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Denken en voelen over wetgeving - Bert Hubert's writings
a day ago
- The text discusses two approaches to decision-making: thinking and feeling, both valuable.
- When choosing a house, feelings (like loving a garden) and thinking (checking practicalities) both play a role.
- First impressions should be neither trusted nor ignored; a feeling of unease often signals hidden issues.
- Feeling good is a worse guide than feeling bad, as it can lead to shortcuts and poor decisions.
- In legislation, politicians often rely on feelings due to lack of time and complexity, leading to rushed laws.
- Media focus on emotional statements rather than careful analysis, similar to buying a dream house that proves unsuitable.
- The author hopes democracy will allow more time to thoroughly understand important legislation.
California Steps Back from Dangerous Expansion of Its Age-Gating Law
13 days ago
- The California legislature has scaled back A.B. 1856, removing provisions that would have extended the state's age-gating law to browsers and websites, mitigating risks to speech, privacy, and security.
- EFF still opposes the underlying law A.B. 1043, which requires operating systems and app stores to collect user ages and block lawful content for minors, potentially leading to invasive age verification methods like ID checks and biometric scanning.
- EFF appreciates the exemption for open-source operating systems in A.B. 1856 and has removed its opposition to the bill, while continuing to criticize A.B. 1043 for threatening online anonymity, privacy, and security.
- EFF maintains that age verification mandates, part of a broader trend, are dangerous as they risk data breaches and misuse, and advocates for no age verification requirements for internet access.
US House of Representatives takes step to make daylight saving time permanent
14 days ago
- US House passed Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent with a 308-117 vote.
- The bill would end biannual clock changes, using time observed from March to November (permanent standard time).
- Supporters argue clock changes disrupt schedules unnecessarily, while critics warn of darker winter mornings and health risks.
- Senate consideration is pending but uncertain; similar legislation was introduced there in January 2025.
- Daylight saving time historically aimed to conserve energy, but has been controversial and optional in some states/territories.
- President Trump expressed support for ending clock changes, framing it as a political win.
- Globally, about one-third of countries use DST, mostly in Europe; some nations and U.S. areas have opted out.
The House Passed the KIDS Act–The Senate Should Reject It
19 days ago
- The House passed the KIDS Act, which combines various internet bills, including KOSA, and now moves to the Senate.
- The KIDS Act mandates age-gating schemes that require privacy-invasive age verification methods, risking data breaches and misuse.
- The bill pressures platforms to restrict lawful speech on topics like gambling and substance abuse, potentially harming teens seeking help.
- EFF opposes the act, advocating instead for comprehensive privacy laws that protect all users without compromising privacy or free expression.
AB 1856: CA Exempts Open Source, Still Expands Age-Gating
25 days ago
- California lawmakers are considering an exemption for open-source operating systems from the age-bracketing requirements of AB 1043 due to public pressure, but concerns remain about threats to speech, privacy, and security.
- AB 1856 expands the age-bracketing regime from operating systems and app stores to include web browsers and websites, increasing constitutional harms to users despite some relief for open-source developers.
- An amendment to AB 1856 exempts open-source operating systems from age data collection, offering partial relief, but ambiguities persist regarding commercial use and application scope.
- EFF opposes AB 1856 because it broadens AB 1043's scope, potentially leading to more age verification, invasive data collection, and barriers to lawful speech without addressing core privacy and anonymity issues.
- The bill has passed the Assembly and moves to the Senate, where EFF will advocate for amendments to narrow AB 1043's impact and enhance user protections against age-gating harms.

legislation

Denken en voelen over wetgeving - Bert Hubert's writings

California Steps Back from Dangerous Expansion of Its Age-Gating Law

US House of Representatives takes step to make daylight saving time permanent

The House Passed the KIDS Act–The Senate Should Reject It

AB 1856: CA Exempts Open Source, Still Expands Age-Gating