The hottest Regulation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

On the FLI AI-Risk Open Letter

thezvi • 1517 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Ethics Political Response Risk Assessment
  1. The FLI AI-Risk Open Letter calls for a pause in training AI systems more powerful than GPT-4, sparking mixed reactions.
  2. The letter combines short-term concerns with existential risks, suggesting high standards that might act as a de facto ban on AI development.
  3. Despite its flaws, the letter sets the stage for cooperation and lays the groundwork for future discussions around AI safety and regulation.

Blocked Transmission

Asimov Press • 103 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Regulation
  1. Fomite transmission, where pathogens spread through touch on surfaces, is a significant route for disease spread, and materials like copper coatings or sprays can help reduce this transmission.
  2. Using innovative technologies like far-UVC light or cellulose-based sprays can effectively kill pathogens on surfaces, providing alternatives to traditional disinfectants like bleach that may contribute to issues like antibiotic resistance.
  3. Regulations and testing pose challenges for the adoption of new surface treatments, but research into effective and non-toxic materials, like copper or cellulose-based sprays, could lead to improved pathogen control methods in various settings.
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European Union Reaches Agreement on New Repair Laws

Fight to Repair • 138 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics European Union Legislation Advocacy Regulation
  1. EU has agreed on new repair laws requiring manufacturers to repair common household products and provide repair information to consumers.
  2. The new repair laws also allow consumers to borrow a device while theirs is being fixed and offer refurbished units as alternatives.
  3. Advocates are pushing for more expansive legislation beyond the new repair rules to increase repair accessibility and spare parts availability.

CBW Bank, A BaaS Pioneer, Is Up For Sale: Exclusive

Fintech Business Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Fintech Banking Regulation Innovation Sales
  1. CBW Bank, a pioneer in Banking-as-a-Service, is up for sale, showing continued challenges in bank/fintech partnerships.
  2. CBW Bank grew significantly under new ownership, focusing on innovation and providing API access for startups and banks to build digital banking solutions faster.
  3. Regulatory shifts and challenges in innovation may have led to CBW's decision to sell, highlighting the impact of changing regulatory attitudes on banks like CBW.

AI’s Linux Moment (Chapter 2): Recent highlights of the open-source vs. closed-source model debate

Next Big Teng • 196 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Open Source Regulation Security
  1. Open-source models are catching up to closed-source models in performance and offer advantages like cost savings and improved latency.
  2. As competition intensifies, closed-source models are becoming more secretive in sharing knowledge, raising concerns about transparency and auditability.
  3. Debate between 'security through obscurity' and 'security through openness' highlights differing views on sharing model details for security reasons.

Weekend Thoughts: Coinbase $COIN

Yet Another Value Blog • 1159 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency SEC Regulation Competition Investing
  1. Coinbase is facing serious challenges posed by an SEC suit that could potentially put the company out of business.
  2. The primary defense of Coinbase against the SEC is the hope that Congress will change laws to save them, but this could lead to increased competition and challenges for the company.
  3. Even if Congress were to change laws to make crypto trading legal, it could have negative consequences for Coinbase's business by opening the door to strong competition and impacting its unique revenue streams.

Agency vs. Addiction

Polymathic Being • 68 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Agency Regulation Exercise Relationships
  1. Personal agency is key in resisting external influences and making independent choices.
  2. Addiction can extend beyond traditional vices like drugs and alcohol to include positive behaviors as well.
  3. Past attempts at regulation, like Prohibition and the War on Drugs, have often failed, highlighting the importance of personal agency in combating addiction.

Anti-Open Source AI Agitators are Uniquely Dangerous and They Must Be Stopped

Future History • 140 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Open Source Regulation Ethics Innovation
  1. Open source AI is crucial for innovation and must be protected from anti-open source agitators.
  2. Anti-AI pressure groups often lack understanding of how open societies work and the benefits of open source software.
  3. Criticism of AI should focus on intelligent regulation rather than restricting innovation and advancements in technology.

Consent Order Double Header Suggests Tough 2024 For Fintech, Banking-as-a-Service

Fintech Business Weekly • 141 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💼 Business Fintech Regulation Partnerships
  1. Fintech and media businesses are facing challenges like layoffs and closures, highlighting the importance of independent journalism.
  2. Regulatory changes like the CFPB proposed rules on junk fees and NY BNPL law are impacting the banking and fintech industry.
  3. Recent enforcement actions on Blue Ridge Bank and Choice Bank reveal the regulatory scrutiny on BaaS relationships, emphasizing the need for due diligence and compliance.

TabaPay Working On A Deal To Acquire Synapse, Sources Say

Fintech Business Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
💼 Business Fintech Venture Capital Startup Regulation
  1. TabaPay is in talks to acquire Synapse, a banking-as-a-service platform, to potentially mitigate damage caused by a past financial incident.
  2. Oxygen, a neobank, is pivoting to focus on 'health solutions' temporarily, suspending its banking services.
  3. Trade groups are suing to block a new CFPB rule that limits credit card late fees, arguing it restricts choices and responsible credit card use.

Is the Capital One/Discover Deal Good or Bad For “Competition”? Yes.

Fintech Business Weekly • 81 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech Regulation Banking Acquisition Legislation
  1. Capital One's acquisition of Discover is a complex deal that has both good and bad elements for competition, creating a potential shake up in the US payments space.
  2. The CFPB is using once-dormant authority to supervise nonbank entities like World Acceptance Corp, focusing on risks to consumers.
  3. Acting Comptroller Hsu suggests creating a federal money transmitter licensing framework to better regulate non-bank companies providing bank-like services, highlighting potential risks in the growing role of non-bank firms in banking areas.

Subprime, bank runs, and the Global Financial Crisis

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 210 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
💰 Finance Economics Financial Markets Policy Housing Crisis Regulation
  1. The private securitization market dominated housing finance from 2004 to 2007 before collapsing.
  2. The Great Recession didn't follow the expected pattern in Atlanta, with unique housing price changes.
  3. The Global Financial Crisis was self-imposed due to a retraction in money and credit, not the predicted factors.

E-scooters are good and Britain should legalise them

Odds and Ends of History • 1072 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Transportation Urban planning Regulation Environment Infrastructure
  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.

Marijuana Reconsidered

In My Tribe • 789 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental Illness 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.

Potential Class Action Argues High APR "Rent-a-Bank" Scheme Violates RICO

Fintech Business Weekly • 96 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💰 Finance Banking Legal Regulation Fintech Lending
  1. A potential class action case argues against a "rent-a-bank" scheme for high APR loans, highlighting the importance of understanding financial regulations and usury laws in the lending industry.
  2. The case brings attention to the evolving landscape between fintech companies and traditional banks, showing the complexities and discussions around defining the true lender in partnerships.
  3. The case also underscores the need for transparency and clarity in financial partnerships, as demonstrated by the alleged lack of distinction between a fintech entity and bank in customer-facing materials.

6 March is DMA-Day

Platform Papers • 59 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Regulation Big Tech Compliance Market Impact Digital Platforms
  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.

I am cancelled

A Lawyer Writes • 687 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
💼 Business Regulation Professionalism Legal system
  1. The author received a notice about being removed from a database, not being struck off as a solicitor.
  2. The message contained unusual demands, like a fee and restrictions on future restoration.
  3. The situation highlights issues faced by retired professionals in the legal field.

European Union AI Act

Good Computer • 37 HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Data Privacy Machine Learning European Union
  1. The EU AI Act aims to protect individuals' rights and ensure safe AI use, setting a risk-based framework for regulation.
  2. The act defines AI broadly to be future-proof, with specific categories for varying levels of risk: Unacceptable, High, Low, and Minimal Risk.
  3. Generative AI like ChatGPT is carefully regulated in the act, aligning with the existing General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to safeguard privacy and data.

A sword of Damocles over the administrative state

Bruce Fein's Pioneering Lyceum • 117 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Supreme Court Regulation Legislation
  1. The Supreme Court may change the rules for federal rulemaking, impacting how executive branch regulators interpret laws.
  2. Congress needs to take responsibility for writing clear laws to prevent excessive regulatory power.
  3. Requiring Congress to vote on all regulations would increase accountability and reduce the size of the administrative state.

Software Liability for Armchair Quaterbacks

Cybersect • 78 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Software Engineering Regulation
  1. Armchair experts in both football and software development have strong opinions without real expertise.
  2. Software bugs are complex and not solely due to moral weakness, but rather the inherent difficulty of preventing them.
  3. Proposed software regulations may not improve cybersecurity but instead burden smaller companies and benefit larger corporations.

AI and the Law: A Turbulent Relationship

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Legal Regulation Innovation Privacy
  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.

Which Technologies Have Learning Curves?

Climateer • 755 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Energy Innovation Regulation Standardization Subsidies
  1. Some technologies progress faster than others based on factors like standardization, product complexity, manufacturing complexity, barriers to entry, project timeline, and market growth.
  2. The power of standards can accelerate cost reduction in technologies by promoting standardization, streamlining regulatory processes, and fostering international cooperation.
  3. Subsidies are effective for technologies with steep learning curves, like batteries and solar panels, but may not work well for complex or customized technologies like nuclear power or BECCS.