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.
Posts by Alissa Cooper
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!
Missed our amazing Digital Competition Conference? Check out the recap with highlight video, plus links to recordings and slides for all the talks.
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. 🧵
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...
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.
@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...
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.
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...
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?
📣 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.
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...
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.
🚨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...
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!
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."
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...
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!
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!
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...
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.
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.
Come hang out with us and talk about data access! #tsrconf
Haven't read enough about the Google search antitrust remedies? We have more for you ...
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...
DCC 2026 -- our annual competition conference bringing together researchers, policy experts and practitioners -- is accepting paper submissions until October 13. Get those fingers typing ...
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.
Much more to come as this opinion gets digested ...
Our own independent analysis has shown that the divestiture is technically feasible. kgi.georgetown.edu/research-and...
Lastly -- to the question of what evidence are we relying on here? -- the opinion seemingly buys into the narrative that Google and its witnesses shared at trial about the technical infeasibility of the Chrome divestiture.