California is preparing to share with an outside organization detailed information about driver’s license-holders, including immigrants who do not have legal authorization to live in the U.S. That breaks a promise the state made a decade ago when it began issuing licenses to unauthorized immigrants, advocates say, and it means more than 1 million people could face higher risk of deportation.
Khari Johnson / CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
After immigration arrests, California lawmakers wonder: Are police telling the feds too much?
California legislators approved an audit of three of the state’s federally funded fusion centers, citing concerns about civil liberties and privacy.
Posted inEducation
AI images scandalized a California elementary school. Now the state is pushing new safeguards
Adobe’s artificial intelligence generated sexualized images in response to prompts for a fourth grade book project. The incident coincided with the release of new state guidelines to prevent harmful AI in schools.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California state employees alarmed by demand to prove their citizenship
Close to 4,000 employees of the California Department of Public Health were told they must use the federal E-Verify system to keep federal funding. Unions are pushing back.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California investigates Elon Musk’s AI company after ‘avalanche’ of complaints about sexual content
Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is looking into whether a new artificial-intelligence image editing tool from Elon Musk’s company violates California law.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Trump’s new order against AI regulation hits California especially hard
Since 2016, California has enacted more regulations on artificial intelligence than any other state. President Donald Trump’s new order against such laws worries California officials.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom just vetoed a bill to regulate license plate readers — even as fresh evidence of misuse emerges
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required regular purges of license plate databases and regularly audited how automated plate readers are used. He said the regulations would have impeded criminal investigations.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
State claims there’s zero high-risk AI in California government — despite ample evidence to the contrary
A state report provided to CalMatters says 200 agencies reported no automation around sensitive decisions. Some called the report befuddling.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Congress might strip Californians of protections against AI in health care, hiring and much more
House Republicans want to ban state regulations on artificial intelligence for 10 years. California leaders are alarmed.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Kids should avoid AI companion bots — under force of law, assessment says
With input from a Stanford lab, Common Sense Media concludes that artificial intelligence systems can exacerbate problems like addiction and self-harm.