Japan's parliament enacted a bill Wednesday to revise the Civil Code to overhaul the country's adult guardianship system for certain people such as those with dementia. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/17/japan/politics/guardian-system-bill-enactment/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #upperhouse #digitalization #health #elderly

#dictatorship #DictatorTrump #censorship #ai #politics

“The White House and Congress are working on a deal to clamp down on what US citizens are allowed to say online. According to new reporting by Axios, the Trump administration is negotiating with key senators in an effort to shoehorn a massive legislation package which would limit states’ abilities to regulate AI in exchange for placing broad federal limits on digital speech.

Plenty of ink has been spilled about the Trump administration’s push to revoke AI regulation from individual states. Though the White House and its allies frame this as a matter of “safety” and “national security,” the timing is telling, coming as progressive state governments move to restrict the building of AI data centers and hold tech companies liable for harms their AI systems cause.

What makes this deal particularly insidious is the trade-off at its core. Per Axios, congressional lawmakers lead by Republican Marsha Blackburn are essentially offering to surrender their ability to regulate AI in exchange for three federal censorship bills: the Kids Online Safety Act, the NO FAKES Act, and a federal age verification mandate.

While the language around these three measures suggests common-sense cyber regulation, activists say they really amount to a massive censorship regime that is fundamentally anti-democratic.

In a blistering statement, the first amendment group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) warns that “taken together, these bills would fundamentally change the internet as we know it.”

https://futurism.com/future-society/trump-moves-to-deeply-censor-the-entire-internet

If even nurses can be made gig workers, who else will be in their crosshairs?

I spoke with Katie J. Wells about how technology doesn’t have to be used against workers, but that’s precisely how it’s being implemented.

Listen to the full episode: https://techwontsave.us/episode/332_silicon_valley_is_turning_nurses_into_gig_workers_w_katie_j_wells

#tech #gigeconomy #health #healthcare #politics #jobs

Iran is set to receive broad financial incentives as part of its agreement with the U.S., including the right to sell oil immediately, tap a $300 billion development fund and get eventual access to its frozen assets. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/17/world/politics/us-iran-peace-deal-draft/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #iran #us #donaldtrump #nuclearweapons #straitofhormuz #trade #globaleconomy #oil #israel #middleeast

You Can’t Have Both Democracy and Billionaires

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/you-cant-have-both-democracy-and-billionaires

#politics #democracy #classwar #culture #wealth

#Cybersecurity vets protest ‘dangerous’ US government ban on #Anthropic’s most powerful models

https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/15/cybersecurity-vets-protest-dangerous-us-government-ban-on-anthropics-most-powerful-models/

#Mythos #Fable #AI #politics

#Amazon CEO’s Talks With U.S. Officials Triggered Crackdown on #Anthropic Models

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/amazon-ceo-s-talks-with-us-officials-triggered-crackdown-on-anthropic-models/ar-AA25yS3I

#Fable #Mythos #AI #cybersecurity #politics

When your view on what "left-wing" is came from the "right-wing-propaganda" and you were sold on that view enough to join the "left", just to discover that unfortunately the real "left" is not as gay, or as fabulous, or as tolerant, or as weird as you were lead to believe. What a bummer.

#politics

In a parallel universe somewhere, all of the non-fascist-led Western nations conspired together behind the scenes to use the push for age verification as a way to free their citizens from all US platforms, and migrate them to the fediverse and FOSS en massé in a well conceived & perfectly executed stunning maneuver.

#politics #privacy #democracy

The first official portrait of President Barack Obama & Michelle Obama, by Njideka Akunyilil Crosby has been unveiled at the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago.

I think Crosby is one the greatest visual artists working anywhere in the world right now & its great to see this being recognised by such a prestigious commission....

(beats wrestling at the Whitehouse for a political moment, doesn't it).

#Art #painting #politics

Alt...

Njideka Akunyilil Crosby, The Obamas: Springing Forth, 2026; shows the Obamas with President Obama sitting on a desk behind Michelle Obama in an upholstery chair, all rendered in Crosby's signature style that uses collage to represent specific colours in the composition...

Ban on Palestine Action was lawful, court of appeal rules https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/15/ban-on-palestine-action-was-lawful-court-of-appeal-rules #PalestineAction #CourtOfAppeal #Law #UkNews #Labour #Politics

From Gaige Davila: "Food is rotten in Dilley. ... I guess the only other way to put it is worm-filled, because it’s often filled with worms. It’s not child-appropriate. Remember, when you have #children who are as old as 16 months, 18 months, they have very specific food needs." https://www.texasobserver.org/dilley-family-detention-immigration-habeas-corpus-sb-4/

#ICE #immigration #HumanRights #fascism #Texas #law #politics #USpol #news

RIP Roy Hattersly.... who once famously said (and I'm paraphrasing):

'Without changing my views I seem to have moved from the right wing of the party to the left wing'....

One of the first to articulate the rightwards shifting of the Labour Party that has become increasingly clear since he said that many years ago, and despite also being part of the modernising, post-Micheal Foot grouping; which of course makes his observation even more notable.

#LabourParty #politics

Victory! 702 has Expired!

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/06/victory-702-has-expired

#Section702 #FISA #privacy #surveillance #politics

Controversial #FISA spying law expires tonight. The spying will continue.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/controversial-fisa-spying-law-expires-tonight-the-spying-will-continue/

#Section702 #privacy #surveillance #politics

While the Govt. is lengthening the period before immigrants can gain indefinite leave to remain, it's also about to offer an 'invite only' programme by which leave to remain can be gained after only three years (two years less than current arrangements that stand, for now, at five years).

How do you get invited to go down that route? You need to invest a minimum of £5m in the UK (in a way acceptable to the Govt.).

Just to be clear:
we are selling UK residency rights to the rich.

#politics

From May to August last year, Corpus Christi's #Bitcoin mine consumed 11,563,000 gallons of water, according to utility records that the Observer previously obtained via a local resident’s public information request.

Now the city is refusing to share the latest data. https://www.texasobserver.org/corpus-christi-cryptomine-water-usage-secret/

#cryptocurrency #tech #water #CorpusChristi #politics #USpol #Texas #GulfCoast #drought #news

Elon Musk’s role was ‘instrumental’ in the Belfast riots, researchers say.

The newly crowned world’s first trillionaire is once again facing criticism over the violent narratives he amplified on his platform X.

“Musk’s amplification has been instrumental, contributing 64 million views”.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20260613-elon-musks-role-was-instrumental-in-the-belfast-riots-researchers-say?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

#Belfast #Riots #Musk #SocialMedia #Politics #FarRight #UK

The law that lets the US government spy without warrants is about to expire. Here’s what comes next

https://proton.me/blog/fisa-702-expiring-surveillance-reform

#privacy #surveillance #Section702 #FISA #politics

Four Palestine Action activists have been sentenced not on the basis of the convictions for criminal damage (through a jury trial) but on the basis their crime *really* was terrorism (a subsequent decision by the presiding judge).

This not only violates the sanctity of jury trials (the jury was not informed of this possibility), it also is a retrospective legal decision, essentially violating the Rule of Law.

Its a direct attack on civil liberties!

#politics #protest
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce950111xk7o

An excellent riff on Turner's "The Fighting Temeraire" work in this #cartoon by the excellent Martin Rowson commenting on the pathetic, endlessly ruderless Starmer

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/jun/12/martin-rowson-on-the-resignation-of-john-healey-cartoon

#politics #comics #BandeDessinee #MartinRowson

#Trump Risks Key #Surveillance Authority Over ‘Unqualified’ Spy-Chief Pick

https://www.wired.com/story/trump-risks-key-surveillance-authority-over-unqualified-spy-chief-pick/

#Pulte #Section702 #FISA #privacy #surveillance #politics

The 702 Ultimatum: Warrant Requirement or Bust

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/06/702-ultimatum-warrant-requirement-or-bust

#Section702 #FISA #surveillance #politics

Devotional – “Is God Judging America Today?” – 05/1/26

COMMENT

I think we can all agree that we all want ‘our best life now’. The issue is whether we obtain it via a True Biblical manner or a watered-down version of the word. I am both discouraged and encouraged by this.

2 Timothy 4:3

says (AMP)

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,

I am discouraged because I see so many being led astray by those preaching this itchy ear bible nonsense. I am also encouraged because I am seeing more and more of the younger generation turning to solid doctrine and Bible-preaching churches.

I have long agreed with the late Dr. John MacArthur that God had lifted His hand of providence from America. However, I struggled to clarify what I meant by that statement. Did it mean God was letting go (forsaking America) and letting us run wild? Was He passing some form of Judgement, designed to draw people in? Remember the surge after 9/11, Katrina, and other such calamities.

The following is from Capitol Ministries, although written to political leaders, it does a very good job of breaking down God’s Judgement and what I believe the Spiritual state of the Union is now.

April 25, 2026, by 

Capitol Ministries

Some leading Evangelicals have believed and taught that America is experiencing God’s judgment. As a public servant who is sacrificing so much in your attempt to turn our nation around, if those Evangelical leaders are correct, you might conclude you are wasting your time. Are you laboring against a foregone conclusion? May it never be. But allow this qualification: America is not experiencing the forsaking wrath of God, but yes, America is experiencing the consequential wrath of God. 

The goal of this study is to give you a working knowledge of these italicized theological terms and a sense of hope in this work God has called you to. 

CONTINUED @

SOURCE

#AmnestyInternational Warns That #WorldCup Fans Face Potential Human Rights Violations

https://www.wired.com/story/amnesty-international-world-cup-human-rights/

#football #soccer #sports #privacy #surveillance #protest #censorship #activism #FreeSpeech #politics

#Starmer gives tech firms ultimatum to block explicit images on children’s phones

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/08/starmer-tech-firms-ultimatum-block-explicit-images-children-phones

#privacy #censorship #cybersecurity #politics #UK #AgeVerification

‘BusPatrol’ Put #AI #Cameras in Tens of Thousands of #School #Buses. Now They Want to Give #Cops #Access

source: 404media.co/buspatrol-put-ai-c…
without paywall: archive.is/20260526155324/404m…

#BusPatrol is aware of the #controversy around #ALPR cameras, and particularly of the concern that #ICE may gain access to the data, according to the BusPatrol documents ...

The danger here, aside from the misuse of data, is above all that children grow up with this and come to see it as normal to be constantly monitored by cameras. A society under constant surveillance develops differently. It is more conformist, less critical, and very keen on blending into the crowd unnoticed and not standing out. This is exactly what the ruling elite wants: a society that silently endures everything because it fears #repression through the cameras.

#news #technology #children #security #cctv #surveillance #privacy #education #camera #society #future #politics #police #control #bigdata #bigtech #bigbrother #orwell #fear #kids #system #matrix #politics #economy #monitoring #tracking #abuse #video #danger #warning #humanity

#Signal, #DuckDuckGo among firms weighing #Canada exit over lawful access bill

https://globalnews.ca/news/11886905/lawful-access-bill-c-22-companies-services-canada/

#privacy #cybersecurity #politics

Online harms bill to include #SocialMediaBan for children under 16: Source

https://globalnews.ca/news/11894610/canada-social-media-ban-teens-online-harms-bill/

#Canada #politics #SocialMedia #AgeVerification #privacy #cybersecurity

"If a man walk in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer; but if he spends his whole day as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making earth bald before her time, he is esteemed an industrious and enterprising citizen. As if a town had no interest in its forests but to cut them down!"

(Henry David Thoreau)

#nature #Environment #woods #forest #capitalism #Politics

I need a journalist or member of the opposition to get Prime Minister Elbows to explain how social media is a threat to young Canadians, but not every other Canadian.

The "adults can make their own choices" doesn't fly when we know that many older folks are the least sophisticated consumers of digital content coming from companies whose business models require covert & invasive tracking & manipulation in order to maximize profit.

#CdnPoli #politics #AdTech #privacy

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/online-harms-social-media-ban-youth-teens-9.7228651