Tech Week In Review: Consumer Data Privacy, Bitcoin Mining, EV Charging Stations

CO Becomes Third State to Pass Consumer Data Privacy Bill:

Colorado has become the third state - after California and Virginia - to pass a comprehensive consumer data privacy bill. On June 8 the state’s General Assembly passed SB 190, which, if signed by Gov. Jared Polis (D), would allow residents to tell companies to stop collecting data on them. The measure would also let residents globally opt out of ad-based tracking instead of having to make a separate request at each company where such tracking might be an issue.

But the measure would also allow advertisers to track consumers if they request permission first. And unlike California’s law but similar to Virginia’s, the Colorado bill doesn’t include a private right of action, allowing consumers to sue companies over violations. (COLORADO SUN, STATE NET)

‘Great Bitcoin Mining Migration’ Could Benefit TX:

For years much of the world’s bitcoin mining operations have been based in China. But in May Beijing ordered a severe crackdown on bitcoin mining and trading. That action has touched off what some in the crypto world are calling “the great mining migration,” and it could end up being a boon for Texas.

Bitcoin mining, the process by which new coins are created and all transactions are logged, is extremely energy intensive. And although Texas suffered prolonged blackouts last winter due to a lack of energy reserves, it also frequently has some of the lowest energy prices in the world. Its share of renewable energy has also been growing; as of 2019 the state derived more than 20 percent of its power from wind. And its governor is a big crypto supporter. All of that could be very enticing to Chinese bitcoin miners looking for a new home.

“You are going to see a dramatic shift over the next few months,” said Brandon Arvanaghi, a former security engineer at Gemini, a crypto exchange. “We have governors like Greg Abbott in Texas who are promoting mining. It is going to become a real industry in the United States, which is going to be incredible.” (CNBC)

CA Needs Over 1 Million EV Charging Stations by 2030:

By 2030 California will need over 16 times more electric vehicle chargers than it has now (1.2 million versus 73,000) to support the number of such vehicles on the road as the state pursues its goal of eliminating the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, according to a report from the California Energy Commission. A survey last year by Consumer Reports found that a couple of the biggest barriers to EV ownership were concerns about vehicle range and the availability of charging stations. (SACRAMENTO BEE, CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION, CONSUMER REPORTS)

Big Tech Critic Kahn to Lead FTC:

Last week, hours after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a commissioner of the Federal Trace Commission, Democrat and Big Tech critic Lina Khan was selected by President Biden to lead the agency. The move suggests a more progressive agenda may be ahead for the agency. (CNET)

SCOTUS Weighs in on LinkedIn Anti-Hacking Law Case:

The U.S. Supreme Court threw out a ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco barring Microsoft Corp.’s LinkedIn from prohibiting rival hiQ Labs from harvesting information from LinkedIn members’ public profiles. The justices sent the case back to the Ninth Circuit with instructions to reconsider its ruling in light of their June 4 decision limiting the type of conduct subject to criminal prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. (INSURANCE JOURNAL)

Facebook Studying Deepfakes:

Facebook has been conducting research with Michigan State University on a way to identify deepfake images that came from the same source. The research could help the social media platform crack down on future deepfake-related disinformation campaigns. Deepfake videos have also drawn the attention of state lawmakers. (CNET)

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK