Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · 2d

Hot off Tech Policy Press! While fed inaction leaves ppl—including children—exposed to deepfakes, data abuse & bias, California is stepping up, write Drew Liebert & David Evan Harris from the Calif. Initiative for Tech and Democracy (CITED). More work ahead... www.techpolicy.press/california-i...

California Is Getting its ‘AI Act’ Together | TechPolicy.Press

Drew Liebert and David Evan Harris share perspective from the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy (CITED), a project of California Common Cause.

www.techpolicy.press

1

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · 3d

I spoke to ABC 7 News about the new law. For more about this, check out my more detailed write-up on LinkedIn, where I will continue posting more often than I post here, unless someone convinces me otherwise :) www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... @abc7news.bsky.social

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · 3d

WE DID IT!!! Gov. Newsom has signed the California AI Transparency Act of 2025 (AB 853) into law! This first-in-nation bill from Assemblymember Buffy Wicks requires online platforms to give users with a clear way to differentiate AI-generated & real content.
@governor.ca.gov @buffywicks.bsky.social

1931
OFFICE O F THE GOVERNOR
OCT 1 3 2025
To the Members o f the California State Assembly:
1 am signing Assembly Bill 853, which strengthens the California Al Transparency
Act t o ensure that Californians can begin t o reliably assess whether digital
content is generated o r modified using artificial intelligence (Al).
The proliferation o f Al-generated content is having a profound effect o n all o f
us, particularly as the rapidly evolving technology becomes increasingly easy t o
access and distribute, and the content itself becomes more and more difficult
to distinguish from reality. This bill is a critical step in allowing us t o clearly
distinguish the real from the synthetic, and thereby enhance trust in the use o f A l
i n our everyday lives.
As with the regulation of any nascent technology, some stakeholders remain
concerned that provisions of the bill, while well-intentioned, present
implementation challenges that could lead t o unintended consequences,
including impairment of user privacy. I encourage the Legislature to enact
follow-up legislation in 2026, before the law takes effect, t o address these
technical feasibility issues without jeopardizing its intent t o enhance the safety
and security Ø f all Californians.
avin Newso
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM • SACRAMENTO, C A 95814 • (916) 445-2841

1 1 2

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · 4d

Congratulations to @yoshuabengio.bsky.social and team for appropriately moving to keep this critical report up to date at a brisk cadence!

Yoshua Bengio @yoshuabengio.bsky.social · 4d

AI is evolving too quickly for an annual report to suffice. To help policymakers keep pace, we're introducing the first Key Update to the International AI Safety Report. 🧵⬇️

(1/10)

1 2

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Jul 22

I testified on the California AI Transparency Act of 2025 with @buffywicks.bsky.social and @mouniribrahim.bsky.social in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill passed out of committee 11-0! Here's the video: youtu.be/vYQmG7QWSHk

California AI Transparency Act of 2025 - Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

YouTube video by David Evan Harris

youtu.be

1 2

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Jun 23

My latest piece is live!

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · Jun 23

The “California Report on Frontier AI Policy” offers the state’s lawmakers no clear guidance on how to proceed with AI liability legislation, write Jonathan Mehta Stein and David Evan Harris.
buff.ly/XQlu67b

California Governor’s Report Sidesteps AI Liability | TechPolicy.Press

The report offers California legislators no clear guidance on how to proceed with AI liability legislation, write Jonathan Mehta Stein and David Evan Harris.

www.techpolicy.press

2 7

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · May 1

Good news for content authenticity and AI transparency from the California State Assembly! AB 853 passed 9-0 out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee this week! Here are some highlights from the hearings where I testified alongside Assemblymember Buffy Wicks! #AI #AIPolicy #AB853

Hearings on AB 853 (Wicks) in California State Assembly Judiciary and Privacy Committees

YouTube video by David Evan Harris

youtu.be

1 1 1

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Apr 30

“‘This Is What We Were Always Scared of’: DOGE Is Building a Surveillance State“ Brilliant and very disturbing article from @juliaangwin.com of the @nytimes.com with quotes from @bankston.bsky.social & @paulohm.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/o...

Opinion | Elon Musk’s Legacy: DOGE’s Construction of a Surveillance State

DOGE is rapidly assembling a sprawling monitoring system, the foundation of many authoritarian regimes.

www.nytimes.com

2

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · Apr 17

The problem of tariffs goes beyond stock market decline. They open the door to lobbying, favoritism, and graft.

A Second Gilded Age

Tariffs and favoritism are signs of a poisoned political era.

www.brennancenter.org

7 44 140

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Jon Keegan @jonkeegan.com · Apr 15

Noticed a bunch of these ornate gold medallions slapped all over the Oval Office. We found em on Alibaba. “High-density Home Decoration Polyurethane Appliques Ornament PU Foam Veneer Accessories” from seller Guangzhou Homemax Decorative Material Limited.

sherwood.news/power/shop-t...

A comparison of the photo from the Oval Office and an item on Alibaba.

650 2.4K 7.4K

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · Apr 14

He still doesn't know who started the war. Or pretends not to know

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Apr 14

Trump has fully turned on Zelenskyy: "He's always looking to purchase missiles. Listen, when you start a war, you gotta know you can win a war. You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles."

280 510 2.6K

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Mar 7

Would you like to update or revise anything about it, or are you 100% happy with it as you originally wrote it? Genuinely curious here. Thank you for your thoughts!

7

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Center for Countering Digital Hate @counterhate.com · Mar 7

“Protecting individuals—especially minors—from exploitative algorithms, harmful content, and many of the other dangers stemming from the devices in our hands starts with speaking up.”

Madi Parsons is bravely speaking up to curb the amplification of online harms.

Read more👇
buff.ly/fPEtiCL

3 9

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Mar 3

Just released! "Generative AI, Democracy and Human Rights." Ever heard of the "freedom of thought"? Well now you have! This is a central topic of my latest work w/ Aaron Shull of the Centre for International Governance Innovation. #AI #FreedomOfThought #HumanRights www.cigionline.org/publications...

Generative AI, Democracy and Human Rights

Disinformation is not new, but given how disinformation campaigns are constructed, there is almost no stage that will not be rendered more effective by the use of generative artificial intelligence.

www.cigionline.org

1 2

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · Mar 3

Defending Trump’s power grab with the “unitary executive theory” is just a fancy way of claiming the president can rule the executive branch like a monarch. This argument has no basis in history or the Constitution.

The Extreme Legal Theory Behind Trump’s First Month in Office

The unitary executive theory upends our understanding of the Constitution.

www.brennancenter.org

8 73 170

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Mar 2

Sorry to hear that:( Is it worse here than other platforms where you have similar followings? I’m wondering if bluesky’s business model can support the kind of content moderation that it needs to grow. Or if @roost.tools or Zentropi or other open source and/or AI tools are up to the task…

1

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Feb 26

I too enjoy Mimestream for my gmail accounts

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · Feb 25

Oh.

Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · Feb 25

A newly hired advisor at DOJ is a former judge who received what was then Oregon's longest-ever suspension for misconduct.

He also made the news for "for having hung a picture of Adolf Hitler in his courthouse."

talkingpointsmemo.com/news/doj-hir...

12 35 190

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Feb 24

This morning at Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HQ in DC as mandatory return to office began, this video played on loop for ~5 mins on screens throughout the building, per agency source.

Building staff couldn’t figure out how to turn it off so sent people to every floor to unplug TVs.

2.1K 14K 44K

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Feb 21

My reflections on the Paris AI Action Summit: www.linkedin.com/pulse/rememb... #AI #AIActionSummit

Remember JD-Day // Mr. Harris Goes to Paris

Bearing Witness in Paris Sometimes we have to bear witness before we can take action. If you followed my posts about the Paris AI Action Summit last week, you probably know that I’m unhappy with the o...

www.linkedin.com

Reposted by David Evan Harris

Jordi Calvet-Bademunt @jordicalbad.bsky.social · Feb 20

If you're interested in AI, don’t miss our #virtual session at #RightsCon 2025: "T&S in Gen AI: Agreeing on Principles for Freedom and Safety." I’m honored to moderate a discussion with thought leaders @davidevanharris.com, Sarah Shirazyan, and @sayash.bsky.social.

1 1 8

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Feb 19

Thanks so much @alexreevegivens.bsky.social for your continued work on this and for calling attention to our report!

Alexandra Reeve Givens @alexreevegivens.bsky.social · Feb 18

And an excellent report by @brennancenter.bsky.social looking at companies' actions under the AI & Elections Accord (don't miss the detailed appendix!) (Abdiaziz Ahmed, Owen Doyle, @davidevanharris.com, Larry Norden) www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Tech Companies Pledged to Protect Elections from AI — Here’s How They Did

The industry’s voluntary commitments are no substitute for enforceable regulations and external oversight.

www.brennancenter.org

1

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Feb 9

Hah! Thanks for posting. I agree that it’s funny, but I’m a bit torn as I don’t like it when adult men trivialize deepfakes, given that AI-generated non-consensual intimate imagery is disproportionately a much bigger problem for women and children. But yeah it was entertaining.

3

David Evan Harris @davidevanharris.com · Feb 9

Just leaked! Disappointing alleged draft declaration from Paris AI “Action” Summit is focused on everything but action. My thoughts here: www.linkedin.com/posts/davide... also, hello from Paris! #AIActionSummit

TRANSFORMER
Here's the full draft statement, dated 30/01/2025.
Al Action Summit
Co-chaired by France and India
10-11 February, 2025, Paris
Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet
1. Participants from XX countries, including government leaders, international organisations, representatives of civil society, the private sector, and the academic and research communities gathered in Paris on 10 and 11 February 2025 to hold the Al Action Summit. Rapid development of Al technologies represents a major paradigm shift, impacting our citizens, and societies in many ways. In line with the Paris Pact for People and the Planet, and the principles that countries must have ownership of their transition strategies, we have identified priorities and launched concrete actions to advance the public interest and to bridge digital divides through accelerating progress towards the SDGs. Our actions are grounded in three main principles of science, solutions - focusing on open Al models in compliance with countries frameworks - and policy standards, in line with international frameworks.
2. This Summit has highlighted the importance of reinforcing the diversity of the Al ecosystem. It has laid an open, multi-stakeholder and inclusive approach that will enable Al to be human rights based, human-centric, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy while also stressing the need and urgency to narrow the inequalities and assist developing countries in artificial intelligence capacity-building so they can build Al capacities.
3. Acknowledging existing multilateral initiatives on Al, including the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions, the Global Digital Compact, the UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of Al, the African Union Continental Al Strategy, and the works of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the council of Europe and European Union, the G7 including the Hiroshima Al Process and G20, we have affirmed the follo…

To deliver on these priorities:
• Founding members have launched a major Public Interest AI Platform and Incubator, to support, amplify, decrease fragmentation between existing public and private initiatives on Public Interest Al and address digital divides. The Public interest Al Initiative will sustain and support digital public goods and technical assistance and capacity building projects in data, model development, openness and transparency, audit, compute, talent, financing and collaboration to support and co-create a trustworthy Al ecosystem advancing the public interest of all, for all and by all.
• We have discussed, at a Summit for the first time and in a multi-stakeholder format, issues related to Al and energy. This discussion has led to sharing knowledge to foster investments for sustainable Al systems (hardware, infrastructure, models), to promoting an international discussion on Al and environment, to welcoming an observatory on the energy impact of Al with the International Energy Agency, to showcasing energy-friendly Al innovation.
• We recognize the need to enhance our shared knowledge on the impacts of Al in the job market, though the creation of network of Observatories, to better anticipate Al implications for workplaces, training and education and to use Al to staThe country that stormed the Bastille can
than this!1
4. We recognize the need for inclusive multistak
he eater ence a mersakeholder aalogue nd cooperation
on Al governance. We underline the need for a global reflection integrating inter alia questions of safety, sustainable development, innovation, respect of international laws including humanitarian law and human rights law and the protection of human rights, gender equality, linguistic diversity, protection of consumers and of intellectual property rights. We take notes of efforts and discussions related to international fora where Al governance is examined. As outlined in the Global Digital Compact adopted by the UN General Assembly…

3

Reposted by David Evan Harris

IEEE Spectrum @spectrum.ieee.org · Jan 30

Yep. Last year we published this opinion article from @davidevanharris.com who argues that open-source #AI is a bag of worms. spectrum.ieee.org/open-source-... #deepseek

Open-Source AI Is Uniquely Dangerous

But the regulations that could rein it in would benefit all of AI

spectrum.ieee.org

1 2 3