Matt Contursi
@amiinthegoodplace.bsky.social
tech+law+privacy | JD / MS / BS | Currently: @UCDavis.bsky.social Legal Fellow | Previously: @futureofprivacy.bsky.social @EPIC.org @AZDHS.gov
Opinions mine own!
Opinions mine own!
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Huge, sweeping report from my colleague @sarageoghegan.bsky.social and the @epic.org team on how unregulated tech, mass surveillance, and yawning gaps in privacy law have created a health privacy crisis, as covered by WIRED’s @dell.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/survei...
Surveillance and ICE Are Driving Patients Away From Medical Care, Report Warns
A new EPIC report says data brokers, ad-tech surveillance, and ICE enforcement are among the factors leading to a “health privacy crisis” that is eroding trust and deterring people from seeking care.
www.wired.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Huge, sweeping report from my colleague @sarageoghegan.bsky.social and the @epic.org team on how unregulated tech, mass surveillance, and yawning gaps in privacy law have created a health privacy crisis, as covered by WIRED’s @dell.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/survei...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
BIG IN THE 4A WORLD: The Supreme Court has granted cert in Chatrie, the geofence warrant case, to decide the following Q: "Whether the execution of the geofence warrant violated the Fourth Amendment." (I assume this includes both whether a "search" happened and whether the warrant was lawful.)
January 16, 2026 at 7:57 PM
BIG IN THE 4A WORLD: The Supreme Court has granted cert in Chatrie, the geofence warrant case, to decide the following Q: "Whether the execution of the geofence warrant violated the Fourth Amendment." (I assume this includes both whether a "search" happened and whether the warrant was lawful.)
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Social science research has shown that policymaking and governance operates through more than formal rulemaking processes. Regulatory power shapes markets through norms, expectations, and material conditions—often before any rule is written.
January 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Social science research has shown that policymaking and governance operates through more than formal rulemaking processes. Regulatory power shapes markets through norms, expectations, and material conditions—often before any rule is written.
Reposted by Matt Contursi
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Reposted by Matt Contursi
🚨Border Patrol whistleblower outraged by ICE's conduct exposes over a dozen secret ICE programs in documents leaked to me:
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/21-secret-...
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/21-secret-...
21 Secret ICE Programs Revealed
Leaked documents detail the dizzying scope of ICE operations
www.kenklippenstein.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:40 PM
🚨Border Patrol whistleblower outraged by ICE's conduct exposes over a dozen secret ICE programs in documents leaked to me:
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/21-secret-...
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/21-secret-...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Excellent article from Brenda Leong and Andrew Eichen on fiduciary duties and AI agents: www.zwillgen.com/artificial-i...
The Fiduciary in the Machine
As AI shifts from tools to agents, fiduciary duty is tested. An analysis of agentic AI, professional services, and emerging legal frameworks.
www.zwillgen.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Excellent article from Brenda Leong and Andrew Eichen on fiduciary duties and AI agents: www.zwillgen.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Now this is scholarship
I don't know, Aaron. I think we need to take this seriously. In fact, after surveying hundreds of years of history in the past few days, I've written an article assessing the originalist case here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 16, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Now this is scholarship
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Last month, EPIC and 39 other consumer protection, data privacy, and competition groups submitted a brief supporting Commissioner Slaughter’s reinstatement to the FTC and urging the Supreme Court to uphold nearly a century of precedent protecting independent agencies. epic.org/press-releas...
PRESS RELEASE: EPIC joins 40 consumer protection and privacy groups in amicus brief challenging Trump’s attempted firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter
Updates
epic.org
December 8, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Last month, EPIC and 39 other consumer protection, data privacy, and competition groups submitted a brief supporting Commissioner Slaughter’s reinstatement to the FTC and urging the Supreme Court to uphold nearly a century of precedent protecting independent agencies. epic.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
On January 1, Illinois begins to regulate employer use of AI, making it a civil rights violation to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on protected characteristics in hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, or other employment terms and requiring notice of AI use. #AIBillofRights
Illinois becomes one of the few states to regulate employer use of AI. House Bill 3773 amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to make it a civil rights violation for employers to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on race, gender, age, or disability.
www.mystateline.com/news/local-n...
www.mystateline.com/news/local-n...
www.mystateline.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:49 PM
On January 1, Illinois begins to regulate employer use of AI, making it a civil rights violation to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on protected characteristics in hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, or other employment terms and requiring notice of AI use. #AIBillofRights
Reposted by Matt Contursi
A profile of Paulina Borsook, as her 2000 book Cyberselfish, warning about Silicon Valley's love for "techno-libertarianism", finds a resurgence in interest (David Streitfeld/New York Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
November 29, 2025 at 12:20 AM
A profile of Paulina Borsook, as her 2000 book Cyberselfish, warning about Silicon Valley's love for "techno-libertarianism", finds a resurgence in interest (David Streitfeld/New York Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Reposted by Matt Contursi
DOJ's claim that re-assigning thousands of agents to immigration has had no impact on its other work is demonstrably untrue. Court dockets show the number of people charged with drug crimes this year is the lowest in at least three decades.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
December 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM
DOJ's claim that re-assigning thousands of agents to immigration has had no impact on its other work is demonstrably untrue. Court dockets show the number of people charged with drug crimes this year is the lowest in at least three decades.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
The White House has now confirmed the second boat strike on Sept. 2.
December 1, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The White House has now confirmed the second boat strike on Sept. 2.
Reposted by Matt Contursi
The KOSA hearing is tomorrow. I will be covering it live starting at 10:15 EST
🚨‼️As of yesterday KOSA is at 64 cosponsors with @vanhollen.senate.gov + @kim.senate.gov - who claim to support LGTBQ+ rights but are clearly okay with supporting legislation that’ll censor us off the internet- newly signed on.
You know what to do: www.stopkosa.com
You know what to do: www.stopkosa.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The KOSA hearing is tomorrow. I will be covering it live starting at 10:15 EST
Reposted by Matt Contursi
As cloud outages rise, dependence on the concentrated market that provides these services creates systemic fragility, argues Rhea Siers. It’s time for institutions to rethink these digital dependencies and build resilience through accountability, transparency, and an honest assessment of the risk.
How Better Governance Can Mitigate Future Digital Outages | TechPolicy.Press
Rhea Siers examines the risks of concentration in cloud services, and approaches to governance and resilience.
buff.ly
November 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
As cloud outages rise, dependence on the concentrated market that provides these services creates systemic fragility, argues Rhea Siers. It’s time for institutions to rethink these digital dependencies and build resilience through accountability, transparency, and an honest assessment of the risk.
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Sooo many folks I’m excited to work with on Mamdani’s technology transition committee. All hands on deck to bring the Affordability Agenda to life: childcare, housing, transportation.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Sooo many folks I’m excited to work with on Mamdani’s technology transition committee. All hands on deck to bring the Affordability Agenda to life: childcare, housing, transportation.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
Very excited about Mamdani’s picks on his transition team
Honored to serve on Mayor-elect @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social Transition Committee on Technology. For too long, too many New Yorkers have been left behind. NYC deserves governance that centers affordability, equity, and the public good-looking forward to the work ahead. www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...
NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announces transition committees
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Monday the creation of 17 transition advisory committees made up of more than 400 people.
www.cbsnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Very excited about Mamdani’s picks on his transition team
Reposted by Matt Contursi
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Wanna know how bad the Arizona legislator's petition forgeries were? Here's the examples from the Austin Smith indictment.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Wanna know how bad the Arizona legislator's petition forgeries were? Here's the examples from the Austin Smith indictment.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Look, there are plenty of scientists that are individually arrogant and narrow minded, but have enough journalistic responsibility to realize “scientific orthodoxy” in this case is a euphemism for “evidence based treatments that have been proven effective in numerous test cases over decades.”
Breaking News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he personally instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism. The move underscores his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy — in this case, that vaccines save lives — and bend the health department to his will.
RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website
In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.
nyti.ms
November 22, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Look, there are plenty of scientists that are individually arrogant and narrow minded, but have enough journalistic responsibility to realize “scientific orthodoxy” in this case is a euphemism for “evidence based treatments that have been proven effective in numerous test cases over decades.”
Reposted by Matt Contursi
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
New: the govt has moved to dismiss its assault case against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, two people accused of "box[ing] in" a Border Patrol vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 4.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
Reposted by Matt Contursi
5th Circuit MAGA Judge Andrew Oldham says Erie was wrongly decided, federal judges should resume "finding" law themselves rather than applying state statutes, and appeals courts should stop certifying questions about state law to state supreme courts. www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
November 20, 2025 at 6:49 PM
5th Circuit MAGA Judge Andrew Oldham says Erie was wrongly decided, federal judges should resume "finding" law themselves rather than applying state statutes, and appeals courts should stop certifying questions about state law to state supreme courts. www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Opinion | Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression
The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Reposted by Matt Contursi
The San Jose PD regularly conducts warrantless searches through its massive license plate reader database, allowing it to reconstruct detailed maps of a person’s movements through the City going back as far as a year. This poses a serious threat to communities’ privacy and freedom of movement.
November 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The San Jose PD regularly conducts warrantless searches through its massive license plate reader database, allowing it to reconstruct detailed maps of a person’s movements through the City going back as far as a year. This poses a serious threat to communities’ privacy and freedom of movement.