The Digital World Choice Act

The Problem

Private companies' extranets, databases, and the internet, as they exist today, are fragmented and dominated by closed ecosystems commonly referred to as "walled gardens." For decades, large technology corporations have served as gatekeepers of social networks and personal data. These corporations frequently profit from personal information and operate algorithmic systems that may cause societal harm, including adverse effects on children and broader societal consequences.

Centralized control of online platforms has far-reaching consequences for individuals, future generations, and democratic institutions. It is therefore necessary to reimagine how technology is governed and to construct a safer, more open internet that places individuals at the centre.

The Solution

The Digital World Choice Act seeks to restore meaningful user control over online lives by limiting the dominance of corporate algorithms and enabling portability, interoperability, and open protocols. The Act prioritizes individual rights, competition, and innovation while reducing lock-in and market concentration.

Key Principles

  • Data Portability: Strengthen the right to transfer personal data between platforms — including likes, friends, photos, and posts — to reduce switching costs and enable user mobility.
  • Interoperability: Require social platforms to adopt open standards that permit seamless communication and data sharing across services, thereby preserving user control of their digital presence.
  • Open Protocols: Mandate the use of open-source protocols so users retain ongoing, dynamic access to communications and services, analogous to cross-carrier compatibility in traditional telephony.

The Utah Digital Choice Act (Context)

This proposed legislation builds on existing laws such as the Utah Consumer Privacy Act and the Utah Minor Protection in Social Media Act to expand consumer control over personal data.

Although Utah law currently recognizes data portability, many social platforms limit the transfer of comprehensive user data (for example, likes, friends, photos, and posts), creating substantial switching costs and effective lock-in. The Digital World Choice Act strengthens portability and interoperability requirements to address these limitations.

Requirements Proposed

  • Require platforms to allow users to transfer all their data seamlessly between services.
  • Mandate adoption of open standards for interoperability, enabling continuous communication and data sharing across platforms.

Benefits and Rationale

By mandating open-source protocols and interoperability, the Act enables individuals to access and move their data dynamically and to communicate freely across platforms. This model is analogous to historical telecom regulations that required cross-carrier compatibility, which stimulated competition and consumer choice.

The Digital World Choice Act aims to reclaim digital freedom from concentrated platform control, prioritize users’ rights, and stimulate a healthier internet ecosystem conducive to innovation and privacy.

The Vision

The Digital World Choice Act envisions a digital ecosystem that places individuals at the centre, fosters competition among services, and preserves privacy and innovation. By returning control of data and interactions to users, the Act advances an internet that respects freedom, competition, and technological progress.