from the look,-we-honestly-thought-no-one-would-keep-asking-questions dept
Thu, Sep 28th 2023 10:41am – Tim CushingTwo years ago, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its initial review of federal use of facial recognition tech. That report found that at least half of the 20 agencies examined were using Clearview’s controversial facial recognition tech.
Oversight Report Finds Several Federal Agencies Are Still Using Clearview’s Facial Recognition Tech
For all the (mostly misleading) talk of the US government having too much say in content moderation decisions, this move would literally put US government officials effectively in control of content moderation decisions for TikTok. Apparently the thinking is “welp, it’s better than the Chinese government.” But… that doesn’t mean it’s good. Or constitutional.
…
Honestly, what this reads as is the moral panic over China and TikTok so eating the brains of US officials that rather than saying “hey, we should have privacy laws that block this,” they thought instead “hey, that would be cool if we could just do all the things we accuse China of doing, but where we pull the strings.”
…
So, look, if we’re going to talk about US government influence over content moderation choices, why aren’t we talking much more about this?
Related:
TikTok and U.S. rekindle negotiations, boosting app’s hopes for survival
CFIUS monitoring agencies, including the departments of Justice, Treasury and Defense, would have the right to access TikTok facilities at any time and overrule its policies or contracting decisions. CFIUS would also set the rules for all new company hires, including that they must be U.S. citizens, must consent to additional background checks and could be denied the job at any time.
A Draft Of TikTok’s Plan To Avoid A Ban Gives The U.S. Government Unprecedented Oversight Power
An investigation contradicts the Ukrainian president’s claim that a Russian attack killed civilians the same day as a visit by the US secretary of state
NYT exposes Zelensky lie about Donbass missile strike
Related:
Evidence Suggests Ukrainian Missile Caused Market Tragedy
Ukrainian army strike on Konstantinovka kills 16 civilians (videos/photos)
Flash : an Atlanticist missile slaughter civilians in Konstantinovka, Donetsk People’s Republic
So, we’ve been talking a lot about age verification of late, as governments around the world have all (with the exception of Australia?!?) seemed to settle on that as a solution to “the problem” of the internet (exactly what that problem is they cannot quite identify, but they’re pretty sure there is one). Of course, as we’ve explained time and time again, age verification creates all sorts of problems, including undermining both privacy and speech rights.
You Can’t Wish Away The 1st Amendment To Mandate Age Verification
Related:
The Moral Panic Over Internet Porn Can’t Overrule the First Amendment
We have covered the Protecting Kids On Social Media Act a few times, when it was first introduced back in April, where we highlighted how it was both unconstitutional and the rationale behind it was not supported by any actual evidence, and then again just recently when Senator Chris Murphy (one of the bill’s co-sponsors) wrote a ridiculously confused op-ed for the NY Times, claiming it was necessary because kids these days get too many music recommendations and no longer could discover new music on their own.
The Protecting Kids On Social Media Act Is A Terrible Alternative To KOSA
Related:
BREAKING!!! ASSASSINATION OF TOP RUSSIAN ELITE, WW3 SPIRALLING, AUG 24TH UKRAINE PREDICTED THIS! (originally from Canadian Prepper)*
Related:
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 21: “If I were Mr. Prigozhin, I would remain very concerned. NATO has an open-door policy; Russia has an open-windows policy, and he needs to be very focused on that.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Yevgeny Prigozhin, 08-23-2023, via C-SPAN (originally titled, Secretary Blinken Warning Prigozhin Should Be Concerned for His Safety)**
‘Coincidentally’, C-SPAN chose to upload the clip of Antony Blinken, shortly after the plane crash (it’s from July).
Read More »China’s top anti-espionage agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), announced on Monday it has arrested an official it says is a spy for the CIA.
Beijing claims Chinese ministry official is CIA recruit, second arrest China lays at feet of US spy agency in a month
Related:
[2017] Killing C.I.A. Informants, China Crippled U.S. Spying Operations
In talks with prosecutors, Hunter Biden’s lawyers vowed to put the president on the stand
Then he issued a warning: If the Justice Department charged the president’s son, his lawyers would put the president on the witness stand.
Some are spending life savings to stay out of the war, but such actions are seen as treasonous by those already fighting
Bribes and hiding at home: the Ukrainian men trying to avoid conscription
Washington is halting some aid to Niger even as it eyes greater support for Burkina Faso’s military coup-maker.
At Least Five Members of Niger Junta Were Trained by U.S.
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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