MTEC (Miami Tech Enthusiast Club) is a club dedicated to fostering a local community who are interested in technology in the broadest sense, from products to coding to systems administration to Linux, while facilitating advocacy for digital and consumer rights.
House E+C hearing takeaways:
- Dems voted against KOSA due to the duty of care + against COPPA 2.0 due to preemption of state laws.
- With KOSA, the House is concerned with FTC overreach to police online free speech.
Both KOSA + COPPA 2.0 advanced through the committee on a partisan basis by Republicans - the fight isn’t over yet!
Next committee meeting on these bills will likely happen in January. In the meantime, keep the pressure on!
www.badinternetbills.com
Happening today! Tune in!
The Trump Administration is expanding its border management systems so that visitors to the US must submit social media, email identifiers, and even DNA data for entry.
The US Government wants to require five years of social media data and ten years of email addresses, including business accounts. Accumulating this most intimate personal data will create an unprecedented immigration system.
“Watchdog groups warn that the federal government is adopting AI too quickly. On Monday, the CDT said agencies are deploying general-purpose models without enough testing or oversight, risking errors, wasted spending, and public harm.” https://decrypt.co/351691/war-department-launches-googles-gemini-military-ai-push
Today we’re launching https://EFF.org/Age, our one-stop shop to answer all of your questions about online age verification mandates. What’s at stake for users? How do we push back? What even IS age verification, anyway? Visit https://www.eff.org/age now to explore our resources and join the fight to protect the internet.
NEW BLOG: The GUARD Act would regulate how minors interact with AI chatbots—but its sweeping bans and mandatory age checks threaten lawful expression, anonymous access, and privacy for everyone. CDT’s Becca Branum breaks down why we should be concerned: https://cdt.org/insights/three-reasons-to-be-on-guard-about-the-guard-act/
Two tech related pieces of legislation to watch in Florida:
1. DeSantis proposes AI bill of rights
https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2025/governor-ron-desantis-announces-proposal-citizen-bill-rights-artificial
At first blush doesn't seem sketch to us, but important to be aware of it.
2. HB 487 - Repair of Mobility Devices
https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=83084&SessionId=113
This is a bill that would make it easier for people who need to fix their wheelchairs or similar devices. Squarely in the realm of Right to Repair.
🕵️ noyb is #hiring!
🔎 We are currently looking for a Full Stack Developer and an IT-Project Manager.
For more information, click here 👉 https://noyb.eu/en/jobs
We're looking forward to hearing from you!
Is your phone listening to you? Can the government read your text messages? Why is printer ink so expensive? Digital Rights Bytes answers common questions about technology that have been bugging you. https://www.digitalrightsbytes.org/
If anyone is thinking about starting a local club or advocacy group about digital rights, we will be happy to share what we've learned so far. It's small, but it could give you the head start you need for reaching your community.
#Privacy #Security #DigitalRights #RightToRepair #ConsumerRights
I swear our club is fun and not just about activism all the time lol
As we approach the final negotiations of this regulation, we urge lawmakers in the EU to work on a final text that fully protects users’ right to private communication and avoids intrusive age verification mandates. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/12/after-years-controversy-eus-chat-control-nears-its-final-hurdle-what-know
For the second time this year, border agents set a record for warrantless device searches — over 16,000 phones, laptops, & tablets examined without judicial oversight. In the final blog in a 3-part series, CDT's Jake Laperruque warns how AI could supercharge this invasive practice more. https://cdt.org/insights/the-border-search-device-database-and-ai-how-emerging-tech-could-supercharge-the-dangers-of-an-outdated-warrant-exception/
Day 3 of our week of action against online ID checks 🙌🏽 we’ll be hosting a live panel on LinkedIn today with @eff and other digital rights experts discussing the threat of online age + ID verification to the internet we love and the tools we can use to fight back.
Join us! FFTF.link/noidchecks
Write up we did about how this week is going in the fight against bad internet bills in the US. So far, we are in the fight!
#Privacy #Security #DigitalRights #StopAgeVerification #StopOnlineIDChecks
It’s Day 2 of our week of action against online ID checks + we need you to make some noise and call your reps letting them know censorship bills like KOSA + Online ID Checks are EXTREMELY unpopular & they are doomed to fail 💅
Call Now +1 248-331-8665 or use our call tool: www.badinternetbills.com
NOW: Congress is holding a hearing on 19(!) kids safety bills and several would age-gate/censor the internet, particularly for LGBTQ youth.
Our policy counsel + members of our team are live-streaming analysis and reactions, join us!
https://www.youtube.com/live/GwAAPmNa_0U?si=L3HLTc_OW7XgWScx
Showing ID online isn't the same as showing it to a human offline.
Each time we provide our official ID or face scan online, this data risks getting leaked, stolen, or accessed by corporations and governments alike, to track our online activities and attach it to our identities.
Privacy Guides supports @fight's campaign against online ID checks.
Add your voice to the protest! 🗣️ ✊
https://www.stoponlineidchecks.org/
Sign this petition by @fight to send a message to Congress that we will not accept the loss of privacy that comes with online ID checks and age verification!
And then call them directly and tell them again!
https://www.stoponlineidchecks.org/
#DigitalRights #StopOnlineIDChecks #StopAgeVerification #Privacy #Security
