All articles tagged with #policy
A federal judge in Boston ruled that the Trump administration’s policy of deporting undocumented immigrants to countries where they are not citizens is unconstitutional, saying the government must allow more time for legal challenges to removals amid concerns that migrants could face imminent danger, potentially limiting future third-country deportations.
Kalshi disclosed its first insider-trading penalties: a $20,000 fine and two-year suspension for MrBeast editor Artem Kaptur after he traded about $4,000 on YouTube streaming markets, and more than $2,000 in penalties plus a five-year ban for California gubernatorial candidate Kyle Langford after trading on events he appeared to influence. Kalshi says it reported both cases to the CFTC and has opened over 200 investigations in the past year, highlighting growing concerns about insider trading in prediction markets and regulatory scrutiny.
Discord has postponed its planned global age-verification rollout after criticism and privacy concerns, with the company promising clearer timelines and more transparent communication about how the system will work.
Governments worldwide are increasingly enacting or considering minimum-age rules for social media, mostly targeting 15–16-year-olds and often requiring age verification or parental consent; Australia led with a nationwide under-16 ban in 2025, while several European countries (e.g., France, Portugal) and U.S. states are moving toward similar thresholds or feature restrictions to address online safety and teen mental health, though approaches and enforcement vary.
Canada’s AI minister summoned OpenAI’s senior safety team to Ottawa to discuss safety protocols after the company decided not to report a Canadian ChatGPT user who police say later killed eight people in a BC school shooting. The user’s account had been banned seven months earlier following internal flags suggesting potential real-world violence; OpenAI said the activity didn’t meet reporting criteria at the time. Ottawa and the RCMP are engaged, and the government is weighing regulatory options on online harms and AI safety safeguards going forward.
The Trump administration announced a plan to dismantle parts of the Education Department by moving school-safety and student-mental-health programs to Health and Human Services and transferring oversight of foreign gifts and contracts to higher education to the State Department, a move that drew bipartisan skepticism in Congress while officials said funding should remain stable and not disrupt ongoing programs.
The FDA, led by Dr. Marty Makary in a White House event with President Trump, proposed a new framework to speed approvals for therapies targeting rare diseases.
AP previews how Trump will use the State of the Union to frame and pitch his policy plans to skeptical midterm voters, outlining likely talking points, policy proposals, and the political posture he’ll strike as he navigates the next election cycle.
TSA PreCheck remains operational during the partial government shutdown, with officials saying they will adjust operations on a case-by-case basis as staffing constraints arise; courtesy escorts for Members of Congress have been suspended. Travel lines appeared largely unchanged Sunday, though it’s unclear how Global Entry will be affected amid the funding fight and winter storm disruptions.
OpenAI identified and banned a ChatGPT account linked to the Tumbler Ridge shooting suspect in June 2025 under abuse-detection enforcement, but did not alert authorities unless imminent risk; after the February attack, the company proactively shared information with Canadian police. Eight people were killed and 27 wounded; the suspect died by self-inflicted gunshot. The motive remains unknown, and reports say WSJ staff debated whether to take action on the posts before the attack.
India's AI Impact Summit in New Delhi mixed high-stakes policy talk with mishaps: headline speakers pulled out, security and traffic snarls complicated attendance, a robo-dog demo turned out to be a Chinese Unitree Go2, and a stilted group photo with Modi and OpenAI/Anthropic chiefs underscored frictions in AI leadership; Emmanuel Macron’s morning jog provided a rare, human moment amid the diplomacy and tech chatter.
The Verge profiles Will Stancil, a controversial activist who rides with Minneapolis ICE protesters to document arrests, sparking debate over whether his media-driven tactics help or jeopardize the movement and the safety of neighbors, as some see newfound cross-faction unity while others worry about OPSEC and risk.
UT System Regents unanimously approved a rule requiring universities to ensure graduates can finish programs without studying “unnecessary controversial subjects,” and to have syllabi disclose covered topics with a mandate for a broad, balanced discussion. Critics warn the vague terms could push self-censorship and leave students less prepared for real-world work, and civil-rights advocates warn of potential legal challenges and bias against Black students and faculty. The policy does not ban topics like race or gender but increases oversight amid broader campus reforms and state guidance under Senate Bill 37 and related changes.
Governor Hochul dropped a budget proposal that would have allowed limited robotaxi deployments outside New York City, a setback for Waymo as legislative support never materialized; Waymo has spent millions lobbying and currently tests driverless rides in NYC under a permit that expires March 31. Current rules require safety drivers, and the state did not move to authorize broader deployment, while Waymo aims to expand to about 20 more cities in 2026 and other AV developers have faced regulatory hurdles in NYC.
The VA issued a Federal Register rule allowing disability ratings to reflect improvements from medications or treatments, potentially lowering ratings during reevaluation even when the underlying disability remains. Veterans groups warn this could reduce benefits and deter care, especially for PTSD and toxic-exposure conditions, while VA officials say the rule formalizes a longstanding practice and won’t affect current ratings. The rule has drawn widespread backlash and thousands of public comments as questions about implementation and legal implications remain unresolved.