Original essay here: www.metamute.org/editorial/ar... It does seem to nail the spirit of a lot of the problems that have stemmed from Silicon Valley today.
Technology + democracy. Visit https://techpolicy.press Join our newsletter: https://techpolicy.press/newsletter Opinions do not reflect the views of Tech Policy Press. Reposts do not equal endorsements.
21,574 followers 1,116 following 1,977 posts
view profile on Bluesky
Original essay here: www.metamute.org/editorial/ar... It does seem to nail the spirit of a lot of the problems that have stemmed from Silicon Valley today.
In a landmark decision that will shape the future of the internet, a US federal judge opted against forcing Google to spin off its Chrome browser but barred it from striking exclusive agreements to promote its search engine, writes Tech Policy Press associate editor @viacristiano.bsky.social:
Thirty years ago, Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron published “The Californian Ideology” in Mute magazine and circulated on the early-adopter email list nettime, writes Nathan Schneider. The Californian ideology appeared to be in something of a retreat in recent years, but in 2025 it roared back.
I still refer to this text year after year. It’s never not been true.
Always read @ambersinha07.bsky.social Especially on #digitalpolitik
@ambersinha07.bsky.social
The years of conflict over the equalization levy, often referred to as the Google Tax, and India’s eventual capitulation represent a case study in inadequate int’l taxation and the limited bargaining power these countries hold when negotiating with the Trump administration, writes Amber Sinha.
Catch up on what happened in US tech policy in August with a roundup from Freedman Consulting’s Rachel Lau and J.J. Tolentino and Tech Policy Press’s Ben Lennett, including coverage of the federal push for AI in gov’t, the potential harms of AI chatbots to children, and developments in Congress.
“social and political debates about the future have now become meaningless.” WOW 1995…and here we are.
Great reminder by @ntnsndr.in
This is excellent (ht @danhon.com)
Thirty years ago, Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron published “The Californian Ideology” in Mute magazine and circulated on the early-adopter email list nettime, writes Nathan Schneider. The Californian ideology appeared to be in something of a retreat in recent years, but in 2025 it roared back.
Last year, Colorado signed a first-of-its-kind AI measure into law, but the state recently held a special session where lawmakers held frenzied negotiations over whether to expand or dilute its protections. Tech Policy Press spoke to two Colorado Sun reporters closely tracking the talks.
The numbers and data about the long-term exchange of the teen with the chatbot are quite shocking for anyone (like me) who only saw the headlines.
While the US Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is designed to survive First Amendment scrutiny by regulating design features and business practices, the UK's Online Safety Act treats government speech control as a feature, not a bug, writes Matthew Allaire.
"The narrative around the need to 'reskill' and 'upskill' workers is consistent across the Trump administration, Democrats, labor unions, and tech companies alike," write Alex Hanna, Tina M. Park, and Sophie Song. From August:
Trump's AI Action Plan may help accelerate US competitiveness, but the policy raises serious concerns for Global South countries by not meaningfully grappling with the need of lower-income nations and risking regulatory backsliding, Nimra Javed writes.
Tech Policy Press fellow William Burns asks, "How could we build a world in which organized labor once again served as a counterweight to oligarchy? And what can reexamination of labor’s past reactions to automation and digital technology tell us about what is needed now?" From May:
"Platform companies must be held accountable as principal employers and can no longer be allowed to hide behind a legal framework that has destabilized labor markets across the globe," write Chandan Kumar, Anousha Peters, Mustafa Qadri, and Aju John. From June:
News reports of deaths related to AI chatbots should be setting off alarm bells for all of us, writes Common Sense Media founder and CEO Jim Steyer. But the use of AI, including general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT, for companionship is unacceptably risky for teens, he says.
A California teen sought advice from OpenAI's GPT-4o on how to end his life. The chatbot gave him explicit instructions and encouragement. His parents are suing the company and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging “it was the predictable result of deliberate design choices."
Colorado’s delayed implementation of its AI Act is a case study in how state governments struggle to exercise their right to regulate when dealing with a power-hungry federal government and a tech industry that insists all meaningful regulations are a threat, Serena Oduro writes.
Our weekly newsletter is out, and we covered so much this past week! If you find value in Tech Policy Press, please share our newsletter with people in your network who would find our coverage useful to their work! buff.ly/qyntUnf
“Framed as a proverbial ‘kill switch’ by many in Brussels, the debate has shifted from whether it could be triggered to when. This, in turn, has prompted renewed calls by the EU and member states to advance the continent’s 'technology sovereignty,'” writes Trevor H. Rudolph.
Trump's AI Action Plan may help accelerate US competitiveness, but the policy raises serious concerns for Global South countries by not meaningfully grappling with the need of lower-income nations and risking regulatory backsliding, Nimra Javed writes.
EU Commission, Parliament lawmakers, and national leaders push back against Trump’s tariff threats on tech rules, calling for rethinking trade ties if the US continues to attack European laws, Tech Policy Press associate editor Ramsha Jahangir reports.
Just when the EU thought it was out, US President Donald Trump pulled it back into a transatlantic dispute over regulating tech, writes Tech Policy Press contributing editor Mark Scott. It’s uncertain whether Brussels and Washington are headed for another fight over who gets to police Big Tech.
In the wake of numerous reports of interactions with AI chatbots that resulted in deadly consequences, the Center for Democracy & Technology's Dr. Michal Luria says AI firms should stop designing products that pretend to be human.
Last year, Colorado signed a first-of-its-kind AI measure into law, but the state recently held a special session where lawmakers held frenzied negotiations over whether to expand or dilute its protections. Tech Policy Press spoke to two Colorado Sun reporters closely tracking the talks.
Just when the EU thought it was out, US President Donald Trump pulled it back into a transatlantic dispute over regulating tech, writes Tech Policy Press contributing editor Mark Scott. It’s uncertain whether Brussels and Washington are headed for another fight over who gets to police Big Tech.
Healthcare, finance, transport, and aviation show how other sectors juggle stakeholder conflicts in providing meaningful transparency, suggesting insights for policymakers that seek to develop frameworks for scrutinizing digital technologies, write Swapneel Mehta, Deepika Raman & Samuel Ferguson.
Rebuilding Syria’s digital backbone is essential for transparency, security, and democratic governance, yet it remains overlooked in post-conflict recovery, writes Noura Aljizawi.
Trump is threatening tariffs on any country that enforces digital rules. But this isn’t just about trade, it’s about destabilizing Europe’s democracy. MEP Alexandra Geese argues it’s time for Europe to wake up, enforce its tech laws and build digital autonomy.
Thirty years ago, Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron published “The Californian Ideology” in Mute magazine and circulated on the early-adopter email list nettime, writes Nathan Schneider. The Californian ideology appeared to be in something of a retreat in recent years, but in 2025 it roared back.
News reports of deaths related to AI chatbots should be setting off alarm bells for all of us, writes Common Sense Media founder and CEO Jim Steyer. But the use of AI, including general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT, for companionship is unacceptably risky for teens, he says.
Our weekly newsletter drops tomorrow! Subscribe to stay updated on all things global tech policy!
🎙️New podcast is out! Had a great chat with two @coloradosun.com reporters about the massive lobbying blitz around the state's first-of-its-kind AI law. Listen here:
In a new @techpolicypress.bsky.social op-ed, CDT’s @mluria.bsky.social argues that tech firms should strip away illusions of personality & cognition in chatbots. Read more:
Thirty years ago, this week, an article diagnosing the "Californian Ideology" of Silicon Valley was published. This scathing critique has become a badge of honor for the new tech right. As I argue today in Tech Policy Press, it has never been more relevant: www.techpolicy.press/thirty-years...
A California teen sought advice from OpenAI's GPT-4o on how to end his life. The chatbot gave him explicit instructions and encouragement. His parents are suing the company and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging “it was the predictable result of deliberate design choices."
Rebuilding Syria’s digital backbone is essential for transparency, security, and democratic governance, yet it remains overlooked in post-conflict recovery, writes Noura Aljizawi.
Thirty years ago, Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron published “The Californian Ideology” in Mute magazine and circulated on the early-adopter email list nettime, writes Nathan Schneider. The Californian ideology appeared to be in something of a retreat in recent years, but in 2025 it roared back.
While the US Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is designed to survive First Amendment scrutiny by regulating design features and business practices, the UK's Online Safety Act treats government speech control as a feature, not a bug, writes Matthew Allaire.
AI companies' are offering government agencies access to their tools for just $1 each, but this low-cost procurement is a false bargain, bringing risks that overshadow the low price, Nina-Simone Edwards writes.
“Framed as a proverbial ‘kill switch’ by many in Brussels, the debate has shifted from whether it could be triggered to when. This, in turn, has prompted renewed calls by the EU and member states to advance the continent’s 'technology sovereignty,'” writes Trevor H. Rudolph.
Last year, Colorado signed a first-of-its-kind AI measure into law, but the state recently held a special session where lawmakers held frenzied negotiations over whether to expand or dilute its protections. Tech Policy Press spoke to two Colorado Sun reporters closely tracking the talks.
Thirty years ago, Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron published “The Californian Ideology” in Mute magazine and circulated on the early-adopter email list nettime, writes Nathan Schneider. The Californian ideology appeared to be in something of a retreat in recent years, but in 2025 it roared back.
In the wake of numerous reports of interactions with AI chatbots that resulted in deadly consequences, the Center for Democracy & Technology's Dr. Michal Luria says AI firms should stop designing products that pretend to be human.
I was honored to get to write this piece for @techpolicypress.bsky.social with NAMLE Executive Director Michelle Ciulla Lipkin explaining that #AILiteracy IS #MediaLiteracy, and that’s why media literacy is needed more urgently than ever. www.techpolicy.press/we-cant-wait...
Sherry Hakimi writes that by working together to build a universal reporting system, platforms can cut costs, improve safety, and stop online threats before they escalate.
Colorado’s delayed implementation of its AI Act is a case study in how state governments struggle to exercise their right to regulate when dealing with a power-hungry federal government and a tech industry that insists all meaningful regulations are a threat, @serena124.bsky.social writes.
Trump's AI Action Plan may help accelerate US competitiveness, but the policy raises serious concerns for Global South countries by not meaningfully grappling with the need of lower-income nations and risking regulatory backsliding, Nimra Javed writes.
EU Commission, Parliament lawmakers, and national leaders push back against Trump’s tariff threats on tech rules, calling for rethinking trade ties if the US continues to attack European laws, Tech Policy Press associate editor @ramshajahangir.bsky.social reports.
"Democracy will not survive if the tech oligarchs want it dead. And the European economy won’t survive without control over the digital products, services, and infrastructure that underpin all modern manufacturing and services," says MEP Alexandra Geese.
India's regulators are paying closer attention to the anticompetitive actions of digital gatekeepers, write The Quantum Hub's Deepro Guha & Aarathi Ganesan. A case involving Google and real money games shows why ex ante antitrust rules are essential for a fair digital economy, they write.
At @techpolicypress.bsky.social, we published a piece with this title this morning. www.techpolicy.press/ai-companies...
Reposting for no reason at all.
The deployment of AI agents is producing interactions and outcomes of unprecedented complexity, write Natàlia Fernández Ashman and Marta Bieńkiewicz from the Cooperative AI Foundation. As Europe advances its sovereignty ambitions, it needs to anchor AI deployment in safety and public oversight.
Tech Policy Press associate editor Cristiano Lima-Strong spoke with Marketplace Tech about the Trump administration’s attacks against European tech regulations and what it means for platform accountability going forward. Listen here: buff.ly/7vNjkaG
Just when the EU thought it was out, US President Donald Trump pulled it back into a transatlantic dispute over regulating tech, writes Tech Policy Press contributing editor Mark Scott. It’s uncertain whether Brussels and Washington are headed for another fight over who gets to police Big Tech.
Trump is threatening tariffs on any country that enforces digital rules. But this isn’t just about trade, it’s about destabilizing Europe’s democracy. MEP Alexandra Geese argues it’s time for Europe to wake up, enforce its tech laws and build digital autonomy.
A California teen sought advice from OpenAI's GPT-4o on how to end his life. The chatbot gave him explicit instructions and encouragement. His parents are suing the company and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging “it was the predictable result of deliberate design choices."
Parlamentar europeia alerta: o objetivo de Trump e das big techs é substituir os governos por outros mais dóceis. Neste artigo, o Brasil é citado como principal referência - por três vezes.
Trump’s new AI plan promises jobs—but not worker power. Henry Wu explains why true worker-centered AI means shifting power, not just skills. Check out this @techpolicypress.bsky.social piece, now featured on @poweratwork.bsky.social! poweratwork.us/trumps-ai-pl...
News reports of deaths related to AI chatbots should be setting off alarm bells for all of us, writes Common Sense Media founder and CEO Jim Steyer. But the use of AI, including general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT, for companionship is unacceptably risky for teens, he says.
AI companies' are offering government agencies access to their tools for just $1 each, but this low-cost procurement is a false bargain, bringing risks that overshadow the low price, Nina-Simone Edwards writes.
“Framed as a proverbial ‘kill switch’ by many in Brussels, the debate has shifted from whether it could be triggered to when. This, in turn, has prompted renewed calls by the EU and member states to advance the continent’s “technology sovereignty,” writes Trevor H. Rudolph.
Sherry Hakimi writes that by working together to build a universal reporting system, platforms can cut costs, improve safety, and stop online threats before they escalate.
AI chatbots have been observed repeatedly sending sexually explicit content to underage users, yet there are seemingly no effective safeguards to prevent these bots from continuing inappropriate interactions once a user identifies as a child, Omny Miranda Martone writes.
"Trump's objective—which is aligned with the interests of certain US technology companies—is to implement regime change in Europe," writes Alexandra Geese, a Member of the European Parliament from Germany.
"Trump's objective—which is aligned with the interests of certain US technology companies—is to implement regime change in Europe," writes Alexandra Geese, a Member of the European Parliament from Germany.
AI can widen the middle class, writes Henry Wu, but only if workers help write the rules. Promising jobs is not the same as building worker power.
Daniel Stone's piece for Tech Policy Press unpacks a research project that reveals how Californians are finding unexpected common ground in their understanding of artificial intelligence. Read more: buff.ly/6Vexlyr
While the US Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is designed to survive First Amendment scrutiny by regulating design features and business practices, the UK's Online Safety Act treats government speech control as a feature, not a bug, writes Matthew Allaire.
Trump is threatening tariffs on any country that enforces digital rules. But this isn’t just about trade, it’s about destabilizing Europe’s democracy. MEP Alexandra Geese argues it’s time for Europe to wake up, enforce its tech laws and build digital autonomy. buff.ly/7MEDTR1
India's regulators are paying closer attention to the anticompetitive actions of digital gatekeepers, write The Quantum Hub's Deepro Guha & Aarathi Ganesan. A case involving Google and real money games shows why ex ante antitrust rules are essential for a fair digital economy, they write.
A California teen sought advice from OpenAI's GPT-4o on how to end his life. The chatbot gave him explicit instructions and encouragement. His parents are suing the company and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging “it was the predictable result of deliberate design choices."
The deployment of AI agents is producing interactions and outcomes of unprecedented complexity, write Natàlia Fernández Ashman and Marta Bieńkiewicz from the Cooperative AI Foundation. As Europe advances its sovereignty ambitions, it needs to anchor AI deployment in safety and public oversight.
AI chatbots have been observed repeatedly sending sexually explicit content to underage users, yet there are seemingly no effective safeguards to prevent these bots from continuing inappropriate interactions once a user identifies as a child, Omny Miranda Martone writes.
Rebuilding Syria’s digital backbone is essential for transparency, security, and democratic governance, yet it remains overlooked in post-conflict recovery, writes Noura Aljizawi.
Healthcare, finance, transport, and aviation show how other sectors juggle stakeholder conflicts in providing meaningful transparency, suggesting insights for policymakers that seek to develop frameworks for scrutinizing digital technologies, write Swapneel Mehta, Deepika Raman & Samuel Ferguson.
A holistic safety by design governance approach is necessary to address the wide range of AI-enabled online safety harms through establishing interventions at different stages of the harm lifecycle, write Kelly Forbes, David Hua, and Peter Brimble of the AI Asia Pacific Institute.
AI chatbots have been observed repeatedly sending sexually explicit content to underage users, yet there are seemingly no effective safeguards to prevent these bots from continuing inappropriate interactions once a user identifies as a child, Omny Miranda Martone writes.
The deployment of AI agents is producing interactions and outcomes of unprecedented complexity, write Natàlia Fernández Ashman and Marta Bieńkiewicz from the Cooperative AI Foundation. As Europe advances its sovereignty ambitions, it needs to anchor AI deployment in safety and public oversight.
A holistic safety by design governance approach is necessary to address the wide range of AI-enabled online safety harms through establishing interventions at different stages of the harm lifecycle, write Kelly Forbes, David Hua, and Peter Brimble of the AI Asia Pacific Institute.
In a new book from Oxford University Press—Connective Action and the Rise of the Far-Right: Platforms, Politics, and the Crisis of Democracy—a group of scholars marry concepts from political science with media and communications research approaches to understand tech and democratic backsliding:
@techpolicypress.bsky.social Gonçalves and Bareis say that “To resist hype and the ways in which it rewards the powerful and abets authoritarianism, we must recognize hype not just as an economic or a technological phenomenon, but as a political one.”
Our weekly newsletter is out, and we covered so much this past week! If you find value in Tech Policy Press, please share our newsletter with people in your network who would find our coverage useful to their work! buff.ly/qyntUnf
In a new book from Oxford University Press—Connective Action and the Rise of the Far-Right: Platforms, Politics, and the Crisis of Democracy—a group of scholars marry concepts from political science with media and communications research approaches to understand tech and democratic backsliding:
AI can widen the middle class, writes Henry Wu, but only if workers help write the rules. Promising jobs is not the same as building worker power.
India's Aadhaar may set a global precedent in how private surveillance is legitimized through public infrastructure, writes Haakon Huynh.
The AI Continent Action Plan sets Europe’s AI ambitions but leaves much ambiguity. Does the EU want bigger AI fast or democratic AI that’s sustainable? This uncertainty creates unrealistic expectations for Europe’s AI future, write Rianne Riemens & José van Dijck.
Beyond the more obvious threats to kids from social media and AI chatbots is a more subtle and perhaps more nefarious phenomenon, writes Emily Tavoulareas: a distortion of how children view themselves, and how they experience and understand human connection of all kinds.
Chatbots are not people and should not be treated as such. But the companies providing services that mimic the services provided by people have to be responsible for the services they provide, writes Mark MacCarthy.
1/ My 🌶️ take on how augmented reality and chatbots are enabling avoidance on a mass scale. “The bottom line is this: children are using products that are simulations of relationships — simulations of intimacy.” “It’s the filter bubble on steroids.” techpolicy.press/weapons-of-m...
This last acad year, I spent time in Munich at @caslmu.bsky.social, working with a fab group of folks led by @sahanaudupa.bsky.social on a policy report on encrypted messaging apps and extreme speech. Report is out & below is a summary of findings & recommendations in @techpolicypress.bsky.social 🔽
"Extreme speech thrives in encrypted spaces, but killing encryption won’t stop it, says a group of researchers that have studied the problem from multiple angles. We need context-driven governance, not backdoors, they say. www.techpolicy.press/policy-direc... @techpolicypress.bsky.social
At the start of the year, I joined an incredible team at @caslmu.bsky.social for a policy report led by @sahanaudupa.bsky.social on encrypted messaging and ways to counter disinfo & extreme speech The condensed version is out at @techpolicypress.bsky.social
Though AI’s seemingly insatiable hunger for electricity is only exacerbating energy demands, relatively simple applications of AI with internet of things tools can play a key role in curbing this disruption, as well as social and ecological damage, Trevor Gamble-Borsh writes.
Our weekly newsletter drops tomorrow! Subscribe to stay updated on all things global tech policy!