A coalition of vaccine activists, backed by allies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has launched a new effort to repeal state laws mandating childhood vaccinations, according to the New York Times. This initiative targets laws requiring immunizations against diseases like measles and polio before children can attend day care or kindergarten. Meanwhile, an AI safety researcher at Anthropic resigned, warning of a "world in peril," and Amazon's Ring ended a deal with a surveillance firm following public backlash.
The vaccine activist group is focusing on states where they believe they can "burst the dam open," as described by Leslie Manookian, a supporter of a law banning medical mandates in Idaho, according to the New York Times. The group's efforts come as states have long mandated childhood immunizations, though some exemptions are available.
In other news, an AI safety researcher, Mrinank Sharma, quit US firm Anthropic, citing concerns about AI, bioweapons, and the state of the world, according to BBC Technology. Sharma shared his resignation letter on X, stating he would pursue writing and poetry and move back to the UK. This resignation follows another researcher's departure from OpenAI, who shared concerns about the company's decision to deploy adverts in its chatbot.
Amazon's Ring also ended a partnership with Flock Safety, a surveillance firm, after facing scrutiny over its privacy practices, according to BBC Technology. The deal, announced in October, would have allowed agencies working with Flock to retrieve video captured on Ring devices. The decision to cancel the agreement came days after a Ring advertisement aired during the Super Bowl sparked widespread backlash.
In other developments, US President Donald Trump announced the reversal of the "endangerment finding," a key Obama-era ruling that underpins much of US environmental legislation, according to BBC World. Experts predict various environmental and economic impacts as a result, though the decision by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to be challenged in the courts.
Finally, in Hungary, opposition leader Peter Magyar accused his rivals of planning to blackmail him with a secretly recorded sex tape ahead of the upcoming election, according to BBC World. Magyar, who leads Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the polls, said he suspected there were plans to release a tape of him from August 2024. He has filed a complaint with authorities.
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