Government & Policy

SCOTUS porn ruling opens door to sweeping internet age verification

Government & Policy /

The United States Supreme Court ruled Friday to uphold a Texas law requiring websites with “sexual material harmful to minors” to verify the ages of all visitors. The Free Speech Coalition (FSC), a trade association for the adult industry, had brought the lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenging the state’s age verification law. […]

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UK may require Google to give users alternative search options and rank its results ‘more fairly’

Government & Policy /

The U.K.’s competition regulator said on Tuesday it is considering a new market designation for Google that would require the search giant to provide alternative search options to users, rank search results “more fairly,” and offer greater control to publishers over how their content is used in search and AI Overviews. Under the new Digital

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Moratorium on state AI regulation clears Senate hurdle

Government & Policy /

A Republican effort to prevent states from enforcing their own AI regulations cleared a key procedural hurdle on Saturday. The rule, as reportedly rewritten by Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz in an attempt to comply with budgetary rules, would withhold federal broadband funding from states if they try to enforce AI regulations in the next

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European leaders worry they’re too reliant on U.S. tech

Government & Policy /

European governments may be reconsidering their use of American technology and services, according to a new report in The New York Times. The flashpoint seems to come after President Donald Trump sanctioned Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, over the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin

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OpenAI’s $200M DoD contract could squeeze frenemy Microsoft

Government & Policy /

OpenAI said Monday the U.S. Department of Defense granted it a contract for up to $200 million to help the agency identify and build prototype systems that use its frontier models for administrative tasks and more. OpenAI provides a few examples of possible tasking, such as helping service members get healthcare, streamlining data on various

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Taiwan places export controls on Huawei and SMIC

Government & Policy /

Chinese companies Huawei and SMIC may have a difficult time accessing resources needed to build AI chips, due to Taiwanese export controls. Bloomberg reports that Taiwan’s International Trade Administration placed the two companies and their subsidiaries on an updated list of entities designated as strategic high-tech commodities. That means Taiwanese businesses will need government approval

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Silicon Valley tech execs are joining the US Army Reserve

Government & Policy /

Chief technology officers (CTOs) from companies, including Palantir, Meta and OpenAI, are taking part-time roles in the U.S. Army Reserve. In October, the U.S. Defense Department put out the call to top Silicon Valley talent to take high-ranking positions in the U.S. Army Reserve so they could periodically be tapped for short-term projects in areas

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TikTok’s biggest star was detained by ICE, with help from another influencer

Government & Policy /

Khaby Lame, currently the world’s top TikTok creator, was recently detained by U.S. immigration officials in Las Vegas and has since left the country, The New York Times reports. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lame, an Italian Senegalese influencer known for his silent, deadpan reactions to viral clips, overstayed the terms of

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Waymo robotaxis, Lime e-scooters set ablaze during LA protests

Government & Policy /

This article was originally published June 9 at 6:43 am PT. It has been updated to reflect new information from Waymo. Several Waymo robotaxis and Lime e-scooters were set on fire this weekend amid unrest in downtown Los Angeles spurred by groups protesting immigration raids in the city by the Trump administration.  A group of

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Waymo robotaxis, Lime e-scooters set ablaze during LA protests

Government & Policy /

Several Waymo robotaxis and Lime e-scooters were set on fire this weekend amid unrest in downtown Los Angeles spurred by groups protesting immigration raids in the city by the Trump administration.  A group of protesters attacked five Waymo autonomous vehicles on Los Angeles Street early on Sunday evening, reports Los Angeles Times. They slashed tires,

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