Supreme Court seems open to age checks for online porn
States argue the laws are necessary as online porn, including hardcore obscene material, has become almost instantaneous to access on smartphones online.
Internet
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IBJ Podcast: Indy’s ‘A Couple Cooks’ on becoming internet famous, publishing new cookbook
From the kitchen in their home south of Broad Ripple, Sonja and Alex Overhiser have created, tested and posted more than 3,000 recipes to their 14-year-old food-influencer website, which receives millions of pageviews per month.
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Federal funds help libraries, schools provide off-campus internet access
The application period opens Tuesday for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which will reimburse libraries and schools for the purchase of laptops, tablets and Wi-Fi hot spots.
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Articles
In blow to Democrats, federal appeals court strikes down net neutrality
The net neutrality issue revolves around how heavily federal regulators should control the companies that build and operate the internet. Democrats favor heavier oversight along the lines of how traditional telephone networks are regulated, while Republicans have argued for a lighter touch.
Regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment
The proposed breakup filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice calls for sweeping punishments that would include a sale of Google’s industry-leading Chrome web browser.
Six ways the Google antitrust ruling could change the internet
What new ideas could flourish, which new companies might get off the ground or what products might be cheaper if Google were handcuffed from flexing its monopoly power over search?
Indy airport, BMV among those affected by global technology outage
A global technology outage grounded flights, knocked banks and hospital systems offline and media outlets off air on Friday.
Feds approve Indiana’s initial application for $868M in broadband funding
The national “Internet for All” initiative, dubbed the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program, was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Some communities struggle to get connected despite billions in broadband investment
In Indiana, 11.2% of residents lack access to modern broadband internet.
Lawmakers, advocates make last-ditch push to extend affordable internet subsidy
Millions of families will face bigger internet bills starting in May because a federal broadband subsidy program is set to expire.
Internet providers must now be more transparent about fees, pricing, FCC says
The labels are expected to provide easy-to-understand, accurate information about the cost and performance of high-speed internet service to help consumers avoid junk fees, price hikes, and other unexpected costs.
$868M project aims to bring broadband to all Hoosiers
That federal funding represents Indiana’s share of the $41.6 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program—called BEAD—which aims to extend broadband access to nearly 8.5 million U.S. addresses currently unserved or underserved by broadband infrastructure.
Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation
On Wednesday, the CEOs went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.
X pauses some Taylor Swift searches as deepfake explicit images spread
Sexually explicit and abusive fake images of Swift began circulating widely last week on X. It’s made her the most famous victim of a scourge that tech platforms and anti-abuse groups have struggled to fix.
Panel advances bill that attempts to bar minors from accessing web porn
Senate Bill 17 would require that “adult-oriented websites” hosting adult content verify a user’s identity before allowing access. That could be by scanning a driver’s license or registering with a third-party verification service.
A year of social media soul-searching
In 2023, we lost Twitter and got X. We tried out Bluesky and Mastodon (well, some of us did). And we fretted about AI bots and teen mental health
Barbie, Israel-Hamas war among year’s top internet searches
Other top searches included Damar Hamlin, Jeremy Renner, Matthew Perry and Tina Turner.
Internet service provider to expand service in rural Indiana counties, hire 200 workers
Mainstream Fiber Networks, based in the Brown Country town of Nashville, says a investment from a New York firm will help bring broadband access to thousands of underserved rural Indiana communities.
Indiana to receive $868M in federal ‘internet for all’ program
States must use the money to administer grant programs deploying or upgrading broadband networks “to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service,” according to a news release.
White House announces nearly $1B in grants to expand internet access
The so-called middle mile grants are meant to create large-scale networks that will enable retail broadband providers to link subscribers to the internet.
Hamilton County looks to ease rural digital divide
The county has some of the most affluent, highly connected cities in Indiana. It also has rural areas that lack widespread access to reliable high-speed internet.
Congress probes telecom giants’ tactics in U.S. internet aid program
A leading congressional committee opened a probe of AT&T, Charter, Dish Network, T-Mobile and Verizon on Wednesday, aiming to explore if these and other telecom giants are “abiding by the law” in administering a federal aid program.