." This reflects an increasing concern about the influence of tech companies on younger audiences.

Broader Legislative Goals

The platform emphasizes new laws that promote competition and privacy, echoing previously introduced bills that focus on:

• Ensuring interoperability between tech services.
• Allowing users to control and transfer their personal data.
• Preventing large platforms from prioritizing their own products unfairly.

Moreover, the platform calls for a comprehensive reform of Section 230 to hold tech companies accountable for their content moderation practices.

AI Regulations: A New Focus

Another distinct section in the platform addresses the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. This includes efforts to combat biases in AI and a push to ban technologies such as voice impersonation. This marked shift from the 2020 platform, which had only briefly mentioned AI in the context of US competitiveness, underscores the increasing importance placed on ethical AI development.

Contrasting Republican Views

In stark contrast, the Republican party's platform includes minimal references to competition, focusing instead on defending against what they term "unfair foreign competition." The GOP's commitment to technology innovation appears centered around dismantling regulations perceived as restrictive, advocating for a narrative that emphasizes free speech and innovation in the AI sphere.

Conclusion: Accountability and Future Directions

As the Democratic Party finalizes its platform, the commitment to holding tech companies accountable is evident. Comments from Democratic leaders underline a shared belief in the necessity of regulatory measures to protect American citizens from tech monopolies. According to Sacha Haworth of the Tech Oversight Project, this commitment stems largely from Biden and Harris’s previous leadership and is expected to flourish in a future Harris-led administration.

This evolving narrative around competition and technology regulation will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the Democratic Party's strategy in the upcoming electoral battle, with implications for how they address both domestic and technological challenges moving forward.