J.R.McHale

+ A **Summary** at **The Verge**: [**SEC Proposes Rules to Allow Anyone to Invest in Startups**](http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/23/4947382/sec-proposes-rules-to-allow-anyone-to-invest-in-startups)

+ **The SEC’s press release and fact sheet**: [**SEC.gov webpage**](http://www.sec.gov/News/PressRelease/Detail/PressRelease/1370540017677)

+ **The Proposed Rules**: [(**pdf**](http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2013/33-9470.pdf) – 585 pages – so much for simplicity)

+ **More:**
>[Trepidation and Restrictions Leave Crowdfunding Rules Weak](http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/trepidation-and-restrictions-leave-crowdfunding-rules-weak/?partner=rss&emc=rss) **(New York Times)**: “Crowdfunding is becoming a reality, but the question is whether it will thrive or become largely a vehicle for fraud.”
>
>[BackTrack Reports’ Randy Shain: JOBS ACT For Small Businesses Could Lead To Big Fraud](http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/29/backtrack-reports-randy-shain-jobs-act-for-small-businesses-could-lead-to-big-fraud/)

**SEC Greenlights One Style Of Equity Crowdfunding For Startups** by Josh Constine at **TechCrunch**.

From the SEC today: “The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a report that makes clear that companies can use social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter to announce key information in compliance with Regulation Fair Disclosure (Regulation FD) so long as investors have been alerted about which social media will be used to disseminate such information.”

More at the Securities and Exchange Commission website, including the report (pdf) in its Reed Hastings investigation, which triggered today’s announcement.

And even more at the Wall Street Journal – their analysis of today’s SEC embrace of social media with respect to public disclosure.