Follow up Washington Post Opinion: Was leaking the Dobbs opinion the perfect crime? It sure looks that way. Follow up to today’s post – SCOTUS Statement Concerning the Leak Investigation Jan 19, 2023 – via Alternet: “Legal experts and media pundits have had a lot to say about the investigation results. And many of them… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Government Documents
Supreme Court Poised to Reconsider Key Tenets of Online Speech
The New York Times: “On Friday, the Supreme Court is expected to discuss whether to hear two cases that challenge laws in Texas and Florida barring online platforms from taking down certain political content. Next month, the court is scheduled to hear a case that questions Section 230, a 1996 statute that protects the platforms… Continue Reading
SCOTUS Statement Concerning the Leak Investigation Jan 19, 2023
I am updating this post with the most recent article in response to the “we do not have any idea who did it” investigation [hint – they did not quiz the justices and spouses]. CNN – Supreme Court embarrassed by the opinion leak is embarrassed again Follow up to May 2, 2022 Politico article –… Continue Reading
AI Accountability in the US Federal Government – A Primer
American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) – “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been implemented for hundreds of use cases across the Federal government. Given this increased adoption, Federal leaders have an opportunity to lean in to take responsible and prudent measures to address AI accountability in the context of their unique mission. This paper outlines… Continue Reading
These maps show exactly where we need to put solar panels, wind turbines, and EV chargers
Fast Company – “If more people are going to drive electric cars, we need many more EV charging stations. But where to put them? That analysis requires a lot of calculations: figuring out where the current chargers are stationed and where substations and electrical infrastructure is already built out, not to mention identifying which corridors… Continue Reading
Little-Known Surveillance Program Captures Money Transfers Between U.S. and More Than 20 Countries
WSJ: “Hundreds of federal, state and local U.S. law-enforcement agencies have access without court oversight to a database of more than 150 million money transfers between people in the U.S. and in more than 20 countries, according to internal program documents and an investigation by Sen. Ron Wyden. The database, housed at a little-known nonprofit… Continue Reading
Global Risks Report 2023
World Economic Forum: Cost of living dominates global risks in the next two years while climate action failure dominates the next decade. “As 2023 begins, the world is facing a set of risks that feel both wholly new and eerily familiar. We have seen a return of “older” risks – inflation, cost-of-living crises, trade wars,… Continue Reading
Opposing Attempts to Criminalize Librarianship through State Obscenity Laws
EveryLibrary Institute: “In 2023-2024, we anticipate that many legislators whose bills failed the last session will reintroduce language in this session and anti-access activists will be inspired to sponsor their own regressive initiatives. The EverLibrary Institute is releasing a new Policy Brief “Opposing Attempts to Criminalize Libraries and Education Through State Obscenity Laws” to help… Continue Reading
Visualizing Congressional Productivity
Center for Data Innovation: The Economist has created a visualization tracking productivity in the U.S. Congress. The visualization shows the number of major bills passed in every session of Congress from 1947 to 2023 as well as the party that held control over the House, Senate, and presidency during each session. In the visualization, bills… Continue Reading
Database States – No database is neutral
The Baffler -Sanjana Varghese: The UK, as it turns out, is not particularly adept at securing its data. In 2009, a group of British academics released a report calling the UK a “database state,” citing the existence of forty-six leaky databases that were poorly constructed and badly maintained. Databases that they examined ranged from one… Continue Reading
How Policymakers Can Thwart the Rise of Fake Reviews
Center for Data Innovation: As businesses compete for customers in the digital economy, some use deceptive tactics to manipulate consumer reviews about their goods or services, or those of their competitors, including by posting fake reviews. These fake reviews can damage honest companies’ reputation and deceive consumers into purchasing goods or services of substandard quality.… Continue Reading
Biden’s New Open Government Plan Lays Out a Progressive Regulatory Reform Agenda
Center for Progressive Reform: “In case you missed it, the Biden administration capped off 2022 with the release of a new “open government” plan that aims to improve access to federal data and information, better engage the public in the regulatory process, and streamline delivery of government services and benefits. While the 21-page document —… Continue Reading
