Crypto Industry Fights Energy Use Transparency
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** CfA's March 1, 2024 Newsletter
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With your support, Campaign for Accountability is working to expose corruption and hold the powerful accountable.
** This Week's Updates:
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Judge Grants Temporary Order Blocking Reporting of Crypto Energy Use
On Tuesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Energy Information Administration (EIA) from forcing cryptocurrency mining companies to report their energy use, which could account for up to 2.3% of all electricity consumed in the U.S. The order ([link removed]) came in response to a lawsuit brought by crypto industry advocates, who opted to challenge the request rather than comply with it. One of the groups responsible for the lawsuit, known as the Texas Blockchain Council, claimed ([link removed]) that the EIA was unfairly targeting the crypto industry in order to “score political points.” For many Americans, though, the expansion of crypto mining has created problems. In Texas, a lucrative energy arbitrage program ([link removed]) has paid crypto miners
hundreds of millions of dollars to suspend their operations during periods of high demand, which ultimately raises costs for normal consumers. Crypto mines are also facing pushback ([link removed]) in states like Arkansas, where residents have complained of constant noise, headaches, and environmental disturbances.
Amid Devastating Journalism Layoffs, Google Pushes AI into Newsrooms
The Google News Initiative (GNI) is paying several publishers ([link removed]) to test drive a generative AI tool that writes articles, which Google insists is “not intended to” replace journalists. The program has been active since February, according to documents viewed by AdWeek, and appears to have recruited participants through a professional association representing local and independent publishers. This isn’t Google’s first foray into AI-produced journalism; this summer, it demonstrated an article-writing tool ([link removed]) to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Executives were allegedly more disturbed ([link removed]) than impressed, which might explain why Google has begun courting smaller outlets.
So far, the tools pushed by Google only seem capable of summarizing press releases, statements, or other articles – a form of low-quality reporting that some journalists call “churnalism.” ([link removed]) Google also has a track record ([link removed]) of laundering its business and policy interests through GNI, responding to the threat of regulation by dumping money into regional nonprofits or deals with publishers. Even so, smaller outlets might feel pressured to adopt this technology, especially if Google is paying them to use it amidst collapsing revenues and waves of layoffs.
Social Media Misinformation Still Driving Migrants to Border
Over a year ago, CfA’s Tech Transparency Project published a series of reports ([link removed]) on the types of social media misinformation targeting migrants, who rely on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to access news and navigate complex immigration processes. Rather than stepping up content moderation or working to bolster non-English language fact-checking resources, Meta has laid off ([link removed]) platform safety experts and stepped back ([link removed]) from programs designed to monitor regional conflicts. It's unsurprising, then, that migrants seeking to cross America’s southern border are still being bombarded with misleading posts on social media. Worse, Meta’s neglect has turned its platforms into tools for human smugglers, who spread false narratives about border
policies to fuel desperation and attract customers. This week, TTP Director Katie Paul spoke to Reuters’ Context ([link removed]) about Facebook’s role in fueling migrant misinformation: "What makes it such a boon for human traffickers, for scammers, is that you have a completely unregulated platform with a huge cache of very desperate, vulnerable people who are willing to do and accept anything to get out of their situations.” Read the full article, here ([link removed]) .
What We're Reading
IRS launches crackdown on 125,000 wealthy ‘non-filers’ ([link removed])
Utility Fraud and Corruption Are Threatening the Clean Energy Transition ([link removed])
The Koch Network Is Killing Rail Safety ([link removed])
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Be on the lookout for more updates about our work in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again for signing up to be a part of CfA!
Sincerely,
Michelle Kuppersmith
Executive Director, Campaign for Accountability
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