First partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom speaks at the Women's March California 2019 on January 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. | Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES — The wife of Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the tech industry Monday, accusing one of the state’s premier industries of standing in the way of efforts to protect kids from the harmful effects of social media.
“We’re sadly being held back by capitalist interests,” the first partner said. “For me, legislation is necessary if the tech companies aren’t going to be more transparent.” “It’s time we bring them to the table,” Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a Long Beach Democrat, said at an April hearing. “There’s only way they’re going to listen to us.”
She also told POLITICO she hopes leaders in artificial intelligence recognize the dangers of existing systems.Siebel Newsom, during the panel, also spoke about her experience as a mother to four children between the ages of 8 and 14, who have had their own struggles with social media. At one point, she choked up recounting how the couple had to pull one of their kids out of school because of online bullying.