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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici

Trump’s first 100 days: all the news affecting the tech industry

The Verge: “President Donald Trump kicked off the first day of his presidency by signing a flurry of executive actions, including halting enforcement of the TikTok ban and rolling back the Biden administration’s artificial intelligence order. Having already run the country once before, Trump entered the presidency with the goal of hitting the ground running,… Continue Reading

Executive Order 14192 – for each new regulation issued, at least 10 prior regulations be identified for elimination

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14192 – UNLEASHING PROSPERITY THROUGH DEREGULATION February 6, 2025 – By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, as amended (31 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), and in order to promote prudent financial management… Continue Reading

‘Things Are Going to Get Intense:’ How a Musk Ally Plans to Push AI on the Government

404 Media: Thomas Shedd, a Musk-associate and now head of the General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS), told government tech workers in a meeting this week that the administration plans to widely deploy AI throughout the government. Shedd also said the administration would need help altering login.gov, a government login system, to further integrate… Continue Reading

As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders

Ars Technica: “Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase “enshittification” to describe the decay of online platforms. The word immediately set the Internet ablaze, as it captured the growing malaise regarding how almost everything about the web seemed to be getting worse. “It’s my theory explaining how the Internet was… Continue Reading

Data Governance in Open Source AI: Enabling Responsible and Systemic Access

“As the Open Source Initiative convened its process to define Open Source AI, it became clear that organizations that care for open, fair and public-interest AI need to pay particular attention to and establish a shared position on data sharing and data governance. Open Source Artificial Intelligence (AI) development presents an opportunity to democratize technological… Continue Reading

Millions of federal workers face Feb. 6 deadline over whether to resign

CBS News: “More than 2 million federal employees face a looming deadline: By midnight Eastern time on Thursday, they must decide whether to accept a “deferred resignation” offer from the Trump administration. If workers accept, according to a White House plan, they would continue getting paid through September but would be excused from reporting for… Continue Reading

Federal workers: Here’s how to lock down your communications

Washington Post unlocked: “Tips and apps that can help everyone talk about sensitive topics safely.  Chances are, until now, most people haven’t worried much about their private group chats or jokey social media posts being used against them. But under the Trump administration, privacy experts say there’s a new urgency to making sure people understand… Continue Reading

Federal Worker Union Sues to Stop Trump’s Resignation Offer

Bloomberg Law: “The nation’s largest federal employee union is suing to halt the Trump administration’s voluntary resignation offer, arguing agencies can’t promise to pay employee salaries before Congress sets aside the money. The American Federation of Government Employees is seeking to stop the Office of Personnel Management’s exit offer known as “Fork in the Road.”… Continue Reading

The DOGE Has Arrived

Gibson Dunn – Client Alert  |  February 4, 2025 – “Ever since President Trump announced that he would create a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), clients have raised questions regarding how it would be established, what powers it would have, and how its work could affect their operations. Gibson Dunn previously addressed some of those… Continue Reading

Personal Discretion Over the Treasury’s Payments System Means the End of Democracy

Liberal Currents – Elizabeth Popp Berman: “On Friday night [January 31, 2025], Elon Musk’s team gained access to the Department of Treasury’s payments system, which processes the federal spending that makes up more than a fifth of the U.S. economy. Social Security, Medicare, agricultural supports, the National Parks—a large majority of government spending flows through… Continue Reading