Miss a day, miss a lot. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day. It's free.

Students Rally Against Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines at NJ University: ‘They’re Going to Keep Moving the Goalposts’

The Epoch Times reported:

Hundreds of Rutgers University students and their parents held a rally on the university’s New Brunswick, New Jersey, campus on May 21 to speak out against the school’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students.

The event was organized by Turning Point USA, Young Americans for Liberty, and NJ Stands Up, a medical freedom advocacy group, in response to the university’s new requirement — introduced in March — that all students enrolled for in-person classes for the 2021 fall semester must be vaccinated for COVID-19.

WhatsApp Sues Indian Government Over ‘Mass Surveillance’ Internet Laws

The Guardian reported:

WhatsApp has sued the Indian government over new internet laws which the company says will “severely undermine” the privacy of their users.

The new IT laws, which have been called oppressive and draconian, give the Indian government greater power to monitor online activity, including on encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal. They were passed in February but were due to come into effect on Wednesday.

Under the laws, encryption — which keeps communications on the app private and inaccessible to outside parties — would have to be removed from WhatsApp in India and messages would have to be put into a “traceable” database. The government would then be able to identify and take action against the sender if any content was ruled “unlawful.”

Fast Computers, 5G Networks and Radar That Passes Through Walls Are Bringing ‘X-ray Vision’ Closer to Reality

GCN reported:

Within seconds after reaching a city, earthquakes can cause immense destruction: Houses crumble, high-rises turn to rubble, people and animals are buried in the debris.

In the immediate aftermath of such carnage, emergency personnel desperately search for any sign of life in what used to be a home or office. Often, however, they find that they were digging in the wrong pile of rubble, and precious time has passed.

Imagine if rescuers could see through the debris to spot survivors under the rubble, measure their vital signs and even generate images of the victims. This is rapidly becoming possible using see-through-wall radar technology. Early versions of the technology that indicate whether a person is present in a room have been in use for several years, and some can measure vital signs albeit under better conditions than through rubble.

EU Cites ‘Anti-Vaccine Campaign’ as Reason to Toughen Social Media Code

The Guardian reported:

A “massive anti-vaccination campaign” has been cited by the European Commission as a reason for social media platforms to intensify their fact-checking and revise the internal algorithms that can amplify disinformation.

Under a revised code of practice proposed by Brussels, companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter would need to show why particular material is disseminated and prove that false information is being blocked.

The code would be voluntary but will work alongside an upcoming digital services act, under which companies could be fined up to 6% of their annual revenue for failing to remove illegal content where harm can be proven. Messaging services such as WhatsApp could also be covered by the code.

Georgia Governor Bans State COVID Vaccine Passports

National Review reported:

Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order Tuesday banning the state government from requiring COVID vaccine passports or assisting private establishments that seek to mandate them, the governor’s office said.

“Today’s executive order makes clear that vaccine passports will not be utilized in state government,” the Republican governor said in a written statement.

Some Businesses, Universities, Airlines Turn to Digital Passport Apps Upon Vaccine Requirements

WCBD News 2 reported:

Digital health apps are the latest trends among businesses, universities and even airlines.

The digital apps act as ‘vaccine passports,’ essentially validating vaccinated users. And the demand is booming for one app in particular called iOpen.

The app creator for iOpen says the boost in users has come after hundreds of colleges and universities began requiring their students to return fully vaccinated in the fall.

DC Attorney General Sues Amazon on Antitrust Grounds, Alleges It Illegally Raises Prices

CNBC reported:

Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine announced Tuesday he’s suing Amazon on antitrust grounds, alleging the company’s practices have unfairly raised prices for consumers and suppressed innovation.

Racine is seeking to end what he alleges is Amazon’s illegal use of price agreements to edge out competition; the lawsuit also asks for damages and penalties to deter similar conduct. The suit asks the court to stop what it calls Amazon’s ability to harm competition through a variety of remedies as needed, which could include structural relief, often referred to as a form of breakup.

1 In 4 Unvaccinated People May Not Comply With CDC Guidelines to Wear Masks Indoors, Survey Suggests

The Conversation reported:

The revised guidelines on when and when not to wear masks came as a surprise to many Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced May 13, 2021, that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely enter many indoor settings, such as grocery stores and restaurants, without wearing a mask.

The CDC’s updated guidelines also ask that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people continue to wear a mask — even in establishments like bars and restaurants, where doing so may no longer be required.

Diplomats Send Letter to State Dept. Leaders Saying ‘Havana Syndrome’ Sufferers Not Getting Proper Care

NBC News reported:

A group of U.S. diplomats and other government staffers suffering from symptoms consistent with “Havana Syndrome” are voicing frustration with the Biden administration’s early response, and warning that injured workers are still being denied proper care.

In a letter to State Department leadership obtained by NBC News, the staffers say that in recent months, the government has continued to “reject scientific evidence regarding the injuries and treatment needs” and to “invalidate our injuries and experiences,” alleging that military and intelligence officials injured by the same unexplained phenomenon are being treated more seriously.