Florida lawmakers are making strides to prohibit the sale of lab-grown “meat” products within the state, driven by mounting safety apprehensions surrounding synthetic meat alternatives. Spearheaded by Bill HB 1071, these legislative efforts aim to define and restrict the distribution of “cultivated meat,” which encompasses any meat or food product derived from cultured animal cells.

Under the proposed legislation, individuals found manufacturing, selling, or distributing cultivated meat would face misdemeanor charges, with food establishments risking disciplinary actions and potential license suspensions for non-compliance.

The impetus for the ban comes amidst heightened scrutiny over the safety and viability of lab-grown meat, particularly as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates champions significant investments into its development. While proponents of synthetic meat tout its potential as a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional agriculture, concerns regarding its safety profile and long-term health implications have prompted Florida legislators to take decisive action.

The bills, including the Senate counterpart SB 1084, have garnered support from conventional agricultural sectors while encountering opposition from researchers and investors invested in lab-grown meat technology. Critics contend that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already sanctioned the consumption of lab-grown meat, pointing to approvals granted to California-based companies like Upside Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) and Good Meat. Nevertheless, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association stands firmly behind the proposed ban, reflecting broader industry sentiments aligned with safeguarding traditional agricultural practices.

Despite assertions from supporters that lab-grown meat offers a pragmatic solution to escalating concerns surrounding food safety and dwindling farmland, dissenting voices caution against its potential risks. Notably, concerns persist regarding the genetic engineering of cells and the emergence of cancer-promoting properties within lab-grown meat, as highlighted by the Center for Food Safety. Furthermore, uncertainties persist regarding the sterility of lab-grown meat production processes and the absence of adequate pathogenic control mechanisms, raising apprehensions about potential health hazards associated with consumption.

The legislative developments in Florida resonate with broader efforts across the United States to address the proliferation of lab-grown meat products. Recently, the Alabama Senate passed legislation prohibiting the sale and manufacture of lab-grown meat, underscoring a growing trend towards regulatory intervention in the realm of alternative protein sources. Additionally, federal initiatives, such as the proposed “School Lunch Integrity Act,” seek to preemptively ban lab-grown meat from government-sponsored meal programs, citing concerns over nutritional quality and allergen research.

As Florida lawmakers navigate the complexities surrounding lab-grown meat regulation, the debate underscores broader societal tensions surrounding food production, consumer safety, and the ethical considerations inherent in technological advancements. While the fate of lab-grown meat remains uncertain within Florida and beyond, the discourse surrounding its regulation underscores the need for informed policymaking and continued dialogue among stakeholders invested in shaping the future of food production and consumption.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, together with attorneys general from every state and many territories, have reached a $700 million settlement with Google for their anticompetitive behavior related to the Google Play Store.

Google has been ordered to pay $630 million in reparations to customers who purchased on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 who were injured by Google’s anticompetitive actions. In addition, the internet behemoth will pay the states an extra $70 million in fines. The deal also compels Google to improve its business operations in order to reduce its unfair market advantage over other firms and consumers.

In 2021, a group of state attorneys general sued Google for illegally monopolizing the market for Android app distribution and in-app payment processing. Google, in particular, entered into anticompetitive arrangements to prohibit other app shops from being installed on Android devices, bribed important app developers not to launch items on competitor app stores, and erected technical obstacles to discourage users from directly downloading apps to their devices.

“Texas has led the nation in the fight to hold giant tech companies accountable for monopolistic activity,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I am proud that this settlement brought together so many states who recognized the importance of protecting free markets.”

To read the settlement, click here.

Microsoft has formed a partnership with two publications controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Washington Free Beacon reports that the IT giant has signed agreements with the China Daily and People’s Daily publications. The two publications are largely regarded as key propaganda sources for the CCP. The CCP’s Central Propaganda Department publishes China Daily, while the CCP’s Central Committee publishes People’s Daily.

According to senior investigative writer Joseph Simonson of the Free Beacon, the Microsoft transactions have “not been widely reported outside of China, nor have the financial terms been disclosed.” A Microsoft spokesperson said that the contracts with the two publications “had expired years ago and were not renewed.”

However, critics expressed great concerns. They described such deals as “dangerous just by the virtue of the fact that they existed.” Moreover, the fact that Microsoft inked the deals at all is “a major win for the CCP.”

“It’s kind of an ‘angel deal with the devil’ scenario,” said Heritage Foundation research associate Jake Denton. “Microsoft loves the idea of access to the Asia market but it comes with a catch. In this case, it’s helping the Chinese government’s propaganda campaigns.”

“These are major propaganda outlets that publish outright falsehoods attacking the ideas of democracy – the very concepts that strengthen our society. And yet, an American company is working to spread this,” said Tech Integrity Project Policy Director Geoffrey Cain. “The purpose of all these [partnerships] is to show the Chinese Communist Party that [Microsoft is] firmly on the side of China and the Chinese system.”

Microsoft, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, has around 9,000 employees in China and plans to surpass 10,000 by the end of this year. In 1998, Microsoft opened Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing, its largest research lab outside the US. The company has entered into numerous partnerships with Chinese government entities since the 1990s. Microsoft aims to deepen scientific research in China and help cultivate digital talents.

Microsoft China President Joe Bao has stated that there is no evidence that Microsoft will reconsider its business relationships in China. In 2016, China Daily and Microsoft’s Global Media Cloud signed a memorandum of understanding in Beijing, allowing China Daily to target potential readers and establish a Media Smart Cloud Innovation Technology Laboratory.

The partnership also encouraged the development of an open innovation platform promoting technological innovation and application promotion in media convergence, such as big data and cloud computing.