In the past, the US could exert its power on ruling industries to rein them in and prevent them from becoming too powerful. Rachel Bovard cites the Hepburn Act of 1906 as an example; it prohibited railroad companies from transporting commodities they had an interest in. She argues that because the government could do it before, they can do it again to stop giant tech companies from lording over citizens; it just needs to find its will again. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
