Audrey Watters: Who benefits from AI? Not you.
AI [https://mronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-24-at-11109-PM.png] I invite you to open the link and continue reading this thought-provoking article. — From MR Online [https://mronline.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mronline.org/feed/].
Can dialectics explain the world?
Dialectical materialism [https://mronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/marxandengelsjpg-copy.jpg] Dialectical materialism is best seen as a valuable heuristic—a practical approach to problem solving, analysis and investigation, explains the MARX MEMORIAL LIBRARY — From MR Online [https://mronline.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mronline.org/feed/].
Global corporations control the infrastructure in modern warfare
War and market. Photo: Revista Mercado [https://mronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guerra-en-Iran-sacude-los-mercados-y-cambia-las-estrategias-de-inversion-copy-1200x675-1-1536x864jpg-copy.jpg] Examining how private capital and global corporations now dictate the logistics of U.S.-Israel war against Iran. — From MR Online [https://mronline.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mronline.org/feed/].
U.S. sanctions on Venezuela continue: Corporate beneficiaries and a targeted society
US Sanctions on Venezuela Continue [https://mronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Venezuela-1.jpg] In the wake of Washington’s January 3 military attack and then problematic détente with Caracas, corporate media suggest a meaningful shift in Venezuela policy, implying relief for a country long subjected to economic coercion. — From MR Online [https://mronline.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mronline.org/feed/].
How microplastics threaten marine ecosystems and the food chain
Microplastics [https://mronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/A_handful_of_microplastics_scooped_from_the_coastal_waters_off_Kamilo_Point_Hawaii_Photo_by_Erica_Cirino_copy.jpg] Microplastics are pervasive pollutants that accumulate in marine ecosystems and enter the human food chain. — From MR Online [https://mronline.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mronline.org/feed/].
Millions defeat Meloni’s judiciary reform plans in massive referendum victory
More than 15 million people defeated Giorgia Meloni’s intention to reform the judiciary and erode the separation of powers by voting “NO” [https://elezioni.interno.gov.it/risultati/20260322/referendum/scrutini/incomplesso/01] at a referendum on March 22-23. With almost 60% of eligible voters participating, the outcome [https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2026/03/23/referendum-i-risultati-in-diretta.-netta-vittoria-del-no-bloccata-la-riforma-della-giustizia_894d7fe2-472c-4c6a-ac55-1ac3fa8fb341.html] has sent waves across the political landscape – and marked an enormous victory for social movements, trade unions, and youth associations that have built resistance to Meloni’s repressive agenda over the past years. The far-right administration wanted to introduce constitutional changes that would increase government control over the judiciary, under the pretext of an inefficient magistrature slowing down legal processes. The entire state apparatus, including Italy’s biggest media houses, was mobilized to ensure the reform would pass – and failed. ### Read more: Mass demonstration in Rome against Giorgia Meloni’s “authoritarian” reforms and war [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/16/mass-demonstration-in-rome-against-giorgia-melonis-authoritarian-reforms-and-war/] According to Giuliano Granato [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWQ7yq4DOIT/] from the left party Potere al Popolo, the referendum’s high participation is a breakthrough in itself. In the weeks leading up to the vote, students found ways to bypass bureaucratic and economic obstacles [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWG5Yo_sTo2/] that would have prevented them from voting away from home, while others traveled literally across the world [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWECFEhjOjS/] to participate. “This is important, on the one hand, because many people wanted to take action on the issue at hand,” Granato told Peoples Dispatch. “But many also voted because they saw it as an opportunity to send a political message.” ### All the layers of a “no” For “yes” votes, the political message was pretty straightforward: confirmation of the right-wing government’s mandate and more space to implement its program. For “no” votes, however, the meaning should be analyzed through multiple layers, Granato emphasizes. The first “no,” he points out, was in defense of the constitution – a progressive constitution forged after the defeat of fascism with participation from those who took part in the resistance. ### Read more: Italy marks 80 years since liberation with calls against genocide and militarism [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/04/25/italy-marks-80-years-since-liberation-with-calls-against-genocide-and-militarism/] The “no” was also a refutation of the government in general, Potere al Popolo and other left organizations insist. “We believe,” Granato says of the mass vote against, “this has acted as a catalyst for much broader discontent that traditional political opposition couldn’t adequately channel.” The referendum numbers surpass the voting base of traditional center and center-left parties, indicating many voters who usually abstain took part. Granato suggests this should be interpreted in the context that, due to Italy’s political landscape – where options from right to center-left essentially run on the same economic premises – people usually feel their vote does not change anything. In this case, it was different. “People knew their vote would count,” he points out. This was one of the results of a highly polarized campaign, reinforced by uncertain polls up until the very end. Even the day before the referendum began, Granato notes, one could not predict which way the vote would swing. “People participate when they feel their input matters. When they think it makes no difference, they stay at home.” ### Read more: Mediterranean dockworkers launch historic international strike [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/02/06/mediterranean-dockworkers-launch-historic-international-strike/] The “no” was also a rejection of anti-worker policies, as demonstrated by trade unions’ participation in the building of a campaign for a “social ‘no.’” According to the grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base [https://www.usb.it/leggi-notizia/ha-vinto-il-popolo-dellautunno-ha-vinto-un-no-netto-completo-e-sociale-al-governo-meloni-ora-dimissioni-1557.html] (USB), the result “sends a strong signal of change and struggle that should be channeled into efforts to protect living and working conditions, as well as getting Italy out of wars and demanding the dismissal of the Meloni government.” Opposition to war and militarization is another layer to the referendum’s results, stemming not only from massive mobilization in solidarity with Palestine that brought Italy to a halt three times [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/11/29/italy-holds-third-general-strike-in-three-months-against-war-budget-and-for-palestine/] during the genocide, but also from opposition to the administration’s silence and servility toward illegal attacks launched by the Trump and Netanyahu governments – including in Iran and Lebanon, but also Venezuela [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/02/04/new-wave-of-solidarity-with-venezuela-sweeps-across-italy/] and Cuba. “And this isn’t just an ethical ‘no,’” Granato adds. “It’s a ‘no’ with immediate material consequences for Italy, since the country is already hard-hit by inflation [stemming from these assaults]. Fuel prices have already risen, along with utility bills and the cost of essential supplies.” ### Generation Gaza is alert and active In this context, Potere al Popolo [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPO304jtTv/], USB, student associations Cambiare Rotta [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPeu_GDHSL/], CAU [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWRlen6jC3W/?img_index=1] and OSA [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPOzoBALxO/], and many more took to the streets across dozens of cities immediately after the results were announced, demanding the Meloni government resign. While the administration has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to ignore popular demands and is expected to do so in this case as well, these organizations intend to seize the referendum’s momentum and build the transformative power Italy needs. This includes, as Granato details, fighting for radical change in labor and living conditions, including living wages and safe working conditions for all workers, shaping a true industrial strategy oriented toward the wellbeing of the majority rather than wealthy industrialists and corporations, and building energy sovereignty. Finally, it includes introducing a different foreign policy independent of NATO and US interests and rooted in global cooperation and solidarity. The high participation of young voters – with around 58% [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWRlen6jC3W/?img_index=11] of this population group rejecting Meloni’s proposals – gives hope that this battle can be won. “Generation Gaza” in Italy is “alert and active,” Granato says – and together with other progressive forces, it will not give in to the far right. The post Millions defeat Meloni’s judiciary reform plans in massive referendum victory [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/24/millions-defeat-melonis-judiciary-reform-plans-in-massive-referendum-victory/] appeared first on Peoples Dispatch [https://peoplesdispatch.org/]. — From Peoples Dispatch [https://peoplesdispatch.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://peoplesdispatch.org/feed/].
Humanity owes Cuba: unilateral coercive measures and the politics of punishment
### The true meaning of the US embargo imposed on Cuba How can one describe a situation where one country prevents another from establishing friendly relations or engaging in trade with other countries? How can one describe a situation where one country prevents another from buying or selling goods, including essential items such as medicine, spare parts, machinery, and energy products like oil and gas? How can one describe a country that forces another to struggle to ensure its citizens have access to basic social services such as healthcare, education, and water? How can one describe a country that becomes hostile when another country ensures its people have the right to land for production within their own territory? These questions, when posed without mentioning specific countries, are often answered easily and logically. However, the answers change dramatically when it is revealed that the country imposing these measures is the United States and the affected country is Cuba. For more than six decades the United States has maintained economic sanctions against Cuba, beginning in 1960 and formalized into a full trade embargo in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy. Earlier tensions intensified following the failed 1961 US orchestrated invasion at the Bay of Pigs. According to official Cuban government estimates presented annually to the United Nations, the economic damage caused by the embargo has exceeded USD 150 billion in cumulative losses when adjusted for inflation. Despite investing heavily in social services such as education and healthcare, Cuba like many countries in the Global South lacks the industrial capacity to produce all essential goods, including machinery, spare parts, and advanced medical equipment. Companies that trade with Cuba may face pressure and restrictions under US laws such as the Helms–Burton Act of 1996, which allows penalties against foreign firms dealing with nationalized Cuban property. This regulatory environment has contributed to infrastructure challenges, including constraints in power generation, fuel supply, and industrial modernization. These measures, critics argue, are intended to apply economic pressure on the Cuban government and population in order to encourage political change. US policymakers, however, unashamedly describe the policy as a tool to promote democratic reforms and human rights. Meanwhile, international opinion has remained largely critical of the embargo. Since 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has passed annual resolutions calling for its termination [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/10/28/ten-lies-the-us-ambassador-told-the-un-about-the-blockade-on-cuba/], with overwhelming support from member states. ### Cuba’s “crimes” against the US Cuba’s first major “crime” in the eyes of Washington was reclaiming its economic sovereignty [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/14/cuba-is-where-the-broader-aspirations-of-the-us-elite-as-a-whole-intersect-why-the-us-wants-to-destroy-cuba/]. Following the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro, the Cuban government introduced sweeping land reforms and nationalized major industries, including sugar plantations, utilities, and oil refineries. These policies affected large landowners and foreign corporations, many of which were based in the United States. The government offered compensation to affected companies, but disputes over valuation and payment methods led to prolonged tensions between the two countries. Despite the presence of large US corporations in Cuba before the revolution, inequality remained widespread. According to historical economic studies, rural poverty, illiteracy, and limited access to healthcare were common in the 1950s, particularly outside urban centers. In response, the revolutionary government launched major social programs, including a nationwide literacy campaign in 1961 that significantly reduced illiteracy rates within a year. Cuba’s second “crime” was asserting independence in matters of defense and foreign policy. During the Cold War, the Cuban government developed close relations with the Soviet Union and pursued security arrangements independent of US influence. These developments culminated in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, one of the most dangerous confrontations of the Cold War era. From Washington’s perspective, these developments represented a strategic threat in the Western Hemisphere. Another “crime” attributed to Cuba was its commitment to internationalism. During the 1960s and 1970s, Cuban forces and advisors supported liberation movements in several African countries, including Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Zaire (DR Congo) and Guinea-Bissau. Historians widely recognize Cuban involvement in Angola as a decisive factor in the defeat of apartheid-aligned forces at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale 1980s. In 1966 Cuba hosted the Tricontinental Conference in Havana, bringing together states liberation movements from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to coordinate anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggles through international solidarity. Cuba’s solidarity diplomacy extended beyond military support. The country developed international medical programs that sent doctors and nurses to countries confronting public health emergencies. Cuban medical teams responded to crises including the Ebola and Zika outbreak in West Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, including in advanced European industrial powers like Italy. The World Health Organization has acknowledged the contribution of Cuban medical personnel in emergency response missions. ### Read more: Drawing lessons from the Cuban Revolution: organization, unity, and internationalism [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/10/19/drawing-lessons-from-the-cuban-revolution-organization-unity-and-internationalism/] By the 1986 Cuba had successfully eliminated Malaria within its borders and later shared public health expertise with partner countries, including Tanzania where Cuban experts co-operate with their Tanzanian counterparts a Bio-products factory that uses Cuban technology, the largest in Africa continent. These achievements demonstrated the potential of a public health system oriented toward universal access. Nevertheless, political tensions between Cuba and the United States persisted, with Washington maintaining sanctions and diplomatic pressure throughout successive administrations. ### A question for the Global South Africa and the Global South should not be tainted from these realities. Recent policy discussions in Washington under President Donald Trump included tightening sanctions on Cuba, reversing even tiny normalization measures introduced during the administration of Barack Obama. Energy supply remains a critical vulnerability for Cuba. Historically, oil imports from Venezuela have been essential to sustaining the country’s electricity system. Termination in shipments due to the US invasion of Venezuela and abduction of its President January 3, 2026, contributed to fuel shortages and extreme power outages in Cuba. Venezuelan oil imports were accounting for more than 40% of all Cuban oil imports. Only second to Mexico, which is also facing mounting pressure from occupiers of the Oval Office in Washington DC not to sell oil to Cuba. At the same time, the United States has encouraged governments hosting Cuban medical missions to review their agreements. Supporters of these missions emphasize their role in expanding healthcare access, particularly in underserved rural regions. Some of the government such as Jamaica has already bow to this pressure and issue official statement of not having intentions to renew contacts with Cuban government that would allow Cuban medical missions to continue operate in their countries. The broader issue therefore extends beyond bilateral relations between the United States and Cuba. Many nations in Africa and the Global South have benefited from Cuban solidarity in education, medicine, and liberation struggles. Thousands of African students have received scholarships to study medicine and engineering in Cuban universities over the past five decades. ### Read more: “This is our Moncada, our Bay of Pigs,” says young Cuban communist leader [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/19/this-is-our-moncada-our-bay-of-pigs-says-young-cuban-communist-leader/] Thus, this is moral, political, and historical obligation for the people of the Global South not just to be concerned but take full charge in tagging the efforts against imperialist coercion on Cuba. People’s Organizations have a crucial role to play. Solidarity does not depend solely on governments, which are largely captured by bourgeois interests submissive to the same force that is choking Cuba. People’s formations should raise awareness, write, speak, compose music, organize, and express support for the Cuban people. Africans share deep historical and cultural connections with Cuba. The island’s revolutionary experience has contributed to struggles for dignity, justice, and independence across the world. Recognizing this history requires more than words. It calls for solidarity with a nation that has long stood on the side of the oppressed despite immense external pressure. Humanity owes Cuba that much. The post Humanity owes Cuba: unilateral coercive measures and the politics of punishment [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/24/humanity-owes-cuba-unilateral-coercive-measures-and-the-politics-of-punishment/] appeared first on Peoples Dispatch [https://peoplesdispatch.org/]. — From Peoples Dispatch [https://peoplesdispatch.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://peoplesdispatch.org/feed/].
Iran rejects Trump’s claims of talks, calls it fake news
Iran dismissed reports and claims of any ongoing talks with the US, calling them fake news and repeating that its position “regarding the Strait of Hormuz and conditions to end the imposed war” remain the same. Spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmail Baghaei, while acknowledging [https://x.com/MehrnewsCom/status/2036120434266013992] that there had been messages from some friendly countries regarding the US willingness to talk, said that Iran had replied to those messages in an appropriate way without compromising the country’s principles about the current war. Iran has refused to have negotiations with the US over a ceasefire and has set three conditions for any future negotiations, including: * the end of strikes on Iran and a guarantee that such attacks will not be carried out in future; * the withdrawal of US military bases from the region; * proper compensation for all the damages caused by the war in Iran; Iran has stated that the claims made by US President Donald Trump about the ongoing talks are false, calling them a stunt as a part of his administration’s attempt to control the rise in the global energy prices. It has also dismissed reports in various western media [https://x.com/clashreport/status/2036197168386592787] organizations about the emergence of Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as the possible point of contact. Trump, in a social media post on Monday, declared he was postponing the attacks on Iranian power plants as there was a “very good and productive conversation” between the two countries over the last two days. Trump also claimed that the talks will continue for the next five days. Trump had given an “ultimatum” to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, threatening to attack its power plants if it fails to do so. Iran had refused [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/23/trump-postponed-strikes-on-iranian-power-plants-after-warnings-of-regionwide-retaliations/] Trump’s demands, claiming the strait would not be open for the US and its allies. It has warned of massive retaliation if its power plants were targeted. ### Read more: Trump “postponed” strikes on Iranian power plants after warnings of regionwide retaliations [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/23/trump-postponed-strikes-on-iranian-power-plants-after-warnings-of-regionwide-retaliations/] “No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” Ghalibaf tweeted on Monday [https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2036108700524347420]. ### Iranians and Iraqis mobilize against the war Hundreds of thousands of people continue to mobilize on the streets of various cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq to demand an end to the US-Israeli war and the establishment of peace in the region. On the midnight of Monday, March 23, which was the 24th day of the war, people took to the streets in various cities across Iran, including Tehran, once again to denounce the war. Waving Iranian flags [https://x.com/iribnews_irib/status/2036150493391528397] and chanting slogans against the US-Israeli bombings, they expressed solidarity with the Iranian armed forces trying to defend the country. Tehran has been one of the main targets of the US-Israeli bombings since February 28, with large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure and thousands of casualties. Protesters in Tehran and other major cities defied those threats of death and destruction. Similarly, thousands took to the streets in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, late [https://x.com/IrnaEnglish/status/2036378832836407804] Monday night in support of Iranian people. ### There is no middle ground Ghalibaf, meanwhile, demanded that the global community take a side in the war, arguing that there is no middle ground now. In a post on X, Ghalibaf claimed [https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2036170045923922224] that “Iran is fighting for humanity” and against the Israeli colonial regime which tortures and kills children everywhere. “The world is either with Gaza and against this colonial terror regime, or it stands with the Epstein class and child tortures. There is no middle ground,” he said, referring to the news of Israeli soldiers caught on camera torturing a one-year-old Palestinian child [https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1462197525362518] to force his father to make confessions. The child was kept under Israeli detention for around 10 hours before being released to his family. However, the father remains in Israeli custody, TRT reported. [https://www.trtworld.com/article/3468729a94aa] Thousands of Palestinian children have been killed in the Israeli war in Gaza since October 2023. Israeli bombardment in Iran and its attacks and ground invasions in Lebanon have also killed over hundreds of children. According to the Iranian Health Ministry [https://x.com/EnglishFars/status/2035994518961713340], over 210 Iranian children have been killed in Iran in the war, including 168 school girls killed on the first day of US-Israeli strikes [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/02/we-will-not-negotiate-with-the-us-says-irans-national-security-council-chief/]. ### US-Israeli strikes damaged nearly 500 schools and 292 medical facilities in Iran A total of over 82,000 civilian structures [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/3/24/iran-war-live-tehran-says-trumps-claims-of-peace-talks-fake] have been damaged or destroyed in the US-Israeli strikes inside Iran, including some of the historic monuments, according to a report [https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/03/24/765782/iranian-red-crescent-calls-who-condemn-act-against-us-israeli-strikes-medical-infrastructure] by the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) on Monday. US-Israeli strikes in the country have damaged or destroyed 498 schools and 292 medical facilities in the 24 days of the war, with over a dozen hospitals in Tehran going completely out of service. In a letter to WHO Director-General Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the IRCS also noted that at least 22 Iranian medical staff have been killed and 113 others have been injured in the US-Israeli attacks on the country since February 28. Attacks on health facilities and medical staff violate international humanitarian laws and the fourth Geneva convention and its additional protocols, the IRCS said, demanding that the WHO condemn such attacks. The post Iran rejects Trump’s claims of talks, calls it fake news [https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/24/iran-rejects-trumps-claims-of-talks-calls-it-fake-news/] appeared first on Peoples Dispatch [https://peoplesdispatch.org/]. — From Peoples Dispatch [https://peoplesdispatch.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://peoplesdispatch.org/feed/].
Iran’s Red Crescent Says More Than 82,000 ‘Civilian Units’ Damaged or Destroyed by US-Israeli Strikes
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said on Tuesday that US and Israeli strikes have damaged or destroyed more than 82,000 “civilian units” in Iran since the war was launched on February 28. The IRCS said the targets hit included 62,440 residential units, 19,187 commercial buildings, 481 schools, 281 medical facilities, and 17 IRCS centers. […] — From News From Antiwar.com [https://news.antiwar.com/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://news.antiwar.com/feed/].
New Mexico Jury Orders Meta to Pay $375 Million for Endangering Kids
[https://www.commondreams.org/media-library/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-testifies-in-social-media-addiction-trial.jpg?id=65400615&width=1200&height=400&coordinates=0%2C77%2C0%2C632] Democratic New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and other child advocates on Tuesday celebrated a state jury’s landmark verdict against Meta, despite the social media giant’s plans to fight the decision requiring it to pay $375 million in civil penalties. “The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” said Torrez, who had accused the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp of violating the state’s Unfair Practices Act. “Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew. Today, the jury joined families, educators, and child safety experts in saying enough is enough.” The Associated Press highlighted [https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-new-mexico-trial-28eabd8ec5f58c1d1ecddc21bb107de7] that “the landmark decision comes after a nearly seven-week trial [https://apnews.com/article/meta-new-mexico-lawsuit-a7374a4dbf19c885f0239431b2341e60], and as jurors in a federal court in California have been sequestered in deliberations [https://apnews.com/article/meta-instagram-facebook-trial-social-media-addiction-2afb4809d2dbbb0d1e69739c7f2b20b3] for more than a week about whether Meta and YouTube should be liable in a similar case.” Torrez said that “New Mexico is proud to be the first state to hold Meta accountable in court for misleading parents, enabling child exploitation, and harming kids. In the next phase of this legal proceeding, we will seek additional financial penalties and court-mandated changes to Meta’s platforms that offer stronger protections for children.” “The substantial damages the jury ordered Meta to pay should send a clear message to Big Tech executives that no company is beyond the reach of the law,” he added. “Policymakers and law enforcement officials across the country can help make this verdict a turning point in the fight for children’s safety. This is a watershed moment for every parent concerned about what could happen to their kids when they go online—and this victory belongs to them.” Josh Golin, executive director of the nonprofit Fairplay, welcomed the verdict. He said in a statement that “we’ve known for years that Meta enables the sexual exploitation of children. Now, that has been proven by a jury.” “As an organization that fights to protect children from Big Tech’s deadly business model, Fairplay thanks Attorney General Torrez for his leadership in taking Meta to court,” Golin continued. “Between this case and the ongoing trial in Los Angeles, parents, survivors, and state officials are doing their part to hold Big Tech accountable. Now, it’s time for our leaders in the US Congress to get off the sidelines and pass the Senate’s version of the Kids Online Safety Act to force these companies to change their addictive and dangerous product designs.” As Common Dreams has reported [https://www.commondreams.org/news/kids-online-safety-act], while a diverse coalition supports the Kids Online Safety Act, civil rights groups have also expressed concerns about the legislation. Jenna Leventoff, senior policy counsel at the ACLU, warned [https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/lawmakers-renew-push-to-regulate-kids-speech-online-despite-speech-protections] last year that “the overbroad language in KOSA and similar legislation risks censoring everything from jokes and hyperbole to useful information about sex ed and suicide prevention.” Amid celebrations over the New Mexico jury’s decision on Tuesday, Meta said [https://x.com/andymstone/status/2036549587025199582] in a statement that “we respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal. We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.” NBC News noted [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/jury-orders-meta-pay-375-million-new-mexico-lawsuit-child-sexual-explo-rcna265002] that “separately, Meta is facing thousands of lawsuits accusing it and other social media companies of intentionally designing their products to be addictive to young people, leading to a nationwide mental health crisis. Some of the lawsuits, which have been filed in both state and federal courts, seek damages in the tens of billions of dollars, according to Meta’s filings with financial regulators.” — From Common Dreams [https://www.commondreams.org/feeds/news.rss] via This RSS Feed [https://www.commondreams.org/feeds/news.rss].
