ban

Idaho has been embroiled in a debate over a flag ban. And he has the ikurriña in his sights

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An unexpected protagonist has slipped into the (convulsive) public debate in the US: the ikurriña. glancingly and for those hazards of history that raise eyebrows, the flag of Euskadi has become a headache for the legislators of the country led by Trump. To be more precise, the controversy has jumped in boise (the capital of Idaho), where a active diaspora which explains why the city has its own Basque ‘neighborhood’, Basque Block. There you can find traditional bars, a museum… and ikurriñas. Now, in full debate Regarding which flags can or cannot be raised on their masts, there are those who believe that red, green and white banners have no place. What has happened? That Idaho has plunged into a nasty fight about what flags they can fly in their streets, at least from public buildings. So far, nothing strange in a nation whose public debate (already tense) is taking place pending a key date: November 3House of Representatives election day. What is striking is the drift that this discussion has taken and how it has ended up focusing the focus on the ikurriñas. Question of flags. To understand it, you must first understand the convoluted political board of Boise. On one side we have its mayor, the Democrat Lauren McLean. In the other Ted HillRepublican MP from Idaho. Some time ago the first, McLean, earned the anger of Hill and the rest of the conservative bench by keeping the LGTBIQ+ flag hanging on the façade of City Hall beyond the Pride Month‘Pride Month’. That decision I didn’t like it in Donald Trump’s party, which began to legislate so that only official emblems can be hoisted. At least in public buildings. The measure went ahead and the issue seemed to be settled. At least for a while. Wasn’t it like that? No. McLaren was not willing to give in. In a clever twist, Boise declared the LGTBIQ+ flag official in the city, continuing to fly it without violating Republican law. Was the fight over at that point? No. Hill reacted by launching the legislative machinery so that the only flags ‘able’ on the Government’s flagpoles are those prior to 2023, the year in which Boise assumed the rainbow banner as its own. What does all this have to do with Euskadi? Initially the republican norm included certain exceptions (flags other than the Stars and Stripes that could be displayed on public buildings), but as time went by, their proposal became more rigid. And that affected one of Boise’s most popular groups: the Basque diaspora. As strange as it may sound, in the city of Ada County it is not only possible to see flags of the USA, the state of Idaho or LGTBIQ+. It is also not unusual to find ikurriñas waving in the wind. Why’s that? Although Bouse is thousands of kilometers from Euskadi, it hosts an active Basque community whose history can go back to the 19th century, when a group of Biscayan emigrants decided to find a life in the United States. The passage of time (and generations) did not erase its identity and today in Boise, recognizes the Hispanic Council itselfit is possible to find “an entire block dedicated to Basque culture”, with restaurants, frontons, a museum and even an education center. The greatest emblem of the diaspora in Idaho (with permission from the ikurriña) is the Jaialdia festival that moves thousands of people and which in 2025 even had a visit of Lehendakari Imanol Pradales. On festival days it is even easier to come across the Basque flag. “It flies during Jaialdi, when the Basque delegation comes to our state and we honor that deep heritage in Idaho. To me, it is a very appropriate way, reason and occasion to fly the autonomous flag of the Basque community. I wonder how it is different from flying the flag of another country for a special occasion,” I questioned recently Democratic Representative Anne Haws. And the storm broke out. The ikurriña was not the trigger for the controversy over the Idaho flags, but over the months it has ended up becoming (almost suddenly) one of its main protagonists. To understand it, we must review the legislative debates around the new rule, in which Hill did not hesitate to explain why his party wants to restrict the use of the Basque flag. The problem has not been so much the veto itself, but rather its confusing (and thorny) argument. The Republican alleged that the ikurriña is not officially “recognized”, it is “a revolutionary flag”, he related it to ETA and even stated that it is “illegal” to fly it in Spain. “It would be crossing the line, and then the Palestinian flag would have to be allowed too,” Hill concluded. A few days ago, fellow Republican Bret Crane tried to tone downalthough without getting out of the puddle. During a public intervention he acknowledged that in the future some formula could be found that would allow the ikurriña to be hoisted, but he did not renounce the substance of the republican message. In fact, he asked his colleagues if they should also allow “Muslim or similar flags” that represent “people who have also had difficulties in Idaho.” What is the situation now? There are two fronts, the administrative and the political. In the first, the new rule (House Bill 561) continues to advance. On Tuesday the newspaper Idaho Capital Sun echoed how a group of opponents waved LGTBIQ+ flags in the Boise Capitol in the middle of the debate on the measure, which goes gradually overcoming its processing. Once completed, the prosecutor will be able to enforce the veto on unofficial flags and those who ignore it will risk a considerable fine: 2,000 dollars a day for every ‘wrong’ banner hung from a public building. “The right to wave it”. In the political field, the debate about flags has crossed the pond to reach this side of the Atlantic. The president of the PNV, Aitor Esteban, has … Read more

Australia has decided to ban social media for those under 16 years of age. The mystery is how they are going to achieve it

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December 10 was the date marked on the Australian calendar for prohibit social networks for minors under 16 years of age. Australia becomes the first country to implement a measure of this type, although there are others that also want to do it like Denmark or France. The ban is already in force, however there are still many doubts about how the measure will be enforced and how effective it will be. What exactly does it prohibit? The Online Safety Amendment establishes 16 years as the minimum age to have a social media account. This means that minors can access networks without logging into an account, which will allow them to consult public posts on social networks, watch YouTube or read Reddit threads. Without an account, they will not be able to access personalized feeds, receive notifications or communicate with other users. Currently, the amendment includes eleven services prohibited for minors: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, X (Twitter), Reddit, YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Threads and Lemon8. It is not ruled out that the list will change in the future. How are they going to verify the age? The million-dollar question and the one that leaves us with the biggest doubt of all. The amendment details the prohibitions, but leaves it up to the platforms to do the work of verifying the age of their users. It does not say how they should do it, it only specifies that they will not be able to do it just by asking for the DNI and they will not be able to save data related to age verification. Although they do not establish rules on how to carry it out, the Australian Government published a report in which they concluded that age verification technologies were technically viable. In the report they analyze several methods: Checking documents and identity records. Age estimation using biometrics and facial recognition. Age estimation from the user’s behavior or fingerprint. Parental control mechanisms. Image: Wikipedia The doubts about the effectiveness We have the recent case of United Kingdom when it banned porn for those under 18. They also proposed various age verification methods such as those mentioned in the Australian report. The reality has proven to be more complex and, after the blockade, there were a brutal spike in downloads of VPN serviceswhich means that many users fake their location to bypass the block. The law is made, the trap is made. Furthermore, the system is not perfect. They count in NYTimes that some teenagers have used the facial recognition option in some apps and it has incorrectly estimated their ages. And there is also the issue of privacy. Although the law says that platforms cannot collect data from the age verification process, there is no standardization in this regard and if we have learned something after decades on the internet, it is that leaks happen. What are the platforms doing? Instagram, Facebook and Threads Meta has already done his homework. On November 20, it notified users minors under 16 that their accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads were going to be deleted. Regarding age verification, in September 2024 already announced “accounts for teenagers”which restrict certain features, such as making the account private by default and limited messages. To detect age, since April they have been using AI tools to detect users who lie about their age. In statements to Vergea representative of Meta has assured that the regulations “isolate adolescents from online communities and information, while providing inconsistent protection in the numerous applications they use.” TikTok and Lemon8 Bytedance apps have confirmed that from its entry into force, they will deactivate the existing accounts of those users under 16 years of age and will not allow them to create new accounts. Additionally, content from underage Australian users will be hidden. Regarding facial recognition, they offer several methods such as age estimation through facial recognition, credit card authorization, and verification of official identification documents. reddit Reddit has also started suspending the accounts of those under 16, but gives them the option to download their data first. In a post on the platformthey say that age verification will be done through “a prediction system.” The platform has taken a stand against this decision and states that the law “undermines everyone’s right to freedom of expression and privacy.” YouTube YouTube communicated that as of December 10, it would begin to suspend the accounts of those under 16, although they will be able to continue watching YouTube without being logged in since the law does allow it. They do not say how the age verification will be done, what they do say is that the new law is a mistake and that it will have a counterproductive effect since, by deleting the account, the possibility for parents to control what their children see will be lost, so minors will be even more insecure. snapchat In one publication on your website, Snapchat confirms that from December 10 it will block all accounts of those under 16. They will keep the account blocked for three years and if users turn 16 during that time, they will be able to recover it using age verification. Verification will be done in three ways: connecting the app with an Australian bank account, scanning the ID document and using the age estimation through a selfie. Twitch The streaming platform will prevent users under 16 from creating an account. For this they will use their verification system through facial recognition. Existing accounts will be deactivated starting January 9. Kick In the case of Kick, as published Guardianthey will use the same age verification system that Snapchat uses. X (Twitter) Elon Musk’s social network requested last September that the entry into force of the new regulations be delayed, as published Guardian. From X they expressed “serious doubts” about the legality of the regulations. What happens if the platforms do not comply? The law does not say how they should ensure that minors create an account, but it does say the consequences … Read more

The Warner platform either has enough to ban shared accounts and increases prices

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There is no platform that is not hugging the Price climb as a way of falling the crisis of audiovisual content in general and of the platforms in particular. HBO Max is one of those who are having a more changing trajectory with Mutations in the name And the approach, and is one of the last to raise their prices, after Netflix or Disney+ did it almost a year ago in both cases. How is the thing. A few months ago, with the name change, HBO Max has already announced new prices that affected new customers. These new rates affect ancient subscribers. From of the October 23, 2025the prices will increase, leaving like this: Basic plan with ads: 6.99 euros per month (50% discount if apply, 3.49) Standard plan: 10.99 euros per month (50% discount if apply, 5.49 euros) Premium plan with 4K content: 15.99 euros per month (50% discount if apply, 7.99 euros) Annual Plan: 109 euros a year. Why do they do it? This decision, according to the communication that HBO Max has sent to his subscribers, is made because “we are increasing the price in the light of the acquisition costs, creation of content and product development, to allow us to continue investing in the quality content and in the product experience that we strive to offer our customers.” At the same time, they also warn that the conditions of use have been updated, including aspects of content visualization and accessibility functionalities, reasons why they can make changes in the service and other issues. Luxury series. David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros, declared a few days ago, In an interview with The Hollywood Reporterthat the price of HBO Max is below its real cost. And although the platform does not compete with others such as Netflix or Disney+ in terms of the amount of content, it can boast of being one of the most budget invests in its series. For example, ‘The Dragon House‘It costs 200 million dollars per season. And the future series of ‘Harry Potter‘promises a visual luxury at the height of the films. All this was wielded by Zaslav to justify new increases. Direct and indirect increases. Although the bad press that this type of decisions carries causes the platforms to be relatively restrained with the increases of their prices, the truth is that in recent years they have significantly increased the ways of having income. The main two have been the advertising inclusion before and during the programs, with different rates depending on whether or not the ads are eliminated, and the prohibition that accounts are shared Beyond the subscriber’s home, a flying that Netflix has already given and that other platforms have only implemented in a warm way. In Xataka | Video games have fired their number of users, and come from an unsuspected place: television series

France and Spain wanted to ban social networks to children under 15. The European Union has stopped their feet

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France threatened yesterday with prohibiting access to social networks to those under 15 years If the EU did not rule on a community policy that unified the criterion for all the countries of the Union. Brussels’s response to this demand has been equally overwhelming. Each country is a world. Brussels He ruled out Wednesday The possibility of establishing a minimum community age to access social networks. There was a proposal led by Greece, France and Spain to establish it in 15 years, but those responsible for the European Union have it clear: there will not be a unique criterion, and each country must establish their own. Of community prohibition, nothing. Thomas Regnier, spokesman for technological sovereignty of the Community Executive, He indicated yesterday In the daily press conference that although they took note of the announcement of Emmanuel Macron, “a prohibition of social networks at European level is not something that the commission is promoting. This is prerogative of the Member States.” The tragedy. The Macron statements And his attempt to accelerate the implementation of a community access to social networks It comes from afar. However, that debate was urgently reactivated After the tragedy occurred on Tuesday at a Nogent school, in the Haute-Marne region. There a 14 -year -old student was arrested after killing a 31 -year -old watchman who performed routine backpacks. There is no evidence that this attack occurred for something that the adolescent saw on social networks. The community proposal does not advance. Several European Union countries They have been maintaining a debate on whether a minimum age must be established at the community level to access social networks. The initiative was led by Greece, France and Spain, but Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Slovakia and the Netherlands also supported it. Precisely Spain and Slovakia were the ones that were most shown and proposed to establish that minimum age in 16 years, while France, Greece or Denmark proposed to establish it at 15. That proposal, however, has not advanced. The RGPD as an instrument. He General Data Protection Regulation (RGPD) already has article 8, which is specifically oriented to regulate the access of minors to “information society services”. According to said regulations“Member States may establish by law a lower age for such purposes, provided that this is not less than 13 years.” And the DSA prepares changes. The Digital Services Law is also preparing to establish regulation that affects minors. In fact, guidelines are prepared that theoretically will be published this summer and that will force the platforms – social funds among them – to protect the safety and privacy of minors. Private accounts, age verification. Among the measures that they must adopt is that the accounts of the minors are believed as private by default, in addition to the implementation of age verification measures. AGE VERIFICATION APP. As he points out The European Commission, in parallel to these guidelines, an age verification application is being developed that provides a solution until the European digital identity The EU is ready at the end of 2026. The technical specifications of said app are now available In Github. Image | Markus Spiske In Xataka | The Japanese are ceasing to consume paper pornography. And that has had a direct effect on its streets

The government has been at war against sugar for years. Now he wants to ban the sale of sugary drinks in schools

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In recent years we have seen different administrations in many different geographical areas take measures to limit the consumption of sugary drinks and other similar products, such as industrial pastries and energy drinks. The last one has come from the hand of the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030. New regulations on the horizon. The Ministry of Consumer Ultimate vending and coffee shops in schools and institutes, As he has advanced The country. These products include industrial pastries, refreshing drinks, and energy drinks, products with more than five grams of sugar per packaged portion. The measure would also affect the advertising that can be shown in these machines; as well as the location of these, which would be out of access to students in early and primary education. More than sugar. The draft decree raises restrictions based on other criteria beyond the sugar content of the products. The measure contemplates, for example, limiting the kiloacalories by packaged portion up to a maximum of 200. This would be accompanied by an additional limit: no more than 35% They could proceed with fat. In addition, saturated fats may not provide more than 10% of the calories of the product. The salt content of the products would also be limited so that a 200 kcal portion could have a maximum of 0.5 grams of salt or the equivalent of 0.2 grams of sodium. Touring ahead. The future regulations still have to go through the State Council and the Council of Ministers before approval, which implies that the details may vary before entry into force. One more on the list. The last Biannual Aladino study, focused precisely on the Spanish child population was made in 2023. Although it observed a decrease in excess weight, overweight and obesity with respect to the 2019 report, the authors indicated that values ​​were maintained. Administrations have been serious in the fight against obesity, especially childhood obesity. Sugary drinks have been a usual target in this regard. A few years ago, for example, the United Kingdom introduced a “sugar tax” that affected this type of drinks. The resluent was a success according to a study published last year. In our closest environment the latest legislative changes in this direction have occurred at the regional level. In 2023, Galicia put on the table a proposal to limit the consumption of energy drinks among minors. These drinks, sometimes sugary represent an additional problem related to their high content in caffeine. In Xataka | We already know what energy drinks cost your rest. They are bad news for your dream Image | Kanishka Burnwal

We already know how many euros a triple folding costs. Huawei Mate XT Ultimate has opened the ban

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The folding phonesS They have been with us for a few years. Enough to begin to understand that, far from being a product with aspirations to approach the most mainstream consumer, they are increasingly a piece of niche collector. The folding “fold” type continue to touch the 2,000 euros and the new trend is not to reduce: it is to take them one step further. Huawei has been the first, and he has done it with his Huawei Mate XT Ultimate. The terminal was launched in China for about 2,500 euros to change. We already know the global price. It is far from that figure. An increasingly niche product The fold folding was not enough, the new trend is to add a new fold for the phone to incorporate an even larger panel. This is the case of Mate XT Ultimate, with a Total 10.2 -inch panel, 7.9 inches in double fold and 6.4 inches completely folded. A phone, three sizes. Buying a device with this peculiarity will be priced at 3,499 euros, thus becoming the most expensive folding phone of the moment. They are 1,500 euros more compared to Huawei Mate X6the last folding of Huawei. The company has not detailed what markets will arrive, but confirms that the global version will be 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. A niche price for a niche product and, although it may seem like a crazy idea, Huawei knows very well what he does. Huawei is an absolute leader in folding sales Not only in China, but worldwide. He has managed to dethrone Samsung, not to grow, and the launch of a triple folding seems to meet the needs of those consumers who seek to go one step further. Image | Huawei In Xataka | The long goodbye of Huawei in Spain: of strategic partner to Technology Non Grata

Cell phone resale soars in US after TikTok ban

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The possible definitive suspension of TikTok in the United States, promoted by Donald Trump’s administration, has generated an unexpected trend: the sale of cell phones with the application installed at exorbitant prices. Since last January 19, when the federal ban on the popular app was implemented, which It was removed hours latersocial networks have witnessed a growing market of devices that offer guaranteed access to TikTok, despite the restrictions. The ban on TikTok in the US responds to concerns related to national security and freedom of expression. The US government demands that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, sell the app to a US company that it is not considered a “foreign adversary.” The Trump administration has granted a 3-month extension to evaluate the final implementation of the law, which keeps TikTok in legal and operational limbo. This uncertainty has led to unusual behavior among the app’s users. A message reading “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now” is displayed from the TikTok app on a cell phone screen on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Andy Bao) The rise of cell phone resale with TikTok In recent weeks, reselling mobile devices with TikTok pre-installed has become a viral phenomenon. On platforms like Twitter and Facebook Marketplace, Sales of iPhones have been reported at disproportionate prices, justifying the cost with the presence of the installed app. A notable case is that of an Apple iPhone 15 Pro advertised for almost $5,000. Sellers emphasize that the device includes TikTok, making it a desired item for those who deleted the app before the ban or who want to maintain continued access to their accounts. This emerging market highlights the urgency of some users to return to the platform and the symbolic value that TikTok represents for millions of people. However, it has also generated criticism and debate about the rationality of paying exorbitant sums for a phone with an application installed. The impact of the possible definitive ban on this social network has not only generated frustration among users, but also an intense debate on the internet. While some criticize the US government’s measure as an attack on freedom of expression, others mock the desperation of those who are willing to pay thousands of dollars for a cell phone. On platforms like Twitter, memes and satirical comments abound. On the other hand, content creators and frequent TikTok users express their concern for the possible loss of a key tool for your work and social life. Many of them have begun to explore alternatives in other applications, such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, although without the same impact that TikTok offered. Many are taking advantage of the desperation that the TikTok issue has caused in some in the US. (Photo: Ashley Landis/AP) TikTok: more than a social network For millions of people, TikTok is not just an entertainment app. It is a space where they can express themselves freely, connect with global communities and access creative and educational content. The ban has highlighted how political decisions can directly affect users’ digital lives. According to experts, The suspension could also have significant economic repercussions. Many influencers and small businesses depend on TikTok to promote their products and services. Without this platform, they could face challenges in reaching their audiences and generating revenue. Donald Trump’s administration has been clear in its intention to ensure national security, arguing that TikTok could be used to collect sensitive data from American users. However, it has also shown a willingness to negotiate a solution that allows the continuity of the application under new conditions. The 3-month extension could be an opportunity for ByteDance to reach a deal with a US company or for the government to implement additional regulations. Meanwhile, users and content creators remain waiting for a final resolution. Keep reading: * Donald Trump would support Elon Musk owning TikTok: “If he wanted to buy it”* China urges US to ensure “fair business environment” for TikTok* Trump says he will “probably” give TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid a US ban.

Wisconsin man accused of setting fire to lawmaker’s office over TikTok ban

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MADISON, Wisconsin, USA — A Wisconsin man who allegedly told police he tried to set fire to a lawmaker’s office because he was upset with the federal ban on the social media platform TikTok was charged Wednesday with multiple counts, including one of arson. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney filed a complaint against 19-year-old Caiden Stachowicz, charging him with felony arson, making terrorist threats, attempted robbery and criminal damage. property. If convicted of all charges, he would face a sentence of more than 50 years in prison. Stachowicz, a native of Menasha City, was scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday morning. Online court records indicated Judge Tricia Walker set cash bail for him at $500,000 and ordered him to have no contact with Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman or his staff. He was also prohibited from possessing any dangerous weapons or materials to start a fire. Records showed Stachowicz appeared via video call from jail. His lawyer could not be contacted at this time. According to the complaint, a police officer responded to a fire outside Grothman’s office in Fond du Lac around 1 a.m. Sunday and saw Stachowicz standing near the site. The officer said that while he was working to put out the flames with his fire extinguisher, Stachowicz told him he started the fire because he doesn’t like Grothman. The officer handcuffed Stachowicz and took him to the police department. Firefighters and police quickly extinguished the fire, limiting the damage. During an interview at the police department, Stachowicz told the officer that he bought gasoline and matches to start a fire in Grothman’s office, according to the complaint. He said he tried to get into the office so he could start the fire inside, but he couldn’t break the window. He then poured the gasoline into an electrical box at the back of the building and around the front of the building, lit a match and watched it burn, the complaint adds. He noted that he wanted to burn the building because the US government was shutting down TikTok and Grothman voted “in favor” of banning the social network, according to the complaint. Grothman voted in favor of a bill in April last year that forced TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operation by Sunday. Stachowicz said he believed the closure violated his constitutional rights. He added that he had participated in peaceful protests in the past, but no longer believes peace is an option, the complaint states. “Caiden said it was a government building and he wanted to cause a disruption and make a point by starting the fire in the building,” according to the complaint. “Caiden commented that he wished the entire building had burned down.” When asked if he expected people to be inside the building, he said no and that he didn’t want to hurt anyone, and he didn’t want to hurt Grothman either. TikTok went down in the US on Saturday afternoon, but the platform was back up and running hours later after then-President-elect Donald Trump said he would try to give ByteDance more time to find a buyer. Trump signed an executive order Monday after taking office instructing the U.S. attorney general not to implement the ban for 75 days. When asked to comment on the charges, Grothman spokeswoman Noelle Young responded by saying Grothman would call The Associated Press directly. However, the lawmaker had not contacted the AP as of Wednesday afternoon.

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