Eric Null
@nullset.bsky.social
Public policy (tech/privacy) by day, everything else by night
Co-Director Privacy & Data Program, Center for Democracy & Technology, @cendemtech.bsky.social.
Views expressed here are mine: hastily adopted, uninformed, and deeply held.
He/him!
Co-Director Privacy & Data Program, Center for Democracy & Technology, @cendemtech.bsky.social.
Views expressed here are mine: hastily adopted, uninformed, and deeply held.
He/him!
Friday news dump: Sen. Blackburn has released a section-by-section for an upcoming AI framework bill that is apparently designed to break the logjam on AI legislation and preemption.
www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/fil...
December 19, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Friday news dump: Sen. Blackburn has released a section-by-section for an upcoming AI framework bill that is apparently designed to break the logjam on AI legislation and preemption.
www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/fil...
www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/fil...
I am once again imploring Congress to stop messing with #Section230, which will mess w/the internet and cement Big Tech's power (1A still exists!), and to pass meaningful #privacy legislation that'll actually protect people.
Children are being exploited and abused because Big Tech consistently prioritizes profits over people.
Enough is enough. Time to sunset Section 230.
Enough is enough. Time to sunset Section 230.
December 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I am once again imploring Congress to stop messing with #Section230, which will mess w/the internet and cement Big Tech's power (1A still exists!), and to pass meaningful #privacy legislation that'll actually protect people.
I am once again imploring Congress to stop messing with #Section230, which will mess w/the internet and cement Big Tech's power (1A still exists!), and to pass meaningful #privacy legislation that'll actually protect people.
abcnews4.com/news/local/b...
abcnews4.com/news/local/b...
Bipartisan group of senators, led by Graham, push to sunset Section 230
A bipartisan group of senators – championed by Sen. Lindsey Graham – on Thursday introduced legislation that would sunset Section 230.
abcnews4.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I am once again imploring Congress to stop messing with #Section230, which will mess w/the internet and cement Big Tech's power (1A still exists!), and to pass meaningful #privacy legislation that'll actually protect people.
abcnews4.com/news/local/b...
abcnews4.com/news/local/b...
Trump's #ArtificialIntelligence executive order is severely flawed, more on that below
New blog from CDT’s @nullset.bsky.social, @travisrh.bsky.social, & @samircjain.bsky.social analyzes the Trump Admin’s latest AI EO which claims to preempt state AI laws—laying out a set of largely toothless directives aimed at chilling state action.
The Truth about Trump’s “No Rules” AI EO
Last night, the Trump Administration released an Executive Order (EO) setting forth various directives to his administration that purport to preempt state laws regarding artificial intelligence (AI). But he cannot constitutionally preempt state laws via EO, and the substance of the EO is as a result a cobbled-together set of largely toothless directives. The Administration […]
cdt.org
December 16, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Trump's #ArtificialIntelligence executive order is severely flawed, more on that below
Good "meta"-coverage of media on the #ArtificialIntelligence executive order, by @mmasnick.bsky.social
www.techdirt.com/2025/12/12/t...
www.techdirt.com/2025/12/12/t...
Trump Pretends To Block State AI Laws; Media Pretends That’s Legal
The mainstream media just failed a basic civics test so badly that you’d think their brains have been pickled by the kinds of folks who spend all their time on X (oh, wait…). Headlines across…
www.techdirt.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Good "meta"-coverage of media on the #ArtificialIntelligence executive order, by @mmasnick.bsky.social
www.techdirt.com/2025/12/12/t...
www.techdirt.com/2025/12/12/t...
Great to see #Texas taking action against the data-hungry "smart TV" industry
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/release...
#privacy
#data
#DataProtection
#SmartTV
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/release...
#privacy
#data
#DataProtection
#SmartTV
Attorney General Paxton Sues Five Major TV Companies, Including Some with Ties to the CCP, for Spying on Texans
Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit against five major television companies for spying on Texans by secretly recording what consumers watch in their own homes.
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov
December 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Great to see #Texas taking action against the data-hungry "smart TV" industry
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/release...
#privacy
#data
#DataProtection
#SmartTV
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/release...
#privacy
#data
#DataProtection
#SmartTV
the timeline just got way worse -- La Tejana ending nighttime service. If you haven't gone, go this week. Get the churros. Thank me later.
www.popville.com/2025/12/la-t...
www.popville.com/2025/12/la-t...
Last Chance for La Tejana nighttime service (this Weds-Sat 5p- 9:30p), impending loss of streatery too. BUT “breakfast isn’t going anywhere” - PoPville
3211 Mount Pleasant Street, NW LA TEJANA shared the update on Friday: "Next week will be our last week operating nighttime service. Don’t worry, breakfast isn’t going anywhere - our plan is to expand ...
www.popville.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:42 AM
the timeline just got way worse -- La Tejana ending nighttime service. If you haven't gone, go this week. Get the churros. Thank me later.
www.popville.com/2025/12/la-t...
www.popville.com/2025/12/la-t...
well, this could explain why that particular CVS on GA Ave has fallen into disrepair (the automatic doors keep breaking) and has never been updated w/self check-out.
www.popville.com/2025/12/cvs-...
www.popville.com/2025/12/cvs-...
“CVS coming across the street from the CVS?” - PoPville
3701 New Hampshire Ave, NW In a shocking turn from our regular series "Next Up in Coming CVS Closures"... An opening in the works?!? Also, giving me Comfort One Shoes vibes a bit... ANYWAY, thanks to ...
www.popville.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:32 AM
well, this could explain why that particular CVS on GA Ave has fallen into disrepair (the automatic doors keep breaking) and has never been updated w/self check-out.
www.popville.com/2025/12/cvs-...
www.popville.com/2025/12/cvs-...
sad way to view education, "the only thing of value is the stuff directly relevant to your future job"
16-20 years olds can't predict their futures
you can learn to be a poet w/o a poetry class, you can end up not-a-poet and still benefit from learning poetry
just don't take that class
16-20 years olds can't predict their futures
you can learn to be a poet w/o a poetry class, you can end up not-a-poet and still benefit from learning poetry
just don't take that class
If you are providing me with an education that is low utility in the world then it’s a disservice. My composition class spent four weeks on poetry. I’m sorry, but that only would’ve been useful if I wanted to be a poet. I don’t need to know iambic pentameter in order to be a victim advocate.
December 9, 2025 at 8:05 PM
sad way to view education, "the only thing of value is the stuff directly relevant to your future job"
16-20 years olds can't predict their futures
you can learn to be a poet w/o a poetry class, you can end up not-a-poet and still benefit from learning poetry
just don't take that class
16-20 years olds can't predict their futures
you can learn to be a poet w/o a poetry class, you can end up not-a-poet and still benefit from learning poetry
just don't take that class
Reposted by Eric Null
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
December 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
The FTC has announced an all-day workshop on age verification tech. Unfortunately, they're not exactly asking the questions they should be.
Two of the issues they'll cover: "why age verification matters" and "how to deploy age verification more widely"
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
Two of the issues they'll cover: "why age verification matters" and "how to deploy age verification more widely"
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
FTC Announces Workshop on Age Verification Technologies
The Federal Trade Commission will hold a workshop on January 28, 2026, to discuss a range of issues related to age verification and estimation technologies, which can help companies obtain age info
www.ftc.gov
December 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The FTC has announced an all-day workshop on age verification tech. Unfortunately, they're not exactly asking the questions they should be.
Two of the issues they'll cover: "why age verification matters" and "how to deploy age verification more widely"
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
Two of the issues they'll cover: "why age verification matters" and "how to deploy age verification more widely"
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
🧵
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Slaughter v. Trump, set to determine whether the President can unilaterally and without cause remove independent agency commissioners from office. CDT joined an amicus brief, in support of Slaughter, earlier this year. www.npr.org/2025/12/...
December 8, 2025 at 6:14 PM
🧵
Court: Congress won't give up its power over independent agencies, so "just go to Congress" doesn't work. Thoughts?
(Recent history shows that Congress is actually perfectly willing to give up their power)
(Recent history shows that Congress is actually perfectly willing to give up their power)
December 8, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Court: Congress won't give up its power over independent agencies, so "just go to Congress" doesn't work. Thoughts?
(Recent history shows that Congress is actually perfectly willing to give up their power)
(Recent history shows that Congress is actually perfectly willing to give up their power)
Reposted by Eric Null
I am not live posting the whole argument here because I want to listen closely to Trump v. Slaughter. But the solicitor general for Trump just said the point here in killing the independence of agencies like the FTC is that executive branch officers must “fear and obey” the president. Wow. #SCOTUS
December 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I am not live posting the whole argument here because I want to listen closely to Trump v. Slaughter. But the solicitor general for Trump just said the point here in killing the independence of agencies like the FTC is that executive branch officers must “fear and obey” the president. Wow. #SCOTUS
Reposted by Eric Null
Sauer saying something is unconstitutional because it "would be unconstitutional under Justice Scalia's dissent" is a remarkably cogent statement of the Roberts Court's approach to precedent.
December 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Sauer saying something is unconstitutional because it "would be unconstitutional under Justice Scalia's dissent" is a remarkably cogent statement of the Roberts Court's approach to precedent.
Reposted by Eric Null
Kagan: the consequence of Trump getting to use his exec power to control how these agencies exercise these other powers is he's now going to have massively unchecked legislative and adjudicative powers Congress delegated to the agencies and now can't take back. "It will be a power over everything."
December 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Kagan: the consequence of Trump getting to use his exec power to control how these agencies exercise these other powers is he's now going to have massively unchecked legislative and adjudicative powers Congress delegated to the agencies and now can't take back. "It will be a power over everything."
This morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Slaughter v. Trump, the case that might (will?) decide whether federal independent agencies can exist.
I will try to liveskeet some of the more interesting parts of the oral argument this morning.
I will try to liveskeet some of the more interesting parts of the oral argument this morning.
December 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Slaughter v. Trump, the case that might (will?) decide whether federal independent agencies can exist.
I will try to liveskeet some of the more interesting parts of the oral argument this morning.
I will try to liveskeet some of the more interesting parts of the oral argument this morning.
Reposted by Eric Null
Two amazing First Amendment litigation spots are open at Protect Democracy. Deadline is December 7th.
This is someone's dream job and they may not know about it, so please send to good lawyers you know!
protectdemocracy.recruitee.com/o/counsel-fi...
This is someone's dream job and they may not know about it, so please send to good lawyers you know!
protectdemocracy.recruitee.com/o/counsel-fi...
Protect Democracy - Counsel, First Amendment | Protect Democracy
Protect Democracy is hiring for an attorney experienced with First Amendment law help ensure that communities can continue to speak out and engage politically.
protectdemocracy.recruitee.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Two amazing First Amendment litigation spots are open at Protect Democracy. Deadline is December 7th.
This is someone's dream job and they may not know about it, so please send to good lawyers you know!
protectdemocracy.recruitee.com/o/counsel-fi...
This is someone's dream job and they may not know about it, so please send to good lawyers you know!
protectdemocracy.recruitee.com/o/counsel-fi...
and we only follow the narrowest interpretations of privacy laws and advocate for weak state laws that don't affect us
Cartoon: Your Privacy Is Very Important to Us teachprivacy.com/cartoon-your... #PrivacyMatters
Cartoon: Your Privacy Is Very Important to Us
My latest cartoon on privacy. * * * * Professor Daniel J. Solove is a law professor at George Washington University Law School. Through his company,
teachprivacy.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
and we only follow the narrowest interpretations of privacy laws and advocate for weak state laws that don't affect us
Reposted by Eric Null
Too long for the character limit but
December 5, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Too long for the character limit but
No Library Wrapped from us — we don’t track what you read.
DCPL protects your privacy because it’s the law and the librarian way. 📚🔒
DCPL protects your privacy because it’s the law and the librarian way. 📚🔒
December 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I quit Spotify long ago, happy to see this campaign from @fightforthefuture.org
www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/spot...
www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/spot...
Spotify Whacked
www.fightforthefuture.org
December 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I quit Spotify long ago, happy to see this campaign from @fightforthefuture.org
www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/spot...
www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/spot...
So far, #AI moratorium lost 99-1 (really 100-0) in the Senate earlier this year, and now House R leadership has lost its gambit to force preemption into the NDAA.
Gee, I wonder what lesson they'll learn.
#ArtificialIntelligence
Gee, I wonder what lesson they'll learn.
#ArtificialIntelligence
December 3, 2025 at 8:07 PM
So far, #AI moratorium lost 99-1 (really 100-0) in the Senate earlier this year, and now House R leadership has lost its gambit to force preemption into the NDAA.
Gee, I wonder what lesson they'll learn.
#ArtificialIntelligence
Gee, I wonder what lesson they'll learn.
#ArtificialIntelligence
Do you like _any_ band as much as I like Against the Current? (caveat this is TIDAL so not Spotify numbers, but still!)
December 3, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Do you like _any_ band as much as I like Against the Current? (caveat this is TIDAL so not Spotify numbers, but still!)
Congrats to several friends of CDT (and me) for being on the top-cited academic authors list from Heinonline!
heinonline.org/HOL/scholarl...
including
@daniellecitron.bsky.social
@daniel-solove.bsky.social
@hartzog.bsky.social
heinonline.org/HOL/scholarl...
including
@daniellecitron.bsky.social
@daniel-solove.bsky.social
@hartzog.bsky.social
ABA-Approved Law Schools Most-Cited Authors - HeinOnline.org
heinonline.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Congrats to several friends of CDT (and me) for being on the top-cited academic authors list from Heinonline!
heinonline.org/HOL/scholarl...
including
@daniellecitron.bsky.social
@daniel-solove.bsky.social
@hartzog.bsky.social
heinonline.org/HOL/scholarl...
including
@daniellecitron.bsky.social
@daniel-solove.bsky.social
@hartzog.bsky.social