佛州眾議院通過禁止 16 歲以下的未成年人使用社群媒體

多個媒體都有報導,這邊挑一篇:「Florida’s GOP-controlled House passes strict social media restrictions for minors」。

之前猶他州通過的法律是要求要有父母明確的同意才能使用,這次則是更嚴格,父母同意也不開放使用:

Florida’s legislation appears to be stronger than laws that passed in other states recently such as Utah, where a new policy requires social media companies to receive parental consent before minors under 18 can open or maintain an account.

“If we just let parents decide on this one, parents are going to be harangued so much because it makes a kid ostracized not to be on social media,” Renner told reporters earlier last week.

是個當作「電子毒品」的概念:

“These dopamine hits [from social media] are so addictive, it’s like a digital fentanyl,” said state Rep. Fiona McFarland.

目前眾議院先通過了 (106 對 13),會送往佛州的參議院:

Legislators passed the social media legislation 106-13, with a few Democrats voting against; the adult websites bill was approved unanimously.

從通過的議案可以看到目標是今年七月生效:

This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

猶他州那邊幾家 social media 還在跟政府打各種官司,佛州這邊看起來會有新的戰線。

Apple 在歐盟 DMA 的法規下被強制開放 App Store 與各種限制

昨天科技圈最熱門的消息應該是 Apple 公開了在歐盟區開放 App Store 限制的計畫:「Apple announces changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union」,Hacker News 上的討論也很熱鬧,也提出了很多蘋果想盡辦法讓你不要換過去所設定的障礙:「Apple announces changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union (apple.com)」。

從文章可以看出 Apple 不斷的用 FUD 在擋,而且從文章裡面就可以看出來 Apple 極度不情願開放這塊肥肉。

除了文章的不情願態度外,Apple 也試著要建立各種機制讓 developer 無法轉移,其中目前最毒的是 Core Technology Fee 的設計,即使 app 後續會透過第三方的 app marketplace 下載,你仍然要付給 Apple 一筆很貴的費用:

Core Technology Fee — iOS apps distributed from the App Store and/or an alternative app marketplace will pay €0.50 for each first annual install per year over a 1 million threshold.

不確定現有的 DMA 是否有阻止的能力,但這個是目前已經看到的重點項目,歐盟應該會有動作...

另外看一些群組討論,Apple 很不願意放 App Store 出來,看起來這個功能是被鎖到 countryd 層級的,無法單純註冊歐盟 App Store 的帳號就能安裝。

反正先坐著等一兩個月看新聞消化...

Amazon EBS 在 Compliance mode 下的 Snapshot Lock

Jeff Barr 寫了「New – Amazon EBS Snapshot Lock」這篇,介紹 Amazon EBS 的新功能 Snapshot Lock。

從名字就知道是鎖住 snapshot 不讓人刪除,比較特別的是有兩個模式,第一個是 Governance,這個模式下就只是防止誤刪除的情況:

This mode protects snapshots from deletions by all users. However, with the proper IAM permissions, the lock duration can be extended or shortened, the lock can be deleted, and the mode can be changed from Governance mode to Compliance mode.

比較重要的是第二個模式 Compliance,在超過猶豫期 (cooling-off period) 後就不能動了,就算你有最大的權限 (我猜是連 root account 也不能動),唯一能操作的只有延長 lock 時間:

This mode protects snapshots from actions by the root user and all IAM users. After a cooling-off period of up to 72 hours, neither the snapshot nor the lock can be deleted until the lock duration expires, and the mode cannot be changed. With the proper IAM permissions the lock duration can be extended, but it cannot be shortened.

的確是遵循法規用的功能...

歐盟決定將挪威對 Meta 的禁令擴大到整個歐盟

挪威一開始禁止 Meta 旗下的產品 (也就包括了 FacebookInstagram) 透過蒐集使用者的行為投放廣告 (behavioural advertising):「Norway court rules against Facebook owner Meta in privacy case」。

接著是挪威跟歐盟提議一起跟上 (挪威不是歐盟成員):「Norway asks EU regulator to fine Facebook owner Meta over privacy breach」。

接著就是現在了,歐盟也決定跟上:「Facebook owner Meta faces EU ban on targeted advertising」。

這樣比起單獨一個挪威的禁令強多了,而且 Meta 被打下去了,隔壁棚的 GoogleTikTok 應該也有機會接著掃蕩?

AWS 要在歐洲建立一個完全獨立的 Cloud 系統

CNBC 上看到的新聞,AWS 打算在歐洲建立一個完全獨立的 Cloud 系統:「Amazon launches European ‘sovereign’ cloud as EU data debate rages」。

AWS European Sovereign Cloud 會是完全獨立的 cloud:

Amazon on Wednesday said it will launch an independent cloud for Europe aimed at companies in highly-regulated industries and the public sector.

這邊講的「完全獨立」,除了東西都放在歐洲以外,連員工都是歐盟員工:

Customers of the new system will be able to keep certain data in the European Union and only EU-resident AWS employees who are located in the 27-nation bloc will have control of the operations and support for the sovereign cloud.

這個作法倒是頗特別的,看起來是想要試著說服歐盟這樣是 OK 的?推出的時候可以看看還有什麼特別的東西?

歐盟通過可替換電池的法案

先前在「歐盟要推可替換的手機電池」這邊提到歐盟要推可替換電池的法案,剛剛看到 Hacker News 上面的討論,在七月通過了:「It's official: Smartphones will need to have replaceable batteries by 2027」,歐盟的新聞稿在「Council adopts new regulation on batteries and waste batteries」這邊。

這次法案包括了所有電池:

The regulation of the European Parliament and the Council will apply to all batteries including all waste portable batteries, electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries, starting, lightning and ignition (SLI) batteries (used mostly for vehicles and machinery) and batteries for light means of transport (e.g. electric bikes, e-mopeds, e-scooters).

其中行動裝置的部分在這次看到時間表了,可替換電池的方案看起來會在 2028 強制:

The regulation provides that by 2027 portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end-user, leaving sufficient time for operators to adapt the design of their products to this requirement.

算起來還有四年多的時間,來看看各家改變的速度...

紐約州通過法案,禁止「競業條款」

Hacker News Daily 上看到「New York State Senate passes prohibitions on non-competes (ogletree.com)」這篇,原報導在「New York State Senate Passes Prohibitions on Non-Competes」這。

在原報導裡面給的連結就是紐約州的官方連結,提到了兩個法案:

  • Senate Bill S3100A: Prohibits non-compete agreements and certain restrictive covenants
  • Senate Bill S6748: Relates to actions or practices that establish or maintain a monopoly, monopsony or restraint of trade, and authorizes a class action lawsuit in the state anti-trust law

可以看到兩個都已經通過參議院了,下一步看起來就是送給州長了;其中 S3100A 就是這次提到的反「競業條款」法案,裡面最重要的內容也很簡單,就是直接禁止禁業條款:

2. NO EMPLOYER OR ITS AGENT, OR THE OFFICER OR AGENT OF ANY CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER ENTITY, SHALL SEEK, REQUIRE, DEMAND OR ACCEPT A NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT FROM ANY COVERED INDIVIDUAL.

在這條前面有定義什麼是「人」與「NDA」,後面有救濟措施以及一些避免鑽法律漏洞的敘述。

等正式通過後對整個美國的影響應該會不小?應該會有一陣子觀望,然後看結果後可能會有其他州也加入...

美國 FTC 提案要阻擋退訂的 Dark Pattern

2021 年的時候寫過「最近很熱鬧的 New York Times 退訂截圖」這篇,在講紐約時報在退訂這塊的 dark pattern,這個方式後來被許多報社的網路服務使用 (像是 WSJ)。

後來加州政府通過法律阻擋這樣的 dark pattern,所以就有 Reddit 上面這樣的討論,教大家直接把 billing address 改到加州後就可以網路上退訂:「WSJ Subscription policy makes it easy to subscribe (online), but hard to unsubscribe (via phone).」。

現在看起來 FTC 打算推動變成全國性的法案,而且不只是網路服務,也包括了像是健身房與第四台的服務都必須提供對稱的方法 (訂閱與退訂):「The FTC wants to ban those tough-to-cancel gym and cable subscriptions」。

來繼續追進度,看看什麼時候通過...

紐約州在推動電子產品的維修權

在清 Hacker News Daily 的時候看到「New York could become first state with a ‘Right to Repair’ law for electronic devices」這篇,在講紐約州有團體在推動電子產品的維修權。

先前有提過歐盟對電子產品的維修權有在推動法案 (參考「歐盟在推動的設備維修權...」這篇),確保十年內有料可以維修,後來這個法案已經生效了:「New EU ‘right to repair’ laws require technology to last for a decade」。

可以觀察一下會不會過...

歐盟 2024 年年底強制使用 USB-C 充電頭 (終於,iPhone...)

Hacker News Daily 上看到「EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024」,裡面指到了歐盟的新聞稿:「Long-awaited common charger for mobile devices will be a reality in 2024」。

2024 年年底 (所以是 2025 年) 將強制手機與平板都使用 USB-C 充電頭,2026 年則是延伸涵蓋到筆電:

By the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. From spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops.

終於定案公告了,之前傳言好久了...