Summary. How many more before the Feds act?

https://www.fastcompany.com/90606571/state-data-privacy-laws-2021

These states are on track to pass data privacy laws this year

Perspective.

https://healthlawpulse.wordpress.com/

Privacy Policy Ponderings

… Could a Privacy Policy be viewed as a contract of adhesion?

… While a contract with no room for negotiation seems unfair, a contract of adhesion will still be enforceable. One of the keys to enforcement when being reviewed by a court is whether there are any unconscionable, hidden, or buried terms in the agreement. That boils down to making each statement known and not trying to hide the ball on the user. Given the prevalence of so-called click thru agreements or agreements through use, how many users have any awareness of the terms that are being agreed to? The answer is likely few if any.

Much wider role than NSA…

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56182274

Spy agency turns to AI to tackle child abuse

UK intelligence agency GCHQ intends to use artificial intelligence to tackle issues from child sexual abuse to disinformation and human trafficking.

The UK's adversaries were already using the technology, it said.

The agency has published a paper, Ethics of AI: Pioneering a New National Security, saying the technology will be put at the heart of its operations.

And officials say it will help analysts spot patterns hidden inside large - and fast growing - amounts of data.

This could include:

• trying to spot fake online messages used by other states spreading disinformation

• mapping international networks engaged in human or drug trafficking

• finding child sex abusers hiding their identities online

But it cannot predict human behaviour such as moving towards executing a terrorist attack.

Very curious to see what a click is worth. Facebook gets to choose who gets paid and who gets ignored? (Should all content generators be compensated?)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/media/australia-media-legislation-facebook-intl-hnk/index.html

Australia passes new law requiring Facebook and Google to pay for news

Australia has passed a new law that will force tech companies to pay publishers for news content, setting the stage for potential, similar action in other countries.

The new code, which the Australian parliament approved Thursday, "will ensure that news media businesses are fairly remunerated for the content they generate," Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in a statement.

… Facebook even shut down news pages in Australia last week in opposition to the legislation. But it said earlier this week that it would restore them after the country made some changes to the code, including a provision that "must take into account whether a digital platform has made a significant contribution to the sustainability of the Australian news industry through reaching commercial agreements with news media businesses."

Arbitration, meanwhile, will now only be used as a "last resort" following a period of "good faith" mediation.

Facebook said after those revisions were made that the new agreement would allow it to "support the publishers we choose to." It later revealed a deal with major Australian news company Seven West Media, with plans to sign more with other publishers.

Internal combustion is dead?

https://thenextweb.com/shift/2021/02/25/chinas-best-selling-ev-general-motors-cheap-tesla/

This teensy Chinese EV outsold Tesla last month — and it’s cheaper than some ebikes

Oh, and it's partly made by General Motors

Over in the US, General Motors has made its statement of intent, pledging to go electric and remove tail-pipe emissions from its light passenger vehicles by 2035.

It looks like GM still has a way to go before we see its electric dreams realized on English-speaking shores. However, if we turn our gaze to China, GM is already helping to produce electric vehicles, and it turns out, the fruit of its labor is outselling Tesla, by a long way — last month at least.

… It costs just $4,500. No, that’s not a typo, it is actually cheaper than some ebikes. But if you’re a person of luxury, which I’m sure you are, there is an upgraded version that has air conditioning that costs $5,000. And of course, in this blazing fireball called Earth, the one with A/C is the one to buy…