Friday, March 1, 2013, by Anne Marie Tosco In December of 2009, Facebook settled a class action lawsuit aimed at its Beacon program. Beacon launched in November of 2007 and published Facebook users’ activity on third-party websites, including Blockbuster, Fandango, Gameday, Hotwire, Overstock.com, STA Travel, and Zappos.com. Plaintiffs alleged, “Facebook and its affiliates did not …
Friday, March 1, 2013, by Amanda Jones In 1978 Congress passed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (“FISA”), a law governing “the surveillance of people in the United States for the purpose of collecting intelligence related to foreign powers.” The Act was amended several times in the following years, the most recent amendment occurring in 2008. …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013, by Collier Johnson This past Saturday, NASCAR held its annual Daytona Nationwide race. Things were running smoothly until a crash in the final lap of the event injured nearly 30 fans after parts of driver’s Kyle Larson’s car flew into the stands. Almost instantaneously, footage of the wreck was uploaded to …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013, by Kenneth Jennings The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) claims that their now exists a “constitution free zone,” wrapping the contours of the United States. Within this zone, the ACLU suggests, well-established constitutional guarantees of free speech, and protections against unreasonable search and seizure no longer apply. The basis of this …
Saturday, February 23, 2013, by Samantha Surles The 9/11 Commission pushed the idea of a nationwide interoperable public safety network after several communication failures between first responders during the attacks. A decade later, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act created the First Responders Network Authority (FirstNet). FirstNet is tasked with planning, building, …
Thursday, February 21, 2013, by Drew Hargrove EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program (“RFS”) regulates the amount of renewable fuel contained in transportation fuel sold in the United States. The Clean Air Act (“Act”) requires EPA to set renewable fuel standards (“applicable volumes”) each year for specific classes of renewable fuels for the following calendar year. …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013, by Katherine Street The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sought to reduce the generation of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) in 2010 by publishing “national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for existing stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE).” The main targets of the new regulations were RICE units that were operated …
Wednesday, February 20, 2012, by Carla M. Gray A debate over the uses of genetically modified seed come to the forefront again as the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in Bowman v. Monsanto this week. In the case, Bowman contends that he purchased the genetically modified seed, and therefore has the right to plant …
Saturday, February 16, 2013 by Lev Gabrilovich California’s cap-and-trade program has recently passed its first real test with flying colors. Through this program, California is able to reduce pollution by setting a maximum cap on emissions in the state. Then, the state, through the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”), sets up permits for emissions allowances, …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 by Michael Frongello In June 2011, the Supreme Court struck down, on First Amendment grounds, a California law that banned the sale of violent video games to children. This scrutiny of video games has reemerged in the wake of the recent school shootings, including the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School …
