By: Miles G. Michaud Traditionally, large commercial apartment buildings have set their rental prices using notions of supply and demand. Or,perhaps the building’s management would conduct market research of comparable properties in the surrounding area to determine the price of its vacant studio units. However, todays large commercial landlords set their prices rather differently. Many… Read More Is AI Setting My Rent?
By: Adrienne Viarengo Last year, the bipartisan, landmark CHIPS Act made waves for its landmark $53 billion investment in America’s semiconductor industry highlighting the strength of American innovation and intention to work towards tech independence. The CHIPS Act recognized that the U.S. has an economic and national securityinterest and simultaneously addressed the need for child… Read More The Disbursement of CHIPS Act Funding Considers Child Care Critical Infrastructure – It Is.
By: Adrienne Viarengo Union support is high; a recent Gallup poll had the approval of labor unions at 67%. Support has been higher only two other times: last year when approval was at 71% and in the 1950’s when union support peaked at 75% post-World War II, a time when over a third of wage… Read More The Tech Industry is Organizing: How Workers Can Serve as a Check on Big Tech’s Power
By: Jacob Hartzler On January 19, California Assemblymember Alex Lee, representing California’s 24th District, reintroduced a bill aimed at taxing California’s ultra-wealthy. Assembly Bill 259 (“AB 259”) and an accompanying proposed constitutional amendment, ACA 3, were introduced as part of a “concerted effort” of wealth tax proposals in seven other states including Connecticut, Hawaii, Nevada,… Read More Fight or Flight: Proposed Amendments to the California Constitution May Threaten California’s Defining Industry
By: Erin Howlin If you look closely at some logos or the inside cover of a book, you’ll discover a small “C” enclosed by a circle. Although small, this symbol represents a protection that a company or brand has from others copying their work. The Copyright Act of 1976 is the basis of copyright law… Read More The C with the Circle: How American Copyright Laws Affect Technology and Vice Versa
This blog describes privacy issues related to the use of biometric data and the effect of Illinois’ biometric privacy law. … Read More Biometrics and the BIPA Influence
This blog discusses the privacy implications of Amazon’s Alexa, specifically through the cases, Braunack v. Amazon.com Inc. and Narreau v. Amazon.com Inc. The plaintiffs in these cases allege that not only does Amazon secretly record conversations under the guise of “false wake” recordings, but also stores those recordings to enable targeted advertising. This blog examines these cases as well as the legal privacy implications of this technology.… Read More Alexa: The Big Sister We Never Knew We Had
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
This blog examines Bill S.B. 146, a California bill that was passed on August 28, 2020. S.B. 146 advocates for technology that loosens restrictions on e-discovery, allows for remote depositions and allows for attorneys on record not to be required to attend the online depositions. This blog discusses the implications of relying on such technology as well as the implications of oral depositions conducted solely online.… Read More Virtual Litigation: A Gamble on Discovering the Truth
Brain-Computer Interfaces (“BCIs”) are wireless computer chips implanted into the brain that ultimately create an AI extension of the mind. As Elon Musk envisions using his new BCI to control smartphones, we must address the significant security and privacy risks of the technology.… Read More Mindhacker: Security & Privacy Risks of Brain-Computer Interfaces
This blog discusses the digital divide and the disparities that exist in technology access. Poorer communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by a lack of access to computers and Internet, which will impact online learning. The United States must do more to invest in education in more vulnerable communities and ensure that students have the resources that they need to perform in an online environment.… Read More The Digital Divide: Magnified by the Coronavirus Pandemic
By Danielle Breen After the California State Bar established the California State Bar Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS), Utah and Arizona created similar task forces to explore ways to close the access to justice gap. Other states such as Oregon and Washington also implemented smaller programs in an attempt to… Read More “What, Like it’s Hard?” — State Proposals Suggest Expanding Non-Lawyers’ Abilities to Practice Law
This blog addresses the Apple iPhone slowdown and the multiple class action suits filed against Apple for fraud and misrepresentation. It explains the issue with the older iPhones, why Apple has been slowing down phones, and their attempt to reconcile with Apple consumers after their deceit.… Read More The iPhone Slowdown: If You Had The Option To Replace Your Older iPhone’s Battery Or Purchase A New iPhone, Which Would You Choose?
Tinder’s decision not to use the security feature, HTTPS, may allow hackers and random individuals see your potential matches. Additionally, hackers may be able to inject images or malicious content into a user’s app feed in which other users may be able to see. Why would a dating app, such as Tinder, not act in the first place to securely encrypt a user’s information to protect his or her privacy?… Read More Be Careful of Your Swipes, You May Not Be the Only One Watching You Swipe
A recent drug was just approved within the past few weeks that can alert doctors and other individuals that a patient has swallowed and successfully ingested their medication.… Read More Ingesting “Digital Pills” to Promote Prescription Adherence
Prisons throughout the country are incorporating technology into prisoners’ everyday lives. Technology is used to help them communicate with loved ones, rehabilitate prisoners, and to keep them safe.… Read More The Criminal Justice System Should Continue to Embrace Technology for the Good of Society
Blockchains are changing the real estate industry. Last week, the first property was sold in the Ukraine through a smart contract on a Blockchain. Tech companies are insisting this will create a new era in real estate transactions. … Read More How Blockchains Can Change Real Estate Transactions
In the past several years, drones have become increasingly popular and have had significant positive impacts on our society. At the same time, law suits regarding privacy rights have ensued across the country.… Read More Striking the Balance between Drone Technology and Privacy
After the London terror attack, U.K. officials are attempting to push back against encryption technology in order to help prevent terrorism. However, if encryption is weakened, this would reduce individuals’ privacy.… Read More Should Intelligence Agencies Have Access to Encrypted Messages?
Explaining and analyzing how Snapchat Spectacles may violate privacy and security measures. … Read More Snapchat Spectacles Concerning its Privacy and Security Measures