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OSTLJ Blog Spring 2024
Opinion
Miles Majure
Waste Management for Renewable Energy Infrastructure: Lifecycle Regulations for Disposal/Recycling

As the world accelerates its transition towards sustainable energy sources, the growth of renewable energy infrastructure like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries is rapidly increasing. However, this shift also brings forth new challenges related to the disposal and recycling of these components once their operational lifespans end. Developing and implementing comprehensive legal frameworks and regulations is crucial to mitigate the environmental impact and promote a circular and sustainable economy for this infrastructure.

Opinion
Max D'Ercole
Innovative or Invasive: How New Sports Tech Can Violate Privacy

So, what’s the problem with new innovations in sports technology? Outside of the occasional plunder (looking at you VAR), what could possibly be wrong with introducing more technological aids and utilizing analytical data to improve the game? The answer lies in privacy.

Opinion
Adava Jefferson
Exploring the Digital Trail: Pros and Cons of Third-Party Cookies

Cookies (not the tasty dessert) are digital morsels that we routinely accept without much thought. They quietly track our online activities, yet their true nature remains a mystery to many users.

Opinion
Durya Nadeem-Khan
Cybercrime Plagues Hospitals, Prompting Congress and HHS to Act

The healthcare sector remains under siege from criminal cybercrime groups targeting providers with disruptive ransomware, data breaches, and other malicious hacking activities. These unrelenting attacks critically impair hospital operations, putting patient care and sensitive data privacy at grave risk.

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
Swipe with Caution: Assessing the Dangers of Online Dating

The prevalence of the use of dating apps does not prevent, however, the dangers associated with meeting a stranger from the internet in person. People, especially women, have come up with creative ways to keep themselves safe while navigating the dating scene. This blog will quicky highlight some of the dangers of online dating, the creation of the Facebook community Are We Dating The Same Guy, and the subsequent lawsuit.

Opinion
Elyse Jackson
Sewing Machines, Sergers, and You: History of Garment Manufacturing Technology

The quality of sewing and other manufacturing machines chosen in manufacturing determines, by a large margin, the quality of your garments. Loose threads, seams coming apart, or poorly fitted garments are all symptoms of poor-quality sewing machines. This is not only frustrating as a consumer who would like to enjoy everyday life without unraveling. It can also be frustrating to the brand associated with the poor quality. Sewing machines can teach us much about our clothing and how we can participate in more sustainable fashion.

Opinion
Miles Majure
The Grain Belt Express: A Crucial Step to Renewable Energy

The ambitious Grain Belt Express project is a $2.5 billion endeavor, spearheaded by a consortium of utilities and energy companies including Invenergy Transmission, Renewable Transmission Organization, and Horizon Transmission, has garnered significant attention due to its potential impact on the energy landscape and the legal challenges it faces.

Opinion
Nicola Roberts-Lewis
I Do Everything Online. Why Can’t I vote?

Fourteen states currently require that voters have an excuse in order to receive an absentee ballot. Additionally, there are states, such as Ohio, that require a written, rather than online, application be filled out in order to receive an absentee ballot. This blog explores the possibility of online voting and its likelihood of implementation. 

Opinion
Darian Fautz
The Digitization of Love and its Consequences

A class-action lawsuit has just been filed against one of the major dating app owners, Match Group Inc. The complaint alleges that Tinder and Hinge, two of the most popular dating platforms, employ “psychologically manipulative features” to ensure users become addicted to those apps and remain on them as paying subscribers. Ironically, the complaint was filed on Valentine’s Day.

Opinion
Abrahm Hill
The Development of Environmental Technologies: PFAS

Current research reveals possible links between human exposures to certain PFAS and adverse health outcomes including altered metabolism and body weight regulation, risk of childhood obesity, increased risk of some cancers, and reduced ability of the immune system to fight infections. Because of the adverse health outcomes associated with PFAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has labeled PFAS as an emerging contaminant on the national landscape.

Opinion
Miles Majure
The Dual-Edged Sword of Rare Earth Mining: Environmental Impacts vs. Energy Needs

The modern technology that enables the digital age and our transition to renewable energy comes at a steep environmental cost from the mining of rare earth elements (REEs), which make these innovations possible.

Opinion
Max D’Ercole
Performance Crime: How Social Media Could Be Perpetuating Violence

While company spokesmen boast of the interconnectivity and advancement of society as a result of their platforms, there are many concerns which bubble up under the surface. I plan to discuss how social media has fueled criminal and oftentimes violent conduct, in something sometimes referred to as “performance crime".

Opinion
Elyse Jackson
The Era of Augmented Reality and its Impacts

It would appear that augmented reality is the next big thing in technological advancements, but, other than the hefty price tag, what is the cost to consumers or society as a whole should this technology become more accessible?

Opinion
Adava Jefferson
Unveiling Faces: Navigating the Legal and Ethical Landscape of Police Facial Recognition Technology

Biometric facial recognition technology has improved over the years and can now identify individuals faster than it could in the past. While this advancement is exciting for everyday uses, like unlocking your phone, it is also the source of a few concerns including mistaken identity, inaccuracy, bias, and security risks.

Opinion
Nicola Roberts Lewis
Will the Supreme Court Let Social Media Attempt to Remain “Free?”

The rise in social media use has also correlated with an increase of the spread of incorrect or misleading information – misinformation. As a result, states like Texas and Florida have implemented laws regulating social media sites’ ability to monitor content on their platforms. Given the First Amendment challenges these laws pose, the Supreme Court's decision regarding their legality is expected this summer. 

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
The Rise of 'Lawfluencers': Exploring #LawTok's Influential Voices

In an era where social media platforms such as TikTok shape cultural conversations and redefine professional landscapes, it should come as no surprise that the legal field is also being redefined by social media. This blog will briefly discuss lawyers on TikTok, the ethics of lawyers using social media, and then briefly offer some recommendations for lawyers to safely utilize social media.

Opinion
Abrahm Hill
Is Your Patent Application “Veeerrry Nicee!”?

Analysis of the past five years of USPTO data reveals a clear pattern in the frequency of patent rejections by section. Patent applicants must ensure that their inventions meet the criteria of being on patent-eligible subject matter, novel, and non-obvious to avoid rejection from the USPTO. If not, the patent application will not be deemed “Veeerrry Nicee!”.

Opinion
Max D’Ercole
The Art of Sign Stealing: Michigan Football and a Pair of Ray-Bans

In this blog post, I will walk you through the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the Michigan Football program. Sign-stealing deals with college football play calling which is done predominantly by team staffers on the sidelines and provides an advantage by decoding the other team’s signals. What does this have to do with technology? The answer might be tied in a particularly fascinating twist of this story to a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Smart glasses.

Opinion
Elyse Jackson
Privacy Issues and the Rise of Livestreaming

Streaming platforms despite its significant entertainment value, is a ripe platform for cybersecurity attacks. Many streaming platforms require account creation in order to view live content and require payment information to send financial support to streamers. As a result, these platforms store names, email addresses and payment information of millions of subscribers.

Opinion
Darian Fautz
Universal Music Group Takes a Break from TikTok

Record labels are starting to become fed up with the conditions of TikTok’s current music use and are demanding some changes. For example, UMG claims there are three critical issues that they can’t find common ground with TikTok on: appropriate compensation for UMG’s artists and songwriters, protection of human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.

Opinion
Luke Barcy
Elon Musk’s OpenAI Lawsuit: How it Further Demonstrates the Need for Regulation of the Blooming AI Industry

As a follow up to my two-part blog series, late in the day on February 29th, co-founder of OpenAI Elon Musk filed a complaint against OpenAI and his fellow cofounders CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman in California Superior Court.

Opinion
Domenic DiPietro
Federal Regulations Affecting Food Tech Companies that Provide Meal-Kit Services

The high demand for meal-kit services, like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron, to fulfill weekly deliveries can contribute to a variety of regulatory issues for food tech companies as explored in this blog. 

Opinion
Kristen Adams
Shades of Success: Navigating Color Trademarks in the Digital Age

In the realm of Intellectual Property, trademarks serve as indispensable tools for brand identification and differentiation. The fashion industry has long recognized the power of color as a distinctive branding element. This blog, based on the article "Color as a Calling Card", dives into the intricate world of color trademarks, offering valuable insights for law practitioners and businesses navigating this evolving landscape.

Opinion
Abigail Downs
Autonomous Vehicles are Reshaping Legal Liability on the Roads

As autonomous vehicle technology advances and automakers race to bring self-driving cars into the mainstream, a complex new landscape of questions emerge regarding legal liability. The arrival of driverless cars is fundamentally shifting who or what is responsible when accidents occur. 

Opinion
Adriana Kranyecz
Protecting the Rights of Kid Influencers

Parent content creators or “vloggers” have gained significant online followings through content based on their children. However, this has increasingly created opportunities for exploitation. Consequently, there is a need for robust measures to protect the privacy and well-being of minors online.

Opinion
Santiago Garcia-Mata
New Technology Calls for Regulation and Legal Protection of Consumers’ Brains

For now, one’s innermost thoughts are considered to be private, inaccessible, and as such, they remain unregulated. Emerging neurotechnology is looking to change that by utilizing brain scans and brain wave analysis for all kinds of products. 

Opinion
Luke Barcy
The Commercialization of OpenAI: A Parable Showing the Need for Regulation in the Wild West of Artificial Intelligence Development

OpenAI, in its non-profit form, found that it could not compete with tech giants like Meta and Google. As a result, OpenAI’s leadership transformed the company into a capped “for-profit” institution in 2019. Shortly thereafter, OpenAI partnered with Microsoft, receiving $1 billion and granting Microsoft the right to commercialize OpenAI’s solutions.

Opinion
Domenic PiPietro
A Trap for the Unwary: Cyber Insurance Policies and Phishing Attacks

Cybersecurity and cybercrime pose concerns for individuals and businesses alike. Consequently, many choose to purchase cyber insurance to protect against cyber risks. However, insureds may find themselves helpless concerning certain cyber losses if they do not thoroughly familiarize themselves with their cyber insurance policies.

Opinion
Connor Paulshock
Ohio Social Media Law Ruled Unconstitutional

A federal judge has ruled that Ohio’s new social media law may violate the First Amendment rights of minors and tech companies. This preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley, will prevent Ohio officials from enforcing the statute.

Opinion
Nicola Roberts-Lewis
Quantum Computing: Another Tech to Worry About?

Quantum computers have the potential to surpass traditional computers in a variety of areas, including the speed at which problems will be solved, enhanced simulations, and machine learning. Practically, this translates to developments in cryptography and cybersecurity, drug discovery, and optimization of financial modeling and portfolios.

Opinion
Miles Majure
Carbon Capture: The Solution to the Carbon Crisis?

With the looming threat of global warming caused in part by carbon dioxide emissions, the world has been looking for a solution. However, there is a potential new technology that has been gaining a lot of momentum. It is known as carbon capture.

Opinion
Luke Barcy
Part One: The Current State of AI Regulation, Briefly

OpenAI’s extreme transformation form a non-profit entity to a for-profit company, and the recent removal and reinstatement of Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, demonstrate the impracticality of self-regulation and need for a federal system of regulation in the aggressively innovative and fiercely competitive artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

Opinion
Adava Jefferson
Skyward Surveillance: Navigating the Privacy Concerns of Private Jet Tracking

In this article I will share a bit more about privacy law regarding the use of publicly available location data to track commercial and private flights and compare the availability of this kind of data to countries outside the United States, and elaborate on the flight tracking social media user, Jack Sweeney. 

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
Frozen Fortunes: Cryonics and the Intersection with Trusts and Estates

For decades people have been attempting to defeat death by participating in cryogenic preservation. Cryonics is the practice of deep freezing the bodies of people who have recently died with the hopes that scientific advancements will allow them to be revived in the future. This blog will divulge more into the practice of cryonic preservation, who is participating in this practice, and briefly discuss the impact that cryonics is beginning to have on trusts and estates law.

Opinion
Abrahm Hilll
The Story of a Patent

In the realm of Intellectual Property, the path to securing a patent is often filled with challenges and complexities. This article navigates through the different phases of patent applications from the initial submission to the final decision by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Opinion
Max D’Ercole
The Art of Sign Stealing: Is College Football in Dire Need of an Update?

The months of October and November were a tumultuous time in college football. Beginning with a staff member of the Michigan Wolverines Football Team resigning, before building all the way to a 3-game suspension for the team’s head coach Jim Harbaugh. Over the course of two blogs, I plan on offering the reader a guiding hand through these bumpy and heated questions: What is sign-stealing? Why is it that Michigan fans purport the practice to be rampant? Is this some sort of witch hunt? 

Opinion
Darian Fautz
The Future of Streaming: Will Netflix Win the Streaming Wars?

Circa 2019, it was hard to imagine a reality where additional services could rival Netflix’s standard $12.99 a month cost and vast video library. Now, given the numerous streaming giants, many could call the current state of streaming services an oligopoly, at least from an antitrust perspective.

Opinion
Abigail Downs
Genetic Data Under Attack: 23andMe Cybersecurity Breach & What Comes Next?

In October 2023, 23andMe experienced a significant cybersecurity breach, impacting nearly seven million individuals who had utilized their genetic testing platform. Despite initial speculation that the breach might be linked to vulnerabilities in 23andMe's cyber infrastructure, investigations revealed that the intrusion was external.

Opinion
Kristen Adams
Estée Lauder Prevails in BIPA Lawsuit Over Virtual Try-On Tools

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital commerce, the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology has revolutionized the way consumers interact with products, particularly in the cosmetics industry. The recent lawsuit against Estée Lauder, alleging violations of the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) due to its use of virtual try-on tools, serves as a case study in navigating the legal intricacies surrounding biometric data usage in emerging technologies.

Opinion
Durya Nadeem-Khan
Attention Congress: Our Genetic Nondiscrimination Laws Need Updating!

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), enacted in 2008, protects what makes us who we are, our DNA. However, in the 16 years since GINA’s enactment, science and technology have made significant advancements in the field of genetics.

Opinion
Elyse Jackson
K-Pop and Fortnite: The Revolution of Virtual Concert Experience

Once COVID-19 reached American shores, many aspects of our daily lives began to change. Concerts and events I planned were promptly and appropriately canceled. That is, until entertainment companies introduced virtual concert experiences. With a good internet connection, a Zoom account to video chat with friends, and maybe twenty bucks for the ticket, you too could see your favorite artist(s) virtually! No traffic, no hotel rooms, no crowds, no large expenses. Just music and fun.

Opinion
Adava Jefferson
Balancing the Blockchain: The Imperative Need for Cryptocurrency Regulation in the United States

This blog discusses what cryptocurrency is and the growing concern for regulation of cryptocurrency in the future. Additionally, the current system for regulation of securities and ways in which this system’s focuses may transfer to cryptocurrency is also discussed.

 

 

Opinion
Adriana M. Kranyecz
Erasing Past Mistakes: The Right to Be Forgotten

In today’s world, past mistakes are only a click away. Social media has revolutionized our ability to connect with the world, streamlining marketing, networking, and enabling quick access to vast quantities of information. Although many see this as a positive, there may be some long-term drawbacks. Most notably, social media users are losing something through their engagement that is often overlooked—their ability to control what information is carried forward into the future

Opinion
Santiago Garcia-Mata
Big Tech Goes on Trial, Part 3: Can OpenAI Survive Copyright Lawsuits?

In late 2023, The New York Times filed suit against OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. New York Times is alleging that OpenAI and Microsoft are stealing its copyrighted content to train their large language models and profiting from it. Depending on who you ask, the stakes of the lawsuit are very high, with the potential to change the future of the news business, copyright law, innovation, and of OpenAI and other generative AI companies. 

Opinion
Connor Paulshock
U.S. Regulators Propose New Online Privacy Safeguards for Children

The Federal Trade Commission recently proposed substantial changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (“COPPA”). COPPA restricts internet tracking of children by several sources such as social media, video games, and digital advertisers. While Congress has attempted to introduce more comprehensive children data safety legislation, COPPA is the main federal law that protects children’s online data. 

Opinion
Abrahm Hill
Are Genetic Patents Morally Right?

In the evolving landscape of medical science and biotechnology, the question of whether genetic patents are morally justified presents a complex ethical issue. The story of Henrietta Lacks and the use of her cells, known as HeLa cells, serves as a pivotal case study in understanding this issue. 

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
Tuned Out: Exploring Music Streaming Services’ Unfair Compensation Practices

This blog will briefly explore why artists even choose to utilize music streaming services, issues with artist compensation, and how music artists and music streaming services have tried to solve this problem.

Opinion
Nicola Roberts Lewis
Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Solar?

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there was a call for new “renewable” energy sources to be developed that in the process of producing energy did not have greenhouse gases as a byproduct. One of these new power sources was solar energy.

 

 

OSTLJ Blog Autumn 2023
Opinion
Nicola Roberts Lewis
Autonomous Vehicles and Their Recalls

Autonomous vehicles pose inherent road safety problems. While one of the purported advantages of self-driving cars is that their integration in society will lead to increased safety, the reality now is that there are a number of accidents associated with the technology. As a result, states have begun regulating AVs on their roads.

 

 

Opinion
Miles Majure
Could Hot Rocks be Part of the Solution to Decarbonization?

Our current energy storage technology is mostly based on chemical batteries that are expensive and are energy intensive to produce themselves. These chemical batteries are also composed of chemicals and heavy metals that if released into the environment, would cause many detrimental effects. However, several researchers think they have found a solution to this problem, and it is a very simple one. Their solution is using hot rocks.

Opinion
Adava Jefferson
Online Shopping Gateways and Their Potential Litigation Loophole

While there are cybersecurity regulations protecting personal data collected by businesses, like the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, personal data regulation and cybersecurity is an area in which the law must catch up. The advancement of technology is so quick that it will probably take years to answer all the big questions, but, for now, I will be following the process of protecting consumer data one case or regulation at a time.

Opinion
Elyse Jackson
The Black Box: How Toxic Algorithms Keep Social Media in Business

 As if what we see on our social media feeds daily isn’t bad enough, a data scientist whistleblower has exposed internal documents that demonstrate that Facebook chooses its financial interests over the general good of the public. In other words, if harmful content makes money, then the algorithm will promote it regardless of its effects on society.

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
The TikTok Effect: TikTok's Transformative Impact on the Music Industry

TikTok’s popularity has changed the way that artists promote their songs, and the way new talent is scouted. TikTok, understanding its star making power, has also began creating its own ways to impact the music industry directly.

Opinion
Nicola Roberts-Lewis
You Get A High Speed Internet, You Get A High Speed Internet!: Recent Steps Taken to Close the Digital Divide in the US, and Specifically Appalachian Ohio

In 2021 the Biden-Harris Administration signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal to ensure every American has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet. Access to high-speed internet is an integral part of US and global society. The power of the internet seems endless, and contributes to improving a person’s health, educational, and employment outcomes and opportunities.

Opinion
Miles Majure
Is a Miniature Nuclear Reactor Coming to a Town Near You?

In May of 2023, plans were announced for the construction of a first of its kind Small Modular Reactor, known as an SMR, in southern Ohio. While many plans are in motion for these SMR’s, plenty of questions abound. Since they are so new, it is yet to be determined how viable they are either technologically or economically speaking. Many regulatory hurdles also remain, as only one SMR design has been approved by federal regulators.

Opinion
Abrahm Hill
Should Genes be Patentable?

This article explores the complicated topic of gene patentability within patent law. More recently, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2023 was introduced in Congress. This Bill seeks to broaden what can be patented, including genes. Despite the various ethical, legal, and economic concerns gene patenting raises, this article focuses on the legal and economic arguments, putting aside moral and ethical considerations.

Opinion
Darian Fautz
Are You Addicted to Social Media?

33 states are suing Meta claiming that their tactics lure children onto its social media platforms. As a result, a bipartisan legislative effort is taking place to bring the Kids Online Safety Act to life. Until then, online child protection regulations will have to depend on big tech companies creating internal regulations by forgoing profits in order to keep children safe.

Opinion
Max D’Ercole
Freelance Injustice: How AI Could Doom Comic Book Creators

There is a long history of comic book creators being effectively, well, screwed. Therefore, comic book creators need protections. Comic book writers and artists rarely reap the vast monetary benefits of the stories and character designs they are creating that go on to gross billions of dollars.

Opinion
Miles Majure
Are Current Water Treatment Technologies Enough to Accomplish the EPA’s New PFAS Regulations?

In response to the growing concerns about exposure to PFAS, in March of 2023, the EPA proposed the first regulations setting maximum allowable standards for PFAS in drinking water. While the EPA means well in establishing maximum standards for some of the PFAS, water treatment technology is not yet advanced enough for most water treatment facilities to meet these standards.

Opinion
Nicola Roberts-Lewis
Clearview AI: A Google Search for Faces

Armed with a cache of 40 billion photographs scrubbed from the internet, Clearview created a program that can take a photo of an unidentified person at various locales, such as at an ATM robbery or a political protest, process it through the algorithm, and obtain output of other photos of the individual from other locations, such as Venmo accounts or a university’s website.

Opinion
Adam Jefferson
Open Banking and What It Could Mean for the U.S.

Outside word of mouth or the internet, it is difficult to make an informed decision without spending money for advice. To help make these decisions easier, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a rule to shift towards open banking. 

Opinion
Elyse Jackson
Discussion About Toxicity Towards Women in Video Games

Routinely, women who dared enter comms to make in-game callouts were quickly berated, and nothing was off the table. The experience of female gamers is wrought with hatred despite making up almost half of the multi-player gamers

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
EdTech: Nurturing Minds or a Tool of Big Brother

This blog post will serve an introduction to what educational technology is, the issues present with it and the impact it has on students, what is currently being done to combat it, and some ways in which readers can protect themselves from some of the hyper surveillance in these tools. 

Opinion
Abrahm Hill
The Use of Online Trackers Across Various Websites

The issue of online behavioral tracking of internet users while accessing websites and apps has seen a steady rise over the past two decades. Various online tracking technologies are employed to collect data on consumer activities posing significant concerns that internet users should acknowledge when navigating various websites.

Opinion
Darian Fautz
AI and Misinformation

If you’ve spent any time on the internet within the last year or two, then you’ve most likely encountered a deepfake. A lot of the time they can be pretty harmless and very obviously fake. The trouble with deepfakes comes when they are created and distributed more surreptitiously and with malicious intent.

Opinion
Max D'Ercole
Video Assistant Refereeing: Friend or Foe?

Because of the difficulty posed by calling offside, a new process in European Football called “Video Assistant Refereeing”, or “VAR” is utilized. Acting similar to plays being reviewed in American football, VAR involves specific eligible plays to be reviewed after the fact by referees observing the game from a separate location via monitors. When a “clear and obvious error” is detected, they summon the on-field referee to the sideline to review the play themselves and makes the call of whether to give the foul.

 

 

Opinion
Adriana M. Kranyecz
Pathways to Progress: Civil Rights Laws and Access to Assistive Technology

Advances in assistive technology and accessible software present growing opportunities for people with disabilities as society shifts towards a digital world. To ensure equal access, Congress has enacted legislation in several areas such as education, employment, assistive technology, and electronic communication services.

Opinion
Durya Nadeem-Khan
Public Trust & Privacy at Stake: Newborn Genetic Screening Data Used in Criminal Investigations

Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), the process of creating genetic profiles from crime scene samples and uploading them to genealogy websites to map out family trees has been used in about 200 criminal investigations in the past four years. Although this may seem innovative initially, the concern is now heightened as law enforcement turns to newborn blood samples, a move that threatens not only privacy but also the delicate balance of public trust in the newborn screening program.

Opinion
Connor Paulshock
The Evolving Role of Lawyers Navigating the AI Co-Pilot

Lawyers have begun utilizing AI as a collaborative assistant or co-pilot in several processes such as predictive analytics in litigation and contract analysis. However, such use relies on responsible AI practices to ensure that these AI tools operate transparently, free from bias, and under the guidance of legal professionals.

Opinion
Luke Barcy
President Biden’s Executive Order on AI: Harnessing the Expertise of Agencies to Lasso the Bullish Artificial Intelligence Industry

President Joe Biden’s October 30, 2023 “Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” has an expansive scope and touches on many of the intricacies and impacts of the growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry. Critics claim the Executive Order should do more in terms of changing the law governing AI in an immediate sense, as the effects of AI’s integration into American society have already begun to take shape.

 

 

Opinion
Adriana M. Kranyecz
The Americans with Disabilities Act: A New Perspective in The Digital Age

The ADA ensures that all aspects of public life are accessible, including jobs, schools, transportation, and other places that are open to the public. At the time of its enactment, the internet was not such a significant part of our lives. However, its core principles of accessibility and inclusion are more relevant than ever in today's digital world.

Opinion
Santiago Garcia-Mata
Big Tech Goes on Trial, Part 2: Will the Federal Trade Commission Break Up Amazon?

On September 26, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and seventeen states filed a combined lawsuit alleging that Amazon has committed anti-competitive actions that have inflated prices, harmed third party sellers, and damaged others’ ability to compete. The success of a lawsuit like this one could have widespread implications for Big Tech and e-commerce, though similar lawsuits have been mostly futile in the past.

Opinion
Adava Jefferson
Cybersecurity Regulation and the Drastic Need for Improvement

Using the internet means opening not only yourself, but others in your home, up to potential attacks, such as online viruses and hackers. Everyday people try their best to protect their online security by using passwords to prevent access to their internet and by steering clear of online scams. Therefore, finding different ways to stay safe and protected on the internet means staying up to date on cybersecurity.

Opinion
Elyse Jackson
How Educational Institutions Benefit from Instructional Video Games Like Minecraft and Roblox

Video games have undergone an incredible evolution in the last 50 years and has not always produced positive reactions, and over the years, large debates have taken place regarding the potential negative impact of video games on young consumers. As the debate rages on, sandbox games like Roblox and Minecraft have found their way into grade school classrooms, but this isn’t necessarily a new phenomenon.

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
Antitrust in the Digital Age: What You Need to Know About FTC’s Lawsuit Against Amazon

Amazon was hit by a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission, in one of Amazon’s largest lawsuits in its history. This blog post will summarize the 172-page complaint and educate consumers (or even sellers) about the key things they should know regarding this lawsuit. 

Opinion
Abigail Downs
Can Artificial Intelligence Mediate Disputes?

AI has already taken jobs from humans, and with time and technological advancement, AI will likely be capable of performing jobs traditionally dominated by humans including its potential to fulfill the role of a mediator. 

Opinion
Abraham Hill
Which Agency is Best-Set to Regulate Big Tech?

In today’s extreme political polarization, one issue is becoming more and more bipartisan: regulation of the U.S. technology industry. Tech companies are under increased scrutiny because they lack government oversight. As a result, this summer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Lindsey Graham called for Congress to create a new regulatory body to oversee the tech industry.

Opinion
Darian Fautz
Social Media, The Supreme Court, and The First Amendment

There have been many changes in the social media world lately, such as Meta’s development and use of AI and Twitter’s rebrand to X, with many more to come. Some of these forthcoming changes could come from state legislatures and maybe even the Supreme Court and will have a major impact on social media platforms and First Amendment rights.

Opinion
Max D'Ercole
Loot-Boxes: Fun Feature or Predatory Monetization?

We’ve all seen them, whether you know their name or not. On our phones, our computers, and especially our game consoles. Loot-Boxes, a feature believed to have been implemented first in the Chinese free-to-play game ZT Online, are a fundamental part of modern games. With their prevalence and accessibility, particularly to minors, countries around the world are now considering how to handle Loot-Boxes. Their primary question, how are these Loot-Boxes any different than online gambling?

Opinion
Domenic DiPietro
Are Robots Slowly Replacing Humans as Restaurant Waiters?

To date, tens-of-thousands of robot “waiters” have been deployed in restaurants worldwide. Some are waist-high, some are taller. Some have faces, some do not. Whatever their appearance, these restaurant robots can greet guests, lead guests to their dining tables, deliver drinks, and even buss tables. 

Opinion
Kristen Adams
Legal Implications to Luxury Fashion Resale

To leverage new luxury fashion resale trends and stay compliant with environmental and consumer protection laws, resale platforms must embrace sustainability as a guiding principle in their operations. As a result, it has come under increased scrutiny, and legal considerations play a pivotal role in shaping its future. 

Opinion
Connor Paulshock
AI in the Legal World and Its Ethical Implications

Should lawyers really be using AI? Even though it could surely be a useful tool, it comes with just as many risks as it does rewards. Specifically with regard to the ethical implications of using AI in the legal field.

Opinion
Miles Majure
Can Artificial Intelligence Be the Solution to The Supreme Court’s Wetland Determination Problem?

The traditional process of wetland determinations can be arbitrary and lead to unknown results since the definition of a water of the United States is still unsettled. However, landowners may be able to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a solution to this intensive and often arbitrary process by allowing property owners to make these determinations for themselves without relying on expensive experts or risking a determination from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Opinion
Nicola Roberts-Lewis
Will Works Created by Artificial Intelligence Be Afforded Copyright Privileges?

A recent decision in the D.C. District Court determined that images made by Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be copywritten. This decision raises a policy issue regarding whether AI should be able to hold copyrights. The following discussion provides some context surrounding the issues and arguments for and against AI’s right to receive copyright for its generations.

Opinion
Abigail Downs
HIPAA Privacy Concerns on Artificial Intelligence and Potential Safety Measures

The expanded use of artificial intelligence in healthcare has increased privacy concerns over compliance with HIPAA standards. AI has the chance to increase healthcare technology, but it also comes with its own risks.

Opinion
Durya Nadeem-Khan
Dr. AI Coming Soon to a Lawsuit Near You?

Within the healthcare industry, it’s said that AI will propel the field as a whole to new heights in terms of diagnoses and the normative standard of care. However, this integration raises a plethora of questions with no tangible answers at the moment. Since there are currently no recorded cases regarding AI in medicine, the law is lagging behind the exponential innovation in medicine.

Opinion
Adava Jefferson
Contracting With AI - Should This Be Allowed?

AI has become a major topic of conversation, largely from ChatGPT, which allows human-like conversations with anything from a chatbot. People are not only using AI to create contracts, but are now contracting with AI personalities themselves in the form of brand deals. This opinion will explore whether this kind of contract should be allowed by discussing what an AI influencer is, and what it means to form a contract.

Opinion
Elyse Jackson-Wu
Artificial Intelligence’s Contribution to Sustainability in Fashion: Both Good and Bad

A quick Google search of fast fashion will quickly produce imagery of expansive textile landfills, polluted water sources, and destroyed ecosystems forced to their knees by discarded pieces of clothing. The environmental impact of fast fashion cannot be understated. This problem needs a strong solution that AI may or may not be able to provide. This piece investigates AI's benevolent and malevolent contributions towards fashion sustainability, beginning with the benevolent contributions.

Opinion
Santiago Garcia-Mata
Big Tech Goes on Trial: Can Google Defend Itself Against Monopoly Allegations?

A combined suit between the Department of Justice and 38 U.S. States and Territories against Google alleges that Google's search engine marketing tool is being used to gain an unfair advantage over competitors, and more importantly that Google’s default search agreements amount to monopolistic activity

Opinion
Abrahm Hill
Federal Health Data Privacy Laws Are Outdated

In 1963, years before the development of the internet, Justice Earl Warren stated, “The fantastic advances in the field of electronic communication constitute a greater danger to the privacy of the individual.”1 His words ring ever louder as the twenty-first-century economy becomes more and more fueled by personal data.2

Opinion
Mikayla Howard
AI's Remix: AI-Generated Music's Impact on Copyright Laws

Earlier this year, a one-minute snippet of a new single by Canadian artists Drake and The Weeknd. The two minute and 16 second song,2 “Heart on My Sleeve,” had fans buzzing. Two weeks after being uploaded, the song was removed from streaming services, TikTok, and YouTube by music publisher Universal Music Group (UMG). UMG’s senior vice president of communications said that streaming platforms have a “legal and ethical responsibility to prevent the use of their services in ways that harm artists.”

Opinion
Domenic DiPietro
Artificial Intelligence & Sports- Will AI Soon Be Athletes’ Go-to Trainer?

Athletes are constantly seeking to get stronger, faster, improve technique, and avoid injuries. However, finding a way to accomplish these goals may prove difficult, especially for high-level athletes, if their training regimens are not individually and personally tailored. Now, artificial intelligence (AI) may offer an easier—and faster—solution than a team of athletic trainers and sports medicine therapists could provide.

Opinion
Max D’Ercole
A Modern Space Race: How Recent Investment Into AI Signifies the Brand-New Global Race

As we now enter the 21st Century, a new technological race has begun. Instead of being pushed to explore the infinite vacuum of space, engineers are now scrambling to conquer the new endless frontier of artificial intelligence. 

Opinion
Darian Fautz
Why Actors Are Afraid of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is causing disruptions and controversy in many career fields. One of the most publicized disruptions, at the moment, is in the entertainment industry. Unionized writers and actors have been striking throughout the summer as they attempt to negotiate better contracts with film and television studios.

Opinion
Kristen Adams
Fashion Faux Pas? Increasing Allegations Against Shein for Intellectual Property Theft and Copyright Infringement

Three independent designers have filed this complaint in the California federal court in which they claim Shein’s repeated copyright infringements are so aggressive they could amount to racketeering.This lawsuit alleges not only that Shein has engaged in large-scale intellectual property theft but it also criticizes how Shein uses technology, specifically AI, to contribute to these infringements.