maddy varner

@regret.bsky.social

2425 Followers 311 Following

reporter @wired.com ✨ prev the markup, FTC ✨ signal: mvarner.01

Excerpt from the federal register link, describing the comments received in response to the proposed "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility" rule: "Comment: Many commenters expressed general opposition to the rule. Some stated that the rule is unfair, cruel and inhumane or barbaric, that previous poverty is not a reason to penalize a person today, and that every human deserves to be cared for and treated respectfully. Some disagreed with the basis of the rule, commenting that the rule is not right for the country. One commenter called the rule pointless, with another stating the rule is unnecessary and would negatively impact children. Response: DHS strongly disagrees that the rule is pointless, unnecessary, or unfair. [...]"
Photo of a fire hydrant with a special cap that turns them into a gentle sprinkler that kids can run through
A tweet from the Department of Homeland Security. The tweet says "Presenting Chef's Signature Meals--our breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu for Thursday, June 4 at Delaney Hall. If detainees are not satisfied with their dining experience, they are welcome to leave." It contains a link to CBP Home and has an image attached of the Delaney Hall menu in the style of a fancy country club or expensive restaurant.
A screenshot of a Meta Help Center page entitled "Report Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) on Meta Platforms". It says it was "Updated 19 weeks ago" and the content of the article is "This information is specific to the United States." At the bottom of the page it asks whether or not the article was helpful.
Screenshot of the article: "Several company spokespeople were quick to say their companies supported the legislation, but they took additional time to explain how people could actually file a takedown request. One assured WIRED that their platform offered a secure reporting form, but did not provide a link to the form in question until after WIRED followed up multiple times. Two companies provided links to support pages that appear to have been updated after WIRED reached out. At least two host their forms on third-party websites, potentially making it difficult for people to search for the form themselves. Others said they did not plan on launching their reporting forms until the day the law went into effect. Companies were given a year between the passage of the act and the date it became enforceable to set up their takedown systems and develop request portals."
A modal box with the description "Use the arrows to find the distance between the two cars that matches the left image (9 of 9)". On the left is an image of the number "18" and the right is an intensely screwed up photo of two cars with jagged red lines attached to numbers of different amounts.
Screenshot of a challenge coin for sale that depicts Charlotte's Web characters in riot gear
Screenshot of pages 19/20 of the linked pdf: "Additionally, at least one participant mentioned the idea of a federal right of publicity. State-level laws have been passed in places like New York and California, but not every state has its own version. Right of publicity laws generally protect a person’s likeness from being misused for commercial purposes without their consent and could potentially give creative professionals greater control over how things like their voices or personal styles are being used. Since the event took place, a bipartisan group of senators released a discussion draft of the No Fakes Act of 2023, which would create such federal protections specifically addressing misuse of generative AI."
Excerpt from linked court filing: "Congress concerning issues of child safety, Mr. Sinha 71 wrote: “My understanding is that, prior to the CSTF [Child Safety Task Force], we were recommending minors to potentially suspicious adults and vice versa in PYMK [People You May Know]. Closing that gap, which we did, was accomplished as part of the CSTF.” 72 PYMK (People You May Know) is a feature whereby Meta recommends users to other users. Meta formed the Child Safety Task Force (CSTF) in approximately June 2023, in response to a media expose highlighting serious child safety issues. 73 Apparently, only after the CSTF was formed did Meta discover it was recommending minors to suspicious adults. Although this information was shared amongst those helping to prepare Mr. Zuckerberg’s testimony, I have seen no evidence that either Mr. Zuckerberg or anyone else in the company ever disclosed to the public that Meta had recommended these potentially dangerous contacts."
Screenshot of Boaz Barak, OpenAI employee, tweeting: “Our legal and policy team have worked with the DoW an this interpretation is shared on both sides. They will provide more details on the issue of commercially acquired datasets in the coming days”
For Alex Pretty Murdered by ICE January 24, 2036 We wake with no words, just woe and wound. Our own country shooting in the back is not just brutality, it’s jarring betrayal, not enforcement, but execution. A message: “Love your people and you will die!” Yet our greatest threat is not the outsiders among us, but those among us who never look within. Fear not those without papers but those without conscience. Know that to care intensely, united, is to carry both dark pain horror for today and yet profound daring hope for tomorrow. We can feel we have nothing to give and still love this world waiting, trembling to change. If we cannot find words, may we still find the will; if we ever lose hope, may we never lose our humanity. The only undying thing is mercy; the courage to open ourselves like doors, hug our neighbor, and save one more bright promising life. Amanda Gorman
Screenshot of the Consumer Advisory Boarding Meeting agenda. The 11:00-11:15 a.m. "Agenda" bullets includes a national anthem and prayer. Rachel Cauley, Faith Liaison and Communications Director, Director's Front Office, is included as a speaker.
Notably, because all the pages released so far include what are called “Bates Numbers” in the bottom-right corner, it’s possible to deduce that there are at least three gaps in what the Committee has received so far from the Epstein estate and what it has released to the public. A committee aide confirmed to WIRED that these gaps include non-disclosure agreements and settlement documents, information about Epstein’s bank accounts, and cash ledgers.
Screenshot of an X post. US Vice President JD Vance writes, “Rumors swirling that the EU commission will fine X hundreds of millions of dollars for not engaging in censorship. The EU should be supporting free speech not attacking American companies over garbage.” This is quote-tweeted by Elon Musk, who writes, “Much appreciated”
Screenshot of a terminal. Instead of English, the characters in the terminal have been switched to something incomprehensible.