The politics of prosecuting Big Tech

Presented by Blue Shield of California Foundation: Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Oct 24, 2023 View in browser   By Jeremy B. White Presented by Blue Shield of California Foundation California Attorney General Rob Bonta held a news conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Dozens of states, including California, are suing Meta, alleging it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. | AP BONTA VS. TECH: Attorney general and possible gubernatorial contender Rob Bonta is smashing “like” on the role of Big Tech antagonist. California’s top prosecutor and more than three dozen counterparts announced today that they’re suing Meta for what they allege is knowingly addicting children and eroding their mental health. Bonta accused the California-born creator of Instagram and Facebook — which he called “giants of the social media world” that are “virtually omnipresent” in kids’ lives — of being in the business of “hurting our children.” That confrontational rhetoric was striking yet familiar: It fits with a yearslong trend of Bonta swinging a legal sword against some of the nation’s biggest technology companies. That record is both an indication of where the political winds are blowing and a potential preview of a Bonta-for-governor talking point. The Meta melee is but the latest example. On the social media side, Bonta has investigated TikTok, backed stalled legislation penalizing platforms for hurting kids and urged the Supreme Court to allow companies to be held liable while defending a state law requiring kid-friendly design. He has also targeted Big Tech’s market power by launching or joining lawsuits accusing Google and Amazon of monopolistic behavior. He wrung a $93 million settlement from Google in a location-tracking case. Bonta hasn’t exactly gone rogue. The Biden administration and Democratic prosecutors have increasingly targeted major tech firms over allegations of undermining competition and debilitating phone-hooked adolescents. But that tension is magnified in Silicon Valley’s home state. It’s no secret Bonta could be running for governor in 2026. If so, he might not count on tech funding — but he could still reap dividends by taking on companies that many Democratic voters have come to revile. IT’S TUESDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to jwhite@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open.   A message from Blue Shield of California Foundation: This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, learn the latest on domestic violence prevention in California and how to prioritize survivors and their families in policy decisions. Listen now to the four-part podcast series by Blue Shield of California Foundation.   WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY OFF ROAD: Driverless-vehicle companies have navigated a windy road in California, and Cruise’s fortunes just took a turn for the worse. The GM-owned Cruise must pull its cars from San Francisco’s streets after the California Department of Motor Vehicles yanked the firm’s permits. State regulators asserted that the autonomous vehicles are unsafe to the public and accused Cruise of misrepresenting its record. That sudden pumping of the brakes continued a difficult few months for Cruise. Just weeks after the company won state approval to deploy San Francisco robotaxis, it was ordered to halve its fleet in light of what the DMV called “concerning incidents” on the road. Earlier this month, a Cruise vehicle struck and injured a woman who’d been flung into its path by a hit-and-run driver. Those episodes have fueled growing political resistance. San Francisco politicians and public safety authorities had urged the Public Utilities Commission against expanding autonomous cars, saying they’d impeded first responders as companies resisted sharing data. The Teamsters and labor allies have echoed those public-safety fears and warned of job losses. On Tuesday, they said the DMV’s decision proved that Gov. Gavin Newsom should not have vetoed a bill restricting driverless trucks.   DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO APP: Stay in the know with the POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID.     ON THE BEATS HISTORY LESSON: California voters support requiring public schools to teach Native American history, as well as offering free public university tuition to Native students, according to a new Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. Of voters surveyed in August, 80 percent backed the instructional mandate. The state does not require public schools to teach Native American history and culture — though it encouraged them to do so under legislation signed last year. Sixty-three percent of voters favored tuition waivers for Native students. The nine-campus University of California system already offers free tuition to members of federally recognized tribes who are residents of the state. The larger California State University doesn’t provide the same deal. American Indian and Alaskan Native students make up 0.5 percent at the UC. They make up 0.2 percent of the CSU students and 1.7 percent of the overall Californian population. — Blake Jones STRIKINGLY RARE: The Fresno Teachers Association has voted to authorize an open-ended strike beginning Nov. 1, setting in motion the first teacher walkout in California's third-largest school district since 1978. More than 93 percent of union voters backed a strike, the teachers association announced today. The looming work stoppage would be the third at a large California school district this year, following strikes in the Los Angeles and Oakland school districts during the spring semester. It would also disrupt instruction for more than 69,000 students, though Fresno Unified School District administrators have promised they’ll keep schools open by doubling substitute teacher pay to $500 a day. — Blake Jones   A message from Blue Shield of California Foundation:   WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY BILLS AND STRIKES: Rep. Adam Schiff is courting labor by pushing a federal version of a bill that Newsom vetoed. (Los Angeles Times) WELCOME MAT: San Francisco officials are cleaning up the city in preparation for world leaders arriving — including by looking to crack down on hot dog vendors. (Bloomberg) SCARY SKIES: The saga of a pilot who allegedly tried to bring down an SFO-bound flight just got a lot trippier. (San Francisco Chronicle)   JOIN 10/25 FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF GRID RELIABILITY: The EPA’s proposed standards for coal and new natural gas fired power plants have implications for the future of the electric grid. These rules may lead to changes in the power generation mix—shifting to more renewable sources in favor of fossil-fuel plants. Join POLITICO on Oct. 25 for a deep-dive conversation on what it will take to ensure a reliable electric grid for the future. REGISTER NOW.       A message from Blue Shield of California Foundation: Each episode of “Let’s End Domestic Violence: Heal, Restore, Prevent” highlights different themes surrounding domestic violence and features leaders across California, including State Senator Susan Rubio. Listen to the first three episodes now and visit letsenddv.org for additional resources. ● Episode 1: Breaking the Cycle: Multigenerational Prevention ● Episode 2: Healing From DV: Restorative Practices ● Episode 3: Domestic Violence & Housing Insecurity ● Episode 4: Elevating Solutions and Impacts in the Black Community     Follow us on Twitter POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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