The hottest Regulation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Did Google, Facebook, and Amazon Endorse Jim Crow?

BIG by Matt Stoller • 25210 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Monopoly Antitrust Regulation Civil Rights First Amendment
  1. The Supreme Court is currently considering a case involving tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon and the question of whether economic regulations for these platforms are unconstitutional under the First Amendment.
  2. The case has broad societal implications, touching on antitrust, privacy, civil rights, and speech liability claims against big tech firms. The argument raised questions about the extent of tech companies' rights to make decisions like racial segregation or account deletions based on political views.
  3. The case illustrates how the influence of Robert Bork, a conservative antitrust lawyer, has shaped modern American corporate state, particularly the broad support for a society run by big tech, challenging the traditional role of democratically elected officials in regulating private tech platforms.

BOMBSHELL: Potential Criminal Activity Revealed in the Kroger-Albertsons Merger

BIG by Matt Stoller • 34149 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
💼 Business Mergers Antitrust Monopoly Regulation
  1. The Kroger-Albertsons merger faces challenges due to potential criminal activity discovered, leading to antitrust suits and trials to block the deal.
  2. The merger could worsen the grocery market situation with fewer stores, higher prices, and data implications for suppliers, consumers, and workers.
  3. Evidence found of Kroger and Albertsons colluding in wage suppression by avoiding hiring each other's workers, raising concerns and prompting legal action.

Measurement Army

Doomberg • 5751 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💰 Finance Environmental Investment Regulation Markets Economy
  1. Modern economic systems struggle to account for environmental costs, leading to government interventions and frustrations among capitalists and landowners.
  2. The global focus on carbon emissions has led to the rise of carbon counting professionals, but many argue their value is limited.
  3. A proposal to create Natural Asset Companies (NACs) faced controversy when seeking to put a market price on nature, highlighting potential unintended consequences and opposition.

A Power Grab by the Court

The Status Kuo • 11910 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Supreme Court Regulation Conservatism
  1. The Supreme Court case challenges the 'Chevron Doctrine' and could potentially shift regulatory power to judges.
  2. Conservative justices on the Supreme Court seem ready to overturn the established 'Chevron Doctrine' that's been in place for 40 years.
  3. Overruling the 'Chevron Doctrine' could lead to judicial activism, with impact on regulatory powers and potential legal chaos.
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The Death-Strewn Backstory of Big Supplement

The Vajenda • 6151 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Supplements Regulation Safety concerns Efficacy Marketing
  1. Supplements in the United States have a history of being unregulated and potentially dangerous due to a lack of oversight and testing.
  2. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 removed regulations, allowing for the sale of supplements without proof of safety or efficacy.
  3. Buying supplements is like buying gas from a guy on the side of the road - there's little to no assurance of what you're actually getting or its effects on your health.

Rich businessmen have remembered they're Republicans

Slow Boring • 5051 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Banking Election Policy Business
  1. Biden administration announced new regulatory caps on overdraft fees to protect consumers from financial exploitation.
  2. CEOs like Jamie Dimon are more concerned with business-friendly regulations for profit than political ideologies.
  3. The Biden administration's stance on bank regulation highlights a shift in priorities from the Trump era.

A Billion-Dollar Fraud In Plain Sight

Where's Your Ed At • 10237 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Bankruptcy Regulation
  1. Gemini's
  2. Earn
  3. program misled customers into investing in risky lender Genesis Capital.
  4. The NY Attorney General filed a significant fraud suit against Gemini, Genesis, and Digital Currency Group for misleading customers and covering up losses.
  5. The Winklevoss twins actively deceived customers, putting billions of dollars into an unstable lender and reaping profits while customers faced losses.

Bonkers in Yonkers

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1059 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Policy Regulation Sea Level Rise
  1. Climate policy should be based on the best-available science to be effective in addressing risks like sea level rise.
  2. Extreme, implausible scenarios like RCP8.5 can lead to misguided policy decisions and misallocation of resources.
  3. Regulatory capture by a small group of experts can result in the codification of flawed science in policies, highlighting the importance of oversight and accountability.

The TED A.I. Conference

Ground Truths • 4942 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Ethics Chip Manufacturing Regulation Future outlook
  1. TED held its first dedicated A.I. meeting this year, featuring discussions on large language models and controversies surrounding them.
  2. The conference debated between accelerating A.I. development and approaching it with caution for safety concerns.
  3. Experts discussed Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and its potential impact on various aspects of human activity.

Banning TikTok

Points And Figures • 506 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Foreign Relations National Security Civil Liberties Social media
  1. Banning TikTok raises concerns about government overreach and control over private businesses.
  2. There are complex implications related to the power and influence of Chinese technology and communism in the US.
  3. Questions arise about the balance between individual freedoms and safety when it comes to regulating social media platforms like TikTok.

Long Take: Will BlackRock, Fidelity, Bitwise or GBTC win the Bitcoin ETF launch?

The Fintech Blueprint • 2181 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💰 Finance Bitcoin ETFs Regulation
  1. Recent approval of 11 Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC reflects growing acceptance of cryptocurrency among younger demographics.
  2. Bitcoin ETFs integrate crypto assets into traditional financial infrastructure, appealing to high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors.
  3. ETFs enable easier access to crypto assets through traditional sales channels and contribute to financial adoption of the crypto asset class.

🔥 How to ignite a geothermal energy revolution

Faster, Please! • 1279 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Geothermal Energy Clean Energy Regulation Innovation
  1. The need for clean energy collaboration between government and companies to drive innovation.
  2. Energy deregulation can be a catalyst for promoting innovation and commercialization in the private sector.
  3. Accommodating regulatory and policy environments can accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies.

The grid part II - the golden age of the power industry

Construction Physics • 11274 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🔬 Science Electricity Industry Infrastructure Regulation Environmental Impact
  1. In the 1930s, federal projects like the Hoover Dam increased electrification and capacity, but growth slowed due to the Great Depression.
  2. Post-World War II saw the Golden Age of the electric power industry with massive growth in electricity generation, consumption, and industry assets.
  3. The end of the Golden Age came in the late 1960s due to factors like environmental concerns, technical challenges, and the 1973 energy crisis, leading to rising costs and stagnation.

The dream of deregulation - the grid part III

Construction Physics • 9812 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
💼 Business Energy Regulation Competition Market Policy
  1. Electric power in the US was historically monopolized by utility companies, but cracks in the system started to appear in the 1960s and 1970s.
  2. The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 revolutionized the energy industry by creating a new class of independent power producers called Qualifying Facilities, leading to an increase in non-utility electricity generation.
  3. Deregulation of the electric power industry began in the 1990s and 2000s, with the unbundling of generation and transmission services, creation of new power suppliers like Exempt Wholesale Generators, and the establishment of Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations to introduce competition.

Governing Risky Pandemic Research

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 549 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🔬 Science Research Regulation Risk Assessment
  1. Experts can disagree on the risks and benefits of proposed research, impacting research sustainability and public trust.
  2. There are concerns about regulating research with pathogens due to potential risks and lack of consensus on what is considered risky.
  3. Suggestions for governing risky research include demonstrating clear research benefits, identifying alternative methods, preregistering research, indemnifying organizations, and implementing global norms.

News of the Week (January 8 - 12)

Stock Market Nerd • 1257 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
💰 Finance Earnings Partnerships Regulation
  1. Bank of America and J.P. Morgan's big bank earnings showed a resilient consumer despite some slowing signs.
  2. Disney's new partnership with the NFL for ESPN content distribution is a smart move for exclusive access and success of the streaming service.
  3. SoFi's recent layoffs were part of a strategic move to focus on key priorities for continued profitability and growth.

Balsa Update and General Thank You

thezvi • 1874 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Legislation Advocacy Funding Regulation
  1. The focus of the Balsa project is on repealing the Jones Act to make a positive impact.
  2. Another area of interest for Balsa is federal housing reform, aiming to address economic issues and expand policy reform.
  3. Balsa also plans to work on initiatives related to NEPA, aiming to replace current environmental regulations with cost-benefit analysis for development projects.

On the Societal Impact of Open Foundation Models

AI Snake Oil • 398 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Societal Impact Risk Assessment Regulation
  1. The paper on the societal impact of open foundation models clarifies the discrepancy in claims about openness's societal effects, examines the benefits like transparency and empowering research, and proposes a risk evaluation framework for comparing risks of open vs. closed foundation models and existing technologies.
  2. The framework for risk assessment in the paper outlines steps like threat identification, evaluating existing risks and defenses, and determining the marginal risk of open foundation models. It aims to provide a structured approach to analyzing risks associated with open foundation models.
  3. By analyzing benefits, such as distribution of decision-making power, innovation, scientific research facilitation, and transparency, the paper sheds light on the advantages of open foundation models and offers recommendations for developers, researchers, regulators, and policymakers to navigate the landscape effectively.

The ZYNpocalypse

Invariant • 687 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Regulation Public Health
  1. Nicotine pouches, like ZYN, have been targeted based on concerns of youth usage, but data shows low prevalence among underage users.
  2. Efforts and resources spent on regulating low-risk nicotine products could be better diverted to more pressing societal concerns.
  3. Regulation of novel nicotine products is lagging behind innovation, creating uncertainty in the industry and fostering misinformation.

Censorship’s Impact on China’s Chatbots

ChinaTalk • 207 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Censorship Chatbots Research Regulation
  1. Chinese AI chatbots are subject to strict censorship by the Cyberspace Administration of China, affecting their responses to political questions.
  2. There is a noticeable tradeoff between content control and value alignment in Chinese chatbots, highlighting a balance between censorship and quality of output.
  3. Censorship in Chinese chatbots involves value alignment training and keyword filtering, showing how Chinese regulators influence the responses of AI models to favor Beijing's values.

The Alliance for the Future Manifesto

From the New World • 199 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Open Source Work National Security
  1. The Alliance for the Future opposes blind panic and over-regulation around artificial intelligence, aiming to educate and advocate for the benefits of AI in society and politics.
  2. AI is a process, not an object, and regulating it is complex and infeasible. History shows that negative actions should be condemned, not the technology itself.
  3. Encouraging open source development in AI can lead to a diverse range of models, efficient training, and easier detection and prevention of issues, benefitting all involved.

When the Mac was a Munition

Pessimists Archive Newsletter • 648 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Computing History Regulation Innovation AI
  1. The US government classified the Power Mac G4 as a super-computer due to its computing power surpassing 1 GIGAFLOP.
  2. In 1979, a GIGAFLOP was seen as powerful and scary, but now we carry thousands of GIGAFLOPs in our pockets with modern devices.
  3. The marketing genius of Apple used the munition classification of the G4 to promote it as a 'Personal Supercomputer', leveraging the restrictions to market the product.

CFPB Proposes Rule To Close TILA Overdraft "Loophole"

Fintech Business Weekly • 661 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
💰 Finance Regulation Banking Investing Fintech Economics
  1. CFPB proposed a rule to close the TILA overdraft loophole, aiming to protect consumers from billions in junk fees.
  2. The proposed rule would require large banks to treat overdrafts like credit products, disclosing APRs and considering actual costs.
  3. Exempting banks under $10 billion in assets from the rule has sparked debate, highlighting the complexity of regulating banking fees.

CryptoWinter is Over

Points And Figures • 266 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🔮 Crypto Investment Technology Regulation Market Trends
  1. CryptoWinter is over, as indicated by the strong performance of Coinbase stock and Bitcoin hitting $60k per token.
  2. Bitcoin is viewed more as a speculative instrument than a hedge against inflation or store of value, and the thawing of purse strings among crypto VCs suggests a positive shift.
  3. The emergence of physically deliverable crypto-assets, like on Bitnomial, underlines the potential for improved risk management in the crypto market, but the absence of widely used applications built on crypto remains a concern.

An undergrad, twitching rodent heads, DOI, and the DEA: 5 Questions for researcher Alyssa Gillies

The Microdose • 511 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🔬 Science Psychedelics Research Regulation Neurobiology
  1. Researchers use DOI in the lab to study the head twitch response in rodents as an indicator of 5-HT2 receptor activation.
  2. Scheduling DOI as a Schedule I drug would create barriers for labs studying the 5-HT2 receptor due to accessibility and legal requirements.
  3. There is minimal recreational use of DOI and DOC, with the DEA's proposal affecting the progress of psychedelic research and impacting researchers.

The United States is NOT The Best at R&D

The Polymerist • 199 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
💼 Business Innovation Regulation Industry Marketplace Start-ups
  1. Successful R&D projects often take longer than expected, like Evonik's 10+ year journey into biosurfactants
  2. In Europe, a longer-term view in R&D is enforced, making it more appealing for chemical innovation than the US
  3. There is a need for a breakout success in sustainable chemical startups in the US, similar to Tesla in the automobile industry

Underwriter Certification of Nuclear Power, 2.0:

Gordian Knot News • 124 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
💼 Business Regulation Insurance Certification Market Energy
  1. Regulation of hazardous activities requires finding a balance between safety and economy to prevent both excessive harm and economic burden.
  2. Certification Societies, like those for ocean transportation and high-pressure steam, play a crucial role in setting industry standards, inspecting compliance, and ensuring safety.
  3. Underwriter Certification for nuclear power leverages market competition, government oversight, and insurance to provide a feasible and safe regulatory system for nuclear energy.

22nd Century Group: Answering the Wrong Question

Invariant • 609 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💰 Finance Stocks Investing Regulation Companies Market Analysis
  1. 22nd Century Group focused on developing low-nicotine cigarettes but didn't consider if consumers wanted the product.
  2. The company struggled with profitability and faced challenges even after receiving authorization for their products.
  3. Shifting focus to a different product with conventional nicotine levels came too late for the company to recover.

Is Bitcoin Anti-Productive?

Points And Figures • 319 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Investing Blockchain Regulation Tech Companies
  1. Bitcoin is often underestimated as a fraud, but it has potential for legitimate uses in finance and marketing.
  2. Investing in new, seemingly 'crazy' ventures like cryptocurrency is risky but crucial for progress and innovation.
  3. Cryptocurrency has the potential to revolutionize industries by breaking down monopolistic structures and introducing new possibilities like tokenized systems for immigration and voting.