in the clear: 2024-07-01

This is a running list of various media I've looked at each week. It's mostly for reference and to give an impression of the type of news that I'm exposed to. Bullets are written by me and numbers are summaries of the respective article from an LLM.

If you have any suggestions or know of other good news sources, please leave a comment in the guestbook or reach out to me directly. I can't spend all my time reading about current events, but I like to try and stay informed whenever possible.

NPR: Supreme Court says Trump has absolute immunity for official acts only

1. Supreme Court ruled that a former president has absolute immunity for core constitutional powers and official acts, but not for unofficial acts.
2. The case against Trump likely won't be tried before the election, and if he is re-elected, he could order the Justice Department to drop charges or try to pardon himself.
3. Controversy exists over Justice Thomas' failure to recuse due to his wife's role in trying to overturn the 2020 election results.
4. Justice Alito's wife hung an upside-down American flag after the election, which was seen as a symbol of support for the view that the election had been stolen.
5. The case has been sent back to trial Judge Tanya Chutkan, ensuring no Trump trial on election interference charges for months.
6. The Supreme Court took several months to rule, contrasting with their quick decisions in other presidential power cases.

Lawfare: The Supreme Court Rules on Social Media First Amendment Cases

1. Supreme Court vacated 5th and 11th Circuit judgments on social media regulations by Florida and Texas.
2. Both cases remanded for further proceedings with focus on facial challenges under the First Amendment.
3. Majority opinion by Justice Kagan emphasized determining if laws substantially infringe on free speech rights of social media companies.
4. Florida and Texas laws aim to prevent social media companies from censoring speech, but social media platforms argue they are "speakers" with First Amendment rights.
5. District courts in Florida and Texas granted preliminary injunctions blocking the respective statutes from taking effect.
6. Supreme Court consolidated both cases for review.

ArsTechnica: Meta defends charging fee for privacy amid showdown with EU

1. Meta's "pay or consent" model for privacy, which offers users a choice to either pay for access to its platforms or give consent to collect user data for targeted ads, is being investigated by the European Commission (EC).
2. The EC's preliminary findings suggest that Meta's advertising model violates the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in two ways: it doesn't allow users to opt for a service that uses less of their personal data, and it doesn't allow users to freely consent to the combination of their personal data.
3. The EC's investigation is expected to conclude in March 2025, and if Meta loses, it could face fines up to 10% of its worldwide turnover, and up to 20% for repeat infringement.
4. Meta plans to fight the findings, claiming that its "subscription for no ads" model complies with the DMA. However, critics argue that the CJEU's endorsement of this model was not an official part of the ruling and only applies to GDPR compliance, not DMA.
5. Privacy experts and data regulators have criticized Meta's plan, arguing that it only seems to provide the illusion of choice and could price out many consumers.
6. If the EC finds that Meta's "pay or OK" model violates the DMA, it could have sweeping consequences for all websites required to comply with the GDPR in the EU.

Reuters: 'Roaring Kitty' is sued for alleged GameStop manipulation

1. The individual known as 'Roaring Kitty' is facing a lawsuit.
2. The lawsuit alleges manipulation of GameStop stocks.
3. The Daily Docket newsletter provides the latest legal news.
4. The newsletter delivers updates directly to your inbox.
5. The report is authored by Jonathan Stempel, based in New York.
6. The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles were followed in the reporting of this story.

The Economist: What happened to the artificial-intelligence revolution?

1. Despite significant investments by big tech companies in AI, its economic impact has been minimal so far.
2. The adoption rate of AI in businesses is relatively low, with only 5% of American businesses using AI in the past two weeks.
3. Companies are using AI for specific tasks such as streamlining customer service and marketing.
4. Investors do not see a significant increase in profits from AI adoption by companies.
5. There is no evidence of a surge in lay-offs or a decrease in employment due to AI.
6. Macroeconomic data does not show a significant increase in productivity due to AI adoption.

Proton Blog: Introducing Docs in Proton Drive – collaborative document editing that’s actually private

1. Proton Drive introduces "Docs," a privacy-focused, collaborative document editor with real-time editing, commenting, and media embedding features.
2. Docs are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only the user has access to their content and metadata, not even Proton can view it.
3. Proton Drive and Docs adhere to strict Swiss privacy laws, providing protection from government surveillance.
4. Docs are integrated into Proton Drive, offering a unified and secure space for document management and storage.
5. This new feature is a joint project with Standard Notes, sharing the same core values around privacy and security.
6. Docs provide a secure, privacy-first cloud storage and productivity alternative, breaking away from Big Tech services that exploit user data.

The Economist: New yeast strains can produce untapped flavours of lager

1. Lagers and ales are two types of beer with distinct flavors, resulting from different yeast strains during fermentation.
2. Lager yeast are hybrids of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces eubayanus, and all extant lager strains belong to one of two genetic groups, Saaz and Frohberg.
3. A new hybrid of S. cerevisiae and S. eubayanus, named h3-e, was created in 2021 by researchers at the University of Santiago, Chile.
4. The h3-e hybrid is a more effective fermenter, hardier, and more flavorful than its ancestors, with a spicy taste and hints of clove.
5. The creation of this new hybrid could lead to the development of new types of lagers with unique aromas and flavors.
6. The commercial use of the new hybrid is currently limited due to its slower fermentation time compared to commercial lager yeast.

Lawfare: When Regulation Encourages ISPs to Hack Their Customers

1. KT, a South Korean ISP, allegedly infected 600,000 customers with malware to reduce peer-to-peer file sharing traffic.
2. South Korea's 'sender pays' model for internet traffic encourages ISPs not to host popular content, leading to unusual consequences.
3. State-backed cyber espionage groups are increasingly deploying ransomware, potentially for financial gain, disruption, or misattribution.
4. A Chinese hacking group, ChamelGang, is suspected of deploying CatB ransomware in India and Brazil.
5. The 'sender pays' model can make it expensive to operate data-intensive services in South Korea, encouraging peer-to-peer solutions.
6. The US Department of Justice has indicted a Russian national for conspiring with Russian military hackers to destroy Ukrainian computer systems.

NYT Opinion: Welcome to Stucktopia

1. The text discusses the concept of "stucktopia," a term coined by Hillary Kelly, which refers to the current societal feeling of being trapped and unable to escape.
2. This concept is mirrored in various contemporary television shows, such as "Fallout," "Severance," "Andor," and "Silo," where characters are physically confined in maze-like environments.
3. The characters in these shows often experience a sense of inertia and hopelessness, resonating with the current societal mood.
4. The article suggests that recognizing one's complicity in maintaining this state of entrapment is the first step towards change.
5. It also highlights the importance of challenging the systems that keep us trapped, as seen in the characters' actions in the mentioned shows.
6. The author, Hillary Kelly, emphasizes the need for individuals to reject the comforts of the "stucktopia" and work towards a hopeful path, or at least rebel against it.

NYT Opinion: What Happened to the Originalism of the Originalists?

1. The article discusses the Supreme Court's decisions in Trump v. United States and Trump v. Anderson, finding them not fully aligned with originalist principles.
2. The court's decisions are seen as policy choices more than close textual analysis, which is expected in originalist interpretation.
3. The court's ruling in Trump v. Anderson makes Section 3 of the 14th Amendment enforceable against candidates for federal office only if Congress makes it enforceable.
4. The immunity ruling in Trump v. United States adds to the Constitution and deviates from its text, as the Constitution does not explicitly mention presidential immunity.
5. The court's interpretation of the impeachment judgments clause alters the original meaning of the clause, potentially granting the presidency a degree of autonomy and impunity.
6. The author argues that in both cases, the liberal minority was more originalist than the conservative majority, and the conservatives created a 'living constitution'.

NYT: The Sad State of Underground Retail in New York City

1. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reports that nearly 75% of its retail spaces in New York City's subway system are vacant.
2. This issue began before the pandemic, but was exacerbated by it and the shift towards remote work, leading to a decline in retail revenue.
3. The authority is considering non-commercial solutions, like art displays and spaces for performers, to fill the vacant spaces.
4. Many former shop owners cite unrealistic expectations and changing consumer habits, such as purchasing items online, as reasons for closure.
5. The authority is investing in utility upgrades to accommodate more food and drink options, especially grab-and-go kiosks.
6. The authority is also exploring non-traditional uses for the empty spaces, such as busking stations and living art spaces.