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CfA's October 4, 2024 Newsletter

With your support, Campaign for Accountability is working to expose corruption and hold the powerful accountable.

This Week's Updates:

Lawmakers Cite TTP Research in Letter to YouTube
On Wednesday, Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) and 15 of his colleagues wrote a letter 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 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. 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 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 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, 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 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 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 records from a surgical center regarding two physicians who had previously performed abortions, which have been banned in the state since Roe was overturned. Now, newly-unsealed documents reveal 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 abortion providers and individuals who help patients travel to access abortion care.

What We're Reading
Doctors are boycotting Texas conferences over abortion restrictions

Leonard Leo-linked group attacking efforts to educate judges on climate

Family Providers Face Barriers to Adding Abortion Services

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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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