Posts Tagged: internet

Opinion

The plan to blow up the Internet, ostensibly to protect kids online

Illustration of online security and Los Angeles at night. (Image:

OPINION: The California legislature is aggressively pursuing several wide-sweeping and radical proposals to regulate the Internet. One especially problematic bill is AB 2273, the California Age Appropriate Design Code Act (AADC). Framed as a protect-kids-online bill, the AADC would radically reshape the Internet—and harm both kids and adults alike.

News

The fight over California sports gambling: Ads, ads and more ads

Photo illustration of gambler using cell phone to place bets. (Image: WPadington, via Shutterstock)

Odds are, in coming months you’ll become keenly aware that sportsbook operators and gaming tribes are waging a high-stakes ballot battle for control of sport gambling in California, and you may well get sick of it. That’s because both sides have $100 million war chests, ready to deliver their messages on every imaginable platform.

Opinion

We have great chance to boost broadband access — but do it right

A woman linking her tablet to the Internet via a service provider. (Photo: Daniel Krason, via Shutterstock)

OPINION: With a historic investment in broadband on the horizon, Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature have an unprecedented opportunity to bring chronically unserved California households online with high-speed Internet.

News

PPIC: Who is losing ground in distance learning?

Two children receiving instruction via the internet. (Photo: adriaticfoto, via Shutterstock)

The resurgence of COVID-19 over the summer and the predicted fall increase in cases means that many districts will continue some form of distance learning for months to come. Our findings show that distance learning has widened gaps for children of color, children in low-income families, and children of less-educated parents. More specifically, we find:

News

Newsom endorses California’s $5.5 billion stem cell measure

California Gov. Gavin Newsom just before a meeting in Sacramento. ((Photo: Matt Gush, cvia Shutterstock)

Gov. Gavin Newsom, long a supporter of the California stem cell agency, today endorsed Proposition 14, the November ballot measure to give the agency $5.5 billion more and save it from financial extinction.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: The California Network

Dr. Barbara O’Connor is chair of the California Emerging Technology Fund; the pandemic is highlighting the need for one of the group’s priorities: getting good, reliable internet to all Californians. Their proposal – the California Network – is being discussed at the Capitol this week.

News

Making history: Our first online census

An illustration of the 2020 census in California. (Image: census.ca.gov)

Most of us are already doing a lot of business online, from ordering products to banking to even filing our taxes. Now we will be asked to do one more task over the Internet — fill out a U.S. census survey. The next census, the all-important survey conducted every 10 years and next scheduled in April 2020, will be the first to be conducted largely online. People who choose not to will be able to respond over the phone or by mail.

Opinion

Net neutrality: Congress should step in

An illustration of digital balance and justice. (Image: Anna Kepa, via Shutterstock)

OPINION: California has long been at the forefront of Internet innovation. Now California stands to be the leader in a different way, substituting litigation for innovation. If legislation pending in the California Senate that would impose state level network neutrality requirements passes, it will almost certainly be struck down by the courts. 

Opinion

Online privacy bill not what it seems

Photo illustration of encrypted internet information and a keyboard. (Image: Alexander Yakimov, via Shutterstock)

OPINION: In the California legislature, a privacy bill – The California Broadband Internet Privacy Act – was originally drafted, ironically enough, in private.  Now, even though it has been amended multiple times, it still remains deeply troubling and will harm California’s consumers. The bill is an example of what most Californians hate about our state’s lawmaking process.  It uses the “gut-and-amend” ploy, which means removing much or all of an original bill’s contents and replacing it with unrelated text,

Opinion

Don’t reverse Internet privacy safeguards

A woman using wireless broadband launches an app on her tablet. (Photo: Daniel Krason, via Shutterstock)

OPINION: California has a responsibility to get Internet policy right. The state’s ranking as the sixth largest economy understates its influence on the world’s innovation economy. One-third of global venture capital is invested in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego. California is the test bed, launch pad and sand box for thousands of apps and Internet services which, if successful, are launched on the world.

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