Latest news with #TAKEITDOWNAct
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bluesky rolls out massive revamp to policies and Community Guidelines
Two years after launching, social network Bluesky is revising its Community Guidelines and other policies, and asking for feedback from its users on some of the changes. The startup, a competitor to X, Threads, and open networks like Mastodon, says its new policies are meant to offer improved clarity and more detail around its user safety procedures and the appeals process. Many of the changes are being driven by new global regulations, including the U.K.'s Online Safety Act (OSA), the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), and the U.S.'s TAKE IT DOWN Act. Some of the changes represent an effort by Bluesky to purposefully shape its community and the behavior of its users, nudging them to be nicer and more respectful of others. This comes after a series of complaints and media articles suggesting the community has a tendency toward self-seriousness, bad-news sharing, and a lack of humor and diversity of thought. For regulatory compliance, Bluesky's Terms of Service has been updated to comply with online safety laws and regulations and to require age assurance where required. For instance, in July, the U.K.'s Online Safety Act began requiring that platforms with adult content implement age verification, which means Bluesky users in the country have to either scan their face, upload their ID, or enter a payment card to use the site. The process for complaints and appeals is also now more detailed. One notable update references an 'informal dispute resolution process,' where Bluesky agrees to talk on the phone with a user about their dispute before any formal dispute process takes place. 'We think most disputes can be resolved informally,' Bluesky notes. That's quite different from what's taking place at larger social networks, like Facebook and Instagram, where users are being banned without any understanding of what they did wrong and no way to get in touch with the company to complain. Bluesky also says it will allow users to resolve certain claims of harm in court, instead of through arbitration. This is also somewhat unusual for tech companies that often prefer to mediate disputes outside the courts. However, Bluesky users may be more interested in the proposed changes to the Community Guidelines, which they're invited to offer feedback about. (The changes go into effect October 15, 2025, after the feedback period completes.) These revised guidelines are organized around four principles: Safety First, Respect Others, Be Authentic, and Follow the Rules. These general principles are meant to guide Bluesky's moderation decisions around whether content should be labeled or removed, if the company can suspend or ban your account, or, in some cases, report you to law enforcement. Bluesky's rules include many common-sense policies around not promoting violence or harm (including self-harm and animal abuse), not posting content that's illegal, that which sexualizes minors (including in roleplay), and disallowing harmful actions like doxxing and other non-consensual personal data-sharing, or posting spam or malicious content, among other things. It carves out provisions for journalism, parody, and satire. For instance, journalists engaged in 'factual reporting' can post about criminal acts and violence, mental health, online safety, and other topics, like warnings of online viral challenges that may be harmful. Where Bluesky may get into trouble is with the nuances of what's considered a 'threat,' 'harm,' or 'abuse.' The policy states that users should 'respect others' by not posting, promoting, or encouraging 'hate, harassment, or bullying.' As an example, the policy bans exploitive deepfakes and content that 'incites discrimination or hatred,' meaning posts that attack individuals or groups based on 'race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected traits.' This is an area where Bluesky has faltered before, when, in earlier days, its moderation decisions strained its relationship with the Black community, and, in another case, when its failure to moderate angered the trans community. More recently, the company has been facing backlash that it's become too left-leaning, where users were quick to criticize, post hateful replies, and where the community generally lacked humor. The original idea behind Bluesky was to provide users with tools to create the community they want, including not only blocking and reporting tools, but others, like subscribable block lists or opt-in moderation services that align with your values. However, Bluesky users have still shown a preference for the app itself to handle much of the moderation, railing against its trust and safety department when it made decisions they disagreed with. In addition, Bluesky's Privacy Policy and Copyright Policy were also rewritten to comply with global laws around user rights, data transfer, retention and deletion, takedown procedures, transparency reporting, and more. These both go into effect on September 15, 2025, and there is no feedback period for either. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At the six-month mark, Trump claims he kept promises he never actually made
Six months after his second presidential inaugural, Donald Trump seemed eager to put aside his historically low approval rating and to pretend instead that his second term has already been a great success. In an item published to his social media platform, for example, the Republican claimed he was responsible for 'ending numerous wars of Countries not related to us' — a highly dubious claim. He added, 'One year ago our Country was DEAD, with almost no hope of revival. Today the USA is the 'hottest' and most respected Country anywhere in the World.' All of this was in quotes (I'm not sure why, since he appeared to be quoting himself), and it was completely wrong. A year ago, the economy was stronger than it is now; job growth was better than it is now; and the United States' international standing was vastly better than it is now. Trump, in other words, was desperate to take a victory lap, but in order to do so, he had to turn reality on its head. But it was a related item that Trump also published online that stood out for me. After writing that he and his team 'have fulfilled so many of our promises,' the president listed six legislative successes from recent months: One Big Beautiful Bill Laken Riley Act TAKE IT DOWN Act Rescissions Act of 2025 HALT Fentanyl Act GENIUS Act To be sure, if the Republican wants to brag about signing these bills into law, that's hardly unreasonable. But to put them in the 'promises made, promises kept' category isn't just wrong, it's also a reflection of why the incumbent president is so unpopular. The GOP's unpopular, right-wing megabill, for example, was a major legislative breakthrough for the president and his party, but it's plainly not an example of a promise he kept. At no point during his two-year national campaign did the Republican ever tell the electorate, 'Vote for me and I'll deliver massive tax breaks for the wealthy, paid for in part with the largest cuts to federal health care spending in American history.' Similarly, Trump might be excited about the White House rescissions package overcoming bipartisan opposition and reaching his desk, but the president never told the public, 'In my second term, I'll refuse to spend money allocated by Congress for USAID, indifferent to the consequences for those desperate for that aid.' Yes, the president signed these six bills, but none of them was a key part of his campaign message, and none of them was integral to his successful campaign. The New York Times has a frequently updated graph, reflecting polling averages, and it currently shows 54% of the public disapproves of the president, while 44% approve. That 10-point gap is the worst of Trump's second term. If he has any questions as to why his support is faltering, he might consider that he's simply not delivering what voters thought they were getting, his misguided claims about promises fulfilled notwithstanding. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Melania Trump Affirms Commitment To Protecting Children Online
First Lady Melania Trump sent a message to Federal Trade Commission officials on Wednesday, pledging continued support for protecting children from online exploitation as the agency hosted a workshop examining how tech companies harm young users. The message, delivered to participants of the FTC's 'Attention Economy: How Big Tech Firms Exploit Children and Hurt Families' workshop, signals the Trump administration's focus on digital safety for minors. 'I look forward to hearing the outcomes from this workshop so we can continue to shape federal policies that protect children,' Melania said in her written remarks. 'We will work together to develop tools to empower parents and youth, and we will lean on tech executives in the private sector to do their part.' The First Lady thanked FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson for his leadership on the issue. Ferguson, in turn, credited Melania with helping pass recent legislation targeting online abuse. 'I'm also incredibly grateful to the First Lady for her leadership on the 'TAKE IT DOWN Act,'' Ferguson said. 'Getting legislation done in any circumstance is very difficult, and the 'TAKE IT DOWN' Act could not have gotten through Congress without the First Lady's intervention and leadership.' The law, signed by President Donald Trump in May, allows victims to request the swift removal of non-consensual explicit imagery online. That includes content created by artificial intelligence. Melania championed the legislation as part of her BE BEST initiative, which focuses on children's well-being and online protection. The workshop appearance continues that advocacy. In her full message to workshop attendees, Melania acknowledged meeting survivors and families affected by non-consensual intimate imagery. 'Let their courage continue to inspire us to find solutions to protect children and youth from online harm,' she wrote. Still, the First Lady emphasized that passing the TAKE IT DOWN Act marked progress but not completion. The administration plans to develop additional tools for parents while pressing tech executives to increase safeguards.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Congress has only passed three laws this session. So what are they doing?
If Congress were a character in Mike Judge's cult classic 'Office Space," they'd be sweating bullets waiting for their meeting with the Bobs. You remember the Bobs, right? The pair of efficiency experts were all about trimming the fat at Initech. Their go-to question, delivered with soul-crushing serenity, was simple: 'What would you say… you do here?' Judging by the legislative output so far, we should be asking the same of our elected representatives in Congress. As of late May 2025, deep into the first session of the 119th Congress, our fearless political leaders have enacted exactly three – yes, T-H-R-E-E – laws and 11 regulatory disapproval resolutions. Those numbers aren't typos. To be fair, legislating is complex. It's supposed to be deliberative. Not every problem needs a new federal law; in fact, most probably don't. But even as a conservative, I still want Congress to make laws which rein in the size and scope of the federal government. Opinion: Tariffs and price-fixing? It's time to make Republicans conservative again | Opinion This government-by-executive-order from one president to the next is hogwash that creates economic and political whiplash. But three laws over five months suggests something beyond deliberation. It's political nihilism. Of the enacted laws, the most recent was Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) TAKE IT DOWN Act. Another was the nothingburger measure to keep the government funded, and the other was the Laken Riley Act. Good on Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Cruz for demonstrating the ability to draft effective legislation, shepherd the measure through the House and Senate, and get the president to sign their bills. Peter Gibbons' 'Office Space' epiphany is instructive here: "Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day long, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about mission statements." Maybe members of Congress weren't meant to just sit in committee rooms, give fiery speeches to empty chambers for C-SPAN, rush to cable news studios, and fire off angry tweets. Maybe, just maybe, they were meant to legislate. The problem isn't necessarily that individual members aren't busy. Their schedules are packed, fundraisers are attended, and media hits are frequent. The problem is that all that activity produces nothing. It simply gives the illusion of effective leadership while office holders fail at their central task. Letters: Readers question motivations, actions of Tennessee's elected officials We've traded substantive legislative work for performative outrage and B-list celebrity status. Congress increasingly resembles a reality TV show where the prize is reelection, not effective governance. The only real difference between most Democrats and Republicans in Congress is whether they're clapping or booing for the current resident of the White House. So, what's the fix? How do we get Congress back to doing… well, something? One idea that keeps bubbling up is the REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny Act). The basic concept is straightforward: any major new regulation from the executive branch – i.e. rules with significant economic impact, often dreamed up by unelected bureaucrats – would require explicit approval from Congress before taking effect. While primarily aimed at reining in the administrative state (a worthy goal in itself), the REINS Act could have a side effect: forcing Congress to take more ownership. If agencies can't just issue sweeping edicts on their own, Congress might feel more pressure to actually debate and pass laws addressing the issues those regulations were meant to tackle. It puts the legislative ball back squarely in Congress's court. The legislation would spell it out for them: "This is your job." Opinion: TN Republicans may lose political control and respect by supporting Trump Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) recently had the audacity to tell the truth and suggest that Congress, not the president, must hold the power of taxation. President Donald Trump's tariff gamble is entirely predicated on a gross delegation of authority from Congress and a funky declaration of a national emergency. If Congress agrees with Trump's reimagination of the global economy, it should enact the tariff policies with an actual law. It could be number six. Then we'd at least be counting on two hands. We also need a way to differentiate between the workhorses and the show ponies. Maybe it's time we started calculating a legislative 'batting average' for members of Congress. Forget just counting how many bills someone introduces — that's like judging a baseball player by how many times they swing the bat, regardless of whether they hit anything. Instead, let's look at the ratio: How many bills did Representative X or Senator Y introduce or meaningfully co-sponsor compared to how many actually became law? No, it won't capture all the effort in Congress. Sometimes important work happens behind the scenes. Leaders shape bills without being the prime sponsor. A member champions a vital cause that faces impossible political headwinds. We should be honest about those efforts. But a batting average could offer a clue. It would help voters distinguish between those diligently working to craft passable legislation and those who specialize in filing "messaging bills" designed solely to generate fundraising emails and rile up the base, with zero chance of ever becoming law. It might incentivize members to focus on building consensus and achieving tangible results, rather than just grabbing headlines. We wouldn't tolerate 'Office Space'-level productivity in most jobs. We expect results. Yet, we seem to have accepted a Congress where tough talk is the norm and actual lawmaking is a rare exception. It's time we, the constituents, became our own version of the Bobs, asking calmly but firmly: "What would you say… you do here?" We must demand answers that involve more than pointing fingers and cashing campaign checks. Passing three laws isn't cutting it. That's all Congress is doing here. Don't let them tell you otherwise. USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney raising four boys in Nolensville, Tennessee, with his particularly patient wife, Justine. Direct outrage or agreement to or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Congress isn't doing its job. We deserve to know why | Opinion
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
APD: 11 children victims of child exploitation investigation in Austin, man arrested in case
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Eleven children were victims of a child exploitation investigation in Austin, and a 19-year-old man was arrested in the case, Austin Police Department Child Exploitation Unit Sgt. Russell Weirich said during a media briefing Thursday. Jack Bullington was charged on 10 of the cases after APD said it received those reports in September 2024. He was accused of posting 'explicit images' of the juveniles on social media, which were 'cropped' on images of juveniles' 'nude bodies' that were then altered by artificial intelligence (AI), Weirich said. Bill to protect victims of deepfake 'revenge' porn passes US Senate Three cyber tips came into police, which were generated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Afterward, police obtained a search warrant on the social media account associated with Bullington. The NCMEC is 'a nonprofit organization created in 1984 by child advocates with the purpose to help find missing children, fight child sexual exploitation and prevent child victimization,' said Jennifer Newman, executive director at the NCMEC. 'Every day NCMEC receives a constant flow of horrific child sexual abuse and exploitative material into the cyber tip line. Once received, we review and assess that information, add value to the report and refer it out to the appropriate law enforcement agency,' Newman said during the briefing. The investigation determined that Bullington 'attained photographs of the victims from a variety of social media sites and platforms when the victims were younger than 18 years of age.' He would then share those images on social media with 'another individual located overseas,' Weirich said. According to NCMEC, the nonprofit saw a 1,300% increase in cyber tip line reports that involved generative AI technology, which went from 4,700 reports in 2023 to more than 67,000 reports in 2024. 'We know it's scary, and we want you to know you're not alone,' Newman said. Furthermore, she said NCMEC has free resources to take down 'nude or sexually exploitative imagery that may be online.' This comes after the U.S. Senate passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act in February, which criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII). The act, also called S.4569, was introduced by Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota. 'In terms of prevention and talking to your kids, that communication is such a key part of this. And really opening that door and having these discussions early and often with your kids is really the biggest tool in the toolbox when we talk about online child sexual exploitation. Also making sure that your kids know that you're a safe space to come to, that you're not going to respond with anger or, you know, be overly upset, that they are turning to you because they're upset,' Newman said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
