FREE PRESS

FUTURE OF THE INTERNET AND MEDIA: CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PROTECTS PEOPLE FROM INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS' PRIVACY INVASIONS, PROMOTE BROADBAND COMPETITION AND DEPLOYMENT, AND ENSURE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS. CONTINUED TO DOCUMENT AND OPPOSE MEDIA CONSOLIDATION AND EFFORTS TO LIMIT MEDIA-OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. FILED COMMENTS IN THE FCC'S QUADRENNIAL REGULATORY REVIEW THAT CALLED ON THE AGENCY TO REJECT LOCAL MEDIA CONSOLIDATION AND DEBUNKED BROADCASTERS' CLAIMS THAT CONSOLIDATION IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, SHOWING THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE ALWAYS SUFFERED WHENEVER THE FCC HAS LOOSENED LOCAL OWNERSHIP LIMITS. UNDERSCORED HOW MERGERS OF MASSIVE MEDIA COMPANIES LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES, JOB LOSSES, FEWER CHOICES, LESS OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY IN MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY. ISSUED A REPORT EVALUATING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE 35 LARGEST MEDIA CONGLOMERATES IN THE UNITED STATES AND DOCUMENTING A PERVASIVE TREND OF CAPITULATING TO POLITICAL PRESSURE THAT INVOLVES NEARLY ALL MAJOR COMMERCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIRMS AND ONLINE PLATFORMS. TEAMED UP WITH A COALITION OF MEDIA-JUSTICE GROUPS AND LABOR UNIONS TO FILE A FORMAL FCC PETITION TO DENY THE NEXSTAR-TEGNA MERGER NOTING THAT THE COMBINED COMPANY WOULD REACH OVER 80 PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS, FAR EXCEEDING THE LEGAL LIMIT CONGRESS SET. PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT AT A GATHERING OF ACTORS, PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS AND WRITERS TO SHOW HOW CORPORATE MEGA-MERGERS AND MEDIA CONSOLIDATION HARM THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY AT LARGE. PROTESTED ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF PUBLIC MEDIA AND PROMOTED THE IDEA THAT A VIBRANT, INDEPENDENT PUBLIC-MEDIA SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL TO A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.

DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL CIVIL RIGHTS: CONTINUED TO CALL ON MEDIA AND TECH COMPANIES TO PRIORITIZE TRUTH OVER SENSATIONALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY OVER PROFITS AND DEMOCRACY OVER DIVISION. CONTINUED TO PUSH TECH PLATFORMS TO ADOPT CONTENT-MODERATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT ARE MORE ROBUST, TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIVE TO THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF USERS. CONVENED A SERIES OF WEBINARS TO OFFER PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF OPINIONS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP AND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS. CONDUCTED ANALYSIS AND RELEASED REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP AND CORPORATE CAPITULATION. . DOCUMENTED MORE THAN 200 GOVERNMENT ATTACKS ON FREE SPEECH. TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS ON THE EMERGING FREE-SPEECH EMERGENCY AND DEFENDED THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AND WRITE WITHOUT FEAR OF INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WITHOUT FEAR OF UNLAWFUL GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE, AND WITHOUT FEAR OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL CENSORSHIP AND RETALIATION. PRESENTED RESEARCH ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS AND THEIR ROLE IN FACILITATING CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE. URGED REGULATORY INTERVENTION TO SAFEGUARD PEOPLE'S DIGITAL PRIVACY AND CURB CORPORATE HUNGER FOR PERSONAL DATA.