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This Week's Updates:
Citizens Push Back on Arkansas “Right to Mine” Crypto Bill
This April, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas signed a bill into law that limits the ability of local governments to regulate crypto-mining operations, which are cropping up in rural areas and prompting noise complaints from residents. In addition to their high energy use, crypto mines can emit a constant rumbling which has been likened to the sound of jet engines or a nearby highway. The Arkansas law is based on model legislation created by a lobbying firm called the Satoshi Action Fund, which is led by former Trump Administration officials and has worked to pass similar crypto legislation in Montana. Now, some Arkansas lawmakers say they regret voting in favor of the “Right to Mine” bill, which sped through the legislature with little discussion; state Senator Bryan King (R) has begun an effort to repeal the law, citing his concern with “some of the actors” involved in its passage.
State laws have become a cornerstone of the crypto industry’s lobbying strategy, allowing it to push favorable regulations and tax incentives through legislatures across the country. Industry advocates and investors have also worked to capture state advisory boards, which are tasked with writing legislation in key areas like banking regulation, taxation, and the management of digital assets. CfA’s Tech Transparency Project (TTP) investigated this activity in 2022, focusing on industry-friendly task forces created in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Hampshire.
Parents, Religious Leaders Sue to Stop Religious Public Charter
Last month, Oklahoma’s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted to approve an application for an online Catholic charter school, which would use public funds to provide a “virtue-based,” “quality Catholic education” to students across the state. The decision is likely to be struck down in court, as Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall (R) used his authority to change the composition of the board at the last minute, removing one member and installing local businessman Brian Bobek. The vote then passed 3-2, with some board members surprised that Bobek decided to weigh in, given his lack of experience on the case. While the state Attorney General has determined that the vote was invalid, the movement to establish more openly partisan charters is ongoing; the private, Christian Hillsdale College, for instance, has established a network of charter schools using a curriculum that “emphasizes the centrality of the Western tradition.” The schools rely on Hillsdale for free use of its curriculum, as well as trainings for faculty and staff, and now operate in 13 states.
Human Rights Partners Speak Out Against Meta
In theory, Meta’s Trusted Partners program was designed to help civil society organizations report dangerous content and prevent outbreaks of real-world violence. Using a dedicated channel, human rights organizations could submit reports to Meta’s Global Escalations team, which was supposed to be available 24/7 to respond to urgent requests. Unfortunately, the system appears to be breaking down, allowing threatening posts and misinformation to circulate on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Media non-profit Internews (itself a Trusted Partner) is speaking out against Meta for neglecting the program, which has become increasingly time-consuming and difficult for Trusted Partners to navigate. A report released by Internews this week contains a number of alarming anecdotes from Trusted Partners, one of whom recalled an incident where their organization asked Meta to remove posts accusing an individual of being a member of ISIS. That individual was eventually killed, and Meta only removed the posts after being sent a news article about his murder. While the report was covered by The Financial Times, Meta declined to comment.
