A Letter to YouTube, a Trump-Aligned Mystery Firm, and Anti-Abortion Intimidation Campaigns
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** CfA's October 4, 2024 Newsletter
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With your support, Campaign for Accountability is working to expose corruption and hold the powerful accountable.
** This Week's Updates:
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Lawmakers Cite TTP Research in Letter to YouTube
On Wednesday, Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) and 15 of his colleagues wrote a letter ([link removed]) to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, urging him to enforce his company’s age restriction policies for videos of automatic weapons and weapon modification devices. Their letter cited a recent report ([link removed]) by CfA’s Tech Transparency Project (TTP), which found that YouTube was still allowing teen accounts to watch videos that should have been restricted under its new firearm policies ([link removed]) . The videos included tutorials for illegal handgun modifications and were monetized with ads.
Like most social media platforms, YouTube relies on recommendation algorithms to keep users engaged. A company blog post explains ([link removed]) that these algorithms compare the viewing habits of “similar” users: “if you like tennis videos and our system notices that others who like the same tennis videos as you also enjoy jazz videos, you may be recommended jazz videos.” Unfortunately, TTP found ([link removed]) that these same algorithms were pushing videos of real firearms to children interested in video games, meaning YouTube had failed to build guardrails around more dangerous genres of content.
“Ultimately, YouTube is going to be held accountable,” Congressman Goldman told Gothamist ([link removed]) , in a story covering the letter. “I would advise them to quickly rectify this problem so it doesn't escalate.”
ICYMI: CfA Executive Director Comments on Trump-Aligned Mystery Firm
Last week, the Associated Press published a story ([link removed]) on an LLC called Launchpad Strategies, which received $15 million from the Trump campaign and its allies while disclosing almost no information about staff, owners, or investors.
“It’s hard to know if a secretive group like Launchpad is doing anything improper,” CfA Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith told the AP for the piece. “And it’s unlikely that the current Republican FEC commissioners would approve an investigation to find out,”
Technically, the FEC has the power to investigate potentially shady campaign transactions, but the three GOP-appointed commissioners have blocked any investigation into entities tied to Donald Trump—even in the 29 instances ([link removed]) where the Commission’s nonpartisan professional staff recommended action.
Republican AG Attempted to Subpoena Records from Abortion Clinic
In June of 2023, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron attempted to subpoena ([link removed]) records from a surgical center regarding two physicians who had previously performed abortions, which have been banned ([link removed]) in the state since Roe was overturned. Now, newly-unsealed documents reveal ([link removed]) that the physicians successfully fought Cameron’s investigation, characterizing it as a “fishing expedition” undertaken without any legal cause. Though this attempt to intimidate healthcare providers was unsuccessful, it points to a broader strategy undertaken by anti-abortion state law enforcement officials, who have targeted
([link removed]) abortion providers and individuals who help patients travel ([link removed]) to access abortion care.
What We're Reading
Doctors are boycotting Texas conferences over abortion restrictions ([link removed])
Leonard Leo-linked group attacking efforts to educate judges on climate ([link removed])
Family Providers Face Barriers to Adding Abortion Services ([link removed])
** Follow Our Work:
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We thank you for your continued support. Without people like you, our work would not be possible.
Here is how you can stay involved and help us accomplish our mission:
1. Follow CfA on Threads ([link removed]) and BlueSky ([link removed])
2. Follow the Tech Transparency Project on Threads ([link removed]) and Bluesky ([link removed])
3. Tell your friends and colleagues ([link removed]) about CfA.
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5. Make a tax-deductible donation ([link removed]) .
Be on the lookout for more updates about our work in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again for signing up to be a part of CfA!
Sincerely,
Michelle Kuppersmith
Executive Director, Campaign for Accountability
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