Cody Venzke
@cvenzke.bsky.social
Senior Policy Counsel for Surveillance, Privacy & Technology, ACLU
Reposted by Cody Venzke
BREAKING NEWS: A judge this morning allowed the lawsuit by @aclusocal.bsky.social & Walkup Melodia against the UC Regents on behalf of Palestine solidarity activists from UCLA (2 students and 2 faculty members) to proceed, marking an important preliminary victory for student speech on CA campuses.
November 4, 2025 at 10:29 PM
BREAKING NEWS: A judge this morning allowed the lawsuit by @aclusocal.bsky.social & Walkup Melodia against the UC Regents on behalf of Palestine solidarity activists from UCLA (2 students and 2 faculty members) to proceed, marking an important preliminary victory for student speech on CA campuses.
Reposted by Cody Venzke
A whistleblower has revealed that DOGE staffers uploaded millions of Americans' Social Security information to an unauthorized server.
The Trump administration's recklessness with our data should be a wake-up call that it's time to update our decades-old laws so that our privacy is truly protected.
The Trump administration's recklessness with our data should be a wake-up call that it's time to update our decades-old laws so that our privacy is truly protected.
DOGE mishandled your Social Security data. Here’s what that means.
A whistleblower alleges that staffers with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency have exposed with Americans’ Social Security numbers.
www.msnbc.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
A whistleblower has revealed that DOGE staffers uploaded millions of Americans' Social Security information to an unauthorized server.
The Trump administration's recklessness with our data should be a wake-up call that it's time to update our decades-old laws so that our privacy is truly protected.
The Trump administration's recklessness with our data should be a wake-up call that it's time to update our decades-old laws so that our privacy is truly protected.
The UK's forays in age verification underscore that it its not only ineffective, but violates our privacy and keeps teens and adults from online life, blocking social media, online videos, streaming, and even gaming. www.theverge.com/analysis/715...
Ready or not, age verification is rolling out across the internet
An age-gated internet comes with huge privacy risks.
www.theverge.com
July 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The UK's forays in age verification underscore that it its not only ineffective, but violates our privacy and keeps teens and adults from online life, blocking social media, online videos, streaming, and even gaming. www.theverge.com/analysis/715...
Reposted by Cody Venzke
EPIC Law Fellow @kara-williams.bsky.social, Grace Gedye of Consumer Reports, and @cvenzke.bsky.social of the ACLU attended ACM’s FAccT conference to present a tutorial on the landscape of U.S. state AI policy and stakeholders. @facct.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 5:59 PM
EPIC Law Fellow @kara-williams.bsky.social, Grace Gedye of Consumer Reports, and @cvenzke.bsky.social of the ACLU attended ACM’s FAccT conference to present a tutorial on the landscape of U.S. state AI policy and stakeholders. @facct.bsky.social
Correction: Murk did vote aye, but Lummis remains one unvoted
HIGH DRAMA IN THE SENATE.
There are 50 no votes on proceeding to reconciliation. Murkowski, Rick Scott, Mike Lee have not voted. One more no vote stalls the bill.
Collins voted aye.
Tillis, Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have voted no.
There are 50 no votes on proceeding to reconciliation. Murkowski, Rick Scott, Mike Lee have not voted. One more no vote stalls the bill.
Collins voted aye.
Tillis, Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have voted no.
June 29, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Correction: Murk did vote aye, but Lummis remains one unvoted
Over two hours later this is still true. www.politico.com/live-updates...
June 29, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Over two hours later this is still true. www.politico.com/live-updates...
Reposted by Cody Venzke
HIGH DRAMA IN THE SENATE.
There are 50 no votes on proceeding to reconciliation. Murkowski, Rick Scott, Mike Lee have not voted. One more no vote stalls the bill.
Collins voted aye.
Tillis, Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have voted no.
There are 50 no votes on proceeding to reconciliation. Murkowski, Rick Scott, Mike Lee have not voted. One more no vote stalls the bill.
Collins voted aye.
Tillis, Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have voted no.
June 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
HIGH DRAMA IN THE SENATE.
There are 50 no votes on proceeding to reconciliation. Murkowski, Rick Scott, Mike Lee have not voted. One more no vote stalls the bill.
Collins voted aye.
Tillis, Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have voted no.
There are 50 no votes on proceeding to reconciliation. Murkowski, Rick Scott, Mike Lee have not voted. One more no vote stalls the bill.
Collins voted aye.
Tillis, Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have voted no.
The Senate is moving to include a 10-year ban on states regulating AI in its federal spending bill — opening the door for AI harms in employment, credit, and housing. Tell them it has to go: action.aclu.org/send-message...
Congress: Oppose The 10-Year Ban on AI Regulation
A provision slipped into the reconciliation bill to ban all state-level AI regulations for 10 years. Urge Congress to oppose this ban immediately.
action.aclu.org
June 29, 2025 at 1:50 AM
The Senate is moving to include a 10-year ban on states regulating AI in its federal spending bill — opening the door for AI harms in employment, credit, and housing. Tell them it has to go: action.aclu.org/send-message...
Reposted by Cody Venzke
The idea that your guaranteed constitutional rights only exist if you have the personal resources to have a lawyer enforce them is terrifying.
June 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The idea that your guaranteed constitutional rights only exist if you have the personal resources to have a lawyer enforce them is terrifying.
Reposted by Cody Venzke
The welcome event and first keynote are getting started! 🎉🦉
Our first keynote is by Suresh Venkatasubramanian (Brown University) @geomblog.bsky.social
"Are we winning yet? FAccT, AI governance, and the shape of what comes next."
#FAccT2025
Our first keynote is by Suresh Venkatasubramanian (Brown University) @geomblog.bsky.social
"Are we winning yet? FAccT, AI governance, and the shape of what comes next."
#FAccT2025
June 23, 2025 at 6:16 AM
The welcome event and first keynote are getting started! 🎉🦉
Our first keynote is by Suresh Venkatasubramanian (Brown University) @geomblog.bsky.social
"Are we winning yet? FAccT, AI governance, and the shape of what comes next."
#FAccT2025
Our first keynote is by Suresh Venkatasubramanian (Brown University) @geomblog.bsky.social
"Are we winning yet? FAccT, AI governance, and the shape of what comes next."
#FAccT2025
Untested AI can lead to real harms for individuals, and yet Congress is considering on ban on state regulation of AI. Tell Congress to pull the "AI moratorium" from the reconciliation package: action.aclu.org/send-message...
Congress: Oppose The 10-Year Ban on AI Regulation
A provision slipped into the reconciliation bill to ban all state-level AI regulations for 10 years. Urge Congress to oppose this ban immediately.
action.aclu.org
June 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Untested AI can lead to real harms for individuals, and yet Congress is considering on ban on state regulation of AI. Tell Congress to pull the "AI moratorium" from the reconciliation package: action.aclu.org/send-message...
Reposted by Cody Venzke
Trump and DOGE are already weaponizing Americans' most personal information to target groups and individuals that they don't like. Apparently airlines are helping them do it. My team and I have already contacted these airlines to get answers and will keep you updated.
NEW: A data broker owned by major airlines sold domestic US flight data to DHS, telling the dept. not to disclose that, according to records obtained by @404media.co—copublished in partnership with @wired.com. No paywall bc FOIA @josephcox.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/airlin...
Airlines Don’t Want You to Know They Sold Your Flight Data to DHS
A contract obtained by 404 Media shows that an airline-owned data broker forbids the feds from revealing it sold them detailed passenger data.
www.wired.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Trump and DOGE are already weaponizing Americans' most personal information to target groups and individuals that they don't like. Apparently airlines are helping them do it. My team and I have already contacted these airlines to get answers and will keep you updated.
Reposted by Cody Venzke
Republicans are still pursuing their unacceptable plan to block states from regulating AI. I’m ready to fight with every tool I have.
I will be filing an amendment to strip this provision from their "Big Beautiful Bill". Republicans better be prepared to vote on it.
I will be filing an amendment to strip this provision from their "Big Beautiful Bill". Republicans better be prepared to vote on it.
June 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Republicans are still pursuing their unacceptable plan to block states from regulating AI. I’m ready to fight with every tool I have.
I will be filing an amendment to strip this provision from their "Big Beautiful Bill". Republicans better be prepared to vote on it.
I will be filing an amendment to strip this provision from their "Big Beautiful Bill". Republicans better be prepared to vote on it.
Reposted by Cody Venzke
There's a lot of chatter around the proposal being inserted into a budget bill that would put a moratorium on any AI legislation being passed by the states for the next 10 years. I thought I'd say a bit about why this is an absolutely disastrous move.
www.404media.co/republicans-... 1/n
www.404media.co/republicans-... 1/n
Republicans Try to Cram Ban on AI Regulation Into Budget Reconciliation Bill
Republicans try to use the Budget Reconciliation bill to stop states from regulating AI entirely for 10 years.
www.404media.co
May 13, 2025 at 4:00 AM
There's a lot of chatter around the proposal being inserted into a budget bill that would put a moratorium on any AI legislation being passed by the states for the next 10 years. I thought I'd say a bit about why this is an absolutely disastrous move.
www.404media.co/republicans-... 1/n
www.404media.co/republicans-... 1/n
Rep. @frankpallone.govpeeps.us outlines why the House's efforts to torpedo state regulations of AI are so harmful: it will pave the way for AI to be used to decide who gets a loan, gets into schools, or gets a job with zero safeguards.
www.youtube.com/live/_2DKqtr...
www.youtube.com/live/_2DKqtr...
Rules Committee Hearing H.R. ____
YouTube video by HouseRules
www.youtube.com
May 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Rep. @frankpallone.govpeeps.us outlines why the House's efforts to torpedo state regulations of AI are so harmful: it will pave the way for AI to be used to decide who gets a loan, gets into schools, or gets a job with zero safeguards.
www.youtube.com/live/_2DKqtr...
www.youtube.com/live/_2DKqtr...
Reposted by Cody Venzke
This decision striking down President Trump's unconstitutional executive order reaffirms that our judicial system exists to protect our rights, not carry out his agenda.
With our right to legal representation under attack, Perkins Coie fought back and won.
With our right to legal representation under attack, Perkins Coie fought back and won.
Judge strikes down Trump order targeting Perkins Coie law firm
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who called the executive order an attack on the American judicial system, said Trump’s directive “violates the Constitution and is thus null and void.”
www.nbcnews.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This decision striking down President Trump's unconstitutional executive order reaffirms that our judicial system exists to protect our rights, not carry out his agenda.
With our right to legal representation under attack, Perkins Coie fought back and won.
With our right to legal representation under attack, Perkins Coie fought back and won.
Reposted by Cody Venzke
Some of the big points:
Signal has not been compromised. We know what the Pentagon concern was and it was very badly framed.
That doesn't mean planning Houthi strikes on it was operationally secure
Tech that keeps you from messaging someone you tell a messenger to message is not a thing.
Signal has not been compromised. We know what the Pentagon concern was and it was very badly framed.
That doesn't mean planning Houthi strikes on it was operationally secure
Tech that keeps you from messaging someone you tell a messenger to message is not a thing.
Signal isn’t infallible, despite being one of the most secure encrypted messaging apps
Hackers could still gain access to Signal messages through hacked or stolen phones.
www.nbcnews.com
March 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Some of the big points:
Signal has not been compromised. We know what the Pentagon concern was and it was very badly framed.
That doesn't mean planning Houthi strikes on it was operationally secure
Tech that keeps you from messaging someone you tell a messenger to message is not a thing.
Signal has not been compromised. We know what the Pentagon concern was and it was very badly framed.
That doesn't mean planning Houthi strikes on it was operationally secure
Tech that keeps you from messaging someone you tell a messenger to message is not a thing.
Reposted by Cody Venzke
There's a lot of confusion about Signal right now, so I wrote about what it's extremely good at, what it isn't designed to protect you from, and how it's different from the systems one is supposed to plan US military operations with:
Signal isn’t infallible, despite being one of the most secure encrypted messaging apps
Hackers could still gain access to Signal messages through hacked or stolen phones.
www.nbcnews.com
March 26, 2025 at 12:13 PM
There's a lot of confusion about Signal right now, so I wrote about what it's extremely good at, what it isn't designed to protect you from, and how it's different from the systems one is supposed to plan US military operations with:
I’ve been thinking a lot about this — I’m afraid that encrypted services (of which Signal is the best) is getting thrown under the bus as folks rush to simplify why the use of Signal was so problematic here
It's really crucial to understand how badly framed this is. There is no Signal vulnerability. The Pentagon email did a bad job explaining a Google report from a month ago and NPR repeated it.
This is like saying because you got a phishing email at your Gmail address, there's a Google vulnerability.
This is like saying because you got a phishing email at your Gmail address, there's a Google vulnerability.
News: NPR’s Tom Bowman reports of a Pentagon-wide warning about Signal’s security vulnerability - one week ago 👇🏼
March 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I’ve been thinking a lot about this — I’m afraid that encrypted services (of which Signal is the best) is getting thrown under the bus as folks rush to simplify why the use of Signal was so problematic here
Reposted by Cody Venzke
It's really crucial to understand how badly framed this is. There is no Signal vulnerability. The Pentagon email did a bad job explaining a Google report from a month ago and NPR repeated it.
This is like saying because you got a phishing email at your Gmail address, there's a Google vulnerability.
This is like saying because you got a phishing email at your Gmail address, there's a Google vulnerability.
News: NPR’s Tom Bowman reports of a Pentagon-wide warning about Signal’s security vulnerability - one week ago 👇🏼
March 25, 2025 at 11:25 PM
It's really crucial to understand how badly framed this is. There is no Signal vulnerability. The Pentagon email did a bad job explaining a Google report from a month ago and NPR repeated it.
This is like saying because you got a phishing email at your Gmail address, there's a Google vulnerability.
This is like saying because you got a phishing email at your Gmail address, there's a Google vulnerability.
Reposted by Cody Venzke
Oh boy. Seems like the democrats should have heeded our warnings for all those years civil libertarians warned democrats about abuse of power in the name of “fighting terrorism”
BREAKING: Trump says he will label violence against Tesla, $TSLA, dealerships as domestic terrorism.
March 11, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Oh boy. Seems like the democrats should have heeded our warnings for all those years civil libertarians warned democrats about abuse of power in the name of “fighting terrorism”
Reposted by Cody Venzke
Hello! I used my esoteric knowledge gleaned from my DC years to write about how Congress could EASILY defund DOGE:
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...
How Congress Can Delete DOGE | TechPolicy.Press
Rebecca Williams explores how DOGE’s budget can be restricted—if Congress decides to act.
www.techpolicy.press
February 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Hello! I used my esoteric knowledge gleaned from my DC years to write about how Congress could EASILY defund DOGE:
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...