Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

This Will Undoubtedly Delight Our Allies

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Michael Froomkin

Weird story in the news today about Trump allegedly trying to get German firm to either give US exclusive access to possible vaccine (Guardian: Trump offers ‘large sums’ for exclusive access to coronavirus vaccine),  or to move its operations to US, presumably to achieve something similar (Reuters: Germany tries to stop U.S. from luring away firm seeking coronavirus vaccine).  Sourcing is slightly hinky, but there’s enough smoke to suggest odds of a fire.

Of course, all this arises in the shadow of the total collapse of US contingency plans for an epidemic, not least the colossal failure of the four, very expensive ($670 million!) US  government-sponsored plants that are supposed to be able to churn out vaccines. (Washington Post: Federal vaccine development sites ill-suited to counter covid-19 epidemic)

Somewhere Putin is chortling.

Posted in COVID-19 | 9 Comments

Best. Health. System. In. The. World.

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Michael Froomkin

The Intercept prints a Dispatch from an American Nurse on the Frontlines of the Effort to Contain Coronavirus about how one somewhat rural hospital in a chain of (for profit?) hospitals prepared for Coronavirus.

TL/DR: Not at all, then badly.

Posted in COVID-19 | Comments Off on Best. Health. System. In. The. World.

Pandumbic (For the Record)

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Michael Froomkin

I assume everyone has seen this by now, but if you happen to have missed it, enjoy — to the extent it’s possible to enjoy anything about this administration.

Posted in COVID-19, Trump | Comments Off on Pandumbic (For the Record)

Everywhere

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Michael Froomkin

There’s even one case in Réunion in case you were thinking of hiding out on an island.

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Academics’ Letter on Protecting 47 U.S.C. § 230

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Michael Froomkin

I signed an academic’s letter on CDA § 230’s benefits which has been sent to leaders in Congress. Sadly, this foundational law, which accidentally or on purpose made the modern internet possible, is under threat. I’m more about benefit #4 in the letter than ##1-3, although I think they are true too. And I suppose good advocacy aims at its audience.

Kudos to Eric Goldman and David Levine for organizing the letter, which attracted a politically diverse set of signatories.

Posted in Law: Internet Law | Comments Off on Academics’ Letter on Protecting 47 U.S.C. § 230

The East is Red

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Michael Froomkin

And we’re catching up.  Map of virus outbreaks today:

Posted in COVID-19 | 1 Comment