Senators Welch and Bennet Propose Federal Digital Platform Commission to Regulate Digital Economy
U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) have reintroduced legislation to establish a new federal agency, the Federal Digital Platform Commission. This proposed commission, outlined in the Digital Platform Commission Act, would be tasked with developing and enforcing rules for the largely unregulated digital economy. The primary focus of this new agency would be to ensure consumer protection, foster competition, and uphold the public interest within the digital sector. The senators argue that existing federal agencies are struggling to keep pace with the rapid advancements in technology, particularly concerning large technology companies and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The proposed commission would operate as a separate, expert agency specifically dedicated to overseeing digital platforms, rather than expanding the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
