The writer is a fellow at Stanford University’s Institute for Human Centered Artificial Intelligence and the Cyber Policy Center. She is the author of ‘The Tech Coup’
Whenever a regulatory proposal that has an impact on technology companies pops up, it is only a matter of time before the mantra “regulation stifles innovation” follows. So often has this phrase been used that it has become something of a truism, with legislators that are simply doing their jobs now defending themselves pre-emptively as not wanting to stifle innovation. It is time to call the bluff on this catchphrase.
This year has been dubbed “the year of democracy”, given the unprecedented number of elections happening around the world — involving nearly half the global population. It could also be called the “year of lobbying”, as interest groups including tech companies, see a crop of newly elected leaders such as in the EU and the US to establish relationships with. Tech companies have been spending ever more dollars on “public affairs” — or the advancement of their private interest.