Internet Works State Engagement

Introduction

Internet Works members have benefited from both open competition and the flexibility to moderate and curate content; as such, they have built loyal user bases and trust in their brands, where customers know they can find consistently high-quality, useful content. Since 2022, we have engaged with state lawmakers in California to ensure that mid and small-sized tech platforms have a seat at the table when it comes to regulating the tech industry. As Internet Works has grown and formalized into a trade association, its work with state legislators has also grown, and we look forward to expanding more in the future.

Recently, Internet Works has begun working with lawmakers in New York and Minnesota to provide context on why state policies must recognize there is no one-size-fits-all approach to content moderation and that flexibility has helped the internet provide opportunities for a wide range of companies and organizations.

Specifically, Internet Works was established to advocate for:

  • Principle-based content moderation
  • Promoting freedom of expression online
  • Empowering competition-driven innovations

TOPLINES

  • Internet Works believes in allowing smaller and medium-sized internet companies to have a voice in policy conversations on content moderation, the promotion of freedom of expression online, and enabling online and offline businesses to offer products, services, and features that users have come to enjoy and expect.
  • The Internet would not be the engine of economic growth and a force for bringing the world closer without the protections of internet freedom and competition-driven innovations.
  • Internet Works represents a diverse, cross-section of internet platforms that have benefited from both open competition and the flexibility to moderate and curate content; as such, they have built loyal user bases and trust in their brands due to consistently high-quality, useful content.
  • Well-intended, but overreaching policy efforts will have a disproportionately severe impact on small and mid-sized platforms and early-stage growing companies that are not as well-resourced as the world’s largest tech companies.

States

California
Since 2022, we have engaged with state lawmakers in California to ensure that mid and small-sized tech platforms have a seat at the table when it comes to regulating the tech industry.

Minnesota
Recently, we have begun working with lawmakers in Minnesota to provide context on why state policies must recognize there is no one-size-fits-all approach to platform design and content moderation.

New York
Recently, we have begun working with lawmakers in New York to provide context on why state policies must recognize there is no one-size-fits-all approach to platform design and content moderation.