Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 3d

New: Apple banned an app that simply archived videos of ICE abuses. Rather than other apps that record ICE official's real-time location, Eyes Up is to "preserve evidence until it can be used in court." Videos from TikTok etc. Every submission manually reviewed

www.404media.co/apple-banned...

Apple Banned an App That Simply Archived Videos of ICE Abuses

Eyes Up's purpose is to "preserve evidence until it can be used in court." But it has been swept up in Apple's crackdown on ICE-spotting apps.

www.404media.co

54 670 1.3K

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Dean Jackson @dwj88.bsky.social · 4d

A secret meeting with X. A senior State Dept. advisor just out of college. The VP's speech in Munich. Pressure on European regulators.

What do they share? They're all part of an agenda to turn the transatlantic alliance into a far right international:

www.techpolicy.press/trumps-state...

Trump’s State Department Wants to Use Tech Policy to Remake Europe In Its Image | TechPolicy.Press

Tech policy is a key part of the Trump administration's dramatic project to replace the US's traditional European alliances, Dean Jackson writes.

www.techpolicy.press

94 160

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 9d

Cancel culture run amok

2 2 10

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 11d

After more than a year of intense debate, California is ushering in some of the most significant AI protections in the US with the signing of SB53. Here's a look at how we got here, what the law will do and how it's playing politically from @viacristiano.bsky.social.

California Signed A Landmark AI Safety Law. What To Know About SB53. | TechPolicy.Press

California is ushering in some of the most significant artificial intelligence rules in the United States. A breakdown of how we got here.

www.techpolicy.press

1 25 71

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Techmeme Chatter @chatter.techmeme.com · 14d

This post appeared under this Techmeme headline:

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 18d

NEW: California could soon enact the most significant protections for AI companions in the U.S. Debate over two bills, AB1064 & SB243, has sparked a major lobbying blitz as tech industry groups and consumer advocates vie to shape the rules www.techpolicy.press/inside-the-l... tip @techmeme.com

Inside the Lobbying Frenzy Over California's AI Companion Bills | TechPolicy.Press

State legislation to impose new guardrails on AI companions sparked a lobbying blitz in California, Cristiano Lima-Strong reports.

www.techpolicy.press

1 3

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 15d

Trump is bashing former DOJ official Lisa Monaco, who was instrumental in getting the TikTok law passed that will now see the app's control shift more toward Trump's allies

The attack on Monaco, who is at Microsoft, follows Trump singling out LinkedIn co-founder & MSFT board member Reid Hoffman

2 2

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 15d

New podcast! I spoke with Tech Policy Press associate editor Cristiano Lima-Strong about his reporting on the lobbying battle over two AI companions bills that are currently on California Governor Gavin Newsom's desk.
www.techpolicy.press/california-b...

California Becomes Frontline in Battle Over AI Companions | TechPolicy.Press

Justin Hendrix speaks with Tech Policy Press associate editor Cristiano Lima-Strong about the battle over two bills that could set a national standard.

www.techpolicy.press

1 2 8

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 15d

🎙 @justinhendrix.bsky.social & I chatted on the podcast about my reporting on the fight over AI companion legislation in California. Have a listen!

California Becomes Frontline in Battle Over AI Companions | TechPolicy.Press

Justin Hendrix speaks with Tech Policy Press associate editor Cristiano Lima-Strong about the battle over two bills that could set a national standard.

www.techpolicy.press

3 2

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 16d

If you're trying to make sense of the FTC's settlement with Amazon, here's two data points:

1) Lina Khan, who chaired the agency when it brought the suit, is jeering the settlement

2) NetChoice, a trade group that counts Amazon as a member, is cheering the settlement

6 12

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 18d

A pair of bills to expand protections for AI companions have sparked a major lobbying blitz in California, with tech industry groups and consumer advocates vying to shape what may become the most significant rules in the country, Tech Policy Press associate editor Cristiano Lima-Strong reports:

Inside the Lobbying Frenzy Over California's AI Companion Bills | TechPolicy.Press

State legislation to impose new guardrails on AI companions sparked a lobbying blitz in California, Cristiano Lima-Strong reports.

www.techpolicy.press

3 13 23

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 18d

A pair of bills to expand protections for AI companions have sparked a major lobbying blitz in California, with tech industry groups and consumer advocates vying to shape what may become the most significant rules in the country, Tech Policy Press associate editor Cristiano Lima-Strong reports:

Inside the Lobbying Frenzy Over California's AI Companion Bills | TechPolicy.Press

State legislation to impose new guardrails on AI companions sparked a lobbying blitz in California, Cristiano Lima-Strong reports.

www.techpolicy.press

2 4 8

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 18d

The bills now sit on the desk of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who faces another big test on AI regulation after vetoing the state's most sweeping AI proposal to date last year, AB1047

Read my full dispatch, which was supported by a grant from the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism, here:

Inside the Lobbying Frenzy Over California's AI Companion Bills | TechPolicy.Press

State legislation to impose new guardrails on AI companions sparked a lobbying blitz in California, Cristiano Lima-Strong reports.

www.techpolicy.press

1

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 18d

The tech industry has come out strongly against AB1064, warning in ads splattered across the web that it would stifle innovation in schools and in health care, hurting students and kids. Several groups have instead embraced SB243, a measure to boost transparency around AI companions

2

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 18d

Tech industry groups & consumer advocates are pouring tens & possibly hundreds of thousands of $$$ into this fight. Children's safety advocates rallied around AB1064, which would ban companies from offering AI companions to kids unless they are “not foreseeably capable” of harmful conduct

1 1 2

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 18d

I traveled to Sacramento to track what has become the frontline for an emerging battle over the safety of AI companions, which have triggered fresh scrutiny amid reports linking the tools to self-harm and other issues

1 1 1

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 18d

NEW: California could soon enact the most significant protections for AI companions in the U.S. Debate over two bills, AB1064 & SB243, has sparked a major lobbying blitz as tech industry groups and consumer advocates vie to shape the rules www.techpolicy.press/inside-the-l... tip @techmeme.com

Inside the Lobbying Frenzy Over California's AI Companion Bills | TechPolicy.Press

State legislation to impose new guardrails on AI companions sparked a lobbying blitz in California, Cristiano Lima-Strong reports.

www.techpolicy.press

1 2 5

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · Sep 3

If you're a journalist interested in covering tech policy, we want to hear from you!

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · Sep 3

Tech Policy Press is now accepting applications for our 2026 fellowship cohort. We're looking for journalists, researchers, and policy professionals to pursue independent reporting or analysis on urgent questions at the intersection of technology and democracy.

Learn more below!

Call for Applications: 2026 Tech Policy Press Fellowship Program | TechPolicy.Press

The deadline for applications is October 15th, 2025.

www.techpolicy.press

4 7

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · Aug 29

🎙️New podcast is out! Had a great chat with two @coloradosun.com reporters about the massive lobbying blitz around the state's first-of-its-kind AI law. Listen here:

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · Aug 29

Last year, Colorado signed a first-of-its-kind AI measure into law, but the state recently held a special session where lawmakers held frenzied negotiations over whether to expand or dilute its protections. Tech Policy Press spoke to two Colorado Sun reporters closely tracking the talks.

Inside the Lobbying Blitz Over Colorado's AI Law | TechPolicy.Press

Cristiano Lima-Strong spoke to the Colorado Sun's Jesse Paul and Taylor Dolven following a special session that saw wrangling over the future of the law.

www.techpolicy.press

2 6

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · Aug 28

Tech Policy Press associate editor Cristiano Lima-Strong spoke with Marketplace Tech about the Trump administration’s attacks against European tech regulations and what it means for platform accountability going forward.
Listen here: buff.ly/7vNjkaG

U.S. officials pressure EU regulators to soften tech regulations

Cristiano Lima-Strong, assistant editor at the news site Tech Policy Press, says Silicon Valley leaders want the bloc to weaken its Digital Services Act, which penalizes internet companies for not…

www.marketplace.org

2 7

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · Aug 28

A few years ago I spoke to the authors of the study that incidentally birthed these allegations, who said their findings were being taken out of context www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Analysis | Republicans seized on a study as proof of Google’s bias. Its authors say it's being misrepresented.

A study on email spam filters does not prove intentional bias, researchers said.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 5

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · Aug 28

Hill Republicans tried to take up legislation targeting alleged bias in Google's email spam filter, but it went nowhere. The RNC filed an FEC complaint & a lawsuit over it, but both were dismissed

Now Trump's FTC is warning tech giants it may take up the cause under federal law

1 3 5

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · Aug 19

Top Republicans and US tech leaders are ramping up a pressure campaign against the EU’s platform regulations, calling it foreign “censorship.” @viacristiano.bsky.social and @ramshajahangir.bsky.social unpack how Washington and Silicon Valley are working to sway Brussels on softening enforcement.

How US Officials Are Pressuring Europe Over Its Platform Regulations | TechPolicy.Press

Republicans are using trade talks, immigration threats and diplomatic messaging to counter Europe's platform regulations.

www.techpolicy.press

5 2 10

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Tim Starks @timstarks.bsky.social · Jul 25

Remember the TikTok Ban? Does Anyone? www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/o...

Opinion | Remember the TikTok Ban? Does Anyone?

www.nytimes.com

2 8

Reposted by Cristiano Lima-Strong

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · Jul 25

On Wednesday, the Trump administration unveiled its AI Action Plan. Looking to make sense of what it means for the future of AI in the US? Tech Policy Press has you covered (1/4)

1. @viacristiano.bsky.social unpacks the AI Action Plan and what it means:

Unpacking Trump’s AI Action Plan: Gutting Rules and Speeding Roll-Out | TechPolicy.Press

Trump's action plan on artificial intelligence calls for slashing regulations and easing rollout of the technology, Cristiano Lima-Strong reports.

www.techpolicy.press

3 3 8

Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · Jul 23

Of the big tech companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, etc, Trump says while he didn't like them during his first term, he's “gotten to know and like them,” presumably the CEOs

4