legislation
Latest
Senator Klobuchar's major tech reform bill advances out of committee
A major tech reform bill that would prevent the industry's biggest players from discriminating against smaller businesses that rely on their services is one step closer to law on Thursday after passing from committee on a bipartisan 16-6 vote.
Washington DC votes to allow digital driver's licenses and ID cards
Washington DC's city council has approved the use of digital driver's licenses and IDs, joining Arizona, Georgia and other states.
Australia plans laws to make social networks identify trolls
Australia plans to introduce laws that could force social networks to reveal the identities of trolls, raising privacy questions.
New UK law will hit smart home device makers with big fines for using default passwords
The UK has introduced the PSTI Bill, a suite of new regulations designed to improve security on smart home devices, the government announced.
NYC bill bans AI recruiting tools that fail bias checks
New York City's council has passed a bill banning AI hiring tools that don't pass anti-discrimination checks.
House bill takes aim at iOS and Android app store competition
The Open App Markets Act is a companion to a Senate bill that was introduced earlier this week.
California's upcoming open fiber network could make fast broadband more accessible
California legislators have approved plans for an open fiber network that could make broadband much faster for rural and small internet providers.
El Salvador may be the first country to accept Bitcoin as legal tender
El Salvador's President will propose a bill that would make Bitcoin legal tender — the first country to do so.
Senate committee moves to raise EV tax credit to as much as $12,500
The Senate has advanced a bill that would offer EV tax credits as large as $12,500, but only for cars made in the US through unions.
Washington state votes for goal of banning new gas car sales by 2030
Washington state has voted for a measure that will ban sales of gas-powered cars by 2030, years before California.
Another state has failed in its attempt at app store reform
Arizona's app store competition bill has failed after the state Senate pulled the measure.
Germany may restrict games with loot boxes to adults
Germany may soon pass a law that limits video game loot boxes to the 18-plus crowd over gambling concerns.
Congress approves COVID-19 spending bill with contentious copyright measures
US Congress has finally passed a new spending bill with COVID-19 relief measures, which on the one hand is good news for many Americans. As often happens with crucial legislation, however, lawmakers tacked on extra legislation, including felony streaming measures and a controversial copyright bill called the CASE Act.
US COVID-19 relief bill includes $7 billion for broadband internet access
Congress' COVID-19 relief bill includes $7 billion for broadband internet, including $3.2 billion to bring access to low-income families.
DoJ asks Congress to limit protections for social media companies
The Department of Justice (DoJ) is asking Congress to adopt a new law that would make Facebook, Google and Twitter liable for the way they moderate content, The Washington Post reports. The legislation would alter the controversial Section 230 so that tech companies would be accountable when they “unlawfully censor speech and when they knowingly facilitate criminal activity online.” “For too long Section 230 has provided a shield for online platforms to operate with impunity,” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement.
New York State targets big tech with tougher antitrust bill
New York state's proposed bill would broaden the scope of what’s considered antitrust behavior, increase penalties and allow class action antitrust lawsuits.
EARN IT Act amendments transfer the fight over Section 230 to the states
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed an amended version of the EARN IT Act, which will head to the Senate floor for debate.
UK EVs will get special 'green' licence plates later this year
It can be difficult to hear a whisper-quiet electric vehicle. Grant Shapps, the UK’s transport secretary, has confirmed that “green number plates” will be offered to EV drivers later this year. The UK government hopes the plates will accelerate EV adoption.
Bipartisan Senate bill aims to invest $100 billion in technology R&D
The Endless Frontiers Act would invest $100 billion in AI, high-performance computing, robotics, automation and more.
Senate bill would set privacy requirements for COVID-19 tracking
A group of senators want to enshrine privacy protections in COVID-19 contact tracing apps through legislation, but there are concerns it won't do enough.