Brief #21—Technology
By Charles A. Rubin
With the U.S. presidential election only weeks away, Facebook and other social media companies are struggling to show that they take the use of their platforms to spread misinformation and hate speech seriously, Facebook announced on October 6, 2020 that it had removed nearly 1,000 QAnon conspiracy theorist groups and promised to halt political ads after the polls close on November 3

Brief #20—Technology
By Amy Swain
It was confirmed in October of 2016, then explained in 2019 by the Special Counsel Investigation led by Robert Mueller – Russia had interfered with the 2016 presidential election.

Brief #19—Technology
By Charles A. Rubin
For the uninitiated, Tik Tok is a smartphone based video sharing app that is most commonly known for sharing dance videos, music, instructional content and comedy among younger digital natives.

Brief #17—Technology
By Amy Swain
Censorship of politicians has become a hot topic as of late, specifically concerning Twitter vs Trump.

Brief #16—Technology
By Charles A. Rubin
In less than 100 days, Americans will be voting in what is arguably the most important election in our lifetimes.

Brief #15—Technology
ByAmy Swain
A sponsored ad for Trump’s re-election campaign was removed from Facebook June 18 due to its violation of the social media company’s policies against organized hate.

Brief #14—Technology
By Charles A Rubin
In the six months since we first became aware of the novel coronavirus, we have learned hard lessons about how the disease spreads and what we can do to contain it.

Brief #13—Technology
By Charles A Rubin
As the COVID-19 epidemic has forced the nation’s schools and business into a second month of lock-down with no timetable for relaxation in sight, the digital divide has been brought into sharp relief. By some estimates, fully 25% of the US lacks high speed internet connections.

Brief #12—Technology
By Charles A Rubin
With election day less than eight months away and primary races in many states already delayed or pushed further out on the calendar, concern is mounting about how an election can be conducted under the current or even more draconian restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Senators Amy Klobucher (D-Minnesota) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) have introduced the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 which provides funding and guidance for states, counties and localities to quickly move to vote-by-mail elections. The legislation also strongly discourages on-line balloting efforts which it deems insecure.