In this edition of the Priori Digest, a weekly look at what’s happening in law and technology, we look at risk assessment tools that are changing the criminal justice system, a German law that fines social media companies for fake news and a Japanese startup for on-demand meteor showers. Enjoy!
What we’re reading
- The most prestigious UK law firms are still struggling to successfully break into the U.S. market
- San Francisco Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food provided by tech companies to their employees. Supporters of the restrictions argue that the company cafeterias take away business from local restaurants and cafes because workers don’t leave their offices
- Risk assessment tools are fundamentally changing the criminal justice system. Judges are using these tools to help determine bail amounts, how much time served and whether to issue parole
- A study by two Harvard Business School academics has found that, contrary to the layout’s rationale, open-plan offices lead to less face-to-face interaction and more email correspondence between colleagues
What in the weird
- A Japanese startup has ambitious plans for on-demand meteor showers
- Two drivers in Idaho were cited for driving too slowly under a new law
By the numbers
- 8.1: The percentage of leadership roles in North American technology companies held by women
- 69: As of this year, German law states that if social media firms do not remove fake news, threats or other controversial content with 24 hours they will be fined. A recent survey found that 69 percent of Americans would approve of such a law being passed in the U.S
- 52.9: The percentage of websites that use English. The next most popular language on the internet is German with 6.3 percent
