Internet giants, once above the fray, on the defensive in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Internet giants, including Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O) and Facebook (FB.O), are moving to compromise on several major policy issues as they adjust to an abrupt shift in the political winds in Washington.  Just last week, the U.S. Senate took a big step toward advancing legislation that would partially strip away the internet industry’s bedrock legal protection, a 1996 law that shields companies from liability for the activities of their users. At the same time, Democratic senators are writing legislation that would create new disclosure rules for online political ads after Facebook this month revealed that suspected Russian trolls purchased more than $100,000 worth of divisive ads on its platform during the 2016 election cycle. The U.S. Federal Election Commission is considering bringing in Facebook and other tech firms for a public hearing. Unlike in Europe, where they have faced a bevy of new rules and billion-dollar fines, internet giants have avoided virtually all types of government regulation in the United States, even as their market power continues to grow. Amazon (AMZN.O), for example, controls more than a third of U.S. online commerce, while Google and Facebook combined account for more than sixty percent of the U.S. digital ad market. Internet firms have from their inception urged U.S. politicians in both parties to treat their industry as a nascent sector in need of unique protections. These firms enjoyed an especially close relationship with the Democratic administration of former President Barack Obama, which saw several officials go to work for Google upon leaving the White House. But some Democrats, still bitter over Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election, are now expressing alarm at the industry’s power. Virginia Senator Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, this month compared political ads on social media to the “wild, wild West” and is working on legislation to require more disclosure. On the Republican side, President Donald Trump has been hostile to the tech industry in many of his public remarks. Google and Facebook have been repeatedly attacked from the right for alleged liberal bias and a globalist outlook. Now, the Internet firms are backpedaling from earlier positions as they seek to avoid regulation, according to congressional aides, industry lobbyists and company sources.  “Tech is no longer the golden goose,” said one technology industry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Maybe it’s a good thing we start behaving like a rational part of the economy.” Silicon Valley lobbyists and congressional aides in both parties were quick to temper talk of a sweeping regulatory crackdown, in part because the government agencies that could move against the industry, notably the Federal Trade Commission, remain severely understaffed. But the shift in tone is palpable. On Thursday, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said the company, for the first time, would make it possible for anyone to see details about political ads that run on Facebook, which, unlike television ads, do not fall under U.S. law requiring disclosure of who pays for them. Requiring such transparency is one of the key provisions of the proposed legislation on online political ads. The company also said it would turn over to congressional investigators political ads that it says were likely purchased by Russian entities during and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The moves marked an about-face for Zuckerberg, who after the November election said it was a “crazy idea” to think that activity on Facebook swayed the vote. Facebook has also shifted its stance on proposed changes to the liability protections for internet companies, formally known as Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The legislation, which is aimed at stopping online sex trafficking, has been fiercely opposed by companies that see it as a threat to openness and innovation on the internet.  But after an emotional hearing last week featuring testimony from the mother of a murdered sex-trafficking victim - which followed two big tech companies, Oracle (ORCL.N) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE.N), breaking ranks with industry peers on the issue - Facebook and Google have opened the door to negotiation on the bill, according to congressional aides and industry sources. In a statement, Erin Egan, Facebook’s vice president of U.S. policy, said the company believed a legislative solution was possible to “address this terrible problem while ensuring that the internet remains open and free and that responsible companies can continue to work to stop sex trafficking before it happens.” The tech industry in recent years has neutralized other ideas percolating in the halls of Congress that it perceived as threatening, including calls to weaken encryption and demands that social media companies report “terrorist” activity to the government. But the effort to amend Section 230 is seen as different. The fast progress of legislation, introduced in August, has alarmed lobbyists and company representatives who initially predicted it would not go far in an otherwise gridlocked Congress.  The bill comes after years of law enforcement lobbying for a crackdown on the online classified site backpage.com, which is used for sex advertising. The measure would make it easier for states and sex trafficking victims to sue social media networks, advertisers and others who fail to keep exploitative material off their platforms.  Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, the lead architect of the Section 230 legislation, said in an interview with Reuters that he was confident his measure would become law this congressional term, with or without Silicon Valley’s cooperation.  The bill has attracted bipartisan support from nearly a third of the Senate; a companion measure has similar backing in the House of Representatives. Portman said he had met with Trump’s daughter and advisor, Ivanka Trump, who expressed strong support. “Frankly, I am disappointed (that) more in the technology industry are not joining us on this effort,” Portman said. “It is in their interest to be supportive of a solution on this problem.” politicsNews
internet giants fray defensive washingtonwashington reuters internet giants including alphabet google facebook moving compromise several major policy issues adjust abrupt shift political winds washington just last week senate took big step toward advancing legislation would partially strip away internet industry bedrock legal protection law shields companies liability activities users at time democratic senators writing legislation would create new disclosure rules online political ads facebook month revealed suspected russian trolls purchased worth divisive ads platform election cycle the federal election commission considering bringing facebook tech firms public hearing unlike europe faced levy new rules fines internet giants avoided virtually types government regulation united states even market power continues grow amazon example controls third online commerce google facebook combined account sixty percent digital ad market internet firms inception urged politicians parties treat industry nascent sector need unique protections these firms enjoyed especially close relationship democratic administration former president barack obama saw several officials go work google upon leaving white house but democrats still bitter russia alleged meddling election expressing alarm industry power virginia senator mark warner vice chairman senate intelligence committee month compared political ads social media wild wild west working legislation require disclosure on republican side president donald trump hostile tech industry many public remarks google facebook repeatedly attacked right alleged liberal bias loyalist outlook now internet firms backpedaling earlier positions seek avoid regulation according congressional aides industry lobbyists company sources tech longer golden goose said one technology industry source spoke condition anonymity maybe good thing start behaving like rational part silicon valley lobbyists congressional aides parties quick temper talk sweeping regulatory crackdown part government agencies could move industry notably federal trade commission remain severely understated but shift tone capable on thursday facebook chief executive mark zuckerberg said company first time would make possible anyone see details political ads run facebook unlike television ads fall law requiring disclosure pays requiring transparency one key provisions proposed legislation online political ads the company also said would turn congressional investigators political ads says likely purchased russian entities presidential election the moves marked zuckerberg november election said crazy idea think activity facebook swayed vote facebook also shifted stance proposed changes liability protections internet companies formally known section communications decency act the legislation aimed stopping online sex trafficking fiercely opposed companies see threat openness innovation internet but emotional hearing last week featuring testimony mother murdered victim followed two big tech companies oracle rowlett package enterprise breaking ranks industry peers issue facebook google opened door negotiation bill according congressional aides industry sources in statement erin began facebook vice president policy said company believed legislative solution possible address terrible problem ensuring internet remains open free responsible companies continue work stop sex trafficking the tech industry recent years neutralized ideas percolating halls congress perceived threatening including calls weaken encryption demands social media companies report terrorist activity government but effort amend section seen different the fast progress legislation introduced august alarmed lobbyists company representatives initially predicted would go far otherwise gridlocked congress the bill comes years law enforcement lobbying crackdown online classified site used sex advertising the measure would make easier states sex trafficking victims sue social media networks advertisers others fail keep exploitation material platforms republican senator rob portal ohio lead architect section legislation said interview reuters confident measure would become law congressional term without silicon valley cooperation the bill attracted bipartisan support nearly third senate companion measure similar backing house representatives portal said met trump daughter advisor lanka trump expressed strong support frankly i disappointed technology industry joining us effort portal said it interest supportive solution politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Internet giants, once above the fray, on the defensive in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Internet giants, including Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O) and Facebook (FB.O), are moving to compromise on several major policy issues as they adjust to an abrupt shift in the political winds in Washington.  Just last week, the U.S. Senate took a big step toward advancing legislation that would partially strip away the internet industry’s bedrock legal protection, a 1996 law that shields companies from liability for the activities of their users. At the same time, Democratic senators are writing legislation that would create new disclosure rules for online political ads after Facebook this month revealed that suspected Russian trolls purchased more than $100,000 worth of divisive ads on its platform during the 2016 election cycle. The U.S. Federal Election Commission is considering bringing in Facebook and other tech firms for a public hearing. Unlike in Europe, where they have faced a bevy of new rules and billion-dollar fines, internet giants have avoided virtually all types of government regulation in the United States, even as their market power continues to grow. Amazon (AMZN.O), for example, controls more than a third of U.S. online commerce, while Google and Facebook combined account for more than sixty percent of the U.S. digital ad market. Internet firms have from their inception urged U.S. politicians in both parties to treat their industry as a nascent sector in need of unique protections. These firms enjoyed an especially close relationship with the Democratic administration of former President Barack Obama, which saw several officials go to work for Google upon leaving the White House. But some Democrats, still bitter over Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election, are now expressing alarm at the industry’s power. Virginia Senator Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, this month compared political ads on social media to the “wild, wild West” and is working on legislation to require more disclosure. On the Republican side, President Donald Trump has been hostile to the tech industry in many of his public remarks. Google and Facebook have been repeatedly attacked from the right for alleged liberal bias and a globalist outlook. Now, the Internet firms are backpedaling from earlier positions as they seek to avoid regulation, according to congressional aides, industry lobbyists and company sources.  “Tech is no longer the golden goose,” said one technology industry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Maybe it’s a good thing we start behaving like a rational part of the economy.” Silicon Valley lobbyists and congressional aides in both parties were quick to temper talk of a sweeping regulatory crackdown, in part because the government agencies that could move against the industry, notably the Federal Trade Commission, remain severely understaffed. But the shift in tone is palpable. On Thursday, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said the company, for the first time, would make it possible for anyone to see details about political ads that run on Facebook, which, unlike television ads, do not fall under U.S. law requiring disclosure of who pays for them. Requiring such transparency is one of the key provisions of the proposed legislation on online political ads. The company also said it would turn over to congressional investigators political ads that it says were likely purchased by Russian entities during and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The moves marked an about-face for Zuckerberg, who after the November election said it was a “crazy idea” to think that activity on Facebook swayed the vote. Facebook has also shifted its stance on proposed changes to the liability protections for internet companies, formally known as Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The legislation, which is aimed at stopping online sex trafficking, has been fiercely opposed by companies that see it as a threat to openness and innovation on the internet.  But after an emotional hearing last week featuring testimony from the mother of a murdered sex-trafficking victim - which followed two big tech companies, Oracle (ORCL.N) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE.N), breaking ranks with industry peers on the issue - Facebook and Google have opened the door to negotiation on the bill, according to congressional aides and industry sources. In a statement, Erin Egan, Facebook’s vice president of U.S. policy, said the company believed a legislative solution was possible to “address this terrible problem while ensuring that the internet remains open and free and that responsible companies can continue to work to stop sex trafficking before it happens.” The tech industry in recent years has neutralized other ideas percolating in the halls of Congress that it perceived as threatening, including calls to weaken encryption and demands that social media companies report “terrorist” activity to the government. But the effort to amend Section 230 is seen as different. The fast progress of legislation, introduced in August, has alarmed lobbyists and company representatives who initially predicted it would not go far in an otherwise gridlocked Congress.  The bill comes after years of law enforcement lobbying for a crackdown on the online classified site backpage.com, which is used for sex advertising. The measure would make it easier for states and sex trafficking victims to sue social media networks, advertisers and others who fail to keep exploitative material off their platforms.  Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, the lead architect of the Section 230 legislation, said in an interview with Reuters that he was confident his measure would become law this congressional term, with or without Silicon Valley’s cooperation.  The bill has attracted bipartisan support from nearly a third of the Senate; a companion measure has similar backing in the House of Representatives. Portman said he had met with Trump’s daughter and advisor, Ivanka Trump, who expressed strong support. “Frankly, I am disappointed (that) more in the technology industry are not joining us on this effort,” Portman said. “It is in their interest to be supportive of a solution on this problem.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: internet giants fray defensive washingtonwashington reuters internet giants including alphabet google facebook moving compromise several major policy issues adjust abrupt shift political winds washington just last week senate took big step toward advancing legislation would partially strip away internet industry bedrock legal protection law shields companies liability activities users at time democratic senators writing legislation would create new disclosure rules online political ads facebook month revealed suspected russian trolls purchased worth divisive ads platform election cycle the federal election commission considering bringing facebook tech firms public hearing unlike europe faced levy new rules fines internet giants avoided virtually types government regulation united states even market power continues grow amazon example controls third online commerce google facebook combined account sixty percent digital ad market internet firms inception urged politicians parties treat industry nascent sector need unique protections these firms enjoyed especially close relationship democratic administration former president barack obama saw several officials go work google upon leaving white house but democrats still bitter russia alleged meddling election expressing alarm industry power virginia senator mark warner vice chairman senate intelligence committee month compared political ads social media wild wild west working legislation require disclosure on republican side president donald trump hostile tech industry many public remarks google facebook repeatedly attacked right alleged liberal bias loyalist outlook now internet firms backpedaling earlier positions seek avoid regulation according congressional aides industry lobbyists company sources tech longer golden goose said one technology industry source spoke condition anonymity maybe good thing start behaving like rational part silicon valley lobbyists congressional aides parties quick temper talk sweeping regulatory crackdown part government agencies could move industry notably federal trade commission remain severely understated but shift tone capable on thursday facebook chief executive mark zuckerberg said company first time would make possible anyone see details political ads run facebook unlike television ads fall law requiring disclosure pays requiring transparency one key provisions proposed legislation online political ads the company also said would turn congressional investigators political ads says likely purchased russian entities presidential election the moves marked zuckerberg november election said crazy idea think activity facebook swayed vote facebook also shifted stance proposed changes liability protections internet companies formally known section communications decency act the legislation aimed stopping online sex trafficking fiercely opposed companies see threat openness innovation internet but emotional hearing last week featuring testimony mother murdered victim followed two big tech companies oracle rowlett package enterprise breaking ranks industry peers issue facebook google opened door negotiation bill according congressional aides industry sources in statement erin began facebook vice president policy said company believed legislative solution possible address terrible problem ensuring internet remains open free responsible companies continue work stop sex trafficking the tech industry recent years neutralized ideas percolating halls congress perceived threatening including calls weaken encryption demands social media companies report terrorist activity government but effort amend section seen different the fast progress legislation introduced august alarmed lobbyists company representatives initially predicted would go far otherwise gridlocked congress the bill comes years law enforcement lobbying crackdown online classified site used sex advertising the measure would make easier states sex trafficking victims sue social media networks advertisers others fail keep exploitation material platforms republican senator rob portal ohio lead architect section legislation said interview reuters confident measure would become law congressional term without silicon valley cooperation the bill attracted bipartisan support nearly third senate companion measure similar backing house representatives portal said met trump daughter advisor lanka trump expressed strong support frankly i disappointed technology industry joining us effort portal said it interest supportive solution politicsnews