New technologies often spark waves of public anxiety, what scholars call “moral panics.”
Join the Ian R. Kerr Memorial Lecture at UOttawa featuring Dr. Meg Leta Jones.
When: March 26 from 5:30-7 PM
Where: Fauteux Hall (FTX147)📍

🔗 www.uottawa.ca/research-inn...
#TechnologyPolicy #DigitalGovernance

Senate advances statewide guardrails for classroom technology and AI, despite district concerns Senate approved a substitute to House Bill 273 to set model policies for classroom tech use, limit non-instructional screen time, and require AI literacy and parental notification; supporters said it preserves local control, while some school representatives warned of implementation ambiguity.

The Senate has just passed a bill that aims to balance technology use in classrooms, but concerns about its broad definitions could create chaos for school districts.

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#UT #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #TechnologyPolicy #AILiteracy

Commissioners form ordinance-review committee; discuss moratorium on data centers and related technologies The board appointed a commissioners’ representative to an ordinance review committee to draft rules on data centers, carbon capture and small modular reactors; commissioners discussed proposing a temporary moratorium and directed staff to coordinate with the planning commission.

DeKalb County is taking a bold step by forming a committee to draft new zoning standards for emerging technologies, but could a temporary moratorium on data center development be on the horizon?

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#DeKalbCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #PublicEngagement

EU pushes Meta toward interim measures over WhatsApp AI lockout EU Commission sends Meta a Statement of Objections over WhatsApp AI ban, considering interim measures to restore third-party AI access in the EEA.

FYI: EU pushes Meta toward interim measures over WhatsApp AI lockout #EU #Meta #WhatsApp #AI #TechnologyPolicy

EU pushes Meta toward interim measures over WhatsApp AI lockout EU Commission sends Meta a Statement of Objections over WhatsApp AI ban, considering interim measures to restore third-party AI access in the EEA.

FYI: EU pushes Meta toward interim measures over WhatsApp AI lockout #EU #Meta #WhatsApp #AI #TechnologyPolicy

Planning commission recommends updated communication-tower ordinance with larger setbacks and added monitoring The Nevada County Planning Commission voted Feb. 26 to recommend the Board of Supervisors adopt amendments to the county Communication Towers and Facilities Ordinance that increase neighborhood notice and setbacks, require post‑installation RF verification, and remove replacement-of-equipment from an exemption list; commissioners also directed further work on monitoring, decommissioning and accountability.

Nevada County is taking a bold step to modernize its communication tower regulations, balancing the need for better connectivity with community safety and environmental concerns.

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#NevadaCounty #CA #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #PublicSafety

Rules committee moves SR 668 and SB 447 to Standing Rules after narrowing SR 668 to data centers The Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to advance SR 668 and SB 447 to the Standing Rules committee. The sponsor said SR 668 will be narrowed to focus exclusively on data centers rather than all manufacturing properties.

The Senate Rules Committee just made a pivotal move, narrowing SR 668 to exclusively benefit data centers and advancing both SR 668 and SB 447 for further consideration!

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#GA #UrbanDevelopment #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #LegislativeProcess #GeorgiaDataCenters

Senate adopts federal definition of 'artificial intelligence' in House Bill 1723 The Senate approved House Bill 1723 to define 'artificial intelligence' by adopting the federal definition, aiming to ensure consistency for future AI legislation; the bill passed by morning roll call with no questions recorded.

The Senate's unanimous approval of House Bill 1723 sets a crucial standard by adopting the federal definition of "artificial intelligence," paving the way for future AI legislation in Mississippi.

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#MS #CitizenPortal #CivicTransparency #TechnologyPolicy #LegislativeInnovation

Panel updates distracted-driving law to cover vehicle screens and other displays Lawmakers amended language that formerly referenced "television screens," expanding the statute to prohibit viewing "display of electronic content" while driving; the committee adopted amendments to narrow law-enforcement exemptions and advanced the bill after hearing camera-assisted enforcement pilot data showing a rise in detected device use.

Minnesota lawmakers are modernizing distracted driving laws to tackle the dangers of in-car screens, a move backed by alarming data showing a spike in device use on the roads.

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#MN #MinnesotaDistractedDriving #LegislativeReform #TrafficSafety #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy

Committee reviews acceptable-use AI attachment and weighs 'Welcoming Schools' policy Committee members said policy 815’s AI attachment is a useful starting point but urged addressing gaps for personal devices; members broadly supported researching a 'Welcoming Schools' policy though some favored a resolution instead and asked for draft language and examples.

Radnor's policy committee is tackling the future of tech use in schools, debating critical gaps in acceptable use and the potential for a groundbreaking 'Welcoming Schools' policy.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #PennsylvaniaEducation #InclusiveEducation #StudentSafety

House committee gives favorable reports on multiple criminal-justice, privacy and tech bills A House committee advanced several bills — including measures on crimes against children, biometric data retention, school-bus shootings and health-app data protections — issuing favorable committee reports on multiple items and carrying HB414 (feral hogs) to next week after a public hearing.

The House committee just advanced crucial bills addressing child protection, biometric data privacy, and school safety, marking a significant step in legislative reform.

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#AL #TechnologyPolicy #PublicSafety #PrivacyProtection

Washington Senate advances and passes package of bills on elections, child-safety reviews, health and technology On Feb. 8 the Washington State Senate advanced multiple bills to third reading and declared final passage on a series of measures including SB 6,084 (clarifying single-state voting prohibition), SB 5,977 (publication of child near-fatality reviews), SB 5,985 (endometriosis awareness), SB 6,046 (Civil Air Patrol codification) and SB 5,956 (limits on AI in schools). Vote tallies and sponsor remarks accompanied each action.

The Washington State Senate has just passed a groundbreaking package of bills that tackle crucial issues from election integrity to child welfare and the role of AI in education.

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#WA #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #ChildWelfare

Appropriations Committee tables four AI-related bills in a single block The Appropriations Committee voted 5-0 to table four bills related to artificial intelligence (HB 669, HB 713, HB 999 and HB 1514), after Delegate Reid said the committee had evaluated them and determined tabling was appropriate at this time.

In a surprising move, the Appropriations Committee unanimously decided to table four significant bills related to artificial intelligence, leaving many to wonder about the future of AI legislation.

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#VA #VirginiaArtificialIntelligence #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy

Committee weighs data center limits under Act 250 and PUC oversight A legislative committee debated whether Vermont should regulate large data centers through Act 250 or utility oversight, stressing definitions (MW thresholds), grid capacity, transmission cost-sharing, and invitations to the PUC and ANR for briefings.

Vermont lawmakers are wrestling with how to regulate massive data centers, balancing the need for clear thresholds while ensuring small local facilities aren't unfairly impacted.

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#VT #EnergyRegulation #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #EnvironmentalImpact #VermontDataCenters

Committee approves 'Balance Act' to limit elementary screen time and set AI guardrails The committee recommended House Bill 273, the 'Balance Act', requiring LEAs to adopt model technology policies, limiting elementary screen time (except for assessments), adding an AI policy and sandbox course, and preserving local control. Several amendments were adopted and the committee recommended the bill unanimously.

Utah's 'Balance Act' is setting the stage for a tech-savvy yet balanced classroom by limiting screen time for young learners while ensuring local control remains intact!

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#UT #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #AIEducationGuardrails #ScreenTimeLimits

Committee updates Tennessee law for personal delivery devices, authorizes speeds up to 20 mph outside sidewalks The House Transportation Committee approved House Bill 1684 to modernize personal delivery device rules, including permitting devices to travel up to 20 mph off sidewalks, removing language that treated devices as legal 'rights', and sending the bill forward (18–2).

Tennessee is revamping its laws on personal delivery devices, allowing them to speed up to 20 mph on local roads while ensuring they stay under local regulations!

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#TN #CitizenPortal #LocalGovernance #TechnologyPolicy #PublicSafety #TennesseeTransport

Virginia Senate advances wide package of bills; contentious assault-weapons and National Popular Vote measures pass by narrow margins The Virginia Senate on Feb. 9, 2026 passed a broad set of bills on firearms, elections, energy and technology. Notable narrow votes included a ban on certain assault-style firearms (Ayes 21, Noes 19) and adoption of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (Ayes 21, Noes 19).

The Virginia Senate has passed a contentious package of bills, including a ban on certain assault firearms and a move to join the National Popular Vote Compact, both narrowly approved by just one vote.

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#VA #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #VirginiaSenate #PublicSafety

New York Is the Latest State to Consider a Data Center Pause Red and blue states alike have introduced legislation in recent weeks that would halt data center development, citing concerns from climate to high energy prices.

New York Is the Latest State to Consider a Data Center Pause #Science #TechnologyandEngineering #DataCenters #TechnologyPolicy #Sustainability

www.wired.com/story/new-york-is-the-la...

Lubbock ISD says discipline incidents rose 28%; phones and vapes cited as main drivers District behavior staff told trustees discipline incidents for the second nine weeks rose about 28% over last year, with high‑school violations of the technology policy and vape/drug incidents contributing; DAEP/PIA placements increased and staff described interventions and reentry supports.

Discipline incidents in Lubbock ISD surged 28% this year, driven largely by high school violations of phone policies and a rise in vape-related issues.

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#TX #BehaviorIntervention #LubbockISD #CitizenPortal #StudentDiscipline #TechnologyPolicy

Council continues surveillance-technology ordinance; schedules Placer AI and police presentations The committee continued its review of a police-surveillance-technology ordinance, scheduled a Placer AI presentation for Jan. 19 and a police presentation for late January, and asked council members to send Darius items from a technology list for department-level detail by Jan. 12.

The Urbana City Council is diving deep into the future of surveillance technology, with key presentations on the horizon—will it be citywide or limited to police use?

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#UrbanaChampaignCounty #IL #UrbanaPolice #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy

U.S. Security at Risk: Trump Orders Divestment in $2.9M Semiconductor Deal U.S. Security at Risk: Trump Orders Divestment in $2.9M Semiconductor Deal Former President Donald Trump has once again placed national secu...

Trump Moves to Cancel $2.9M Chip Investment to Safeguard U.S. Interests
Read more 👇
healthandwellness6664.blogspot.com/2026/01/us-s...

#InvestmentNews
#BusinessNews
#TechnologyPolicy
#DefensePolicy
#SupplyChain

FCC Drone Ban—What the New ‘Covered List’ Means for DJI and Pilots The U.S.’s decision to ban the sale of new foreign-made drones will have far wider-reaching implications than its effect on pilots’ ability to access new models and parts

FCC Drone Ban—What the New ‘Covered List’ Means for DJI and Pilots #Science #TechnologyandEngineering #Drones #Aviation #TechnologyPolicy

Local legislators tell Yankton board property taxes, school funding and tech policy will dominate 2026 session Representative Julie Elk, Senator Lauren Nelson and Representative Mike Stevens told the Yankton School Board that property-tax bills, school funding debates and possible statewide technology restrictions are likely priorities in the 2026 legislative session, and they urged local leaders to remain engaged.

Yankton School Board faces critical decisions ahead as state legislators warn that property taxes and school funding will take center stage in the 2026 session.

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#SD #SouthDakotaSchools #EducationFunding #PropertyTaxReform #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy

The Trump administration wants to take the seat belts off AI. That’s a catastrophic mistake President Trump just signed an executive order attempting to block states from regulating AI an unprecedented step that would strip states of the ability to protect their residents at a moment of extraordinary...

The Trump administration wants to take the seat belts off AI. That’s a catastrophic mistake #Technology #EmergingTechnologies #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Ethics #TechnologyPolicy

Australia draws a hard line on kids and social media.

#TechnologyPolicy #DigitalEthics #SocialMedia

A practical answer to Australia’s AI ethics vacuum As Australia shies away from meaningful AI regulation, a new framework offers a practical way to embed human moral responsibility at the centre of AI use.

Seven AI systems reached consensus on a framework that keeps humans morally responsible – yet Australia still lacks ethical AI leadership, writes @suebarrett
#AIethics #technologypolicy #democracy #moralresponsibility #australia

Why Australia should build AI to amplify human capability Debates about artificial intelligence miss a crucial point: the real issue is not whether AI is powerful, but whether we use it to replace human judgment or strengthen it.

AI doesn't have to replace human judgement. History shows the real gains come when technology strengthens human capability, not erodes it, writes @drjohnhoward.
#AI #TechnologyPolicy #Innovation #FutureOfWork #Australia

U.S. Charges Four in Plot to Sneak Nvidia Chips to China - U.S. prosecutors charge four people in an alleged scheme to illegally ship Nvidia AI chips to China, intensifying calls for...

U.S. Charges Four in Plot to Sneak Nvidia Chips to China
wiobs.com/u-s-charges-...
#Nvidia #AIChips #USChina #Semiconductors #NationalSecurity #TechnologyPolicy #ExportControls #JusticeDepartment #breakingnews‌

The Trump administration is reportedly drafting an executive order that would compel the Justice Department to sue states that enact laws regulating artificial intelligence, a move that could exceed presidential authority. The proposal emerges after disagreements among Senate Republicans over a […]