internet-issues

A teenager uses a laptop with a phone nearby. States are passing laws designed to keep kids away from social media and porn sites, but the effectiveness of the laws is being questioned by opponents and challenged in court (Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Getty Images).

State lawmakers are trying to protect kids online. Will it work?

BY: - June 9, 2023

'Any parent who thinks they are smarter technically than a 17-year-old doesn’t know their 17-year-old,' an industry expert said.

5G data stream running through a village in a rural environment

Rural Pa. to benefit from $200M infusion from feds for broadband | Wednesday Morning Coffee

BY: - April 12, 2023

The state will receive at least $1B more in the coming years for broadband expansion, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said

TWITTER CELL PHONE IMAGE

Report: Online trolls are spreading offline hate against LGBTQ Americans | Tuesday Morning Coffee

BY: - September 13, 2022

Researchers found an 'alarming' rise of hate on social media. 

State Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny, co-sponsored the legislation.

Wolf OKs bill for Pa. National Guard to provide cybersecurity training to local governments

BY: - July 12, 2022

Malware is reportedly the leading front of asymmetrical warfare.

COMMENTARY

Infrastructure Law: Why high-speed broadband is essential as water & electricity | Opinion

BY: - November 18, 2021

By correcting course, the new law is an important step toward affordable internet for all.

States, including Pa., weigh bans on ransomware payoffs

BY: - July 26, 2021

Some cybersecurity specialists say lawmakers should pump more money into helping state and local governments strengthen their systems rather than banning ransom payments.

New law could expand 5G’s reach in Pa.

BY: - July 6, 2021

At least 25 states have approved legislation smoothing a path for 5G technology, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

COMMENTARY

A tax on digital ad sales won’t solve all of Pa.’s budget problems. But it’ll help | Mike Connolly

BY: - February 14, 2021

If Harrisburg implemented such a measure, it could raise nearly $500 million, and would likely grow each year with the continued growth of online advertising.

Facebook group kickstarts a grassroots response to COVID-19 in Allegheny County

BY: - March 20, 2020

Shanon Williams, a Pittsburgh-based social worker, created the group Allegheny County Resources & Support Amid COVID-19 to bring residents together.

COMMENTARY

Craigslist at 25: A reminder that a more democratic version of the web can still thrive | Opinion.

BY: - March 2, 2020

By Jessa Lingel Fake news. Online surveillance. Phishing scams. Biased algorithms. It’s easy to be cynical about the internet, and harder to remember a time when being online felt less commercial and more democratic. But there was a period when websites didn’t rely on user data for profit margins, when people still viewed the internet […]