Traditionally, the government would simply write laws making the bad things illegal.

"Vacuum cleaners may not upload any information about a person's home to any server or through any network, else fines and prison." "Televisions and monitors may not, of their own volition, display advertisements, else fines and prison." Or at least very clear labeling rules.

I think that the underlying problem, as is often the case, is the Citizens United ruling. Fixing that doesn't solve everything; it doesn't solve disinformation challenges, but it does take care of a lot.