ICYMI: This time last week the FTC hosted a ‘workshop’ to spread misinformation about gender affirming care for trans youth. We joined LGBT Tech + Public Knowledge the next day for a panel w/ experts, parents + advocates to set the record straight.

ICYMI: The spotlight has dimmed on DOGE since Musk's departure, but the assault on federal agencies continues.

WIRED

This Is DOGE 2.0

Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency is continuing its wholesale assault on federal agencies—even without Musk in government.

Why did the FTC host a gathering of bigots to spread disinformation about gender affirming care? Here are a few words from our policy leads on what this event was really about, who the supposed 'experts' in attendance were, and how it pushes beyond the scope of the FTC’s mandate. Unsurprisingly, the FTC failed to open up a public comment docket on this biased + highly inappropriate event- but we believe your voices should be heard, so we made one for you! Submit your comment for public record here: www.culturewarvsconsumerprotections.com

The FTC should be focused on lowering the cost of these groceries and making sure data brokers don’t get more people killed …but instead they’re hosting a workshop tomorrow to pick on trans youth! 
That’s why we’re joining our friends at LGBT Tech and Public Knowledge this Thursday in DC to speak with privacy experts, doctors, parents of transgender youth, & former FTC officials to combat harmful anti-trans disinformation. 
Tune in!

Digital books and libraries are more important than ever. We need to be up on what is happening with them in terms of access, surveillance, and more. So we highly recommend this new series from our friends at Library Futures

Engelberg Center Live!

So What Is An Ebook, Anyway? | Engelberg Center Live!

Ebooks and ereaders have a long and often surprising history–and some unexpected parallels to overall history of books and reading. Mary and Laur...

Instead of lowering grocery prices, taking on Big Tech or stopping data broker fueled murders like what we saw in Minnesota, the FTC is picking on trans kids. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-ftc-workshop-criticizing-medical-care-transgender-youth-draws-staff-2025-07-02/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-ftc-workshop-criticizing-medical-care-transgender-youth-draws-staff-2025-07-02/

New music releases that are inspiring us rn:

The AI moratorium Senate is voting on THIS WEEKEND is disastrous. AI algorithms are increasingly used to decide who gets a job, a loan, an apartment, or quality healthcare, with little oversight. If you care about this, TAKE ACTION! Link in bio

This 10-year AI regulation moratorium that Republican Senators are pushing as part of their “One Big, Beautiful Bill” budget package would not only block new state + local rules protecting us from AI discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare but could also erase years of hard work passing bans on privacy-invading AI tech like facial recognition. The same tech being actively used by police, ICE + military to target vulnerable people, especially black and brown communities. The Senate is voting THIS WEEKEND. Make some noise and urge your Senators to stop this backdoor AI moratorium + protect our civil rights over tech companies’ profits. 813-213-3989

Fight for the Future

Stop the Backdoor AI Moratorium

Regular reminder that consumer credit scores are younger than cell phones 💗 Using FICO and mass, computerized consumer surveillance as a startpoint here. For a detailed history, read:

Columbia University Press

Creditworthy | Columbia University Press

The first consumer credit bureaus appeared in the 1870s and quickly amassed huge archives of deeply personal information. Today, the three leading ...

JUST RELEASED: Ryan Cassata dropped a new song about resisting LGTBQ censorship bills like KOSA that’ll destroy queer spaces + vital health resources online. Go to fftf.link/cantpridewithus + tell lawmakers there’s no pride in censorship! ✨

Mahmoud Khalil is free👏 
But he should never have been detained in the first place. 
“Dissent is not grounds for deportation.” - ACLU

The Intercept

Mahmoud Khalil Won His Freedom Despite the Best Efforts of ICE’s Intelligence Unit

Homeland Security Investigations once targeted human traffickers and cartels. Now it’s leading the charge against student protesters.

🚨Over 180 million passwords for email, social media, health + government platforms were leaked this week. Change your passwords, make sure they’re alphanumeric, and turn on 2FA.

ZDNET

184 million passwords leaked across Facebook, Google, more: What to know about this data breach

The file was left entirely unprotected - no encryption, no password, no safeguards - just a plain text document holding millions of sensitive data ...

There’s a thing called the politician’s fallacy that explains a lot about congressional dysfunction. Here’s why this is especially tricky when it comes to tech + free speech:

Touch Grass

Congress Remains Undefeated in Pushing Bad Tech Bills

There’s a thing called the politician’s fallacy, which goes like this: 1. We must do something. 2. This is something. 3. Therefore, we must...

The lawmakers assassinated in MN are not the first victims of murder enabled by the data broker industry. Many victims are women + marginalized people targeted by abusers or stalkers.

WIRED

Minnesota Shooting Suspect Allegedly Used Data Broker Sites to Find Targets’ Addresses

The Minnesota shooter allegedly researched several “people search” sites in an attempt to target his victims, highlighting the potential danger...

Our Deputy Director, Evan Greer, spoke with Wired about simple, concrete steps protestors can take to make your communications, location + private information harder to access:

WIRED

How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance

Law enforcement has more tools than ever to track your movements and access your communications. Here’s how to protect your privacy if you plan t...

WEDNESDAY @7pm ET We’re joining Media Justice, Muslims for Just Futures + other activists to discuss how Big Tech is supercharging the rising violence we’re seeing in free speech suppression and how to resist. RSVP here to join: https://mediajustice.zoom.us/meeting/register/azQp-Ew7RceAq1k-_jg1tg#/registration

Join the Action Hour tomorrow to hear updates from tech workers + organizers on a range of efforts targeting Big Tech's contracts with apartheid Israel –– including a Google shareholder resolution that will be voted on this Friday –– and take action with us to hold these companies accountable:

Fight for the Future

Stop Big Tech Complicity in Genocide & Apartheid

The FBI has re-upped a number of investigations claiming ‘potential public corruption’ without any apparent criminal violations or new evidence of federal statute violations- we've got some concerns. 🪡🧵 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/27/fbi-investigation-dobbs-leak-dc-pipe-bombs/

Many of you helped drive thousands of calls to lawmakers that helped defeat the nonprofit killer bill in the Fall AND in the budget package last week. We talked with Between the Lines' Counterpoint Radio about the ongoing threat #humanrights #freepalestine