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Platform Accountability in Technology Policy (2024-2025)

This team set out to explore how companies can demonstrate responsible behavior and how governments can more effectively evaluate that behavior through a platform accountability framework. Drawing on expertise across business, law and policy, the team examined mechanisms for supervision and monitoring, comparing frameworks like the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and similar laws in Singapore and Canada. They also investigated how other industries approach oversight and explored the role of whistleblowers and third-party mechanisms in ensuring accountability.

In Fall 2024, the team produced analytical reports on major platforms like Etsy, Roblox, Spotify and YouTube, evaluating their privacy and terms of use policies, and analyzing their alignment with applicable regulations. Their work addressed key themes such as compensation transparency, data use in targeted advertising, disclosure of AI-generated content and content moderation systems.

In Spring 2025, the team shifted focus to the impact of artificial intelligence on the music industry. They authored a white paper proposing policy solutions related to intellectual property, anti-competitive behavior, data privacy and child protection. Their research was presented to industry stakeholders in Washington, D.C., and further translated into accessible formats, including infographics, one-pagers and blog posts, aimed at informing public discourse and policymaking.

Learn more about this team’s work by reading their team profile.

Timing

Fall 2024 – Spring 2025

Team Outputs

Platform Accountability in the Age of AI, Music Streaming, and Digital

Media (White paper)

Overview infographic

Intellectual Property (Infographic)

Anticompetitive Market Practices (Infographic)

Privacy and Personal Data (Infographic)

Protection of Children (Infographic)

Spotify is Paying Musicians Poverty Wages. Why are Antitrust Laws Protecting Them? (Blog post)

AI’s Unique Threat to Musicians (Blog post)

AI in the Music Industry (Research one-pager)

Presentation of research to music industry and advocacy stakeholders, Washington, D.C., April 2025

How Can We Hold Tech Platforms Accountable? (Team profile)

See related team, Platform Accountability in Technology Policy (2025-2026).

Team Leaders

  • David Hoffman, Sanford School of Public Policy
  • Kenneth Rogerson, Sanford School of Public Policy

Graduate Team Members

  • Varun Bahl, Masters of Public Policy
  • Sofya Diktas, Bioethics and Sci Policy - AM
  • Michael Schmitz, Masters of Public Policy
  • Nicole Vijgen, Mech Engg/Materials Sci-PHD

Undergraduate Team Members

  • Sydney Coffield, Public Policy (AB); French Studies (AB2)
  • Lucy Colangelo, Public Policy (AB)
  • Sam Dillon, Program II (AB)
  • Anabel Howery, Public Policy (AB)
  • Jessica Lewin, Interdepartmental
  • Katherine McKenzie
  • Sanjali Sharma, Economics (BS); Public Policy (AB2)
  • David Surzykiewicz, Public Policy (AB)
  • Manahil Tariq, Electrical & Computer Egr(BSE); Computer Science (BS2)
  • Ishita Vaid, Public Policy (AB); Public Policy (AB2)
  • Kristina Wong, Interdepartmental

Team Contributors

  • Robyn Caplan, Sanford School of Public Policy
  • Aaron Chatterji, Fuqua School of Business
  • Aria Chernik, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Social Science Research Institute
  • Jolynn Dellinger, Duke Law, Kenan Institute for Ethics
  • Pardis Emami Naeini, Arts & Sciences: Computer Science
  • Nita Farahany, Duke Law
  • Philip Napoli, Sanford School of Public Policy: DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy
  • Arti Rai, Duke Law
  • Spencer Reeves, Sanford School of Public Policy: DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy