Age Verification Is A Windfall for Big Tech—And A Death Sentence For Smaller Platforms

If you live in Mississippi, you may have noticed that you are no longer able to log into your Bluesky or Dreamwidth accounts from within the state. That’s because, in a chilling early warning sign for the U.S., both social platforms decided to block all users in Mississippi from their services rather than risk hefty […]

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EFF Awards Spotlight ✨ Software Freedom Law Center, India

In 1992 EFF presented our very first awards recognizing key leaders and organizations advancing innovation and championing civil liberties and human rights online. Now in 2025 we’re continuing to celebrate the accomplishments of people working toward a better future for everyone with the EFF Awards! All are invited to attend the EFF Awards on Wednesday, September 10 at […]

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U.S. Ends De Minimis Exemption, Reshaping Global E-Commerce Landscape, Albeit Detrimental to Consumers

📍 Washington, D.C., 5 September 2025 — The United States officially revoked its long-standing de minimis import exemption on August 29, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The policy change eliminates duty-free treatment for goods valued under $800, significantly altering the cost structure for cross-border e-commerce. Previously, the exemption allowed companies to ship […]

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EFF Awards Spotlight ✨ Erie Meyer

In 1992 EFF presented our very first awards recognizing key leaders and organizations advancing innovation and championing civil liberties and human rights online. Now in 2025 we’re continuing to celebrate the accomplishments of people working toward a better future for everyone with the EFF Awards! All are invited to attend the EFF Awards on Wednesday, September 10 at […]

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California Lawmakers: Support S.B. 524 to Rein in AI Written Police Reports

EFF urges California state lawmakers to pass S.B. 524, authored by Sen. Jesse Arreguín. This bill is an important first step in regaining control over police using generative AI to write their narrative police reports.  This bill does several important things: It mandates that police reports written by AI include disclaimers on every page or […]

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Amazon Acquires Axio, Secures Direct Lending Access in India

📍 Mumbai, India — Amazon announced on Thursday that it has completed the acquisition of Bengaluru-based non-banking financial company Axio, marking a significant expansion of its fintech footprint in India. The deal, approved by the Reserve Bank of India in June, was finalized for an undisclosed amount. Axio, formerly known as Capital Float, specializes in […]

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Verifying Trust in Digital ID Is Still Incomplete

In the past few years, governments across the world have rolled out different digital identification options, and now there are efforts encouraging online companies to implement identity and age verification requirements with digital ID in mind. This blog is the second in a short series that explains digital ID and the pending use case of age […]

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EFF Statement on ICE Use of Paragon Solutions Malware

This statement can be attributed to EFF Senior Staff Technologist Cooper Quintin It was recently reported by Jack Poulson on Substack that ICE has reactivated its 2 million dollar contract with Paragon Solutions, a cyber-mercenary and spyware manufacturer.  The reactivation of the contract between the Department of Homeland Security and Paragon Solutions, a known spyware […]

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Anthropic Secures $13 Billion in Funding, Reaches $183 Billion Valuation

📍 San Francisco, California — Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has closed a $13 billion Series F funding round, bringing its post-money valuation to $183 billion. The raise marks the largest single investment in deep tech and AI this year and positions Anthropic among the fastest-growing technology companies in history. Led by Iconiq Capital and co-led […]

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U.S. Revokes TSMC Waiver for Chip Supplies to China Amid Tightening Export Controls

📍 Washington, D.C. — The United States has revoked a key export waiver previously granted to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), restricting its ability to ship chipmaking equipment and supplies to its facility in Nanjing, China. The decision, effective December 31, 2025, eliminates TSMC’s Validated End User (VEU) status, which had allowed streamlined shipments without […]

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