ROB BONTA STATEMENT
Strong majority of voters believes Trump is failing at home and abroad: AP-NORC poll
Federal authorities are investigating suspicious mailings received by congressional and election offices across the country. With Election Day approaching, the mailings are deemed potentially hazardous by law enforcement. In time, US President Trump plans to host rallies in support of Republican candidates in Iowa. Candidates are also navigating fundraising challenges as the midterm elections draw near. The political landscape appears increasingly competitive with various races across states tight.
California attorney general opens probe into OpenAI over cybersecurity concerns
Last month, Bonta announced that the Department of Justice was conducting a formal investigation into the "Hugging Face incident," amid increasing scrutiny of the AI industry.
Meta settlement puts social media industry on notice: 'There will be more'
Wednesday's historic settlement between Meta and dozens of US states could be just the start of a wave that will ripple across the social media industry, putting TikTok, YouTube and Snap under pressure to make similar changes to their apps for teens. "I hope that Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube will read the writing on the wall and enter into similar settlements," Lopez said in a statement.
Democratic states sue Trump over sharing welfare data with immigration authorities
Democratic-led states have sued the Trump administration to block a new policy. This policy allows federal immigration authorities access to sensitive data on low-income families. The lawsuit challenges the Administration for Children and Families' data-sharing authority. States argue this move violates existing data-sharing restrictions and federal law. The policy aims to verify citizenship or immigration status of program recipients.
Paramount delays closing Warner buyout while judge considers states' challenge
Paramount said in a filing Friday that it won't close its Warner buyout until either a court ruling is made on the states' claims or June 1, 2027. The agreement comes just days after U S District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin granted a temporary restraining order to freeze the transaction for weeks, noting that the states had raised some "serious questions" and made a strong case about the merger's potential to "substantially lessen competition."
Meta says US states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties in August youth safety trial
Meta put forward the figure in its response to the attorneys general's filings on how penalties should be calculated if the states prevailed at trial.
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Meta loses bid to dismiss US states' claims that Facebook, Instagram addict children
In a decision late Monday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, denied Meta's motion to dismiss claims based on deception, unfair practices and violations of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
US court blocks 'sweeping' funding freeze by Trump administration
A federal appeals court has largely upheld a ruling that blocked a sweeping freeze on trillions of dollars in government financial assistance. The White House budget office had directed federal agencies to implement a categorical freeze on funding. The court sided with 23 states and the District of Columbia. The freeze was instituted early last year.
Paramount Skydance wins Warner Bros; Netflix walks away and its shares jump
Netflix has withdrawn its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, deeming the acquisition financially unattractive after Paramount Skydance raised its offer. Paramount's revised $31-a-share proposal is now considered superior, though the deal faces potential antitrust scrutiny and political concerns.
Four states sue Trump administration over cuts to public health funding
Four Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from cutting $600 million in public health funds. California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota claim the cuts are politically motivated. The funding supports vital health programs like disease monitoring and outbreak response.
Musk's X announces measures to bar Grok from undressing images after global backlash
Elon Musk's platform X on Wednesday announced measures to prevent its AI chatbot Grok from undressing images of real people, following global backlash over its generation of sexualized photos of women and children. The announcement comes after California's attorney general launched an investigation into Musk's xAI -- the developer of Grok -- over the sexually explicit material and multiple countries either blocked access to the chatbot or launched their own probes.
California to investigate xAI over Grok chatbot images, officials say
Early this year, hyper-realistic images of women processed to look like they were in microscopic bikinis, in degrading poses, or covered in bruises flooded X, the site formerly known as Twitter. In some cases, minors were digitally stripped down to swimwear.
Democratic governors vow court fight after Trump sends California National Guard members to Oregon
President Trump is deploying California National Guard members to Portland, Oregon, after a judge temporarily blocked the state's own guard deployment. Democratic governors of Oregon and California are challenging this move in court, calling it an abuse of power and an attempt to circumvent the ruling. They argue there is no rebellion to justify military intervention.
States file lawsuit against Trump administration over efforts to collect SNAP recipients' data
A coalition of 20 U.S. state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop a federal order demanding states turn over personal data of people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The states fear the data—including immigration status, birthdates, and addresses—will be used to aid mass deportations.
20 states sue after Trump administration releases private Medicaid data to deportation officials
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging a violation of federal privacy laws. The suit, joined by 19 other states' attorneys general, challenges the release of Medicaid data on millions of enrollees to deportation officials. The shared data included sensitive information like names, addresses, and immigration status.
Trump authorises additional 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, US officials say
President Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests over immigration raids. Governor Newsom criticized the move as reckless and disrespectful, while California sued Trump, alleging an abuse of authority.
Los Angeles County to pay $2.7 million settlement for ‘gladiator fights’ at juvenile detention center
Los Angeles County settled for $2.7 million with a teenager brutally beaten in a juvenile detention center. Probation officers allegedly facilitated 'gladiator fights' at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, leading to charges against 30 officers. Surveillance footage revealed officers watching the assault, even shaking hands with attackers. Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the premeditated nature of the assaults, emphasizing staff involvement.
Trump sued by 20 states over immigration demands and threats to cut funding
Twenty states, largely led by Democrats, are suing the Trump administration over threats to withhold federal funding related to transportation, counterterrorism, and emergency preparedness. The states argue the administration is illegally coercing them into adopting specific immigration policies by using federal funds as leverage.
Ex-OpenAI workers seek stay on for-profit conversion of ChatGPT maker
Former OpenAI employees, backed by Nobel laureates, are urging California and Delaware's attorneys generals to block the company's shift to a for-profit structure. They fear this restructuring will compromise OpenAI's commitment to AI safety and public benefit, potentially prioritising profit over responsible development. Concerns center on the control and accountability of advanced AI technology, particularly if it surpasses human capabilities.
California will sue to stop Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit against President Trump's tariff authority, citing economic chaos for families and businesses. The suit challenges Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, arguing congressional approval is needed. Newsom highlights inflated costs and billions in damages to California's economy, particularly impacting its agricultural sector.
23andMe files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as co-founder and CEO Wojcicki resigns
23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with co-founder Anne Wojcicki resigning as CEO. The company aims to sell its assets and cut costs while addressing legal liabilities, including data privacy concerns following a 2023 breach. 23andMe plans to continue operations and assures customer data safety amid its financial restructuring.
Elon Musk asks state AGs to auction off OpenAI stake in nonprofit restructuring, sources say
Elon Musk's attorney urged state law officers to establish a competitive bidding process for OpenAI's charitable assets amid the startup's efforts to remove nonprofit control. Musk is suing OpenAI over its restructuring into a for-profit entity, arguing it violates the mission. State attorneys, including Delaware's, are reviewing the proposed changes.
Meta urges California attorney general to stop OpenAI from becoming for-profit: reports
In a letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta dated Thursday, Meta said that allowing OpenAI to become a for-profit company would set a dangerous precedent of allowing startups to enjoy the advantages of nonprofit status until they are poised to become profitable, WSJ reported.
TikTok sued by 13 US states and DC, accused of harming younger users
Thirteen U.S. states and Washington D.C. have sued TikTok, alleging the platform harms minors by fostering addiction through its content. The lawsuits seek financial penalties and criticize TikTok's content moderation, despite the company's claim of implementing safety features for young users.
Silicon Valley battles states over new online safety laws for children
Social media platforms said that some of the state laws contradicted one another and that they would prefer Congress to enact a federal law setting national standards for children's online safety.
Government pushes for accountability from internet intermediaries as Meta faces legal action in the US
Talking to a news channel, minister of state for electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the days of free pass and immunity to the social media intermediaries for the content that is hosted on their platforms was over.
Federal judge again rules that California's ban on assault weapons is unconstitutional
A federal judge in California has once again overturned the state's ban on assault weapons, ruling that it violates the constitutional right to bear arms. U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez stated that while these weapons are commonly used by criminals, they are also owned by law-abiding citizens who feel the need to protect themselves. The judge's ruling is similar to a previous decision in 2021, in which he called the ban a "failed experiment." The state has 10 days to seek a stay on the ruling as part of an appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Google to pay $155 million in settlements over location tracking
The settlements resolve claims that the Alphabet Inc unit deceived people into believing they maintained control over how Google collected and used their personal data.
Amazon must face California lawsuit claiming its prices are too high
California sufficiently alleged that Amazon's policies "have had the anticompetitive effect of raising prices on competing retail marketplaces as well as on third-party sellers' own websites," Judge Ethan Schulman in San Francisco Superior Court wrote.
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