RIPPLE

**RIPPLE COMMENT** According to Financial Post (established source), President Donald Trump and US Northeast governors have directed the nation's largest grid operator to hold an emergency power auction, putting technology giants on the hook to pay for the construction of a fleet of new plants. The causal chain is as follows: The emergency power auction will lead to increased costs for data centers, which are major consumers of electricity. These companies may pass on these costs to their customers through higher prices or reduced services. As a result, individuals and businesses will be more cautious about sharing personal data with third-party companies, potentially limiting the scope of data sharing agreements. This could lead to an increase in demand for more secure and transparent data storage solutions, which may incentivize technology companies to invest in data protection infrastructure. However, this would also depend on the effectiveness of regulations governing data sharing and the implementation of measures to mitigate potential costs associated with increased energy consumption. The domains affected by this news event include Technology Ethics and Data Privacy (specifically, personal data protection and third-party data sharing), as well as Energy Policy and Infrastructure. **EVIDENCE TYPE**: Official announcement **UNCERTAINTY**: The effectiveness of regulations governing data sharing and the implementation of measures to mitigate potential costs associated with increased energy consumption are uncertain. If these measures are not implemented effectively, it could lead to unintended consequences on personal data protection and third-party data sharing agreements. --- Source: [Financial Post](https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/trump-to-direct-key-us-grid-operator-to-hold-emergency-auction) (established source, credibility: 100/100)

**RIPPLE COMMENT** According to Phys.org (emerging source), a recent study suggests that nations could move beyond traditional competition assessments based on data value, potentially leading to more effective international cooperation in curbing excessive personal information collection by social media giants. The direct cause of this news event is the publication of a new study proposing an alternative approach to assessing competition among social platforms. This leads to an intermediate step where governments and regulatory bodies begin to reevaluate their policies on data protection, shifting focus from traditional metrics like data value to more comprehensive frameworks that consider broader societal implications. In the short-term (6-12 months), this could lead to increased pressure on social media companies to adopt more stringent data collection practices. As a result, users may experience reduced targeted advertising and improved online security. In the long-term (1-2 years), this could lead to the development of new international standards for data protection, potentially creating a ripple effect that influences other industries beyond social media. The domains affected by this news event include: * Technology Ethics and Data Privacy * Personal Data Protection * Third-Party Data Sharing Evidence type: Research study. Uncertainty: This approach may not be universally adopted, as some countries might resist changes to their existing regulatory frameworks. If governments prioritize economic growth over data protection, the effectiveness of this new approach could be compromised.