Tootfinder

Germany approves legislation granting Interior Ministry new powers to ban Chinese tech suppliers from critical infrastructure sectors like energy and transport (Sam Clark/Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-lines-up-new-powers-to-fend-off-c…

Germany lines up new powers to fend off Chinese tech
New law set to come into place as Germany toughens its stance on China.

Across the US, lawmakers and interest groups are stepping up efforts to shield Israel from accountability for war crimes, occupation, and apartheid.
They are doing so by restricting Palestine solidarity advocates’ First Amendment rights to free speech and political boycotts.
In June 2022, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to uphold an Arkansas law punishing state contractors who boycott Israel.
Since 2014, dozens of states have adopted similar laws designed to puni…

The Italian federation of newspaper publishers submits a complaint to Italy's communication watchdog calling for an investigation into Google's AI Overviews (Angela Giuffrida/The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/202

Using Protected Identity to Suppress History https://jacobin.com/2025/08/israel-anti-zionism-antisemitism-education-palestine/

Using Protected Identity to Suppress History
Legislation on protected identities is supposed to foster good intercommunal relations. When it’s used to protect Zionism, it means shielding a 19th-century nationalist ideology from criticism as if it were an innate characteristic of all Jews.

There's a subscribers-only podcast which Lesley Riddoch has put out (which unfortunately means I can't link to it), in which she interviews Sara Salayers.
Salayers points out that the Union with England Act, 1707 (linked) is specifically conditional (§XXV) on the Claim of Right Act, 1689 (also linked); and that the Claim of Right Act forbids government from prosecuting people on 'stretches of old... laws'.

Over-Threshold Multiparty Private Set Intersection for Collaborative Network Intrusion Detection
Onur Eren Arpaci (University of Waterloo), Raouf Boutaba (University of Waterloo), Florian Kerschbaum (University of Waterloo)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.12045

Over-Threshold Multiparty Private Set Intersection for Collaborative Network Intrusion Detection
An important function of collaborative network intrusion detection is to analyze the network logs of the collaborators for joint IP addresses. However, sharing IP addresses in plain is sensitive and may be even subject to privacy legislation as it is personally identifiable information. In this paper, we present the privacy-preserving collection of IP addresses. We propose a single collector, over-threshold private set intersection protocol. In this protocol $N$ participants identify the IP add…

SAG-AFTRA praises California Governor Gavin Newsom for signing new legislation to protect a performer's likeness, saying it takes action "against AI abuse" (Alyssa Ray/The Wrap)
https://www.thewrap.com/sag-aftra-statement-new-law-agai…

SAG-AFTRA Praises Governor Newsom for Taking Action 'Against AI Abuse' With New Law: 'California Stands With Performers'
SAG-AFTRA voiced their appreciation for California lawmakers on Monday, after new legislation was signed to protect a performer's likeness.

European policymakers are edging towards a decision that could force technology firms to scan encrypted messages in a bid to tackle child abuse material, reviving a debate that cuts to the heart of online privacy and security.
https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2…

EU moves closer to controversial ‘Chat Control’ law
European policymakers are edging towards a decision that could force technology firms to scan encrypted messages in a bid to tackle child abuse material, reviving ...

"Republicans have voiced outrage that Jack Smith looked at G.O.P. lawmakers’ phone records surrounding the Jan. 6 attack. Legislation to reopen the government would allow them to sue for $500,000 each"
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/us/poli

Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
Republicans have voiced outrage that Jack Smith looked at G.O.P. lawmakers’ phone records surrounding the Jan. 6 attack. Legislation to reopen the government would allow them to sue for $500,000 each.

Understanding the New Wave of Chatbot Legislation: California SB 243 and Beyond
https://fpf.org/blog/understanding-the-new-wave-of-chatbot-legislation-california-sb-243-and-beyond/
@…

I think they should amend the entire body of UK legislation to remove "by fax" as an acceptable means of document transfer.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/all?text=%22 by fax"

Senate votes for fifth time against advancing legislation to end the shutdown (Jordain Carney/Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/06/senate-votes-for-fifth-time-against-advancing-legislation-to-end-the-shutdown-00595519
http://www.memeorandum.com/251007/p5#a251007p5

Ukraine completes legislation screening with EU in key step toward accession: https://benborges.xyz/2025/09/30/ukraine-completes-legislation-screening-with.html

The House passed legislation to
repeal the 1991 and 2002 Iraq Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF)
in a bipartisan vote on Wednesday,
moving against two pieces of legislation that have vastly expanded the president’s ability to use military force in the U.S.’s “forever wars” in the Middle East.
The amendment to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
passed easily in a 261 to 167 vote.
All Democrats and 49 Republicans v…

House Passes Repeal of 1991, 2002 Iraq War Authorizations in Bipartisan Vote
Anti-war advocates have long called for the AUMFs to be repealed.

@… Thank you for attending! I am glad that the legislation was rejected. Do you have any notes from being there in person?

Looks like the Europeans have cottoned onto the US bigtech's 'local cloud' gambit: #SovereignWashing Here in Aotearoa NZ, we should be giving …

Two key cyber laws are back as president signs bill to end shutdown https://therecord.media/cisa-2015-state-local-grants-renewed-legislation-ending-shutdown

🚂 How to repurpose abandoned railway tracks: Two projects explore driverless electric mini-trains
https://english.elpais.com/technology/2025-08-23/how-to-repurpose-abandoned-railway-tracks-tw…

How to repurpose abandoned railway tracks: Two projects explore driverless electric mini-trains
Autonomous rail vehicles with few seats could connect low-demand destinations at a very low cost, although Spanish legislation poses a stumbling block

This legislation seems relevant
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/40/contents
The Identity Documents Act 2010 repealed the Identity Cards Act 2006.
When Blunkett and Blair touted the idea of ID cards quarter of a century ago, public opinion was…

“Users should be able to use any car with any charger and service. In addition to technical standards and grid codes,
we need user choice in legislation.”
That's what I wrote last week about #V2G (bidirectional charging).
https:/…

Out of the sandbox: How to scale vehicle-to-grid in Europe
RAP expert, Jaap Burger, recommends steps for Member States to create a healthy ecosystem for vehicle-to-grid charging to scale.

Free speech advocates are sounding the alarm about a bill in the US House of Representatives that they fear could allow Secretary of State Marco Rubio to
strip US citizens of their passports
based purely on political speech.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), will come up for a hearing on Wednesday

New Bill Would Allow Rubio to Strip US Citizens’ Passports Over Political Speech
The legislation would allow the Secretary of State to strip anyone’s US passport with no legal due process.

Not even a city councillor standed up for our Sheppard Bike lanes
RIP
#biketo

"
Reps. Luna, Valadao, and Garbarino declare the rebranded EATS Act a threat to family farmers and a legislative invitation to foreign-owned factory farms."
Republican Lawmakers Declare Opposition to Legislation to Overturn the States’ Most Important Farm Animal Welfare Laws - Legal Reader
https://www.legalreader.com/republican-lawmakers-declare-opposition-to-legislation-to-overturn-the-states-most-important-farm-animal-welfare-laws/

Who are going to be the five D senators who chicken out and sign a blank check to the trumpies?
These wimpy-D's are willing to give away what little power we have left to obtain magic beans - which are worthless promises that the R's will allow a vote on ACA subsidies. A vote? We know that the R's will roll over that vote, that el-cheato won't sign, and that even if enacted, will simply become a bag of cash that el-cheato will use for whatever purpose he wants.
…

Republicans try to end shutdown without health care fix
Senate Republicans are trying to end the government shutdown by preparing a bipartisan package of spending bills that they hope will win new Democratic votes. It's unclear whether their plan will work. Democrats have voted 14 times not to reopen the government as they demand an extension of health care subsidies, which aren't expected to be part of the legislation. Many say they will continue to hold out until President Donald Trump and Republican leaders negotiate with them on an extension. A …

KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public Weighs Political Consequences of Health Policy Legislation (KFF)
https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/kff-health-tracking-poll-public-weighs-political-consequences-of-health-policy-legislation/
http://www.memeorandum.com/251003/p16#a251003p16

Kazakhstan becomes latest country to ban 'LGBT propaganda' online https://therecord.media/kazakhstan-legislation-ban-lgbtq-content-online-media

Unfortunately, 'Doing good" at a politicians request is perfectly harmless until it's not - and I know how I respond to requests to people who have done me a favor, even if it's to help someone else. And it is easy to get yourself associated with the favor you had someone grant to someone else - it's a great off-the-books campaign donation. And it's easy to do return favors.
Is it absolutely harmless the vast majority of times? Sure. Can/will it be abused? …

Should S.F. supervisors be allowed to solicit more funds, as a treat?
New legislation from Supervisor Mandelman would reinstate supes’ abilities to solicit ‘behested payments’ from parties with city contracts

Unfortunately, 'Doing good" at a politicians request is perfectly harmless until it's not - and I know how I respond to requests to people who have done me a favor, even if it's to help someone else. And it is easy to get yourself associated with the favor you had someone grant to someone else - it's a great off-the-books campaign donation. And it's easy to do return favors.
Is it absolutely harmless the vast majority of times? Sure. Can/will it be abused? …

Should S.F. supervisors be allowed to solicit more funds, as a treat?
New legislation from Supervisor Mandelman would reinstate supes’ abilities to solicit ‘behested payments’ from parties with city contracts

Sources: Coinbase and Mastercard have each held talks to acquire stablecoin startup BVNK for $1.5B-$2.5B; a deal would be the largest stablecoin acquisition yet (Fortune)
https://fortune.com/crypto/2025/10/09/bvnk-acquisition-coinbase-mastercard-stable…

Exclusive: Coinbase and Mastercard have both held advanced talks to buy stablecoin startup BVNK for around $2 billion
Stablecoins have become a buzzy sector over the past year amid a red-hot IPO from the stablecoin giant Circle and recently passed legislation in Congress.

LegiScout: A Visual Tool for Understanding Complex Legislation
Aadarsh Rajiv, Klaus Mueller
https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.01195 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.011…

LegiScout: A Visual Tool for Understanding Complex Legislation
Modern legislative frameworks, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), often involve complex webs of agencies, mandates, and interdependencies. Government issued charts attempt to depict these structures but are typically static, dense, and difficult to interpret - even for experts. We introduce LegiScout, an interactive visualization system that transforms static policy diagrams into dynamic, force-directed graphs, enhancing comprehension while preserving essential relationships. By integrating…

@… I think there’s more to it. They have outsized influence, not just presence.
Perhaps another term is more useful, then. The UK Competition Act, for example, talks about a “dominant position” in a given market.

The Senate on Thursday night approved its $925 billion version of the
National Defense Authorization Act,
the annual must-pass Pentagon policy blueprint,
setting up what is expected to be a lengthy negotiation with the House to finalize the bill.

The legislation, deadlocked for weeks over various partisan disagreements,
advanced by a margin of 77 to 20 following amendment votes earlier in the evening.

Senate and House staff will next reconcile their bills…

Senate passes $925 billion defense bill, setting up House talks
Staff from both chambers must now negotiate final, compromise legislation ahead of a vote expected later this fall.

"Nigeria passes tough new wildlife law; enforcement doubts remain"
#Nigeria #Wildlife #Environment

Nigeria passes tough new wildlife law; enforcement doubts remain
The Nigerian Parliament recently passed sweeping legislation to protect endangered wildlife from illegal trafficking. Once the president signs it into law, offenders could face fines of up to 12 million naira ($8,300) and up to 10 years in prison for trafficking elephant ivory, pangolin scales, and other products from threatened species. The bill, hailed as […]

I'm pretty sure Kiley is getting ready for a post-Trump *anti-Trump* GOP. Like they were towards Bush after 2008.
I hope that's right. It is also possible that the GOP will notice his stream of NPR and MSNBC appearances and launch the flying monkeys. https://

This Republican congressman wants to end gerrymandering for good
California voted to approve Prop 50, a measure to change election maps. Rep. Kevin Kiley, whose district will be impacted by the new map, has introduced legislation banning mid-decade gerrymandering.

#California Gov #Newsom signs #ScottWeiner bill to bulldoze over opposition to expansion of #housing density and residential construction proj…

Imgur has started blocking access to its site from UK users after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) threatened to fine the company over its advertising and data collection policies.
https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2025/legi

Imgur shuts down website to UK users over threat of fines from the ICO
Imgur has started blocking access to its site from UK users after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) threatened to fine the company over its advertising ...

I feel that way that news headlines talk about government proposals will often blur common understanding.
"Government grants new powers to police" is arguably only accurate for secondary legislation, I think it's misleading (both constitutionally and chronologically) to talk about the effect of future primary legislation (or amendments) using the past or present tense.

ChatControl wants to scan all your private messages
The European Union wants to force tech companies to scan your private messages & images, even in your favorite encrypted apps.
— by @…
🕵️

ChatControl wants to scan all your private messages
The EU is pushing legislation that would scan all our private messages, even in encrypted apps.

UK delays introducing new cybersecurity legislation, again https://therecord.media/uk-cybersecurity-law-update-csrb-delayed-again

<post link to news article on Facebook group>
:deadpixel_red: `In response to Canadian government legislation, news content can’t be shared.`
<saves page with SingleFile: https://www.getsinglefile.com>
<uploads to static web server

SingleFile – Effortlessly Save and Preserve Web Pages
Save an entire web page with all its resources in a single HTML file with SingleFile.

DX Engineering invited John Robert Stratton N5AUS, ARRL West Gulf Director, to give more details about why this new attempt to give #HamRadio similar rights already given for broadcast antennas (the FCC's Over-the-Air Reception Devices, or "OTARD", rule) has a real chance to pass this time.
Go to

U.S. Senate Republicans veto legislation to limit Trump's ability to attack Venezuela | CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-senate-vote-venezuela-war-powers-9.6970156?cmp=rss

Who Pays for Fairness? Rethinking Recourse under Social Burden
Ainhize Barrainkua, Giovanni De Toni, Jose Antonio Lozano, Novi Quadrianto
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.04128 https:…

Who Pays for Fairness? Rethinking Recourse under Social Burden
Machine learning based predictions are increasingly used in sensitive decision-making applications that directly affect our lives. This has led to extensive research into ensuring the fairness of classifiers. Beyond just fair classification, emerging legislation now mandates that when a classifier delivers a negative decision, it must also offer actionable steps an individual can take to reverse that outcome. This concept is known as algorithmic recourse. Nevertheless, many researchers have exp…

Oh, FFS. And here I thought EU leaders might have grown a spine. Guess I was wrong. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/07/european-commission-ai-artificial-intelligence-act…

Legislation requiring cars and trucks
to have AM radios
easily cleared a House committee Wednesday, although it could run into opposition going forward.
H.R. 979 -- the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act,”
would require the Department of Transportation to enforce the mandate through a rulemaking.
It passed the Energy and Commerce Committee by a 50-1 vote.
Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) was the only “no

Committee approves AM radio requirement for cars
The legislation's future remains unclear despite broad bipartisan support.

My recent article (online first already since 30.12.24, #OA ) has a number and a page range.
Yeah!
"Unequal refugeeness. Race, gender, and co-belligerence from Poles in colonial Africa to Ukrainians in Poland"
Journal of Refugee Studies, 2025, 38(3), 674–689

New Hampshire and Vermont working on plug-in solar bills to make solar systems more accessible for residents. Utah has already passed similar legislation, with other states considering the same. #climatechange #climatesolutions

Plug-in solar bills are in the works in New Hampshire and Vermont
DIY "balcony" solar kits, which can save residents money and give them more independence, are piquing interest from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

It's the last week of the California Legislative session, and there are a number of #climate & #environment bills awaiting action in the California Senate.
PLease help! #350BayArea has an eas…

Solutions that our communities need - Support these bills!
As Californians concerned about global warming and the climate crisis, it is up to us to make sure that our legislators listen to us and enact legislation that will do everything possible to fight climate change, and to mitigate its effects on all communities, especially those communities most directly affected. Please add your voice to this effort by signing this letter to your State Senator. Feel free to add your experiences and your thoughts about why your Senator needs to support this cl…

It's the last week of the California Legislative session, and there are a number of #climate & #environment bills awaiting action in the California Senate.
PLease help! #350BayArea has an eas…

Solutions that our communities need - Support these bills!
As Californians concerned about global warming and the climate crisis, it is up to us to make sure that our legislators listen to us and enact legislation that will do everything possible to fight climate change, and to mitigate its effects on all communities, especially those communities most directly affected. Please add your voice to this effort by signing this letter to your State Senator. Feel free to add your experiences and your thoughts about why your Senator needs to support this cl…

Going around in circles — Trump sets new deadline for peace in Ukraine, Graham again threatens with tough legislation: https://benborges.xyz/2025/08/21/going-around-in-circles-trump.html

Dems should buy ad slots in this video with gun legislation.
Sinclair Puts Charlie Kirk Special On YouTube Instead Of Kimmel's Slot https://share.google/iR0X3GML25AKVgnu2

AFL-CIO opposes major crypto legislation (Brady Dale/Axios)
https://www.axios.com/2025/10/07/crypto-market-structure-afl-cio
http://www.memeorandum.com/251007/p134#a251007p134

The ACT is the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce legislation that guarantees students free access to period products.
Beyond schools, dispensers are installed at:
Canberra Hospital
University of Canberra Hospital
community and health centres
walk-in centres
ACT courts
ACT libraries.

This reporting doesn't make clear the resolution is nonbinding: the departments are free to blow off not just the "deadlines" but the requested actions as well.
It does signal priorities the supervisors may go on to weigh at budget time, when evaluating mayoral appointees that need confirmation, or negotiating with Lurie about legislation he wants passed. But it may be a weak signal because supes who signed onto this did so knowing it was nonbinding.

Supervisors approve new traffic safety plan with deadlines for city departments
After San Francisco’s policy on traffic safety expired at the end of 2024, city supervisors on Tuesday adopted a new plan to curb traffic fatalities and injuries on city streets. The Board of Supervisors passed the Street Safety Act, sponsored by District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, that includes actions with deadlines for seven city departments, […]

The House passed its $892.6 billion defense policy bill Wednesday,
despite vocal criticism from Democrats
after the Republican majority denied votes to limit the Trump administration’s use of the military domestically.

The bill advanced by a vote of 231 to 196, largely along party lines.

The House now will wait on the Senate to pass its version of the annual legislation before beginning the “conference” process,
in which negotiators from both chambers reconcile …

House passes $892.6 billion defense bill over Democrats’ protests
The vote, mostly along party lines, lost Democratic support as the GOP rebuffed efforts to rein in President Donald Trump’s domestic military agenda.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill that gives ride-hailing drivers in California the right to unionize while remaining classified as independent contractors (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/lyft-uber-rideshare-driver-union-cali…

California Uber and Lyft drivers get union rights
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill allowing 800,000 Uber and Lyft drivers in the state to join a union and bargain collectively for better wages and benefits. The legislation is a significant compromise in the yearslong battle between labor unions and tech companies over drivers’ rights. California is the second state to give rideshare drivers the right to unionize. In exchange, Newsom also agreed to sign a bill supported by Uber and Lyft to lower the companies’ insurance requir…

Digital welfare fraud detection and the Dutch SyRI judgment
Marvin van Bekkum, Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.23843 https://arxiv…

Digital welfare fraud detection and the Dutch SyRI judgment
In 2020, a Dutch court passed judgment in a case about a digital welfare fraud detection system called Systeem Risico Indicatie (SyRI). The court ruled that the SyRI legislation is unlawful because it does not comply with the right to privacy under the European Convention of Human Rights. In this article we analyse the judgment and its implications. This ruling is one of first in which a court has invalidated a welfare fraud detection system for breaching the right to privacy. We show that the …

Democracy-in-Silico: Institutional Design as Alignment in AI-Governed Polities
Trisanth Srinivasan, Santosh Patapati
https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.19562 https://

Democracy-in-Silico: Institutional Design as Alignment in AI-Governed Polities
This paper introduces Democracy-in-Silico, an agent-based simulation where societies of advanced AI agents, imbued with complex psychological personas, govern themselves under different institutional frameworks. We explore what it means to be human in an age of AI by tasking Large Language Models (LLMs) to embody agents with traumatic memories, hidden agendas, and psychological triggers. These agents engage in deliberation, legislation, and elections under various stressors, such as budget cris…

QQ for all the "Restore the #RuleOfLaw" folks out there: When militarized police crushed Occupy for daring to challenge the logic of bailing out the bankers who crashed the economy rather than the people they fleeced, was that "Rule of Law"? When militarized police maimed and brutalized water protectors, was that "Rule of Law"? When oil companies and tech monopolies fund both parties and just happen to get legislation that keeps them in power, is that "Rule of Law"? When your tax dollars go to fund genocide, to pay to drop bombs on children, is that "Rule of Law"? When the NSA was spying on American citizens, was that "Rule of Law"? How about the drone strikes on Americans, was that "Rule of Law"? When cops murder people and then use "qualified immunity" to get away with it, is that "Rule of Law"?
Y'all keep talking about how #NoKings is about "restoring rule of law." It's got a bit of a "Make America Great Again" feel to it: you're invoking a return to a history that never actually existed.

Trump Is Taking Credit for Infrastructure Projects Funded by Biden Legislation He Opposed (Peter Wade/Rolling Stone)
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-taking-credit-biden-infrastructure-projects-1235422782/
http://www.memeorandum.com/250907/p68#a250907p68

"[Lucy Powell] needs to spell out where she stands on key issues without delay — the Gaza genocide first of all, the priorities for the Budget, the arms bill, public ownership of water, continuing to extend employment rights beyond the present legislation and more.
"... about the likes of Ovenden and McSweeney, about the promiscuous withdrawal of the parliamentary whip from Labour MPs and Starmer’s general authoritarianism?"

Israeli lawmakers advance legislation to give the government more control over Israel's TV and radio groups; the bill must pass two more votes in parliament (James Shotter/Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/6796b4f0-df86-4bb9-ac5b-9d605547bff1

If the US designates domestic anti-fascist groups to be part of an international terrorist group (as the President stated yesterday), that may need to be incorporated into UK legislation for its ongoing intelligence co-operation?

To my way of thinking it is better to starve a mad dog than to feed it.
If this shutdown slows down the destruction being caused by the maga-klan then the hurt we will feel from the shutdown will be more than repaid by the retardation of our rapid descent into fascism, inflation, and international irrelevance.

Shutdown nears as congressional leaders meet with Trump
Democratic congressional leaders have left a White House meeting without a deal with President Donald Trump and Republicans to avoid a government shutdown. Trump is making it clear he has no intention to negotiate on Democrats’ current terms. Democrats are insisting on action to extend health care benefits, but Republicans are refusing to compromise. If government funding legislation is not passed by Congress and signed by Trump on Tuesday night, many government offices will be temporarily sh…

"At the last #Cop climate summit in Baku, there were 1,773 coal, oil and gas lobbyists, a larger contingent than all but three countries. The group said this led to a watering down of penalties for big emitters, backtracking on international commitments to transition away from fossil fuels, and domestic challenges to carbon taxes and legislation designed to reduce emissions"

Desperately wanted: legislation to require some sort of "unsubscribe" link equivalent for paper mail.

The Online Safety Act, which went into effect in the U.K. on July 25, requires any website that might have adult content to conduct age-verification checks.
According to the U.K.’s Office of Communications, or Ofcom,
users must provide proof of age
in the form of photo IDs, credit cards, photos for facial recognition software, and other so-called age gates,
or else be denied access.
Though often heralded by parents as a way to keep kids from accessing sexually…

‘Anonymity Online Is Going to Die’: What Age-Verification Laws Could Look Like in the U.S.
As controversy around the U.K.’s Online Safety Act continues, experts warn about similar legislation thriving in the U.S.

Australia plans to introduce legislation this week requiring streamers with 1M Australian subscribers to spend 10% of their local expenditure on local content (Jake Evans/ABC)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-04/streaming-serv…

Streaming services to be made to produce Australian content
Laws requiring streaming services to produce Australian content have been put back on the table by the federal government, after they were put on hiatus following the US election.

"California advances climate action with new legislation"
#California #Climate #ClimateChange

Republicans unveil 'Department of War' legislation (Elizabeth Crisp/The Hill)
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5488531-congress-rebranding-defense-war/
http://www.memeorandum.com/250905/p87#a250905p87

If you are a US citizen holding a #HamRadio license, please add your name to #AmateurRadio antennas with bills in both the house and senate,…

Doug Ford obcession with municipal traffic laws continue
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-will-outlaw-municipal-speed-cameras-this-fall-sources/articl…

Short-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdown https://therecord.media/cisa-2015-information-sharing-law-renewal-bill-ending-shutdown

The administration is putting up signs that say,
"President Donald J. Trump"
and
"Rebuilding America's Infrastructure"
at worksites funded by Biden's 2021 infrastructure bill
-- and for projects Trump opposed
https://www.

Trump Is Taking Credit for Infrastructure Projects Funded by Biden Legislation He Opposed
Donald Trump is taking credit for infrastructure projects funded by a bill former president Joe Biden signed into law, which Trump opposed.

Rain, a stablecoin-backed Visa card issuer, raised a $58M Series B led by Sapphire Ventures, after raising a $24.5M Series A led by Norwest in March (Yueqi Yang/The Information)
https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/stablecoin-…

Stablecoin Card Startup Rain Raises $58 Million Led By Sapphire Ventures
Rain, a stablecoin-backed card issuer that works with Visa, said it raised $58 million in Series B round led by Sapphire Ventures, just months after its last fundraising round, demonstrating once again investor enthusiasm for crypto startups flowing from congressional passage of stablecoin legislation in July. With the deal, Rain’s valuation increased nearly six times from its $24.5 million

I just re-read the 25th amendment.
As one who writes code (and also as one who has written legislation) that thing is a textual abomination.
It has more loopholes than a crocheted sweater.
For instance the 2nd paragraph of Sect 4 leaves me wondering "who is president" during that period after the VP officers object to a president resuming office?
What is the validity of presidential [and acting presidential] acts (signatures, pardons, etc) during these inter…

A Price to Pay: U.S. Lawmaker Efforts to Regulate Algorithmic and Data-Driven Pricing
https://fpf.org/blog/a-price-to-pay-u-s-lawmaker-efforts-to-regulate-algorithmic-and-data-driven-pricing/
@…

"French Fast Fashion Law Could Reshape European Clothing Market"
#France #FastFashion #Fashion #Textiles

French Fast Fashion Law Could Reshape European Clothing Market | Happy Eco News
The French fast fashion law passed the Senate overwhelmingly, targeting companies like Shein with penalties up to 50 percent of product prices. The legislation aims to combat environmental damage from ultra-cheap clothing imports, though industry lobbying weakened original provisions before the bill advances to final parliamentary approval.

New plan would give Congress another 18 months to revisit Section 702 surveillance powers https://therecord.media/fisa-section-702-legislation-sen-tom-cotton-plan

A judge has ruled that, for now,
asylum seekers are not required to pay an annual fee for each year their application is pending.
The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP.)
The so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, which became law on July 4, 2025,
instituted a new fee system for people in the immigration system,
including asylum seekers.
The legislation requires that they pay a $100 filing fee and an Annual A…

Judge Rules Asylum Seekers Do Not Have to Pay Annual Fee, For Now
The so-called One Big Beautiful Bill instituted a new fee system for people in the immigration system, including asylum seekers.

"Scotland moves to criminalize ecocide with bold new legislation"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Scotland #Environment

Scotland moves to criminalize ecocide with bold new legislation | The Optimist Daily
A new Scottish bill aims to criminalize severe environmental destruction with prison time and unlimited fines. Experts and citizens are watching closely.

Republican state legislators in California filed suit on Tuesday
to block a mid-year redistricting plan meant to counter Texas’s effort to redraw congressional district lines.
The emergency petition argues that the process being used in the California assembly violates laws requiring a 30-day period between the introduction of legislation and voting on it.

I don't actually think there's an obligation (in the UK) for ISPs or AI companies to block content from sanctioned entities.
ISPs have an obligation to block "an internet service provided by a designated person" and a "person who provides a social media service" must take "reasonable steps to prevent content...". But AI services aren't ordinarily social media services.

Democratic support for surveillance powers will be 'heavier lift' next time, House lawmaker says https://therecord.media/section-702-surveillance-powers-renewal-jim-himes-house-democrats

The UK says it wants to change the law to ensure public service media content appears prominently on major video sharing platforms, implicitly targeting YouTube (Jake Kanter/Deadline)
https://deadline.com/2025/09/lisa-nandy-youtube-ofcom-1236544787/

UK Government Ready To Change Law So YouTube Carries Public Service Content Prominently
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy has said that she is prepared to change legislation to ensure that YouTube carries public service content prominently.

A bipartisan group in the Senate is planning to force a vote on legislation that would
bar the United States from engaging in hostilities inside Venezuela without explicit authorization by Congress.
The measure faces long odds given the unwillingness of most Republican lawmakers to challenge Donald Trump,
who would be all but certain to veto it.
But a vote on the legislation, which is required, would put Congress on the record on whether to rein in Trump’s escalating…

Senators Move to Force Vote to Bar Ground Strikes in Venezuela
The bid comes after the Senate rejected a similar measure to curb President Trump’s attacks against alleged drug runners in the Caribbean Sea.

Health privacy bill seeks protections for data collected by apps, smartwatches https://therecord.media/health-privacy-bill-seeks-protections-apps-smartwatches

Back from a week abroad, Donald Trump called on the Senate to scrap the filibuster and reopen the government,
an idea swiftly rejected Friday by Republican leaders who have long opposed such a move.
https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-…

Trump says scrap the filibuster to end shutdown, an idea opposed by Republicans
President Donald Trump is calling on the Senate to scrap the filibuster. That's so the Republican majority can bypass Democrats in the Senate and reopen the shutdown federal government. Trump targeted the 60-vote threshold for passing legislation in a social media post. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has strongly opposed changing the filibuster and repeatedly said he is not considering changing the rules to end the shutdown. Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah quickly took to social media to…

Decentralized social network Mastodon says it can’t comply with Mississippi’s age verification law
— the same law that saw rival Bluesky pull out of the state
— because it doesn’t have the means to do so.
The social nonprofit explains that Mastodon doesn’t track its users,
which makes it difficult to enforce such legislation.
Nor does it want to use IP address-based blocks, as those would unfairly impact people who were traveling, it says.
The statement …

Mastodon says it doesn't 'have the means' to comply with age verification laws | TechCrunch
Decentralized social network Mastodon says it cannot comply with age verification laws, like in Mississippi and elsewhere, and says it's up to individual server owners to decide.

Like all the rest of the lawless authoritarianism,
this Article III constitutional crisis is really an Article I crisis.
Congress could end it all at literally any time,
through normal legislation.
Doing that must be item #1
https://skywriter.blue/pages/did:plc:q…

Constituents in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District showered Representative Ashley Hinson with
boos and jeers for supporting Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” bill.
The Republican lawmaker was excoriated during a town hall Wednesday in Worth County,
where Iowans urged Hinson to
“stop lying” after she baselessly claimed that the president’s key legislation had ushered in “higher wages” and an improved cost of living.
“Higher wages?” shouted one woman incredulously. “F…

“Stop Lying”: Voters Erupt at GOP Lawmaker’s Shocking Claim on Economy
Iowa State Representative Ashley Hinson’s comments were met with boos and jeers.

Cyber information-sharing law and state grants set to go dark as Congress stalls over funding https://therecord.media/cisa-2015-state-cyber-grants-lapse-congress-government-shutdown

This week, a group of senators
— three Democrats and one independent
— introduced legislation that aims to reform the redistricting process
and eliminate gerrymandering in every state in the country.
The proposed bill would forbid redrawing maps between census cycles,
which is currently being performed by several Republican-led states seeking to subvert the will of voters in order to ensure a GOP-majority Congress in the second half of President Donald Trump’s t…

Democrats Submit Bill Aimed at Limiting GOP’s Mid-Census Gerrymandering Scheme
Several GOP-led states are hoping to mitigate midterm losses by redistricting their maps before the next census.

#SanFrancisco mayor signs legislation to protect legacy #residential buildings in #SF with three or more pre- 1979 #RentControl era housing …

Most rent-controlled buildings to be exempted from SF upzoning plan
The Mayor makes a deal with Myrna Melgar, D7 supe who criticized lack of tenant protections

"Water Cremation" - also known as hydrolysis,
involves water, heat and an alkaline solution being applied to a body in a chamber similar to that used in cremation.
And while the current method of reducing a person’s remains to ashes requires enormously high temperatures,
those in favour of water cremation say it is far less energy intensive and therefore more environmentally friendly.

Scotland to be first part of UK to introduce water cremation
Changes to legislation have paved the way for a more environmentally friendly and ‘gentler’ option for body disposal

This story in The Onion from 1997 is now official policy of the Trump administration
https://theonion.com/u-s-offers-platinumplus-preferred-citizenship-1819564488/

U.S. Offers PlatinumPlus Preferred Citizenship
WASHINGTON, DC—In an 86-14 vote, the Senate approved legislation Monday establishing PlatinumPlus Preferred citizenship, an exciting new program offering special benefits and discounts to select members of the U.S.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Monday introduced the
Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act
with the aim of raising taxes on companies that pay their executives more than 50 times their workers’ wages.
The legislation would impose penalties starting at 0.5 percentage points for companies with CEO-to-worker pay ratios between 50-to-1 and 100-to-1.
Firms where executives make more than 500 times their workers’ pay would be forced to pay the highest rate.

'Corporate Greed Is Out of Control': Tlaib-Sanders Bill Would Tax Companies for Excessive CEO Pay | Common Dreams
As Elon Musk nears trillionaire status, Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib push for a bill to rein in excessive CEO pay. With CEOs making 600 times more than workers, it's time for corporations to pay their fair share.

"Crackdown on 'forever chemicals' expands ahead of EU rules overhaul"
#EU #EuropeanUnion #PFAS #ForeverChemicals

Crackdown on 'forever chemicals' expands ahead of EU rules overhaul
As the EU prepares a broader reform of its chemical legislation, the European Chemicals Agency has updated its proposal to restrict “forever chemicals,” adding new sectors to the scope of its planned ban.