Which regulatory agency was most likely created to address the topics expressed in the document

(CNN) In mid-February, privacy and digital rights activists were buzzing about a recent victory: Earlier in the month, the Internal Revenue Service said it would back away from a controversial plan to force taxpayers to use facial-recognition software before they could log in to its website. "This has definitely been a major team effort — the hook, right, left uppercut," Joy Buolamwini, the founder and executive director of the Algorithmic Justice League, said excitedly during a Twitter Spaces session. "So many people coming together for this win." In addition to the Algorithmic Justice League, which raises awareness of the consequences of artificial intelligence, these people came from groups such as Fight for the Future, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the American Civil Liberties Union. All have been vociferous critics of the IRS in recent months, contacting reporters and urging individuals, legislators, and the IRS itself to halt a plan that, starting this … [Read more...] about Activists pushed the IRS to drop facial recognition. They won, but they’re not done yet

MANILA, Philippines — With “no magic wand” to fix labor concerns in one sweep, incoming labor secretary Bienvenido Laguesma is looking to make the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) a responsive and action-driven agency as he also seeks to push for more local employment in the country. Interviewed over ANC on Tuesday, Laguesma, who is set to return to DOLE under the incoming administration, said sitting down with the worker and employer sectors would be his first order of business. “Try to come up with some workable formula…I would make my pitch for more local employment because while I see overseas employment as providing us needed foreign exchange remittances, I also look at the social cost that go with it: separation of family, too much dependence on foreign remittance, spending more than what you are actually earning and not saving for the future,” he said. “My mission should be to be able to promote and create…more employment opportunities so that our workers will … [Read more...] about With ‘no magic wand’ to fix labor issues, Laguesma wants ‘action-driven’ DOLE

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month , which celebrates the histories of the fastest-growing racial group in America. The AAPI population has increased more than 35% between 2010 and 2020 and is expected to quadruple by 2060, according to the Census Bureau . While celebrating the history of this diverse group, it’s also important to raise awareness about the rise in hate crimes they’ve experienced, and to work to break deep-rooted stereotypes and biases by exploring the history they’re rooted in. Below are some of the biases and myths the AAPI community faces, and the history behind them. The Stereotype: The Forever Foreigner The AAPI community is not a monolith, but encompasses more than 50 ethnic groups , such as China, Vietnam, Korea, India, Cambodia, Japan, the Philippines, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia , and many others. “Within the Asian American Pacific Islander community, … [Read more...] about The History Behind Common AAPI Stereotypes

O ver the past 24 months, politicians and business leaders have invoked the name of George Floyd in calling for racial equity for Black Americans. Companies and foundations pledged billions on initiatives to recruit and promote Black talent, invest in Black-owned businesses and promote equity in everything from policymaking to policing. Despite an evolution in the dialogue and effort, there’s been little progress in outcomes for Black lives and livelihoods. Black families still have a fraction of the wealth , owning about 13 cents for every dollar held by white families. All that allyship and money hasn’t really moved the needle on the National Urban League’s equality index, which tracks how Black America is faring relative to white America on measures such as income, health outcomes, education quality, and incarceration rates. Its 2022 index stands at 73.9% – with 100% representing racial parity – which is one-tenth of a percentage point higher than the 73.8% index … [Read more...] about Despite Post-Floyd Era Promises, Limited Gains In Racial Equity

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It was late afternoon on April’s first Sunday in Bourgogne. Cold. Overcast. Fierce winds driving the chill into my bones. Braving the elements was necessary for an homage visit to sacred land—Romanée Conti climat, in the commune of Vosne-Romanée. Surprisingly, the vineyards were bustling with activity. Frost threat had dedicated workers installing a host of prevention techniques throughout the region. The following day smoke and soot filled the air from Saint-Aubin to Morey-St. Denis. Small fires dotted the landscape. Large candles on sentry duty lined vineyard rows as far as the eye could see. In an effort to avoid catastrophic losses, like in 2021, Bourgogne wineries employ a wide range of active frost prevention techniques. From torches and heated wooden cauldrons, paraffin candles, burning vine clippings, portable wind machines, and even helicopters, each of these choices produce carbon emissions. In seeking … [Read more...] about Bourgogne Grapples With Fighting Frost Without Producing Emissions