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Who is Responsible in an Accident Involving a Car With Autonomous Driving Features?

Who is Responsible in an Accident Involving a Car With Autonomous Driving Features?

By: Bo Li

Advanced driver assistance systems (“ADAS”) are technological features designed to improve vehicle driving safety.[1] These systems improve safety and reaction time to potential hazards through warning and automated systems.[2] With 42,514 people dying in motor vehicle crashes in 2022, many of which were related to human error, ADAS can not only help keep drivers and passengers safe, but also protect other drivers and pedestrians.[3] Tesla’s Autopilot is an ADAS that improves the safety and convenience of driving, and when used properly, can reduce the overall workload of the driver.[4] In 2021, many other manufacturers also offered ADAS, with at least 97 models featuring adaptive cruise control with lane-centering steering.[5]

Increased IRS Tracking of Cryptocurrency: Form 1099-DA

Increased IRS Tracking of Cryptocurrency: Form 1099-DA

By: Elise Norotsky

Beginning January 1, 2025, cryptocurrency will have its first form of standardized reporting, the form 1099-DA, Digital Asset Proceeds From Broker Transactions.[1] The form reports gross proceeds and gain, loss and cost-basis information and is filed by brokers dealing with digital assets, such as Coinbase, Kraken, or Gemini.[2] Prior to its enactment, the lack of standardized reporting made the realm difficult to efficiently audit, and thus regulate. This significant shift in how digital assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs are taxed aligns digital asset reporting with traditional financial and tax reporting practices.[3] While it makes certain aspects easier for investors, taxpayers with digital assets should expect an uptick in audits and investigations in addition to complexities introduced by new rules for computing gains and losses, determining cost basis, and applying backup withholding.[4] Additional problems arise for those holding previously unreported crypto, foreign exchanges, and real estate transactions involving digital assets.[5]

Automated License Plate Readers in Virginia

Automated License Plate Readers in Virginia

By: John Peaden

Cameras are ubiquitous. You speed through a traffic light near Washington, D.C. and receive a speeding ticket in the mail. You drive through an EZ Pass Lane and get a photo captured of your car which then bills your account.

Unbeknownst to most, however, is that 167 law enforcement agencies across Virginia are now using public-facing surveillance technology such as Automatic License Plate Readers (“ALPR”) and gunshot listening devices.[1] ALPRs collect and retain data on a vast number of vehicles, regardless of whether the driver or any occupants are engaged in criminal activity.[2] This data can be used to track a vehicle in real time or analyzed to identify individual movements and patterns of behavior.[3]

The Environmental Crisis: How Social Media is the Turning Point Needed to Drive Change

The Environmental Crisis: How Social Media is the Turning Point Needed to Drive Change

By: Kaelynn Wallace

Our way of life is deteriorating both our health and the habitability of our planet, yet we remain indifferent.[1] The methods by which our global society produces food, utilizes land and water, travels, consumes energy, and manages a growing population have all contributed to these environmental shifts.[2] Environmental change is alteration of the environment that can be driven by both natural processes and human activities.[3] These changes lead to climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion.[4] The consequences of these changes can be seen right now.[5] Global temperatures are rising, with the rate of warming accelerating three times as fast as it did in 1982.[6] Nearly the entire global population now lives in areas where the air quality exceeds guidelines, contributing to the premature deaths of 6.7 million people annually.[7] Since 1970, the global wildlife population has declined by an average of 68%, and one million species are currently at risk of extinction.[8] Furthermore, in the past five decades, global resource extraction has tripled.[9]

From Paramount to Prime: The Battle for Theaters in a Streaming Age

From Paramount to Prime: The Battle for Theaters in a Streaming Age

By: Brooke Gerber

At this year’s Academy Awards, Sean Baker’s Anora dominated the evening, winning a total of five Oscars – an impressive feat for the independent film.[1] Now that Hollywood’s biggest night has come to a close, Baker’s acceptance speech for Best Director stands out as one of the highlights of the evening, criticizing streaming services for their monopolistic impact on the film industry.

Taking the stage for the third time that night, Baker made a self-proclaimed “battle cry,” pleading for filmmakers to continue making films for the big screen rather than succumbing to the allure of streaming.[2] Audiences have witnessed the cinema experience decline throughout the past decade, especially following the onset of the pandemic. Baker referred to this phenomenon in his speech, highlighting that upward of 1,000 movie screens have shut down in the United States since 2020 – “right now, the theatre-going experience is under threat,”[3] he exclaimed.

If I own my land, why can’t I build an earthship?

 

If I own my land, why can’t I build an earthship?

How building codes and zoning laws slow down advancements in sustainable architecture.

By: Emily Downey

If you’re like me, you may have seen some news recently about how engineers, architects, and builders are utilizing new (and old) building techniques to respond to the challenges presented by a changing climate. Be it fire resilient design in California[1], integration of green technology such as solar and water reclamation[2], or the proliferation of tiny homes[3], many are turning to smarter and more energy efficient methods when it comes to building their dream home.

But innovation often comes with legal challenges. One of the most poignant examples has been the difficulty faced by architects in California having to adapt fire resistant designs to existing building codes.[4] While some states are taking measures to attempt to ease the way for green design and face popular support, progress can be slow.[5] This is partially because building codes and zoning laws are highly localized, meaning that broad measures often do not address more granular issues like City ordinances and neighborhood covenants and restrictions.[6] To see how these challenges can be overcome, we can look to lessons learned from an oddly named pioneer of the green home movement: the earthship.

What is an earthship?

Earthships are the invention of New Mexico architect Michael Reynolds, who built the first earthship in the 1970s as a way to solve problems with both rubbish accumulation and affordable housing.[7] He did this by doing something novel and strange—building a house out of garbage.[8] While a garbage home doesn’t initially sound appealing, Reynolds’ design soon amassed a following, especially in areas around Taos, New Mexico.[9] Reynolds pioneered a building technique using earth, tires, and “bricks” made of discarded cans to create hyper-modern edifices that are virtually indestructible and come with a myriad of green perks.[10] The homes allow occupants to live entirely or almost entirely off grid, are super-efficient to heat and cool, and come with novel water reclamation systems in place.[11] The homes can also be affordable, as they emphasize the use of local and often discarded materials and provide for onsite food production[12]

Game Changing Tech and Regulations

Game Changing Technology and Regulations: How AI is Reshaping Online Sports Betting and What the U.S. May Do About It

By: Chelsea Mojica

Since its legalization, online sports betting has made its mark on professional sports.[1] Sports betting is an activity that allows gamblers to predict the outcomes of future sporting events in conjunction with monetary wagers.[2] Bookmakers—teams comprised of sports experts, analysts, and statisticians—set the initial betting odds for the public, relying on complex mathematical calculations, statistical models, and historical data.[3] The lower the probability of an event happening, the bigger the potential monetary reward.[4] When the sporting event begins, the odds may fluctuate, similar to the stock market.[5] However, odds can lack uniformity among sportsbooks, allowing bettors to receive more cash rewards through some sportsbooks than others.[6] Consequently, AI has integrated itself into the betting world in an attempt to expedite and protect an arduous odds-making process.[7]

Sweet Deal or Sweet Scam? How Honey is Allegedly Hurting Content Creators’ Commissions

Sweet Deal or Sweet Scam? How Honey is Allegedly Hurting Content Creators’ Commissions

By: Anneliese McInniscoiny-paypal-1-dragged-e1684957590871.jpg

About 17 million consumers have downloaded Honey, PayPal’s free browser extension that finds the “best” deals and coupons to help you save money.[1] However, under Honey’s sweet facade lies an alleged commission-poaching scheme that has harmed content creators, influencers, and bloggers who earn revenue from online-shoppers using their affiliate links.[2]

Many content creators earn commission through product promotion and rely on affiliate marketing to generate revenue.[3] Affiliates earn commission by generating sales from consumers who use the affiliate’s assigned link.[4] Affiliates get credit for referring customers through tracking technology, which most people know as cookies.[5] “When a consumer clicks on an affiliate link, a cookie is placed in their browser. If that consumer makes a purchase, the affiliate responsible for the last-clicked link earns a commission.”[6] This model is called “last-click attribution.”[7]

Building a Digital Future: Is America Ready for a Federal Digital Bill of Rights?

Building a Digital Future: Is America Ready for a Federal Digital Bill of Rights?

By: Evan Lees

In 2014, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Riley v. California, mandating that law enforcement obtain a warrant before searching digital information and underscoring the critical need for privacy protections in the digital age.[1]

With the rise of data breaches, expansion of Big Tech companies, and continued advancement of technology designed to steal online information, Americans are now desperate for a modern legal framework to protect their rights online. A study conducted by Ipsos found that “over 80% of Americans were concerned with the safety and privacy of their online data. Another study found that over 70% of Americans support establishing national standards for how companies collect personal data and support treating data privacy for individuals as a national security threat.”[2]

A nationwide digital bill of rights could be the solution.

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