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Alissa Cooper

@alissacooper.bsky.social
1.7K followers 669 following 79 posts

Executive Director of the Knight-Georgetown Institute at Georgetown University

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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
John Sands @iohn.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A new survey from @knightfoundation.org and @ssrsresearch.bsky.social reveals a disquieting decline in how free Americans feel to use the freedoms protected by the #FirstAmendment without government interference or punishment. 🧵
knightfoundation.org
Knight Foundation-SSRS Poll: Americans Feel Free Expression is Eroding - Knight Foundation
For more than two decades, Knight Foundation has commissioned research to better understand Americans’ lived experience with the First Amendment and free expression. As the country marks its 250th ann...
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Chapell @achapell.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Is it possible for Google to share search data with rivals in a privacy-safe way? Google seems to believe the answer is a hard no! I welcome @alissacooper.bsky.social from KGI to discuss. Here's a quick overview - the episode drops on Wednesday Aug 5. This week's @monopolyreport.bsky.social
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
📣 We're hiring a Policy Analyst and Research Analyst! This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to widely disseminated research and policy work across platform governance, competition policy, AI, and the future of the online information ecosystem. 🚀 Apply by June 1, 2026 kgi.georgetown.edu/jobs/
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Our team crushes it. Come work with us to bring the latest research and evidence to the most important tech policy issues of our time.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Critical work at a pivotal time as consumer protection and product liability lawsuits proceed against social media and AI chatbot companies. So proud of the whole team behind this and the high-quality framework we've produced to help litigators, courts, and policymakers chart their remedy course.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
KGI's first annual report is out! Last year was a challenging time for tech policy, research, and science. I'm so proud of how our small team was able to seize opportunities across the policy landscape where decisionmakers remain hungry for real evidence to inform their policy positions.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
At KGI we have an incredible team doing high-impact work at the intersection of research and policy. We're looking for a super organized self-starter to join our team as an Operations Associate, based in DC. Applications open until April 6!
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Missed our amazing Digital Competition Conference? Check out the recap with highlight video, plus links to recordings and slides for all the talks.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Recent controversies surrounding age verification on major platforms – from Discord delaying its age verification rollout to Reddit facing fines in the UK for children's privacy failures – highlight the challenges of adopting age assurance systems in ways that protect user privacy and experiences. 🧵
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
It’s hard for the public to grasp the complexity of implementing online age assurance effectively, so I was happy to help break it down for Fast Company’s Mark Sullivan. Nice call-out included for the need for independent verification of age assurance systems. www.fastcompany.com/91504593/ope...
fastcompany.com
OpenAI’s delayed ‘adult mode’ underscores the challenges of age-gating AI
A lot is riding on OpenAI’s ability to separate older ChatGPT users from younger ones.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
It can feel like those with the power to address Google's monopoly in search, and particularly its grip on search distribution, are passing up their opportunities to do so. First was the US District Court in US v. Google, and now comes the UK CMA. Read on for KGI's analysis of the CMA's proposals.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
@kendraserra.bsky.social is my hero, again and again! Defending everyone's right to hold power accountable without intimidation. theintercept.com/2026/02/23/p...
theintercept.com
Nonprofit Coalition Asks Courts to Prevent Coercive Federal Investigation Tactics
Seventeen organizations filed an amicus brief calling out pretextual federal investigations and arguing for judicial oversight.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Exciting opening on my team for a summer student research assistant! Looking for a graduate student in a technical field or with a technical background to come work on a project looking at AI and the future of content markets.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
KGI's @pfchap.bsky.social is featured in @politico.eu’s coverage of the European Commission’s push to address the addictiveness of TikTok’s design, focusing on core features like infinite scroll + recommender systems. 👀 Read more from @egreechee.bsky.social here: www.politico.eu/article/tikt...
politico.eu
The EU moves to kill infinite scrolling
Brussels is going head-to-head with social media platforms to change addictive design.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
In documents produced in US litigation, we've gotten a small window into how online platforms measure harms and their mitigations. Why aren't DSA risk assessments -- which are designed for just this purpose -- actually assessing risk?
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
📣 Day 2 of the Digital Competition Conference is underway! Tune into the livestream here: www.youtube.com/live/Ih4yyZp... The DCC is where cutting-edge research meets policy on antitrust & digital competition. The conference will close today with a key note by Jonathan Kanter.
youtube.com
Digital Competition Conference February 6, 2026
YouTube video by Knight-Georgetown Institute
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Day 1 of the Digital Competition Conference is underway! The DCC is where cutting-edge research meets policy on antitrust & digital competition. 📍Feb 5-6, 2026 | DC & Online 📺 Tune in to the livestream here: youtube.com/live/0NaYqYy...
youtube.com
Digital Competition Conference on February 5, 2026
YouTube video by Knight-Georgetown Institute
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
KGI's new report, Age Assurance Online: A Technical Assessment of Current Systems and their Limitations, will likely become a foundational resource for many. With so much happening in this policy space, it grounds our understanding of age assurance systems and their tradeoffs in technical reality.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
🚨Why does access to public platform data matter? Join our webinar "Better Access: Data for the Common Good" (Jan 28, 2026, 11am-12pm ET) for a discussion on the Better Access framework, current regulatory shifts in the EU, UK + US, and what changes 2026 might hold. kgi.georgetown.edu/events/bette...
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
I'm biased, but our team is the best! And we're looking for a top-notch DC-based operations manager to support all of our operational and administrative needs as we head into a busy, exciting time in tech policy and at Georgetown. Please spread the word!
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Surf @surf.social · 19/12/2025
It's us — in great company with @sill.social, @graze.social, @skyfeed.app and @weare8app.bsky.social! "Flipboard’s Surf is a beta-mode cross-network feed builder/browser supporting ActivityPub, AT Protocol, and RSS. It allows users to mix content sources into interest-based, multi-modal feeds."
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Every day, algorithms shape what we see, read and watch. Our new explainer with KGI’s @alissacooper.bsky.social shows how feeds work and how platforms + policymakers can design better feeds that are optimized for long-term user value instead of short term engagement. www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8kD...
youtube.com
Better Feeds: Reimagining the Algorithm
YouTube video by Knight-Georgetown Institute
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Despite the importance of data about what happens in public on online platforms, there is no shared framework for how research, journalism, and independent investigations should be conducted with public platform data. The Better Access framework we released today provides that. Incredible work!
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Reminder that we are hiring a senior technologist on my team -- a high-impact crew sitting at the intersection of research, tech, and policy. Accepting applications until November 7. Come work with us!
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
New @nytimes.com: @juliaangwin.com explains how the US v. Google remedies ruling could further entrench Google’s search dominance. KGI’s @alissacooper.bsky.social notes “[t]he remedies here are unlikely to create the circumstances for competitive entry in search.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Google Wins, We Lose
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Very excited to host Jonathan Sallet at Georgetown next week! Come hear directly from a lead litigator in U.S. v. Google search. Free lunch for those joining in person, or live stream for those joining remotely. Registration required.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
We're speaking at two #TSRConf sessions today at 11:30am PT. @alissacooper.bsky.social's “Fixing the Feeds: A Policy Road Map to Address Algorithmic Recommender System Harms” will provide insights on how algorithms can be better designed to put user well-being and long term user value first.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Leticia Bode @leticiabode.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Come hang out with us and talk about data access! #tsrconf
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Haven't read enough about the Google search antitrust remedies? We have more for you ...
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
This week, KGI’s @alissacooper.bsky.social is featured in NPR about what the Google Search antitrust ruling means for the future of AI and why the remedies may be too limited to pave the way for more search competition. Full story here 👉 www.npr.org/2025/09/18/n...
npr.org
What does the Google antitrust ruling mean for the future of AI?
A federal judge's mild ruling in the Justice Department's suit over Google's search engine monopoly has critics worried that the tech giant can now monopolize artificial intelligence.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
DCC 2026 -- our annual competition conference bringing together researchers, policy experts and practitioners -- is accepting paper submissions until October 13. Get those fingers typing ...
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Thanks to @sumitecon.bsky.social for reminding us that the CMA has done the world a public service through thorough investigation of the search market. Too bad the US court did not consider what the CMA already found about limited search syndication serving as a barrier, not a boost, to competition.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
So much to unpack from Judge Mehta’s remedy opinion in the US v. Google search case. If these remedies ultimately go into effect, evidence indicates that Google’s dominance over online search – a critical information pathway for billions of internet users – will remain entrenched. Long 🧵⬇️
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Atmosphere Community @atmosphere.community · 29/08/2025
The bsky team is heading to @ietf.org in Montreal in November. The team has requested a "birds of a feather" (BOF) session at #IETF124 - a part of the process for having ATProto admitted as a standard. We're also planning community gatherings. RSVP here if you're interested.
smokesignal.events
ATProto Protocol Working Sessions at IETF124
IETF124 is happening in Montreal, Nov 1st to 7th https://www.ietf.org/meeting/124/ Attending the IETF Hackathon is free (date TBD, usually at the beginning), and we'll also plan ATProto working ...
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
ARTICLE 19 @article19.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
📢 FINAL CALL 📢 to submit your #abstract for the 2025 DMA Enforcement Symposium. Submit your abstract or paper on gatekeepers’ compliance with DMA obligations, their impact on users’ rights, how enforcement structure can be improved, and more by 25 AUG tinyurl.com/473v5mtk
tinyurl.com
Digital Markets Act Enforcement: Impact and next steps  - ARTICLE 19
Call for papers: European Commission under the Digital Markets Act (DMA)
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Are you researching the impact, effects, or remedies involved in tech competition regulation or enforcement? Do you have emerging or recently published research to share? Then DCC '26 wants you! Submission deadline is October 13.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
🚨New op-ed in @newsweek.com by KGI’s @alissacooper.bsky.social and Eric Rescorla: Yes, Chrome really *can* survive without Google. This article breaks down how the proposed Chrome divestiture as part of the US v. Google search antitrust case is technically feasible www.newsweek.com/yes-chrome-r...
newsweek.com
Yes, Chrome Really Can Survive Without Google | Opinion
The idea that only Google can run Chrome is false.
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
New from @proffionasm.bsky.social and Paul Heidhues: Google Search’s Exclusivity Payments Must Be Capped promarket.org/2025/07/18/g... via ProMarket
promarket.org
Google Search’s Exclusivity Payments Must Be Capped - ProMarket
Judge Amit Mehta will shortly provide his remedy to Google’s monopoly in internet search. Fiona Scott Morton and Paul Heidhues argue that the remedy must include a cap on Google’s payments to the mobi...
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
ARTICLE 19 @article19.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
📢2025 DMA Enforcement Symposium: Call for Abstracts 📢 The call for abstracts for our 3rd annual Brussels symposium is LIVE. We’re looking for critical assessments of gatekeepers’ compliance with obligations and their impact on users' rights, enforcement structure and procedural issues, and more.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Daniel Hanley @danielahanley.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
The second must-read paper for today is from @knightgtown.bsky.social Alissa Cooper and Eric Rescorla. The paper describes the technical feasibility of Google divesting Chrome. Google's (forthcoming) arguments on the difficulty of this action are being preempted! kgi.georgetown.edu/wp-content/u...
kgi.georgetown.edu
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Wondering if Chrome could operate independently from Google if it were to be divested? We've got a comprehensive technical assessment for you:
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
How can platforms build better algorithmic feeds? Pinterest shares its approach: using user surveys to guide its recommender system – reducing harm and increasing relevance. Here’s how it works 👇 medium.com/pinterest-en... 🧵
medium.com
Healthier Personalization with Surveys
Leif Sigerson | Senior Data Scientist, Data Platforms Science, Stephanie Chen | Staff Quantitative Product Researcher, Product Research…
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Excited for the third edition of the DMA Enforcement Symposium, especially the technical focus. Those doing analysis of DMA enforcement should consider submitting by July 30!
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
oandriychuk.bsky.social @oandriychuk.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
New panel 🎬 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KqQ... ‪@alissacooper.bsky.social‬ (‪@knightgtown.bsky.social‬), ‪@coricrider.com (‪@openmarkets.bsky.social‬) & @apmaehl.bsky.social (DuckDuckGo) offer their views on the situation with competition in online search, on the latest legislative initiatives & cases
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
"The #Google #antitrust search case was always about AI... if you look at the backend of Google's Gemini, it directly benefits from all their user data and Google's search index. No competitor has those advantages. Data is so fundamental to all these AI products." @alissacooper.bsky.social
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
"We will know these remedies have been successful when there is entry into the market" KGI's @alissacooper.bsky.social speaks at GW Law and Crowell & Moring's Antitrust & Tech conference on the recently litigated monopolization cases against Google, and how remedies can be crafted most effectively.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Tor Project @torproject.org · 28/04/2025
Throughout May, help strengthen Tor's independence from profit-driven influence. 💜 We're aiming to raise $75,000 to keep building the tools that protect your privacy and help millions access the open internet. 😤✊ #PrivacyIsPossible torproject.org/donate/donat...
torproject.org
Donate to the Tor Project
If you value privacy, support Tor
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
@alissacooper.bsky.social and The Dynamist host Evan Swarztrauber dig deep into how social media feeds can be better designed to maximize long-term user value and shift away from attention-maximization designs that can lead to harms and negative online experiences.
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Reposted by Alissa Cooper
CPDPconferences @cpdpconferences.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Future of Social Media: What’s the Recipe for Pluralism, Long-term User Value and Safety in Recommender Systems? Organised by Panoptykon Foundation with Katarzyna Szymielewicz (moderator), @alissacooper.bsky.social, @ianbrown.tech, @marcfaddoul.com, Ulrik Lyngs More information: cpdp.be/3715 #CPDP
"Future of Social Media: What’s the Recipe for Pluralism, Long-term User Value and Safety in Recommender Systems?"

Social media ecosystem has been dominated by a handful of tech companies, shaping the flow of information and limiting innovation. The dangers have never been clearer. Their algorithms decide which content is sourced and indexed, which posts rank higher in newsfeeds, which topics will be trending or censored. 

This power should come with great responsibility. Meanwhile, very large online platforms stick to a reckless business model, optimising their recommender systems for short-term user engagement and advertiser value. This design choice has been criticised by civil society and independent researchers because engagement-based ranking disproportionately amplifies low-quality, misleading and sensational content. 

Can social media platforms deliver long-term user value and support pluralism? How to make design choices that affect our fundamental rights, civic discourse and public health more responsible? The panel will discuss strategies for transforming a closed social media ecosystem into an open market, benefiting consumers/citizens, ethical innovators and publishers.

Questions to be answered:
- What changes in the design of social media recommender systems will promote long-term user value and pluralism?
- How to protect individual vulnerabilities from being exploited by recommender systems?
- What tools empower social media users to curate their own experience? What is blocking their uptake by very large social media platforms?
- How to impose/promote interoperability and competition in the social media market in the EU?
 
Organised by Panoptykon Foundation with Katarzyna Szymielewicz (moderator), Alissa Cooper, Ian Brown, Marc Faddoul, Ulrik Lyngs
 
More information: https://cpdp.be/3715
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Alissa Cooper @alissacooper.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
"the [Google search] case is a really great opportunity to try to … analyze how Google has benefited specifically from the monopoly that it has in search, and ensure that the behavior that led to that can't be used to gain an unfair advantage in these other markets which are more nascent."
npr.org
Why Google's search engine trial is about AI
What started off as an antitrust trial about Google's dominance in the search engine market has led to a penalties phase that is focused on its role in artificial intelligence.
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