Author: cmackenzie

On Thursday, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), moving toward the first floor vote this Congress for major online content legislation. Chamber of Progress and a coalition of organizations have raised concerns that the legislation empowers far-right policymakers to censor online resources and that the bill will result… Continue reading KOSA Passes Cloture Vote Despite Censorship Concerns

On Thursday, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Proposition 22, upholding the 2020 ballot proposition that allowed gig work drivers to remain as independent contractors and extended benefits to gig workers, including minimum pay standards, health stipends, and accident insurance. When it passed in 2020, nearly 10 million Californians (58.6% of voters) cast… Continue reading CA Supreme Court Upholds Prop 22 in Win for Drivers

On Wednesday, the 5th Circuit Court ruled that the Universal Service Fund (USF) is unconstitutional, eliminating funding for four major connectivity programs for low-income households, hard-to-serve places, schools and libraries, and rural hospitals. USF, which is supported by an assessment on phone lines, funds broadband connections for over 30,000 schools and reduces phone costs for… Continue reading In blow to working families, court overturns Universal Service Fund

On Thursday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a new rule that would effectively reclassify Earned Wage Access (EWA) products as paycheck advance loans, despite the fact that EWA products do not carry an interest rate and offer consumers a low-cost alternative for accessing the money they’ve earned. The CFPB’s proposed rule forces EWA… Continue reading CFPB Attacks Earned Wage Access in New Proposed Rule

Following this week’s release of the Republican Party’s platform, including a swipe at Democrats’ record on crypto, Chamber of Progress urged President Joe Biden to speak out on the issue in support of bipartisan crypto legislation. In a letter sent today, the organization highlights crypto policy as an opportunity for the Democratic candidate to connect… Continue reading Tech Urges Biden to Support Crypto Legislation Following Release of GOP Platform

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in NetChoice v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice that Florida and Texas laws restricting the right of online platforms to moderate content are unlikely to survive First Amendment scrutiny. Writing for the majority, Justice Elena Kagan argued that, “To the extent that social-media platforms create expressive products, they… Continue reading SCOTUS says content moderation protected by First Amendment

The Massachusetts Attorney General and rideshare companies Uber and Lyft reached an agreement on Thursday evening that will provide drivers with additional benefits while allowing them to retain their independent contractor status. The new agreement puts an end to an ongoing lawsuit over Uber and Lyft’s classification of app-based drivers as contractors. Under the agreement,… Continue reading MA Uber, Lyft Settlement A Sign that Classification Debate is Over

On Thursday, the California State Senate passed SB 1327, which would institute a 7.25% tax on digital advertising. The new taxes would fund California media outlets, including those controlled by private equity firms, which have decimated journalism in the state. The bill was brought to the floor today without notice and passed, despite the Senate’s… Continue reading California Senate Passes Online Ad Tax in Surprise Vote