Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Tech

Washington state bill allowing direct sales of Rivian and Lucid is speeding toward finish line

Published

on

Rivian vehicles. (Amazon Photo)

Washington lawmakers are racing to pass legislation to let Rivian and Lucid sell their EVs directly to consumers. The push follows years of dealership opposition — and Rivian’s threat to bypass legislators entirely with a November ballot initiative.

The Senate on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 6354 with 46 yeas and three Democrats voting no. The bill has a House hearing Thursday.

Twelve years ago, Tesla won a hard-fought battle giving it alone the right to do direct sales in an era when electric vehicles were a new technology.

For years, EV makers have battled to level the sales playing field with Tesla. Because Rivian and Lucid have not sold through dealerships, their Washington customers have had to purchase their vehicles online or out-of-state and have not been able to easily test drive the EVs.

The bill provides a narrow exemption for the two additional EV automakers, meaning that other manufacturers and EV newcomers are still banned from direct sales. SB 6354 includes a $10,000 penalty for automakers that break the law and conduct direct sales or leases.

Advertisement

The legislation also increases the vehicle dealer documentary service fee from $200 to $250 for a decade, allocating some of those funds to state accounts supporting EV purchases for low-income shoppers and public transit.

SB 6354 has budget impacts and is therefore exempt from most legislative deadlines. The session is scheduled to end March 12.

RELATED: Washington state is primed to let Rivian and Lucid sell EVs directly to consumers

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Tech

Epson’s New LS970 UST Projector Does 4K/HDR Up to 150 Inches with 4,000 Lumens and Sound by Bose

Published

on

Epson just unveiled a new flagship UST projector in their Lifestudio line. The Epson LifeStudio Grand Plus ($3,799) packs 4,000 Lumens of white and color brightness into a fairly compact and elegant chassis. It supports full 4K resolution with HDR, thanks to dual axis pixel shifting, laser lighting and a 3-Chip LCD imaging engine which prevents the RBE (rainbow effect) and other artifacts we see on most DLP-based projectors.

The Lifestudio Grand Plus (Model # LS970) is also Epson’s first projector to support Google Gemini AI in its integrated Google TV operating system. With Google TV, the projector has access to thousands of apps for audio and video streaming and cloud gaming. Enhanced with Google Gemini, the projector can not only make recommendations about what to watch, but can answer virtually any question in a straightforward conversational manner, and can be fully integrated into a Google Smart Home.

Epson-Lifestudio-Grand-Plusblack-900px

In case you want to add more sources, the LS970 offers three HDMI inputs with HDMI eARC, ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and support for sources up to 4K/120 Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming from a next gen console or gaming PC.

LS970-inputs-on-side-panel-900px
The Epson LS970 offers three HDMI ports on the side, one with HDMI ARC/eARC for connection to an external sound system. There’s also a fiberoptic digital output and an analog headphone jack for private listening.

Image by Epson, Sound By Bose

The projector includes robust built-in sound quality, thanks to a sound system designed in partnership with Bose. Its integrated 2.1-channel Bose soundbar packs a punch in a small form factor with surprisingly good bass response, though we’d still recommend pairing it with a high quality external sound system for best results. Match it up with a motorized UST screen and you can enjoy a “TV screen” up to 150 inches diagonally, bright enough for rooms with some ambient light, which can virtually disappear when not in use. Epson offers its own SilverFlex ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) fixed UST screens in both a 100-inch and 120-inch size as options, but larger fixed and motorized screens optimized for UST projectors are available from several other companies.

Melvin Diaz, Epson’s Senior Product Manager for home entertainment had this to say about the new projector: “Home entertainment is evolving beyond screen size. It’s about how technology enhances the way we live and connect. The Lifestudio Grand Plus is designed to deliver an immersive, theater-like experience that integrates beautifully into home décor, even with challenging room layouts and ceiling heights, giving consumers the freedom to turn everyday moments into something truly special.”

Epson-Lifestudio-Grand-Plus-white-black-900px
The Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus (LS970) is available in white and black finishes.

Unlike some competitors, Epson’s peak brightness ratings are backed up by real world use and measurements. So you know the projector’s ratings of 4,000 Lumens of Color Brightness (IDMS Rated) and 4,000 Lumens of White Brightness (ISO Rated) are legit. And these numbers make the projector suitable for medium to bright room use. Though, of course, it will look even better in a light-controlled living room or home theater.

Epson-3LCD-Laser-Light-Engine-900px-jpeg
Epson’s 3-chip projectors like the LS970 deliver equal white brightness and color brightness unlike competitive single-chip DLP projectors.

Google TV Just Got Smarter

Personally speaking, I find it frustrating when I ask my TV or projector’s built in voice assistant a question, and all it gives me are generic recommendations about what shows to watch. As one of the first projectors to integrate Gemini AI into Google TV, the LS970 is taking this viewing experience to the next level, turning your projector into a conversational hub. Gemini learns and understands how you talk as well as your viewing preferences. It can give you curated recommendations from across thousands of apps and hundreds of free live channels tailored for your viewing tastes but Gemini goes beyond that. It allows for free-flowing natural conversations – whether you’re planning a family trip, need help with some homework or want details on who that actor is and what other shows and movies he’s been in.

GoogleTVwithGemini-900px
Google TV with Gemini adds a new layer or “Smart” to your Smart TV (or projector).

The Bottom Line

We’re pleased to see Epson is offering true 4K resolution with HDR 10 support in its flagship UST projector thanks to dual axis pixel shifting as most of their previous UST offerings only offered half-4K resolution (single pixel shift). Combine this with 4,000 lumens of white and color brightness and screen size support up to 150 inches and you should have a capable projector which can virtually disappear when not in use. Add in Google TV with Gemini and a high quality built-in soundbar and the Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus offers a compelling all-in-one giant screen Smart TV solution with a solid value proposition.

Where to Buy:

> Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus LS970 UST Projector at ProjectorScreen.com (black)

Advertisement

> Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus LS970 UST Projector at ProjectorScreen.com (white)

Best UST Projectors of 2025 Revealed at Projector Showdown

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Tech

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for March 25

Published

on

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s not terribly tricky, but read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Advertisement

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

completed-nyt-mini-crossword-puzzle-for-march-25-2026.png

The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for March 25, 2026.

Advertisement

NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Instrument in bluegrass music
Answer: BANJO

6A clue: Publication with the headline “C.I.A. Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years,” with “The”
Answer: ONION

7A clue: Cut-off point for cropped jeans
Answer: ANKLE

Advertisement

8A clue: Hilarious person
Answer: RIOT

9A clue: Place to hibernate
Answer: DEN

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: “Tens across the ___!”
Answer: BOARD

2D clue: 1982 film in which Carol Burnett played Miss Hannigan
Answer: ANNIE

Advertisement

3D clue: Japanese camera brand
Answer: NIKON

4D clue: Sudden shock
Answer: JOLT

5D clue: Final number in a countdown
Answer: ONE

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Tech

Rover Promo Codes and Deals: Get Up to $50 This Month

Published

on

Rover, rover, send those coupons on over—especially since doggie daycare and pet sitting can add up quickly. If you’re like me, you often need an extra set of eyes on your pets, especially when last-minute travel, social, or work plans arise. I want someone responsible to guard over my dogs in my absence, but who is also just as obsessed with them as I am. As summer travel plans come up on the horizon and you’re getting ready to book, let’s get your fur kids squared away first with a Rover promo code.

Score Your Rover Promo Code for March 2026

Last-minute weekend away, or need someone to pop in while you’re out to check on your pets? Make sure to check on Rover’s seasonal discounts, especially if you’re new to the platform. You can get up to $30 on your first booking in March, especially if you opt for dog-walking services or boarding.

There’s also a Rover referral code that you can share, so if you’re loving it and want others to join in, you get $20 off Rover services. The credit you receive doesn’t expire, and there’s no cap on how many people you can share it with; so come one, come all!

Get a $50 Gift Card When You Refer a Sitter

We all have a friend who loves animals. We also have a friend who is considered the “responsible adult” of the group. Bonus points if both attributes describe the same person, who is more than qualified to be taking care of pets as if they were their own. Had I known about this Rover discount code pet-sitting promo in the past, I would have jumped on the opportunity.

Advertisement

It’s simple: Rover gives you a unique referral link within the platform, and then you share it with your qualified candidate. Once your nominee for Rover has their first successful go-around with either sitting or dog walking within the first 90 days of joining the platform, ultimately, you both win. They get a little money, and so do you: a $50 Amazon gift card. If you have pets of your own, you can put this money towards restocking their supplies—like their toys that never seem to last very long.

Give $20, Get $20: Save With the Rover Friend Referral Program

Give a little, get a little, too. The Rover Friend Referral Program helps everyone (and their pets!) win. With this Rover referral code, $20 is up for grabs once your referred friends complete their first booking. They’ll get 20 bucks off and peace of mind that their pet is in good hands, and you get a $20 credit to use on Rover. Use this Rover reward towards dog walking, getting a house sitter, boarding, doggy day care, quick drop-in visits, or even dog training.

Enjoy Peace of Mind With the Rover Guarantee

Consider meeting your new Rover sitter in a panel interview, where you and your pet get a vibe check with your potential sitter. But to really help all parties and pets feel secure, the Rover Guarantee is available for emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You never want it to come to that, but preparedness is key! Plus, Rover reps are on standby should you need them.

With this guarantee, any and every booking on Rover is backed by a $25,000 vet care reimbursement for eligible claims related to injury to either the pet owner’s or sitter’s pets. It’ll also cover property damage if any occurs under a sitter’s watch, and certain out-of-pocket costs if a third party is involved. Rover will reimburse costs after the first $250, and you can file a claim here.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Tech

3D Printed Robot Arm Built For Learning Purposes

Published

on

If you want to work with robots you can do all sorts of learning with software and simulation, but nothing quite beats getting to grips with real machinery. That was the motivation for [James Gullberg] to build this impressive robot arm. 

Featuring six degrees of freedom, the robot arm is mostly constructed of 3D printed components. This let [James] experiment with a wide variety of joint and reducer designs for the sake of learning and investigation. The base of the robot uses a fairly conventional planetary gear drive, while shoulder and elbow joints rely on split-ring planetary gearboxes to allow for high torque density with regards to size. [James] implemented a neat sensing technique here, integrating alternating magnets into the output ring gear which are monitored via a magnetic encoder. The wrist joint switches things up again, running via an inverted belt differential.

Running the show is an STM32 microcontroller, which talks to all the encoders, communicates with a Raspberry Pi over CAN bus, and handles all the necessary PID control loops and step generation for the drive motors. The plan is to run higher-level control on the Raspberry Pi which will run a ROS 2-based software stack. Already, the various joints look smooth and impressive in motion.

Advertisement

If you’re looking to learn about robot arms, you really can’t beat building one. We’ve featured a few projects along these lines before. Most of them aren’t exactly production-line ready, but they will teach you a ton about control, motion planning, and all sorts of associated skills. That experience can be invaluable if you intend to work with robots in industry.

My (mostly) 3D printed Robot Arm
byu/SPACE-DRAGON772 inEngineeringPorn

Thanks to [JohnU] for the tip!

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Tech

Drone home: Brinc moving to massive new HQ and factory in Seattle amid startup’s rapid growth

Published

on

The main floor of the new Brinc Drones factory and headquarters location in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)

Brinc Drones, the Seattle-based maker of public safety drones for first responders, is moving its headquarters and factory space to a massive development not far from its current Fremont neighborhood location.

Brinc is taking over 35,000 square feet at West Canal Yards, in a former fish cannery along the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Queen Anne. The company plans to grow to 50,000 square feet in one building and perhaps grab more space down the line.

“I think it’d be sick if someday this was like, Brinc campus,” founder and CEO Blake Resnick told GeekWire while looking out at the industrial surroundings.

Brinc will move in later this fall, doubling its production footprint and positioning the company to scale manufacturing significantly. The company develops drones and related technology for police, fire, and emergency response agencies — including the newly announced Guardian.

The new Brinc Drones space is in a former fish cannery that is now an office development. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)

Resnick, who moved the company from Las Vegas in 2021, is doubling down on why he chose Seattle after considering Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, San Francisco and Boston. He was attracted to the region’s aerospace, consumer electronics and software talent, and Brinc has been growing ever since.

The company now employs 160 people across mechanical and electrical engineering roles, embedded software, autonomy, web app, manufacturing, quality assurance, sales, training, customer support and more. Resnick said they’ll likely exceed 250 by the end of the year.

Advertisement

“I wanted to make it easy for our team to navigate this transition,” he said. “If we relocated to Redmond or something, that would really change the commute profile.”

The new space features very high ceilings in the main manufacturing and warehouse space. Two stories of office space are being spruced up with the addition of meeting rooms and cubicles and other tech office trappings. One corner office with large windows looks down on the main floor.

“I don’t know if it’s gonna be fully my office, maybe this turns into a big board room type situation and I just happen to work here,” Resnick said. “I do really love this space. I think it’s gonna look awesome when there’s actual drone manufacturing operations happening.”

A view from a corner office down to what will be a manufacturing floor in the new Brinc Drones headquarters in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)

Brinc will be manufacturing a number of drones from its product line, including the large new Guardian drone that it unveiled on Tuesday, as well as recharging nests, batteries, handheld controllers, chargers and other accessories.

In 2025, the company more than tripled revenue and quintupled monthly production capacity. To meet accelerating demand, Brinc says it required substantially more manufacturing space. The new facility enables the company to scale output dramatically while maintaining tight integration between engineering and production.

Advertisement

“There aren’t that many buildings that suit our needs that are on the market at any given time,” Resnick said. “This one just checked a lot of boxes.”

Empty office space will be converted to meeting rooms and more in the Brinc Drones headquarters. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)

Related:

Source link

Continue Reading

Tech

OpenAI is shutting down Sora, its powerful AI video model, app and API

Published

on

OpenAI is shuttering Sora, its stand-alone AI video generation app and social network, and the availability for developers to access the Sora 2 video model family through its application programming interface (API) to rely on it for their own products or video generation pipelines.

The announcement came abruptly this afternoon with OpenAI posting a message on X and not giving an exact shutdown date for the services, instead promising “timelines for the app and API and details on preserving your work.”

Sora wowed the world with its highly realistic scene-crafting when it was first previewed by OpenAI in February 2024, more than two years ago now, only to be released to mixed reception as an updated Sora Turbo model 10 months later, at which point, many other competing video AI model providers such as Runway, Luma, and Chinese AI companies Kling and Minimax had already shipped impressive rivals.

But OpenAI seemed intent on continuing to build out the video model and enabling creators until just now, releasing a Sora 2 model over API and apps for iOS, then Android in the latter half of 2025 — and the iOS app briefly hit number one in downloads on the Apple App Store. The application itself was designed to be a social network where users could insert AI generated lifelike versions of themselves and their friends into videos.

Advertisement

The company released updates to Sora on a regular cadence all the way through this week, making the news of the shutdown even more abrupt.

And Sora was even so enticing for a while that entertainment giant Disney pledged a $1 billion equity investment deal with OpenAI announced in December 2025, just four months ago, to bring popular Disney characters to Sora, allowing users to generate new videos with them that Disney planned to share through Disney+, its streaming TV service. As that announcement read:

“Under the license, fans will be able to watch curated selections of Sora-generated videos on Disney+, and OpenAI and Disney will collaborate to utilize OpenAI’s models to power new experiences for Disney + subscribers, furthering innovative and creative ways to connect with Disney’s stories and characters. Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to start generating fan-inspired videos with Disney’s multi-brand licensed characters in early 2026”

The Hollywood Reporter states the Disney deal has now been canceled. We’ve reached out to OpenAI for more information and will update if and when we receive it.

The move comes as OpenAI has openly stated its intent to focus on building a “super app” that would fold in some or all of the capabilities of its various products including chatbot ChatGPT, AI coding model and application Codex, and others into one interface. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and other outlets suggest the strategy shift is an effort at refocusing the entire company to take on the rise of competitor Anthropic and its Claude family, especially with regards to enterprises and software developers — as Claude has seen rapid adoption and enterprise usage in the last few months, according to data from SimilarWeb and Ramp, driven by its prowess at coding and autonomously completing digital tasks.

Advertisement

The news of Sora’s demise came amid a restructuring of OpenAI’s leadership and non-profit Foundation arm and a promise for the latter to invest $1 billion “across life sciences and curing diseases, jobs and economic impact, AI resilience, and community programs,” suggesting a shift in focus away from AI-generated content and media.

Source link

Continue Reading

Tech

How to Use Apple’s Live Translation on Your AirPods

Published

on

At the same time Apple announced the AirPods Pro 3 last year, the company also introduced a new feature called Live Translation. It makes the idea of the Babel fish, so evocatively described in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a reality: Something sitting in your ear that can instantly translate between languages, on demand.

Rather than an exotic fish though, here we have wireless headphones from Apple. This isn’t actually exclusive to the latest earbuds, despite the launch timing—it’ll work with the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation and the AirPods Pro 2, as well as the AirPods Pro 3. It also works with the recently updated AirPods Pro Max, but just the 2026 version, not the original version of the Max.

There are some requirements on the iPhone side too: an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 model, are needed. You also have to have downloaded and installed the latest iOS 26 software update on your phone.

With those prerequisites out of the way, you can get your very own instant language interpreter in your ears. From FaceTime video calls to foreign trips, it’s a feature that can be hugely useful in understanding others and making yourself understood.

Advertisement

Set Up Live Translation

Image may contain Advertisement Poster and Electronics

Download the languages you need in advance.

Courtesy of Apple

This works via Apple Intelligence, so as well as having checked all the requirements that are mentioned above, you also need to turn on your iPhone’s AI capabilities if they’re not enabled already. From Settings in iOS, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri, and make sure the Apple Intelligence toggle is switched on.

Next, you need to specify the languages you want to work with. You need both the languages you’re translating from and the languages you’re translating too, so make sure you’re fully covered before you try and strike up a conversation.

We’re assuming you’ve already been through the AirPods setup process and they’re connected to your iPhone. Pop them in (or on) your ears and find the AirPods in the iOS Settings menu. Tap on the name you’ve given the headphones, then Languages to download whichever ones you need.

Advertisement

Apple says that all the processing required for Live Translation is handled privately on your phone. Your conversations aren’t being piped back to Apple’s servers so they can be translated between languages. (It’s one of the reasons you need a newer iPhone and newer headphones, so the necessarily work can be done on-device).

Use Live Translation

Image may contain Text

You can launch the feature from the Live tab of the Translate app.

Courtesy of Apple

With all the setup out of the way, you can get started with a Live Translation in a few ways. You can head to the Apple Translate app on your iPhone, tap the Live button at the bottom, choose the relevant languages, and then select Start Conversation.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Tech

Microsoft exec Charles Lamanna on how AI is creating an expensive new request from job candidates

Published

on

Work perks are taking on new meaning in the AI boom.

Speaking at GeekWire’s Agents of Transformation event in Seattle on Tuesday, Microsoft EVP Charles Lamanna talked about a job candidate who said they would come aboard as long as their team was given a certain dollar amount of AI tokens — the fuel that powers interactions with AI systems.

Lamanna didn’t reveal the exact dollar amount request, but said “you should think of $100 to hundreds of dollars of token cost per day, at the limit.”

The anecdote reflects how access to AI models is becoming as fundamental as salary — and how quickly AI is moving from experimentation to a core part of day-to-day work.

Advertisement

If a “fully loaded” (total cost of an employee to a company) engineer costs $500,000 a year and the employee asks for $100,000 worth of tokens — which makes them three times as efficient — Lamanna said it’s a great deal for everyone involved.

He compared denying engineers sufficient AI resources to stripping away basic workplace tools. Imagine showing up to work with no mouse, no email, no Microsoft Teams — that’s how an engineer accustomed to AI-powered coding agents would feel working under a tight token budget, he said.

“So how you think about what it means to hire, and fully loaded cost, and where we invest is going to change completely as a result of this,” said Lamanna, Microsoft’s executive vice president of Business Applications & Agents. He sees this happening beyond software engineering — to multiple other forms of office and information work, such as financial planning.

“They’ll be like, I’m not going to work there unless I actually get a certain amount of token budget,” he said.

Advertisement

Lamanna isn’t alone in seeing this shift. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang last week said AI tokens would become “one of the recruiting tools in Silicon Valley,” CNBC reported. In a blog post last month, venture capitalist Tomasz Tunguz described inference costs as a potential fourth pillar of engineer compensation alongside salary, bonuses, and equity. “Will you be paid in tokens?” Tunguz wrote. “In 2026, you likely will start to be.”

The New York Times last week reported on how employees at tech companies are competing on internal leaderboards that track token consumption, creating a new status game called “tokenmaxxing.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Tech

Amazon Dropped DeWalt 20V Battery Prices Up To 70% Ahead Of The Big Spring Sale

Published

on





We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Big news for anyone who swears by DeWalt tools — Amazon is now offering the DeWalt 20V Max 2.0 Ah battery for just $36, a 73% discount. Originally $131, this rechargeable battery works with DeWalt’s range of 20V Max tools, which includes garage essentials like cordless drill/drivers, wrenches, grinders, nailers, and flashlights. 

Advertisement

The DeWalt 20V Max battery is great to grab, even if you already have a few handy. At under one pound, it’s a lightweight, small battery that can be easily fit into your tool bag as a backup. DeWalt claims that it charges fully in 35 minutes and has a 33% longer battery life than other batteries of its size. Amazon reviews are generally quite positive, with many satisfied customers. If you’ve been thinking of getting one (or more) for your DeWalt tools, this seems to be a perfect time to do so. This massive discount comes just ahead of Amazon’s Spring Sale 2026 event, which officially kicks off on March 25.

Advertisement

When is Amazon’s 2026 Big Spring Sale?

Amazon’s first big savings event of the year goes live very soon. The online retailer’s Big Spring Sale goes live on March 25 and runs until March 31, giving you seven days to take advantage of some big discounts. Unlike Prime Day and Black Friday, the Big Spring Sale is more focused on cleaning items, household essentials, and clothing instead of tech. This coincides with the “spring cleaning” theme of the season. 

You don’t need a Prime membership to access the discounts, but some items will have a “Prime Spring Deal” badge that indicates exclusive savings. Despite not having officially started yet, Amazon is already offering some deals on DeWalt products. This includes not just this DeWalt 20V Max 2.0 Ah battery, but also a 20V Max combo kit that’s nearly 50% off and a DeWalt Atomic 20V Max cordless impact driver that’s 27% off — all of which are compatible with this battery, by the way. 

DeWalt has a history of offering discounts on tools during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, and this year should be the same. So, if you’re looking for DeWalt tools to add to your kit (or need batteries for those tools), it looks like a great time to buy.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Tech

Hong Kong Police Can Demand Passwords Under New National Security Rules

Published

on

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: Hong Kong police can now demand phone or computer passwords from those who are suspected of breaching the wide-ranging National Security Law (NSL). Those who refuse could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $12,700, and individuals who provide “false or misleading information” could face up to three years in jail. It comes as part of new amendments to a bylaw under the NSL that the government gazetted on Monday.

The NSL was introduced in Hong Kong in 2020, in wake of massive pro-democracy protests the year before. Authorities say the laws, which target acts like terrorism and secession, are necessary for stability — but critics say they are tools to quash dissent. The new amendments also give customs officials the power to seize items that they deem to “have seditious intention.”

Monday’s amendments ensure that “activities endangering national security can be effectively prevented, suppressed and punished, and at the same time the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations are adequately protected,” Hong Kong authorities said on Monday. Changes to the bylaw was announced by the city’s leader, John Lee, bypassing the city’s legislative council. The NSL also allows for some trials to be heard behind closed doors.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025