Latest news with #JohnFormella
CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
TikTok loses bid to dismiss lawsuit alleging its 'addictive design' exploits kids
A New Hampshire judge this week rejected TikTok's attempt to dismiss a case accusing it of using manipulative design features aimed at children and teens. "The Court's decision is an important step toward holding TikTok accountable for unlawful practices that put children at risk," said Attorney General John Formella in a statement Friday. The ruling from Judge John Kissinger Jr. of New Hampshire Superior Court on Tuesday ruled that the allegations were valid and specific enough to proceed, writing the claims are "based on the App's alleged defective and dangerous features" and not the content in the app. The state alleges that social media platform TikTok is intentionally designed to be addictive and aims to exploit its young user base. The suit accuses the platform of implementing "addictive design features" meant to keep children engaged longer, increasing their exposure to advertisements and prompting purchases through TikTok's e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop. CNBC has reached out to TikTok for comment. The case is the latest example of attorneys general targeting design elements and safety policies from tech companies instead of the content on the platforms, which is created by other users. Meta was accused by several states of implementing addictive features across its family of apps that have detrimental effects on children's mental health. New Mexico filed a lawsuit against Snapchat in September, alleging the app was creating an environment where "predators can easily target children through sextortion schemes." In April, social-messaging platform Discord was sued by the New Jersey attorney general over misleading consumers about child safety features. Congress has attempted to take action on regulating social media platforms, but to no avail. The Kids Online Safety Act was reintroduced to Congress in May after stalling in 2024. The measure would require social media platforms to have a "duty of care" to prevent their products from harming children. TikTok's latest legal hurdle comes as its future in the U.S. remains uncertain. In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to divest of TikTok or see the app banned in the U.S. The app was removed from Apple and Google app stores in January ahead of President Donald Trump's inauguration. Since taking office, Trump has postponed enforcement of the ban and continued to push back deadlines. In June, Trump granted ByteDance more time to sell off its U.S. TikTok operations, marking his third extension. The updated deadline is now set for September 17. Trump also said in June that a group of "very wealthy people" is ready to buy TikTok and told reporters that he would be having discussions with China about a potential deal. TikTok is now building a new version of its app for U.S. users, The Information reported. The standalone app is expected to operate on a separate algorithm and data system.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AG reminds NH residents of rights in 23andMe bankruptcy filing
The Attorney's General's Office says it has been keeping an eye on 23andMe as part of a multistate investigation into a data breach discovered in October 2023 that led to the exposure of nearly 7 million Americans. 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company that collects and analyzes individuals' genetic data, filed for bankruptcy protection in March. Attorney General John Formella said the company failed to safeguard the information of its customers and exposed them to significant harm. 'This negligence not only damaged the company's reputation but also violated the trust of those who entrusted their personal data to the company,' Formlla said in a news release. The office is reminding New Hampshire residents of their rights under the New Hampshire Data Privacy Act. New Hampshire consumers have the right to access, obtain, correct, and delete personal data collected about them. Additionally, consumers have the right to opt out of the processing of their personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, and certain types of profiling, according to the news release. 'Despite the bankruptcy filing, both 23andMe and any potential buyers remain responsible for protecting consumer data," Formella said. 'Additionally, consumers can proactively protect their data by deleting their genetic data, requesting the destruction of their test sample, and revoking authorization for 23andMe to share their data with third-party researchers.' Consumers can delete their genetic data, request destruction of their test sample, and revoke permission for their data to be used for research through their 23andMe 'Account Settings' page. 23andMe's privacy notice can be found at this link: Consumers who need assistance may contact the New Hampshire Department of Justice, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau at DOJ-CPB@ or 1-888-468-4454.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
High court upholds House redistricting plan
The state's highest court rejected an appeal from critics that the Republican-led redistricting of the New Hampshire House of Representatives was so politically drawn that it should be deemed unconstitutional. In its unanimous 4-0 ruling the New Hampshire Supreme Court decided the maps for the 400 seats approved and signed into law in 2022 met the 'rational basis' test that courts hold for such legislative acts. A group of 10 residents had brought the appeal that alleged the approved map had failed to provide enough towns and city wards with their own representation. They had introduced a rival plan from a nonpartisan organization known as 'Map-A-Thon' that came up with a proposal that gave 15 more communities and city wards their own state rep compared to the House plan. The justices noted that any lawsuit against redistricting faces a high bar because it's the actions of a separate and independent branch of government. 'This means that we will not hold the redistricting statute to be unconstitutional unless a clear and substantial conflict exists between it and the Constitution,' justices wrote. 'It also means that when doubts exist as to the constitutionality of a statute, those doubts must be resolved in favor of its constitutionality.' Attorney General John Formella's legal team had countered that the redistricting plan (HB 50) was a 'political decision to be made by the Legislature based on policy considerations.' Redistricting has favored GOP State prosecutors maintained for the court to strike the plan down, justices would have to act as lawmakers and the court agreed with that logic. 'The plaintiffs have not persuaded us that the trade-offs the Legislature made in enacting RSA 662:5 (redistricting law) were unreasonable,' the justices wrote. 'Accordingly, we conclude that the plaintiffs have not met their burden of demonstrating that the Legislature had no rational or legitimate basis for enacting RSA 662:5.' Formella issued a statement praising the decision and thanking his legal team for its defense. 'Today's decision reaffirms the court's prior precedent recognizing the Legislature's broad discretion in the area of redistricting and recognizes that the Legislature must balance complex constitutional requirements when determining the most appropriate map,' Formella said. 'We are delighted that the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's finding that the Legislature acted within its constitutional authority …' In November, the high court upheld redistricting maps for the 24-person state Senate and the five-person Executive Council. Since all three maps were approved, Republicans have held onto the ruling majorities in the Legislature and on the council. In 2022, Democratic Party critics noted that their candidates for Executive Council got the most votes across the state, but they won only one of the five seats. That's because the redistricting made four of those council districts more Republican-leaning while the fifth became much more Democratic. The fifth Supreme Court justice, Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi, is on administrative leave while she fights charges she illegally interfered in a criminal investigation into her husband, State Ports and Harbors Director Geno Marconi. klandrigan@
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate budget action includes YDC Settlement Fund, landfill moratorium
The Senate Finance Committee on Monday approved changes to the Youth Development Center Settlement Fund and a moratorium on new landfills. A new provision in the Senate budget proposal would make the administrator of the YDC Settlement Fund a political appointee subject to a vote of the Executive Council to serve at the 'pleasure of the governor.' The current administrator, John Broderick, was appointed by the state Supreme Court with the support of Attorney General John Formella and lawyers representing an overwhelming majority of alleged victims of sexual or physical abuse at the the state's youth detention centers. Broderick is a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court and has come under criticism for his handling of settlement payments. Chuck Miles is a YDC abuse survivor who is on the board of YDC Victims, an advocacy group. "The Senate's proposal to remove any semblance of impartiality surrounding the YDC Settlement Fund administrator is an affront to YDC victims who have voluntarily paused their constitutional rights to a court trial with the understanding that the settlement fund would be a fair, impartial process," Miles said in a statement. "Adopting this measure combined with a dramatic underfunding in the first year of the budget is an abandonment of the settlement fund by the state and a slap in the face for all victims who were promised justice. We encourage the Legislature to change or remove this unfair measure and stand by their promises before the budget is finalized." Landfills The Senate budget panel also approved a scaled-down version of the House-passed moratorium on the construction of new landfills. Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, worked out the Senate position that would reduce the moratorium from three years to one and significantly scale back the powers of a new site evaluation commission to review landfill permit applications. The Senate language also would give preference to expansions of existing landfills over new ones. Gov. Kelly Ayotte had called for a one-year moratorium. klandrigan@
CBS News
13-04-2025
- CBS News
Police shoot woman during New Hampshire traffic stop
A woman was shot by police early Sunday morning during a traffic stop in Dover, New Hampshire, the Attorney General's office said. It happened on the Spaulding Turnpike, also known as Route 16, on the southbound side of the road between exits 6 and 7. Attorney General John Formella said a woman was shot by a New Hampshire State Police trooper during a traffic stop. No additional details about what led up to the shooting were released. Video from the scene shows the car in the breakdown lane with a shattered driver's side window and a New Hampshire State Police cruiser parked behind it. The vehicle was later towed from the scene. No law enforcement officers were hurt during the incident. The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Formella did not provide any additional update on the woman's condition. According to investigators, the officer's name is being withheld pending the competition of a formal interview. Formella did not say how long it would be before that information would be available. As of Sunday morning, police were still seen in the area of the shooting, including multiple cruisers and truck from the New Hampshire Police Major Crime Unit's Department of Safety. No further information is currently available. Dover is located in New Hampshire's Strafford County. According to 2023 Census data, Dover has a population of just over 33,000 people. Located in the Seacoast region, Dover has the six-highest population among New Hampshire cities.
