Key functions of a digital regulatory agency

Mark MacCarthy

Chapter 4 in Research Handbook on Digital Regulatory Agencies, 2026, pp 42-64 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter argues that US legislation is needed to establish a new regulator to promote competition, protect privacy and preserve free speech in digital industries. Legislation setting up the digital regulator should proceed by enumeration, listing the covered lines of business such as search, social media, electronic commerce, ad tech, and mobile app infrastructure. It should contain provisions to expand this list as digital business models and technology evolve. The legislation should establish new duties, but implementing and enforcing these duties should be assigned to a single rulemaking agency in order to provide for coherent policy development. Initially, the Federal Trade Commission could function as this single digital regulator, but eventually these responsibilities should be transferred to a new agency more focused on regulation than law enforcement. The digital regulator should supervise the use of AI applications within its digital jurisdiction but not regulate providers of general-purpose AI systems.

Keywords: Regulation; Competition Policy; Privacy; Social Media Content Moderation; Digital Markets; Artificial Intelligence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035330881
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