Platform regulation is the set of rules and proposals aimed at online services that connect users, sellers, riders, hosts, advertisers, and creators. Congress, federal agencies, state and local governments, and courts decide how existing laws on safety, liability, competition, and consumer protection apply to these businesses.
Readers usually want to know how a particular company or type of service is, or could be, regulated. They ask how legal protections for online platforms work, how cities and states handle gig and rental services, and what limits courts place on holding platforms responsible.
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A jury decision that platforms are consumer products with design defects companies can be held accountable for would force every platform from TikTok to whatever startup…
A single button in Fortnite could produce an unwanted purchase, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A personalized social-media feed, by contrast, can reflect editorial…
A child’s thirteenth birthday changes one of the clearest protections a parent can invoke against a social media company. Under the federal children’s privacy rule, covered…
Airbnb has transformed from a startup offering air mattresses on a living room floor into a global hospitality powerhouse that reached a valuation of over $100…
When Uber launched, it called itself a technology company rather than a taxi service. This strategic distinction allowed the company to enter urban markets…
TikTok sits at the center of one of America's biggest tech regulation battle. The app has over 170 million American users, a large percentage…
Google controls how billions of people access information online. The company owns the world's dominant search engine, the largest video platform through YouTube, and…
Apple is one of the most valuable corporations in world history. With a market capitalization consistently above $3 trillion, the company rivals the gross…
Amazon dominates American commerce. The retail giant controls more than a third of all online sales, operates the world's largest cloud computing platform, and…
Meta Platforms owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. Together, these apps connect 3.35 billion (Q4 2024) to 3.43 billion (Q1 2025) daily active users…
YouTube has become America's digital town square. With 85% of U.S. adults using the platform, it reaches more people than Facebook or Instagram. Nearly…
