Notices by Tracy Rosenberg (twrling@sfba.social)

State of Oregon passes emergency law to limit license plate reader scans from being retained for more than 30 days absent being used as evidence in criminal case. This leaves CA as the outlier state on the West Coast that allows cops to retain for as long as five years. #ALPR https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2026/04/23/a-new-oregon-law-regulates-police-use-of-license-plate-readers-heres-how-it-works/

"Yen suggests that the tech giants are cynically exploiting parental fears. Meta, for example, has lobbied for age verification to shift the regulatory burden away from its own platforms, allowing it to keep targeting adults with what Yen calls "toxic products." https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/proton-ceo-warns-global-age-verification-push-will-mean-the-death-of-anonymity-online

The 9 federal agencies that have access to UC Merced’s data include Border Patrol. The fact is that a police department is currently in violation of California state law in a way that puts their student population at risk,” Katz-Lacabe said. #ALPR https://www.modbee.com/news/local/education/article315497840.html#storylink=cpy

Here we go again. California cop accessing #Flock to stalk his lover 6 months after being put on leave. #ALPR https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/ex-costa-mesa-police-officer-accused-of-using-flock-cameras-to-track-his-mistress/

"In my view Sam Liccardo has had a front row seat to the ways in which tech can be disruptive and harmful, if not properly regulated" #AI https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-lawmaker-at-center-of-ai-regulation-fight/

That is called price fixing. "According to a newly unsealed court filing, #Amazon employees have repeatedly worked with vendors using its platform to push retail vendors including Walmart and Chewy to set higher prices collectively. #antitrust https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/20/amazon-sellers-price-raises-california

"Flight records show DFR #drones were launched 31 times to surveil the January 31 “ICE Out” protest in downtown Los Angeles. At the March 28 “No Kings” protest, city data shows the #LAPD again launched drones 32 times over the area where the demonstration took place" https://theintercept.com/2026/04/20/lapd-skydio-drone-surveillance-no-kings-protest-ice/

"The US spy tech company #Palantir published a manifesto some have called “a parody of a RoboCop film” and “the ramblings of a supervillain”. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/21/palantir-manifesto-uk-contract-fears-mps

Ninth Circuit enjoins California laws on limiting #masks and requiring #ID from all law enforcement officers, dealing a blow to California's efforts to combat #ICE raids. https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/04/22/federal-appeals-court-blocks-california-law-requiring-federal-agents-to-wear-identification-2-2/?

#FCC chair Brendan Carr floats warning labels for #gender identity content on television, similar to excessive violence or explicit sexual activity warnings. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/22/brendan-carr-tv-gender-identity-fcc-00887017?

"Utility companies disconnected U.S. households more than 13.4 million times in 2024. The report is the first state-by-state dataset disclosing how often #utilities have shut off electricity and gas to households who are unable to make payments" https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/landmark-federal-report-reveals-us-utilities-shut-off-power-13-million-times-2026-04-15/

"I sat there in church and I thought, ‘Our #press are just like these Pharisees" https://deadline.com/2026/04/pete-hegseth-media-bible-christ-pharisees-1236862943/

More stories of the horrors in #ICE detention. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2026/ice-detention-deaths/

While San Jose is voluntarily the leading #datacenter location in CA, it is far from the only place these projects are in development. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2026/ca-data-center-map/?

Some of these big league #universities with million dollar endowments should follow in the footsteps of little Contra Costa College. https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/contra-costa-college-debt-relief-students-22204241.php

California may ban artificial #stone countertops due to health hazards. https://www.kqed.org/news/12079653/california-fabricators-face-artificial-stone-ban-as-silicosis-cases-mount

Media Alliance is proud to be a signatory to this important amicus brief. #pressfreedom https://theintercept.com/2026/04/02/press-freedom-defense-fund-law-firms-amicus-brief/

Our #utility bills go down a little. Their executive pay goes up a lot. https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/04/10/pge-bill-power-electric-gas-salary-energy-pay-economy-consumer-fire/?

"It’s the first time CLERB will refer its findings to the District Attorney’s Office for potential criminal charges." #policeoversight https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/04/06/sheriffs-deputies-committed-crimes-before-man-died-in-vista-jail-oversight-board-rules/

"By buying facilities currently owned by private prison companies, #ICE could help shield those detention centers from state oversight and some lawsuits tied to alleged abuse, including labor violations." https://jacobin.com/2026/03/ice-private-detention-abuse-oversight?