The hottest Regulation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Joe's Nerdy Rants - #1

Joe Reis • 157 implied HN points • 20 May 23
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. Joe Reis has started a weekend newsletter about data and tech.
  2. Newsletters are great for weekend reading when people have more time.
  3. The newsletter will feature tech or data-oriented rants from Joe, offering interesting insights.

Thoughts on Megachurches and Taxes

I Might Be Wrong • 11 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation
  1. If the government gets to decide which groups count as "real" religion, it gains dangerous power to reward or punish beliefs, so religious neutrality is essential.
  2. Tax-exempt status for churches and nonprofits is messy because "doing good" is a vague category that can be gamed, and strict enforcement would force the government to make value judgments it shouldn’t have to make.
  3. A more consistent tax approach would be to tax individuals rather than organizations, but shifting taxes onto people would be politically unpopular because it removes the hidden costs voters currently accept.

203. Software As Part of Everything Is Regulated…As Part of Everything

Hardcore Software • 337 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. Software has become a fundamental part of our lives, evolving from its origins in math to touching every aspect of human endeavors.
  2. Regulations have always been key in governing software, ensuring safety, reliability, and functionality in various industries.
  3. The introduction of AI should follow the established regulatory frameworks for software, without seeking a separate or special exemption.

How Privacy Policies Really Work

DeFi Education • 459 implied HN points • 25 Nov 22
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. Companies must follow privacy laws like GDPR, which set strict rules on how to collect and use personal data. Breaking these rules can lead to big fines and even legal trouble for executives.
  2. Privacy policies are crucial because they inform users about what data is collected and how it is used. Companies are updating their privacy policies to reflect what they actually do with data.
  3. Using services like Metamask means sharing your data, like your IP address and Ethereum wallet address. It's essential to be cautious and consider using privacy tools to protect your information.

E-scooters are good and Britain should legalise them

Odds and Ends of History • 1072 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Regulation
  1. E-scooters can help reduce car usage and congestion in cities due to their compact design and ability to take up less space.
  2. Legalizing e-scooters can lead to positive downstream consequences, such as reducing car dependence, reshaping urban geography, and creating a more sustainable environment.
  3. Regulating e-scooters through legalization can improve safety standards, encourage responsible riding behavior, and prompt the development of infrastructure to accommodate different modes of transportation.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Prasad FDA Memo: Regulatory Implications

Who is Robert Malone • 18 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Regulation
  1. The memo discusses serious concerns about COVID vaccines, suggesting they may have caused more harm to children than saved lives. This recognition challenges previous beliefs about vaccine safety.
  2. Dr. Prasad's guidance could lead to major changes in how vaccines are regulated, including stricter requirements for showing safety and effectiveness. This might slow down the approval process for new vaccines in the future.
  3. There are implications for the entire vaccine market, including potential changes in how vaccines are mandated for children and pregnant women. These changes could affect vaccine companies and public health policies.

The current AI strategic landscape: one bear's perspective

Philosophy bear • 178 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. AI ethicists and safety advocates are starting to work together more, which could strengthen their efforts against risks from AI. This is a positive shift towards a unified approach.
  2. Many people are worried about the threats posed by AI and want more rules to manage it. However, big companies and some governments are pushing for quicker AI development instead of more safety.
  3. To really get people's attention on AI issues, something big might need to happen first, like job losses or a major political shift. It’s important to be ready to act when that moment comes.

Governing Risky Pandemic Research

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 549 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🔬 Science Regulation
  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.

6 March is DMA-Day

Platform Papers • 59 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) will enforce new rules on major digital platforms starting March 6, 2024, aiming to make markets fairer and more contestable for platforms like Apple, Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, and others.
  2. The DMA introduces obligations for gatekeepers to open up ecosystems, ensure fairness for business users, and promote transparency by submitting compliance plans publicly.
  3. The enforcement of DMA rules faces challenges from wealthy companies like Apple resisting compliance and the European Commission needing to balance limited resources with rigorous enforcement, highlighting the need for immediate action and collaboration with national agencies.

The DeFi Roundup (December 10, 2022)

DeFi Education • 419 implied HN points • 11 Dec 22
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. Legacy media companies want the FTX bankruptcy court to reveal the names of its top clients. They believe this information should be public.
  2. This week, people are discussing the impact of the FTX situation on the DeFi space. There's a lot of concern among investors and market watchers.
  3. It's important to stay updated on events in the DeFi world, as new developments can affect your investment strategies.

Why I build open language models

Democratizing Automation • 261 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. Open language models can help balance power in AI, making it more available and fair for everyone. They promote transparency and allow more people to be involved in developing AI.
  2. It's important to learn from past mistakes in tech, especially mistakes made with social networks and algorithms. Open-source AI can help prevent these mistakes by ensuring diverse perspectives in development.
  3. Having more open AI models means better security and fewer risks. A community-driven approach can lead to a stronger and more trustworthy AI ecosystem.

HHS, CDC to Make Announcement on Children’s Health Tomorrow

Who is Robert Malone • 13 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Regulation
  1. HHS and CDC are expected to announce a major change to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule that could align it with other Western countries, potentially delaying start ages and reducing total doses for some vaccines.
  2. The decision may be driven at the HHS leadership level rather than through the CDC's advisory committee (ACIP), which would later need to update recommendations and align the Vaccines for Children program.
  3. If certain vaccines are removed from the official schedule, manufacturers could lose liability protections, likely triggering large lawsuits and intense pushback from pharmaceutical-backed medical groups, advocacy organizations, and trial lawyers.

Heat Pumps, Thermostats, and Bad Design

David Friedman’s Substack • 242 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. Heat pumps can be more cost-effective than gas furnaces, but it depends on current energy prices. It's important to understand the right settings on your thermostat to save money.
  2. Many thermostats are designed to prioritize heat pumps over gas furnaces, which can lead to unnecessary costs if gas heating is cheaper. Users should consider switching to 'emergency heat' if they have both systems.
  3. Regulations often push for efficiency in heating systems, but not all thermostats work well for every dual-fuel setup. It's essential for customers to be informed about the best options for their specific heating needs.

Beware Geeks Bearing Gifts

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 21 Nov 22
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. The FTX collapse has shown that cryptocurrency can be very risky and unregulated. Many people lost money, and it highlights the need for better rules in the crypto world.
  2. FTX was run by a small, inexperienced team and had serious management issues. This makes us question how safe and trustworthy cryptocurrency exchanges really are.
  3. Governments are worried about the negative impact of cryptocurrencies on the global economy. They are starting to take action, like banning crypto trading to protect consumers and prevent financial crime.

We’re wasting AI’s real potential

Sex and the State • 19 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. Most big questions called "AI problems" are actually broader social and policy problems that existed before and will still matter after AI.
  2. Creating rules or exemptions only for AI—like special whistleblower protections or tariff breaks—risks unfair carveouts and misses the chance to update laws and regulations for everyone.
  3. The huge attention on AI is an opportunity to fix those wider issues—balancing innovation and safety, modernizing rules, and protecting displaced workers—so we should use it to reform systems, not just regulate AI.

The Most Unaligned AI In The World

Teaching computers how to talk • 73 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. The Grok 4 AI model is very advanced but lacks essential safety checks. This means it could share harmful information if asked.
  2. There are concerns that AI companions, like the new waifu character Ani, can have negative impacts on vulnerable users. Companies need to handle these technologies carefully.
  3. We need better regulations for AI systems to ensure safety and accountability, similar to how we regulate financial markets and medicine.

Banning TikTok

Points And Figures • 506 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation
  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.

The Rise and Fall of FeFi (Fake DeFi)

DeFi Education • 579 implied HN points • 10 Jul 22
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. FeFi, or Fake DeFi, refers to centralized companies pretending to be part of the decentralized finance space. These companies often mismanage assets and can harm the reputation of real decentralized finance.
  2. True DeFi should be fully decentralized, with no central control or custody of funds. It involves transparent and automated processes to protect users' assets and ensure fair enforcement of agreements.
  3. Investors need to be cautious and understand the risks of centralization. A smart contract from a trusted DeFi protocol can offer better safety compared to centralized options, which can leave users vulnerable.

What Makes A Market A Market?

Knowledge Problem • 137 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
💼 Business Regulation
  1. Economics focuses on how people coordinate actions through market mechanisms as knowledge ecosystems.
  2. The integrity of price signals is crucial for evaluating market institutions.
  3. All markets are a combination of emergent and designed practices governed by specific rules.

PYUSD

Confronting the Future • 137 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
💰 Finance Regulation
  1. Stablecoins like PYUSD are becoming inevitable in the global financial landscape.
  2. Public blockchains erode monopolies and offer new options for value exchange.
  3. Introduction of PYUSD by PayPal will lead to legislative action, regulatory scrutiny, and talent demand in the stablecoin space.

The 16th Largest Bank in the United States is No More

The Sunday Morning Post • 137 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💰 Finance Regulation
  1. Silicon Valley Bank, the 16th largest in the US, was shut down due to bad investments and cash management issues.
  2. The failure caused panic in the banking community, leading to stock value drops and concerns about similar risks in other banks.
  3. The unique situation of Silicon Valley Bank and its impact on the tech sector may not necessarily lead to a widespread banking crisis.

#2 - Regulate or Compete? The China Factor in U.S. AI Policy

Navigating AI Risks • 137 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. The debate on US AI policy involves a delicate balance between regulating AI to mitigate risks and maintaining a competitive edge over China.
  2. Regulation can shape innovation, address safety concerns, and avoid large-scale mishaps in AI development.
  3. While China is ambitious, the US still leads in AI innovation and has a strong network of alliances to maintain its position.

Market Update - March 29, 2023

Crypto is Easy • 137 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. Binance is facing potential trouble with the US government over past actions.
  2. It may take years to resolve the legal case if Binance does not settle.
  3. The market update covers various topics like miner behaviors, altcoin market, and specific warnings about Bitcoin.

The Structure of Competition between Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Not Investing Advice • 137 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. Crypto exchange ecosystem is competitive with over 100 active exchanges in the US trading similar assets.
  2. Binance and Coinbase listing new tokens increases trade volume on other exchanges, making them complements not substitutes.
  3. Small exchanges rely on market maker arbitrage with Binance/Coinbase for liquidity, showcasing the 'leader' role of large exchanges in crypto markets.

WTHIH? The Bank Run Version of 2023

Philoinvestor • 137 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
💰 Finance Regulation
  1. Silicon Valley Bank faced a liquidity problem due to dropping deposit balances from VC-backed companies.
  2. Traditional banking model of borrowing short and lending long can be fragile.
  3. Forced recapitalization could lead banks to drastic financial losses.

Marijuana Reconsidered

In My Tribe • 789 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Regulation
  1. Marijuana legalization has not significantly reduced excessive incarceration and has increased the use of the drug.
  2. Observational studies suggest a link between chronic cannabis use and mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.
  3. There should be strict regulations on marijuana use, with rigorous testing of its medicinal claims and penalties for public use and driving under the influence.

AI and the Law: A Turbulent Relationship

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. AI is reshaping the legal landscape with challenges like intellectual property disputes, data privacy concerns, and ethical dilemmas.
  2. Legal battles over AI ownership rights and copyright infringement are intensifying as AI becomes more prevalent in society.
  3. Regulating AI development and deployment is a major challenge globally, with different regions having varying approaches to ensure ethical and human-centric AI.

Techbros party on

imperfect offerings • 119 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. The 'Safer AI Summit' had predictable guest choices, with figures like Elon Musk and senior representatives of tech giants invited, focusing more on future AI developments than present issues.
  2. The summit had strict restrictions on discussion topics, limiting conversations solely to the risks and opportunities of frontier AI, ignoring broader societal impacts.
  3. Criticism was raised against the summit for being exclusive, favoring big tech corporations, and shutting out voices from trade unions, civil society groups, and organizations concerned about AI ethics.

Watched pots, petards and black ducks

The Jolly Contrarian • 179 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
💼 Business Regulation
  1. Consider supporting independent content creators financially to help sustain quality content production.
  2. Complex regulations like Basel III can be so convoluted that even regulators may not fully understand the consequences, highlighting potential systemic risks.
  3. Banks need to focus on managing both known and unknown risks, including risks that may not be obvious or mentioned in regulations, to prevent potential disasters like financial crises and organizational failures.

Big Insurance in-fighting: why it's so important that Cigna is suing CVS

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 319 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Regulation
  1. Cigna is suing CVS to stop them from hiring a former executive, citing a non-compete agreement. This shows how competitive the big insurance companies are over valuable staff.
  2. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are key players in health insurance, making more money than some health plans. They act as middlemen between patients and drug companies, but their operations are often unclear.
  3. Both political parties are focusing on reforming PBMs because they're seen as raising drug costs. There's growing legal pressure and proposed bills aimed at improving transparency and fairness in their practices.

Were the COVID vaccines genocide?

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Regulation
  1. There’s no clear evidence the vaccine campaigns were a centrally planned genocide, but secrecy, manipulation, and censorship during rollout made large-scale harm possible without explicit intent.
  2. Post-rollout data showed worrying signals like unexplained excess deaths, increased cardiac events in some groups, and reproductive or neurological problems that were often underreported or dismissed.
  3. Pharmaceutical companies and regulators acted with profit and protection motives, suppressing data and dissent in ways many view as a large-scale ethical and medical betrayal.

The hot blood leaps over the cold decree

Asimov’s Addendum • 2 HN points • 04 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Regulation
  1. AI safety discussions should focus not only on stopping outside threats but also on the risks from the owners of AI systems. These owners can create harm while just trying to achieve their business goals.
  2. There is a need to recognize and learn from past technology failures as these patterns might repeat with AI. We should not overlook potential issues that arise from how AI is managed and used.
  3. It's important for AI developers to share what they are measuring and managing in terms of safety. This information can help shape regulations and improve safety practices as AI becomes more integrated into business models.

Vaccines and Adjuvants: Aluminum

Who is Robert Malone • 16 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Regulation
  1. Vaccines are not all the same; each one is made with different ingredients and processes that affect how they work and their safety. It's important to not assume that all vaccines are equally safe and effective.
  2. Adjuvants like aluminum are added to vaccines to boost the immune response. They help the body react better to the vaccine, but understanding their long-term effects is still a bit uncertain.
  3. There are gaps in research about the safety of aluminum in vaccines, especially for babies and young children. More studies are needed to figure out if these aluminum compounds are completely safe.

MoneyLion Pays $1.75M to Settle Military Lending Act Allegations

Fintech Business Weekly • 14 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
💰 Finance Regulation
  1. U.S. banks showed stronger results in Q3 with higher net income, slightly wider net interest margins, lower credit loss provisions, and smaller unrealized losses on securities.
  2. MoneyLion will pay about $1.75 million and must change its practices after regulators found it violated the Military Lending Act by letting membership fees push covered borrowers’ rates above the 36% cap and by blocking cancellations and certain collections.
  3. Most banks are not prioritizing stablecoins or tokenized deposits — only a tiny number see issuing a stablecoin as a high priority, though there is modest interest in holding reserves or offering custodial services for third‑party issuers.

Is the 1986 act vaccine liability shield now gone for vaccines that got kicked off the recommended list? Yes, according to Aaron Siri.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Regulation
  1. The Vaccine Injury Table is the legal mechanism that decides which vaccines get federal liability protection, and if a vaccine is removed from that table the statutory immunity tied to it disappears.
  2. Liability depends on two things: a vaccine being recommended for routine use and being listed in the Injury Table, so changing the CDC schedule alone doesn’t automatically remove legal immunity unless HHS revises the regulatory table through rulemaking.
  3. A separate law (the PREP Act) shields COVID vaccines during a declared emergency, so COVID shots remain protected while that emergency declaration stays in effect.

The NRC's Abuse of PRA

Gordian Knot News • 139 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation
  1. The NRC claims to calculate the probability of a release using PRA, but this is misleading. They only look at certain paths and ignore many other possible scenarios.
  2. There are countless ways a release could happen, and focusing only on a few higher probability paths does not guarantee safety.
  3. The core issue isn't the method of reliability analysis itself, but how the NRC misuses it in their approach.

The DeFi Roundup (August 27, 2022)

DeFi Education • 459 implied HN points • 27 Aug 22
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. Chainlink and Aave, two important players in DeFi, shared some updates this week.
  2. There have been no major hacking incidents recently, suggesting a quieter time in crypto.
  3. Recent sanctions from Tornado Cash are still affecting the market's status.

The Beast That Can't Be Killed

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 150 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation
  1. Capitalism has a tough time changing, even with attempts at regulation. Efforts to control it often fail, showing that it can be very resilient.
  2. Billionaires and powerful capitalists can influence and undermine regulatory bodies. Efforts to create rules for them can be ignored or dismantled.
  3. The system of capitalism can lead to negative outcomes for everyone, as the wealthy often prioritize their interests over the public good.

Sabotaging RFK Jr's confirmation will increase vaccine hesitancy

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 197 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Regulation
  1. Blocking RFK Jr.'s confirmation could make more people anxious about getting vaccines. This is bad for public health.
  2. Scott Gottlieb has made decisions that may hurt trust in the FDA. His past actions raise concerns about his true intentions.
  3. To reduce vaccine hesitancy, it's better to approve RFK Jr. so he can help produce more research and answer important questions.