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section: Timeline
title: Industry Timeline
summary: 40 milestones in the regulation of railroads, telecommunications, electricity, radio, the Internet, and now AI — from 1862 through the EU AI Act.
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          <p>I have been studying how earlier industries came to be regulated, looking for the patterns that will shape how governments approach APIs, data, and artificial intelligence. This timeline currently captures 40 milestones, starting with the Pacific Railroad Acts of 1862 and moving through the regulation of telecommunications, electricity, radio, antitrust, and the Internet, all the way up to the EU AI Act in 2024. Each entry marks a moment where government stepped in to shape how a transformative technology was built, priced, or made accessible.</p>

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          <p>Understanding the regulation of earlier industries will inform the regulation of APIs and AI, and how we use digital resources across applications and system integrations. While some patterns of regulation won't replay in the modern era, there are common patterns and anti-patterns that will shape how government views the tech sector, and how everyday people fear or embrace digital resources in their lives. I'll keep layering on learnings from other industries until I have a clearer picture of what might unfold — you can see the technology side of this story in my <a href="https://apievangelist.com/timeline/api/">API timeline</a> and <a href="https://apievangelist.com/timeline/resources/">resources timeline</a>.</p>
  
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