California

Calif. Governor Veto Allows Warrantless Cellphone Searches

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:37:52 -0400

Full article: Wired
David Kravets
California Gov. Jerry Brown is vetoing legislation requiring police to obtain a court warrant to search the mobile phones of suspects at the time of any arrest. The veto means that when police arrest anybody in the Golden State, they may search that person's mobile phone -- which in the digital age likely means the contents of persons' email, call records, text messages, photos, banking activity, cloud-storage services and even where the phone has traveled.

Amazon Deal with Legislature a 'Classic Compromise'

Lindsy Embree — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:18:33 -0400

Full article: Los Angeles Times
Marc Lifsher
The deal struck between the California Legislature and Amazon.com last week was a "classic compromise," even though it would deprive the state treasury of an estimated $200 million in sorely needed revenue, according to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.

California Bar Police from Searching Mobile Phones Without a Court Warrant

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:26:58 -0400

Full article: Cellular-News
Simon Davies
California's State Assembly has approved a bill that would make it illegal for the police to search the contents of a mobile phone without a court warrant, save in some very specific situations.

California May OK Donations Via Text

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:55:06 -0400

Full article: Politico
Michelle Quinn
Making political campaign contributions to state political candidates, parties and political action committees could become easier in California if a plan to allow texting contributions is approved by a state agency that oversees election laws.

Amazon Pushes California Toward Referendum on Online Sales Tax

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:56:14 -0400

Full article: Christian Science Monitor
Daniel B. Wood
Amazon.com is preparing to fire back after California passed a law that requires the online retailer to collect sales tax from state residents. And in typical California fashion, they're taking their grievance straight to the people.

California Tells Online Retailers to Start Collecting Sales Taxes from Customers

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:33:06 -0400

Full article: Los Angeles Times
Marc Lifsher
Shopping at Amazon.com and other major Internet stores is poised to get more expensive. A new California state law will require large out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases that their California customers make on the Internet -- a prospect eased only slightly by a 1-percentage-point drop in the tax that also takes effect at the same time.

Next Up in Amazo's Tax War: California

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:19:52 -0400

Full article: GigaOM
Colleen Taylor
Amazon is prepared to take its sales tax war to one of the biggest arenas of all: California. In a recent email, Amazon warned that it will shut down its Amazon Associates Program for California-based participants if the state passes a proposed bill that would impose new taxes on online retail sales.

California Can't Curb Children's Access to Videogames

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:06:08 -0400

Full article: Wall Street Journal
Jess Bravin
The Supreme Court struck down a California law blocking minors from buying violent videogames, voting 7-2 that it violates the First Amendment. It was the latest ruling by the high court to take a broad view of free-speech rights.

California Senate: Schools Can Expel for Sexting

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:23:47 -0400

Full article: CNet
Chris Matyszczyk
The California Senate has, with a show of hands that left none hanging, decided to add sexting to the list of bad behavior for which a student can be expelled from school.

California Regulators May Scrutinize AT&T-T-Mobile Merger

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 31 May 2011 09:36:24 -0400

Full article: Ars Technica
Matthew Lasar
The California Public Utilities Commission hasn't launched a full-blown probe of AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile yet, but it's moving in that direction.