Lawmakers are moving to establish national safety standards for self-driving cars, while tech companies face scrutiny over app store practices and content moderation. The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the SELF DRIVE Act on Tuesday, aiming to override state-level restrictions on autonomous vehicles, according to Fox News. Simultaneously, Apple and Google agreed to modify their app stores in the UK following intervention from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and Discord announced it will require age verification for access to adult content.
The SELF DRIVE Act, sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, seeks to address questions surrounding the future of autonomous vehicles, as reported by Fox News. This legislation comes as the technology continues to develop, with a recent incident in Santa Monica, California, involving an autonomous vehicle striking a student, though no injuries were reported. The CMA's intervention in the UK, as detailed by BBC Technology, resulted in Apple and Google committing to avoid preferential treatment for their own apps and to provide transparency in the approval process for others. Sarah Cardell, head of the CMA, stated the commitments "will boost the UK's app economy."
Discord's new policy, also reported by BBC Technology, will require users globally to verify their age via face scan or ID upload to access adult content. This move, set to roll out in early March, aims to protect users by placing them into a teen-appropriate experience "by default." The online chat service has over 200 million monthly users.
In other tech news, a trial began in California examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube, with lawyers accusing the companies of creating "addiction machines," according to BBC Technology. Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff, argued that his client suffered from mental health issues due to social media addiction. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube countered, stating that the plaintiff's addiction stemmed from other issues.
Finally, an F.B.I. search warrant affidavit, unsealed on Tuesday, revealed that a criminal investigation into 2020 election results in Fulton County, Ga., was initiated by a leading election denier in the Trump administration, according to the NY Times. The investigation relied heavily on claims about ballots that have been widely debunked. The affidavit indicated that the referral came from Kurt Olsen, Presidentially appointed Director of Election Security and Integrity.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment