Thanks to the FEC and OpenSecrets we're able to find who's lobbying and funding the age verification laws.
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Thanks to the FEC and OpenSecrets we're able to find who's lobbying and funding the age verification laws.
Interestingly enough it turns out the same entities are the largest funders of the UK Online Safety Act, California's Age-Appropriate Design Code, Digital Age Assurance Act and New York's SAFE for Kids Act. so here it is:
Oak Foundation funds:
- 5Rights Foundation (they run the Kids Code Coalition and are UK based)
- Fairplay
- Common Sense MediaOak Foundation is funded solely by Alan M. Parker the British billionaire who co-founded Duty Free Shoppers.
Common Sense Media (one of Oak's funded orgs) is also independently funded by:
- Bezos Family Foundation
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
- Gates Foundation
- Dell Foundation
- Craig Newmark Philanthropies
- Hewlett Foundation
- Tom Steyer / Kat TaylorCombined, the funding flowing into this advocacy ecosystem exceeds $100M/year.
Now you know.
#privacy #nowyouknow #infosec #identity #security #linux_gaming
@kstrlworks
I admit I have no idea what Craig has been up to since Craigslist but it feels like he's slightly the odd one in this list? Or is he a terrible person too? -
R relay@relay.publicsquare.global shared this topic
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Thanks to the FEC and OpenSecrets we're able to find who's lobbying and funding the age verification laws.
Interestingly enough it turns out the same entities are the largest funders of the UK Online Safety Act, California's Age-Appropriate Design Code, Digital Age Assurance Act and New York's SAFE for Kids Act. so here it is:
Oak Foundation funds:
- 5Rights Foundation (they run the Kids Code Coalition and are UK based)
- Fairplay
- Common Sense MediaOak Foundation is funded solely by Alan M. Parker the British billionaire who co-founded Duty Free Shoppers.
Common Sense Media (one of Oak's funded orgs) is also independently funded by:
- Bezos Family Foundation
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
- Gates Foundation
- Dell Foundation
- Craig Newmark Philanthropies
- Hewlett Foundation
- Tom Steyer / Kat TaylorCombined, the funding flowing into this advocacy ecosystem exceeds $100M/year.
Now you know.
#privacy #nowyouknow #infosec #identity #security #linux_gaming
a project to create a us monopoli of information ...
something only morons and traitors can subscribe to outside of the us ...
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Since there’s a lot to cover, I’ll be focusing on CSM. To avoid just pasting the 990 forms from these foundations, I’ll instead highlight more readable documents. Each major donor also has publicly posted press releases issued after their donations.
California
The official research for this law was conducted by CSM:
https://apcp.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-04/ab-1043-wicks-apcp-analysis.pdfHere’s the official post from when Assemblymember Wicks first introduced the measure in California:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/in-victory-for-kids-and-families-newsom-signs-online-safety-protections-into-lawWicks’ own website specifically names Google, Meta, and CSM as major supporters:
https://a14.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250909-google-meta-among-tech-leaders-and-child-advocates-voicing-support-wicksUK
CSM was directly behind authoring the bill:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-uk-appoints-two-distinguished-board-trusteesNew York
CSM CEO Jim Steyer appeared in Governor Hochul’s official press release announcing the NY Safety Act, where CSM served as an advisor:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/protecting-our-kids-governor-hochul-announces-nation-leading-proposals-protect-kids-onlineAdditional Insight
CSM’s head of lobbying is Danny Weiss, the former Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi:
https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-common-sense-media-is-fighting-for-kids-in-the-age-of-ai/ -
@kstrlworks
I admit I have no idea what Craig has been up to since Craigslist but it feels like he's slightly the odd one in this list? Or is he a terrible person too?@eldersea I only have information on his foundation, not about him as a person.
Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Common Sense Media Join Forces to Advance Awareness and Advocacy for AI, Cybersecurity, and Tech Safety
Major grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies will support initiatives to protect children and families online, including Common Sense’s AI ratings and reviews system, cybersecurity education, and data privacy and platform accountability policy advocacy.
Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org)
Craig Newmark Philanthropies Pledges Support to Common Sense Media to Help Protect Kids and Families Online
$2 million from the founder of craigslist will support Common Sense's education, awareness, and advocacy efforts around cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and tech policy accountability
Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org)
Their 990 filing also shows significantly larger total donations.
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Since there’s a lot to cover, I’ll be focusing on CSM. To avoid just pasting the 990 forms from these foundations, I’ll instead highlight more readable documents. Each major donor also has publicly posted press releases issued after their donations.
California
The official research for this law was conducted by CSM:
https://apcp.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-04/ab-1043-wicks-apcp-analysis.pdfHere’s the official post from when Assemblymember Wicks first introduced the measure in California:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/in-victory-for-kids-and-families-newsom-signs-online-safety-protections-into-lawWicks’ own website specifically names Google, Meta, and CSM as major supporters:
https://a14.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250909-google-meta-among-tech-leaders-and-child-advocates-voicing-support-wicksUK
CSM was directly behind authoring the bill:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-uk-appoints-two-distinguished-board-trusteesNew York
CSM CEO Jim Steyer appeared in Governor Hochul’s official press release announcing the NY Safety Act, where CSM served as an advisor:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/protecting-our-kids-governor-hochul-announces-nation-leading-proposals-protect-kids-onlineAdditional Insight
CSM’s head of lobbying is Danny Weiss, the former Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi:
https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-common-sense-media-is-fighting-for-kids-in-the-age-of-ai/@kstrlworks Great job digging this up. The whole age verification thing is clearly an attack by the usual American suspects.
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Since there’s a lot to cover, I’ll be focusing on CSM. To avoid just pasting the 990 forms from these foundations, I’ll instead highlight more readable documents. Each major donor also has publicly posted press releases issued after their donations.
California
The official research for this law was conducted by CSM:
https://apcp.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-04/ab-1043-wicks-apcp-analysis.pdfHere’s the official post from when Assemblymember Wicks first introduced the measure in California:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/in-victory-for-kids-and-families-newsom-signs-online-safety-protections-into-lawWicks’ own website specifically names Google, Meta, and CSM as major supporters:
https://a14.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250909-google-meta-among-tech-leaders-and-child-advocates-voicing-support-wicksUK
CSM was directly behind authoring the bill:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-uk-appoints-two-distinguished-board-trusteesNew York
CSM CEO Jim Steyer appeared in Governor Hochul’s official press release announcing the NY Safety Act, where CSM served as an advisor:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/protecting-our-kids-governor-hochul-announces-nation-leading-proposals-protect-kids-onlineAdditional Insight
CSM’s head of lobbying is Danny Weiss, the former Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi:
https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-common-sense-media-is-fighting-for-kids-in-the-age-of-ai/@octade It’s also important to note that Fairplay and 5Rights were involved in the earlier 2022 California bill on the same issue, which was ultimately rejected. These 3 players are normally seen together.
Post rejection
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/statement-on-the-signing-of-californias-age-appropriate-design-code-act -
@kstrlworks Great job digging this up. The whole age verification thing is clearly an attack by the usual American suspects.
@hopeless The money has not yet reached its full potential.
The AVPA, which is the trade association for identity verification services such as Yoti, Jumio, Incode, IDverse, and others. https://avpassociation.com/members/
Have not yet started ramping up lobbying.
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Isn't it odd that Rupert Murdoch's disinformation outlet Fox News & NY Post describes the Oak Foundation as "left wing"?
Former top Letitia James aide helps funnel money for anti-ICE trainings via lefty philanthropic group
A former top aide to New York Attorney General Letitia James runs a liberal philanthropic group that is funding trainings for thousands of anti-ICE demonstrators being urged to disrupt federal immigration enforcement — and avoid sharing "incriminating" information in chat groups.
New York Post (nypost.com)
Foreign billionaires funnel $2.6B to US advocacy groups to influence policy, watchdog report claims
Conservative watchdog says six foreign entities routed more than $2.65 billion into U.S. politics through nonprofit grants, a loophole it warns is "virtually unchecked."
Fox News (www.foxnews.com)
Yet opposed to encryption & privacy
https://theintercept.com/2023/10/01/apple-encryption-iphone-heat-initiative/
https://archive.is/MeyP1https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/technology/child-sex-abuse-imagery-apple-safety-privacy.html
https://archive.is/f94APThe Oak Foundation seems to fund a lot of green initiatives & anti-human trafficking outreach
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/30/supporters-of-our-content-the-age-of-extinctionQ&A: Masego Madzwamuse of the Oak Foundation on environmental policies that also protect people | Oceana
Masego Madzwamuse was born in Botswana and partly raised in Zimbabwe, with her mother’s side hailing from the Kalahari Desert. She witnessed the ways in which her family’s culture and livelihoods depended on natural resources, so when she started a career in conservation, she was surprised to see the criminalization of local communities in the ... Read more
Oceana (oceana.org)
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Thanks to the FEC and OpenSecrets we're able to find who's lobbying and funding the age verification laws.
Interestingly enough it turns out the same entities are the largest funders of the UK Online Safety Act, California's Age-Appropriate Design Code, Digital Age Assurance Act and New York's SAFE for Kids Act. so here it is:
Oak Foundation funds:
- 5Rights Foundation (they run the Kids Code Coalition and are UK based)
- Fairplay
- Common Sense MediaOak Foundation is funded solely by Alan M. Parker the British billionaire who co-founded Duty Free Shoppers.
Common Sense Media (one of Oak's funded orgs) is also independently funded by:
- Bezos Family Foundation
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
- Gates Foundation
- Dell Foundation
- Craig Newmark Philanthropies
- Hewlett Foundation
- Tom Steyer / Kat TaylorCombined, the funding flowing into this advocacy ecosystem exceeds $100M/year.
Now you know.
#privacy #nowyouknow #infosec #identity #security #linux_gaming
The Australian age verification/u 16 social media ban, was pushed by a radio company, Radio Personality and an large advertising agency.
Together they formed a not for profit, funded by 38 global brands(advertising customers)
They also owned AI software to detect the impact of the ban for schools.
As well as AI age verification software to sell to the social media companies.
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The Australian age verification/u 16 social media ban, was pushed by a radio company, Radio Personality and an large advertising agency.
Together they formed a not for profit, funded by 38 global brands(advertising customers)
They also owned AI software to detect the impact of the ban for schools.
As well as AI age verification software to sell to the social media companies.
This wasn't about protecting kids. It was getting kids back watching tv and listening to radio, for the ads. To more Kit Kats and chocolate.
It was about money.
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D drajt@fosstodon.org shared this topic
