From the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
A presentation by Lara Robillard, an analyst in CBO’s Budget Analysis Division, at AcademyHealth’s Health Policy Orientation.
SUMMARY:
Technology Standardization Policy Update, Webinar
Sponsored by the American Bar Association (ABA), Science and Technology Section.
November 21, 2024, 1:00 – 2:00pm ET.
“The ABA Science & Technology Law Section’s Technical Standardization Committee (TSC) invites you to a webinar briefing with the latest developments in public policy around technical standards. Prompted by rapid technology developments like those related to artificial intelligence (AI), Congress and the executive branch are working quickly to address observed and potential opportunities and risks posed to tech developers and consumers.”
ABA Election Resources Help Defend and Promote Democracy
A posting by American Bar Association President, William R. Ray.
“Voting is a civic right and responsibility. Everyone eligible to vote should exercise that right. This is our opportunity to have a say in how our government operates. The American Bar Association encourages all to take advantage of this opportunity. ”
For a more generalized statement about elections and voting from federal government perspective, see the White House statement, Elections and Voting.
Stay One Step Ahead: Suggested Measures to Outsmart Modern Scammers
In today’s digital world, scams come in many forms—some so convincing that even the savviest among us can fall victim. Scammers now use staged approaches, impersonating tech support agents, bank officials, and even loved ones to gain your trust. Understanding how these scams work and staying vigilant can save you from financial loss and emotional distress.” The information below is based on material compiled by the American Bankers Association and the Bank of America. It provides suggested examples that can be useful to help prevent us from being victims and is being shared as a service to all readers:
A word of caution: Don’t download software or provide remote access to anyone you don’t know.
Imposter
Selected Opinion Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending October 25, 2024
During the week ending October 25, 2024 we have received listings of 17 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 15 Constitutional Law summaries, 52 Criminal Law Summaries, 3 White Collar Summaries, 3 Medical Malpractice Summaries, and 6 intellectual property summaries We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated. To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:
Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending October 25, 2024:
Global Encryption Day
Global Encryption Day (GED) is an annual event organized by the Global Encryption Coalition (GEC), designed to raise awareness about the importance of encryption in protecting privacy and securing digital communications. It brings together various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, technology companies, and individuals, to advocate for strong encryption
On October 21 2024 the – Internet Society San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (ISOC SF) partnered with the Association of Computing Machinery – San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (SFBayACM) and ACM San Francisco (ACM SF) to host Global Encryption Day San Francisco.
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Selected Opinion Summaries and U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments Published by Justia, Week Ending October 18, 2024
During the week ending October 18, 2024 we have received listings of 21 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 17 Constitutional Law summaries, 39 Criminal Law Summaries, 1 Medical Malpractice Summary, and 1 White Collar Crime Summary. This week we are also featuring 9 U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments received by Justia. We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated. To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:
Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending October 18, 2024:
The Digitalist Papers: Artifical Intelligence and Democracy in America, An Overview
Following the introduction of Chat GPT3.5 to the public on November 30, 2022, there have been growing concerns about how the emerging AI revolution can be utilized to reimagine and , if necessary, reinvent new technologies capable of preserving our democracy– as we enter another technological, economic, and political crossroads in our society. Sharing these concerns, I have been searching the literature hoping to discover institutionally backed efforts dedicated to addressing them. Recently, I learned about the publishing by the Stanford Digital Lab of The Digital Papers: Artificial Intelligence in America, Volume 1 of a projected ongoing series. Learning of this publication, I immediately went to Amazon and ordered my own copy. The following is my Overview of this first volume:
In the late 18th century, the Federalist Papers emerged as a groundbreaking series of essays advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay—under the pseudonym “Publius”—articulated a vision for governance that reflected the challenges of their time: an unstable political landscape, shifting economic forces, and burgeoning democratic ideals. Fast forward to the 21st century, the world again finds itself at the intersection of disruptive change where the political, economic, and technological forces at play call for a similar intellectual effort to chart a way forward.
The Digitalist Papers: Artificial Intelligence and Democracy in America takes inspiration from the spirit of the Federalist Papers, yet it aims to address an even more complex landscape. The technological revolution now driven by artificial intelligence (AI) offers immense potential to reshape every aspect of human life—from how we communicate to how we govern ourselves. As Hamilton, Madison, and Jay once grappled with how to mold governance to fit the emerging United States, today’s thought leaders must confront the challenge of integrating AI into existing democratic institutions. This is the goal of the Digitalist Papers series: to explore the possibilities of AI’s impact on democracy and to consider how governance structures must evolve to preserve and enhance democratic values in this era of unprecedented technological change.
National Town Hall on Scams and Older Adults
Important announcement for seniors:
| Older adults, families, and professionals who work with older adults are invited to register for an action-oriented National Town Hall on scams and older adults on Wednesday, October 30, 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET. Presented jointly by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), AARP, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), this online event will feature:
The event will feature these national leaders:
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Supreme Court to Hear Case That Could Expand the Use of DNA Evidence in Criminal Cases
“On Friday, October 4, the Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments in Gutierrez v. Saenz, a case regarding death-sentenced Texas prisoner Ruben Gutierrez’s ability to sue the state for DNA testing in support of his innocence claim. The Court had issued a stay to Mr. Gutierrez on July 16, just twenty minutes before his scheduled execution. Mr. Gutierrez was convicted and sentenced to death in 1999 for the murder and robbery of an 85-year-old woman but has long maintained his innocence. Forensic evidence from inside the trailer where the killing occurred has never been tested for DNA, but the state has refused Mr. Gutierrez’s testing requests. The Court will now decide whether the Fifth Circuit was correct when it ruled that Mr. Gutierrez did not have standing to sue Texas over its refusal to give him access to DNA testing. The Court will likely hear Mr. Gutierrez’s case next spring.” Leah Roemer. Death Penalty Information Center October 9, 2024.
In his October 7, 2024 posting in VERDICT. Amherst professor Austin Sarat argues that the Gutierrez case could expand the use of DNA evidence in criminal cases and the Court “should allow Gutierrez to challenge Texas’s restrictions on post-conviction DNA testing, asserting that such limitations in death penalty cases across the country hinder the pursuit of justice and should be reconsidered”.
Click here to read Professor Sarat’s complete posting in VERDTCT: Legal Analysis and Commentary from Justia.