This blog involves a discussion of a topic that has recently become a prominent issue in esports with the passing of an industry legend. Mental health has often been overlooked for esports players as most people assume that if you’re paid to play video games, you have nothing to complain about (a similar sentiment people used to have with traditional sports players).… Read More ESPORTS: It’s all Fun and Games. Until it’s Not
The following blog describes the function Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act plays in protecting social media platforms against the falsities posted by their users. Former and present presidential administrations seek alterations to Section 230, particularly in light of an influx in the circulation of pandemic mistruths on Tik Tok.… Read More Lying and Liability: How Section 230 Shields Social Media
This post examines the context of the introduction of the SAFE TECH Act, primarily looking at what it hopes to amend, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Criticisms of the act are also discussed as well as where the legislation could come into conflict with the First Amendment.… Read More The SAFE TECH Act: An offer of internet reform along with a potential collision with the First Amendment
This blog explores Twitter’s suspension and eventual permanent removal of Donald Trump’s account after severely violating Twitter’s policy on civic integrity and safety measures. Furthermore, this blog explores whether or not the suspension and removal of his account violated his First Amendment rights, as wildly speculated throughout the media. Lastly, this blog discusses the power and responsibility of social media companies to police internet speech, and to what extent this censorship may reach without the infringing of users’ rights.… Read More 280 Characters of Pure Chaos: The Debate of First Amendment Rights on Social Media
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, a siege occurred at the United States Capitol. Hundreds of individuals, many of whom were at former President Trump’s “Save America Rally” earlier in the day, entered the United States Capitol building. Over 140,000 images from the day are circulating on social media leaving the FBI with a trove of evidence that could potentially be used in criminal prosecutions.… Read More Selfie-Incriminating: Potential Implications of the use of Photos from the Capital Riot in FBI Investigations
WhatsApp alerted its billions of users of an update to its privacy policy, where the new terms must be accepted if users wish to keep using the popular messaging application. The new terms, however, had multiple repercussions, as privacy advocates, technology experts, and users claimed the privacy revisions were a violation of their fundamental right to privacy. WhatsApp’s response was that the changes were necessary to help it integrate better with other Facebook products, but amid the backlash of users leaving the app for rival services, the acceptance date of the new terms was pushed back by three months.… Read More Is the Price of WhatsApp’s Free Services Worth Risking Our Fundamental Constitutional Privacy Rights?
With Microsoft’s new patent, the Black Mirror episode “Be Right Back” is not just an idea from a dystopian society. If Microsoft decides to develop a prototype of this patent, people can be conversing with the dead through a chatbot that is based on a deceased person. While Microsoft claims it has no intention to use this patent, the question arises as to why file it and the possible legal ramifications.… Read More When Black Mirror Becomes Reality: Microsoft Patented Chatbot that Allows People to “Talk” to the Dead
With the number of subscription video-on-demand services rising, piracy is once again a notable problem. The majority of people do not have the disposable income to be spending on entertainment. They are typically able to afford one or two subscriptions per month. And this was the initial attraction to sites like Netflix. Consumers were able to watch their favorite shows and movies, anytime and anywhere at a reasonable price-point. However, more and more networks are no longer renewing their licensing contracts with companies like Netflix and creating their own streaming services and exclusive homes for beloved content. Studies have shown this is driving people back to watching pirated copies. … Read More A Pirate’s Life for Consumers: the Implications of the Streaming Services Boom
Since March of 2020, the desire for human connection and a significant other during the pandemic has increased. Individuals, some for the first time, turned to virtual dating this year when the usual ways of meeting people disappeared amidst a pandemic. Dating in the COVID-19 era become simpler in some ways, yet, in addition to the regular fears of rejection, there is now a fear of getting an infection, getting “catfished”, or having your private information stolen. … Read More Love in a Pandemic: What COVID has Done to Online Dating
Geofence warrants are a novel tool for law enforcement that can help solve cases with no known suspects. Despite their advantage for law enforcement, many are concerned they violate basic personal freedoms.… Read More Geofence Warrants: Useful Crime Solving Tool or Invasive Surveillance Tactic?
This blog discusses the contemporary difficulties that trademark holders are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing holders from using their mark or service in use of commerce. Has the USPTO expanded its excusable nonuse reasoning? Or will trademark holders be subjected to the guidelines prior to the pandemic and have to find a way to hold on to their mark despite the difficulty.… Read More Trademark Holders’ Recourse: COVID-19 Puts Certain U.S. Trademarks at Risk
What do the rapper T.I. and infamous computer innovator John McAfee have in common? They’ve both been indicted in 2020 on tax charges related to cryptocurrency. If you read about John McAfee in a novel, you would think the author got lazy and borrowed the character from a knock-off James Bond story. McAfee made his fortune in the 1970s and 1980s by creating one of the first anti-virus digital security companies. His actual net worth is unknown because of his unusual income, the financial collapse, and his various legal troubles. But over the past few years, McAfee has been advertising his services as a promotional base for smaller, lesser-known cryptocurrencies. … Read More Software Won’t Save You Now: McAfee, Cryptocurrency and the IRS
This blog involves a discussion and contemplation on one of the issues facing the esports industry which makes it very similar to life in general. Diversity in esports has been lacking in esports since its inception and it is time to tackle the elephant in the room.… Read More ESPORTS: Why Do All the Top Players Look the Same?
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic disproportionately affected Black and Brown entrepreneurs, compared to their White counterparts. From February to April 2020, CNN Business reported there was a 41% closure rate in Black-owned businesses and a 32% drop in Latino-owned businesses. Meanwhile, White entrepreneurs experienced only a 17% closure rate. However, Black and Brown entrepreneurs have received unprecedented support from Americans outraged by police brutality and the tragic murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery, while motivated to make a difference in racial injustice and economic inequity. In its efforts to promote equality and end racism, the Black Lives Matter movement has contributed to a sharp rise in Black-owned businesses ’ global online sales.… Read More Black-Owned Business during the Coronavirus Pandemic just might be saved.
This blog details Instagram’s newly developed bullying-prevention and bullying detection tools as part of the social media giant’s anti-bullying initiative. This blog further explains how with the transition to virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberbullying has risen. Finally, this blog will suggest approaches companies like Instagram can take to further their anti-bullying efforts in today’s virtual world through more effective preventative and educational tools.… Read More The War on Bullying Continues: Instagram is Fighting but COVID-19 Calls for Innovative Anti-Bullying Tactics
This blog describes legal automation and how automation benefits the legal industry. The blog examines various tasks, including non-billable undertakings, that can be streamlined by automation thus decreasing client costs and allowing lawyers to devote more time to assignments requiring legal skills and knowledge. … Read More Legal Automation: Improving the Legal Industry
Institutions have been regularly criticized for not disclosing very important information on consent forms and supplying relaxed criteria for volunteer acceptance. As a result, some volunteers have been hurt, injured, and worse have even died. As a result, many institutions are forced to implement new standards if they plan on releasing new products into the market while continuing human testing. … Read More The Protection of Human Subjects in Clinical Trials
Until a vaccine becomes available, primary ways of preventing the transmission of COVID-19 include interventions such as contact tracing. The scale and speed needed for such tracing are unprecedented, and technology companies have worked quickly to collaborate with various public health experts to develop tools, such as smartphone apps, that aid in COVID-19 response efforts. Many of these technologies present numerous risks and concerns, such as how data is gathered and used, as well as how to integrate these tools into the public health infrastructure. The success of these technologies and their associated risks heavily depend on public support and trust in these companies and the government that privacy rights and protections under the Fourth Amendment will be preserved.… Read More Digital Contact Tracing and its Privacy Implications: Is Artificial Intelligence Crucial to Our Health Care System?
The following blog illustrates the significant consequences and benefits victims experience as a result of courts conducting domestic violence proceedings remotely.… Read More Court from Your Couch: What Remote Court Proceedings Mean for Domestic Violence Victims
This blog explores the capabilities of artificial intelligence integrated into the legal industry. Furthermore, this blog determines whether or not there is a possibility that artificial intelligence will take jobs away from attorneys or make their jobs more efficient.… Read More American Jobs for American Robots: Will Artificial Intelligence Abolish the Legal Profession?