The Japanese Fair Trade Commission is planning a raft of proposals that would emulate Europe's App Store regulations regarding Big Tech firms such as Apple and Google.An Apple Store in JapanIt may now be consulting with the public, but Japan's Fair Trade Commissionexpects to begin enforcing its Big Tech regulations from December 18, 2025. The consultation comes after the plans were passed by Japan's House of Representatives and House of Councillors in 2024.The country's FTC has issued what its announcement calls draft subordinate legislations. They are all part of Japan's Mobile Software Competition Act, and a summary document shows that the new law says Apple and Google must: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums #japan #moves #closer #requiring #thirdparty

In the exurbs north of Dallas, further sprawl rarely receives second thought, much less scrutiny from the state government. However, a new community proposed by the East Plano Islamic Center—the largest mosque in North Texas—has drawn the ire of Texas Republicans, including Governor Greg Abbott, who has repeatedly commented on the project. Dubbed EPIC City, the proposal seeks to develop 402 acres of land near Josephine, Texas, delivering over 1,000 homes and supporting commercial spaces, in addition to an Islamic school and mosque. Because it is located deep within the Bible Belt, the development’s explicit ties to Islam have provoked controversy. More specifically, conservative elected officials have pointed to ambiguous language concerning the approval of housing applications that was originally included on EPIC City’s website. Initially, the website stated sales would be restricted to “persons we believe will contribute to the overall makeup of our community.” Assuming that this clause implied approval on the basis of Muslim religious affiliation, critics have charged that Community Capital Partners, an organization created by EPIC to spearhead the project, was in violation of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin. Following the initial backlash, EPIC swiftly edited the statement to clarify that the development would be “a diverse and inclusive community—one in which people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony.” Despite this assurance, criticisms of EPIC City have only intensified, with unsubstantiated claims the community would enforce Sharia Law promulgated across social media by private citizens and elected officials alike. Earlier this year, Abbott tweeted, “To be clear, Sharia Law is not allowed in Texas,” in direct reference to a now-deleted video promoting the project. The East Plano Islamic Center is the largest mosque in North Texas, serving the region’s large muslim community.In March, the Governor’s attacks escalated when he announced a series of state agencies were launching criminal investigations into Community Capital Partners and EPIC. This includes probes from Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas State Securities Board, Texas Funeral Service Commission, and Texas Rangers. While the Attorney General and Workforce Commission are targeting the development for violation of the Texas Fair Housing Act, EPIC is also under investigation for fraud, violating consumer protection laws, and conducting unlicensed funeral services, though little information has been provided about the basis for these additional claims. The state inquiries are now joined by a federal investigation from Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice, which was initiated last week. A spokesperson for EPIC and Community Capital Partners told The Dallas Morning News, “EPIC will cooperate fully with any and all investigations—regardless of how misguided and unnecessary they are.” The mosque also shared in a statement on Instagram that many of its leaders and community members have received death threats in the wake of the controversy. AN has reached out to EPIC for comment on the design. The Dallas Morning News reviewed investor documents that said future residents will have five years to build after purchasing a lot in the development, after which they can choose from an approved list of builders or receive approval for a custom builder. The inquiry into EPIC City comes as the Texas Legislature nears approval on a bill banning residents of specific countries from purchasing land in Texas. The measure was passed by the Texas House of Representatives and now proceeds to the State Senate for approval. Currently, the list of prohibited nations deemed security threats includes China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, however, a recent amendment to the bill would allow Governor Abbott to add additional nations to the list at his discretion. To circumvent violation of the Fair Housing Act, the ban is based on established permanent residence, instead of national origin. After adding to already large legislative majorities during the 2022 midterm election, Texas Republicans have been further emboldened by the second term of President Trump. This has left the state’s enforcement of the Fair Housing Act open to the party’s preferred interpretation. #doj #launches #investigation #into #epic

America’s quest to protect its semiconductor technology from China has taken increasingly dramatic turns over the past few years—from export bans to global restrictions—but the latest proposal from Congress ventures into unprecedented territory. Lawmakers are now pushing for mandatory GPS-style tracking embedded in every AI chip exported from the United States, essentially turning advanced semiconductors into devices that report their location back to Washington.On May 15, 2025, a bipartisan group of eight House representatives introduced the Chip Security Act, which would require companies like Nvidia to embed location verification mechanisms in their processors before export. This represents perhaps the most invasive approach yet in America’s technological competition with China, moving far beyond restricting where chips can go to actively monitoring where they end up.The mechanics of AI chip surveillanceUnder the proposed Chip Security Act, AI chip surveillance would become mandatory for all “covered integrated circuit products”—including those classified under Export Control Classification Numbers 3A090, 3A001.z, 4A090, and 4A003.z. Companies like Nvidia would be required to embed location verification mechanisms in their AI chips before export, reexport, or in-country transfer to foreign nations.Representative Bill Huizenga, the Michigan Republican who introduced the House bill, stated that “we must employ safeguards to help ensure export controls are not being circumvented, allowing these advanced AI chips to fall into the hands of nefarious actors.” His co-lead, Representative Bill Foster—an Illinois Democrat and former physicist who designed chips during his scientific career—added, “I know that we have the technical tools to prevent powerful AI technology from getting into the wrong hands.”The legislation goes far beyond simple location tracking. Companies would face ongoing surveillance obligations, required to report any credible information about chip diversion, including location changes, unauthorized users, or tampering attempts. This creates a continuous monitoring system that extends indefinitely beyond the point of sale, fundamentally altering the relationship between manufacturers and their products.Cross-party support for technology controlPerhaps most striking about this AI chip surveillance initiative is its bipartisan nature. The bill enjoys broad support across party lines, co-led by House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi. Other cosponsors include Representatives Ted Lieu, Rick Crawford, Josh Gottheimer, and Darin LaHood.Moolenaar said that “the Chinese Communist Party has exploited weaknesses in our export control enforcement system—using shell companies and smuggling networks to divert sensitive US technology.” The bipartisan consensus on AI chip surveillance reflects how deeply the China challenge has penetrated American political thinking, transcending traditional partisan divisions.The Senate has already introduced similar legislation through Senator Tom Cotton, suggesting that semiconductor surveillance has broad congressional support. Coordination between chambers indicates that some form of AI chip surveillance may become law regardless of which party controls Congress.Technical challenges and implementation questionsThe technical requirements for implementing AI chip surveillance raise significant questions about feasibility, security, and performance. The bill mandates that chips implement “location verification using techniques that are feasible and appropriate” within 180 days of enactment, but provides little detail on how such mechanisms would work without compromising chip performance or introducing new vulnerabilities.For industry leaders like Nvidia, implementing mandatory surveillance technology could fundamentally alter product design and manufacturing processes. Each chip would need embedded capabilities to verify its location, potentially requiring additional components, increased power consumption, and processing overhead that could impact performance—precisely what customers in AI applications cannot afford.The bill also grants the Secretary of Commerce broad enforcement authority to “verify, in a manner the Secretary determines appropriate, the ownership and location” of exported chips. This creates a real-time surveillance system where the US government could potentially track every advanced semiconductor worldwide, raising questions about data sovereignty and privacy.Commercial surveillance meets national securityAI chip surveillance proposal represents an unprecedented fusion of national security imperatives with commercial technology products. Unlike traditional export controls that simply restrict destinations, the approach creates ongoing monitoring obligations that blur the lines between private commerce and state surveillance.Representative Foster’s background as a physicist lends technical credibility to the initiative, but it also highlights how scientific expertise can be enlisted in geopolitical competition. The legislation reflects a belief that technical solutions can solve political problems—that embedding surveillance capabilities in semiconductors can prevent their misuse.Yet the proposed law raises fundamental questions about the nature of technology export in a globalized world. Should every advanced semiconductor become a potential surveillance device? How will mandatory AI chip surveillance affect innovation in countries that rely on US technology? What precedent does this set for other nations seeking to monitor their technology exports?Accelerating technological decouplingThe mandatory AI chip surveillance requirement could inadvertently accelerate the development of alternative semiconductor ecosystems. If US chips come with built-in tracking mechanisms, countries may intensify efforts to develop domestic alternatives or source from suppliers without such requirements.China, already investing heavily in semiconductor self-sufficiency following years of US restrictions, may view these surveillance requirements as further justification for technological decoupling. The irony is striking: efforts to track Chinese use of US chips may ultimately reduce their appeal and market share in global markets.Meanwhile, allied nations may question whether they want their critical infrastructure dependent on chips that can be monitored by the US government. The legislation’s broad language suggests that AI chip surveillance would apply to all foreign countries, not just adversaries, potentially straining relationships with partners who value technological sovereignty.The future of semiconductor governanceAs the Trump administration continues to formulate its replacement for Biden’s AI Diffusion Rule, Congress appears unwilling to wait. The Chip Security Act represents a more aggressive approach than traditional export controls, moving from restriction to active surveillance in ways that could reshape the global semiconductor industry.This evolution reflects deeper changes in how nations view technology exports in an era of great power competition. The semiconductor industry, once governed primarily by market forces and technical standards, increasingly operates under geopolitical imperatives that prioritize control over commerce.Whether AI chip surveillance becomes law depends on congressional action and industry response. But the bipartisan support suggests that some form of semiconductor monitoring may be inevitable, marking a new chapter in the relationship between technology, commerce, and national security.Conclusion: The end of anonymous semiconductors from America?The question facing the industry is no longer whether the US will control technology exports, but how extensively it will monitor them after they leave American shores. In this emerging paradigm, every chip becomes a potential intelligence asset, and every export a data point in a global surveillance network.The semiconductor industry now faces a critical choice: adapt to a future where products carry their own tracking systems, or risk being excluded from the US market entirely. As Congress pushes for mandatory AI chip surveillance, we may be witnessing the end of anonymous semiconductors and the beginning of an era where every processor knows exactly where it belongs—and reports back accordingly.See also: US-China tech war escalates with new AI chips export controlsWant to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here. #congress #pushes #gps #tracking #every

New owners of VPNSecure have been taking major flak recently after unexpectedly cancelling all lifetime subscriptions for users of the VPN service. The owners claimed that they didn’t know about the lifetime subscriptions when they first bought VPNSecure and are now unable to continue honoring them. Per Ars Technica, the first complaints from users losing their lifetime access began in March of this year. In April, users with lifetime subscriptions received an email stating, “To continue providing a secure and high-quality experience for all users, Lifetime Deal accounts have now been deactivated as of April 28th, 2025.” In response to a sudden wave—24 pages in total—of negative 1-star customer reviews on TrustPilot, a representative for the provider clarified, “In 2023, we acquired only the infrastructure and brand in a distressed asset sale after that company shut down. No contracts, payment data, or customer obligations were transferred.” VPNSecure has apologized to customers who were caught off guard by the sudden cancellations but reinforced its new position by saying it “never will” sell lifetime subscriptions. The whole ordeal seems to have been bungled from the start, but the company drew further ire with the way in which it so abruptly cut subscriptions. While it may have mitigated some of these issues by giving more advanced notice of the cancellations, it was never going to be an easy pill to swallow for previous lifetime plan holders. Adding insult to injury, there is no evidence that VPNSecure is offering refunds to those who purchased lifetime subscriptions. Instead, it’s offering affected users “an exclusive deal starting at just /month to continue using the service.” Insert eyeroll here. The whole ordeal is a great reminder that lifetime subscriptions are rarely as trustworthy as advertisements lead you to believe. Should the company ever go out of business or be sold, these previous ‘guarantees’ can be nothing but hot air. If you happen to be someone affected by these cancellations or are just looking for a VPN service that you can trust, refer to our list of the best VPNs. #vpnsecure #faces #backlash #after #axing

Rumors of a significantly downgraded RTX 5090D are emerging, suggesting that the card will now feature less VRAM than before. Newer RTX 5090D Model will Reportedly Arrive with 8 GB Less VRAM; MANLI Says the GPU will Start Shipping After July NVIDIA's cut-down RTX 5090D edition for China is getting a massive memory downgrade as per the latest report. At this point, it should be no surprise, since the US has banned the existing GeForce RTX 5090D as it doesn't abide by the new export policy. As per the confirmation of an NVIDIA board partner, the upcoming RTX 5090D will have just 24 GB VRAM capacity, down from 32 GB. This was confirmed by MANLI in a chat, where the representative informed a user about the change. A similar report recently suggested the same, indicating the new RTX 5090D will share specs with the RTX PRO 5000 GPU and will have only 24 GB GDDR7 memory through a 384-bit memory bus. If that's true, then the memory bandwidth will stay lower than 1.4 TB/s, which is what the US govt wants NVIDIA to abide by for China. Credit: Weibo.com This will significantly downgrade the RTX 5090D, which is identical in almost all specifications to the full-fledged RTX 5090 GPU. The newer RTX 5090D is supposedly also getting a big downgrade in core count as well and is rumored to bring just 14,080 CUDA cores compared to 21,760 cores. This will reduce the gaming and productivity performance of the RTX 5090D drastically, but keep in mind that this is yet to be confirmed by NVIDIA or its board partners. The newer GeForce RTX 5090D will reportedly start shipping at the end of July or start in August. This marks the end of the original RTX 5090D, which was discontinued in the second quarter. Later, NVIDIA is rumored to release a newer RTX 50 Blackwell GPU. It will be either the RTX 5080 Super or RTX 5080 Ti, and supposedly features 24 GB of memory as well. News Source: Weibo Deal of the Day #manli #confirms #new #geforce #rtx

What just happened? TP-Link, the most popular router brand in the US, could be banned in the country. The ongoing saga over the firm's alleged links to China and anti-competitive behavior has led Republican lawmakers to urge the Commerce Department to ban sales of the company's products. The seventeen senators and representatives wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick this week to support the ongoing investigations into TP-Link. The company is being investigated by the Commerce, Defense, and Justice Departments over whether its China ties pose a security threat and whether the firm engaged in predatory pricing to undercut competitors and dominate the US market. The group essentially claims that TP-Link's cheap prices have helped it become the number one router brand in the US, thereby allowing the Chinese government to launch cyberattacks and surveillance programs against the United States using the devices. The letter also urges Lutnick to prohibit further sales of TP-Link networking products in the United States. The group goes on to accuse TP-Link of having a close association with the Chinese Communist Party, using predatory pricing to eliminate "trusted" US alternatives, and embedding foreign surveillance and destructive capabilities into US networks, all of which make it a "clear and present danger." The letter states that Chinese state actors have exploited TP-Link small and home officenetworking devices to wage cyberwarfare against the United States. It's also claimed that TP-Link is the only router company that refuses to engage in industry efforts to remediate Chinese state-sponsored bots. // Related Stories "Each day we fail to act, the CCP wins while American competitors suffer, and American security remains at risk," wrote the lawmakers. In a statement responding to the letter, TP-Link told PCMag, "The allegations are categorically false, and we look forward to setting the record straight about our company." "To be clear, TP-Link is not a state-sponsored company, has no 'deep ties' to, and is completely independent from, the Chinese Communist Party." Nine of sixteen best-selling routers on Amazon are TP-Link brands, including the top three models. It's estimated that 60-65% of homes and small businesses in the US use the routers, whose cheap prices help make them so popular. In October 2024, Microsoft exposed "CovertNetwork-1658," a Chinese-run botnet siphoning credentials from Azure since August 2023 via password-spray attacks. The network marshalled 16,000 hijacked SOHO routers, cameras and other IoT nodes – chiefly TP-Link models. The company's routers have a history of vulnerabilities: a CVSS-10 flaw hit the Archer C5400X in May 2024, and 2023 reports tied Chinese state actors to custom malware installed on TP-Link routers. The latter incident arrived soon after the US government said Mirai Botnet operators were using TP-Link routers for DDoS attacks. TP-Link, founded in 1996 by brothers Zhao Jianjun and Zhao Jiaxing, established its US arm in 2008 to handle marketing and support in North America, though ownership and operations remained tied to its Shenzhen-based parent. In 2024, TP-Link USA merged with the company's non-Chinese operations to form TP-Link Systems Inc., headquartered in Irvine, California – a move intended to create an "organizational separation," with distinct ownership, governance, R&D, and supply chains on each side. #lawmakers #say #tplink039s #rockbottom #prices

Welcome to Stine Seed Company! We are the country s largest privately-owned seed company specializing in soybean and corn genetics, headquartered in Adel, Iowa. The Stine name has a proud history dating to the 1940s when Bill Stine began cleaning a public variety of soybean seed with a portable cleaner. Since then, Stine has grown and expanded, becoming one of the most recognized and respected names in the corn and soybean industry, owning more than 800 patents.Stine Seed has an opportunity for you to run your own seed business as an Independent Sales Representativeselling our established brand of seed genetics. Through outside sales, you will be growing your own book of business by selling directly to farms in a territory as well as adding dealers to work under you. You would be based remotely from your home covering a territory mainly focused on a few counties although there are no set territory lines. We offer extensive training, continued education, as well as ongoing support from your Regional Sales Agronomist who will assist you with sales strategies and techniques.This opportunity could be your full-time career focus or be part-time to align with your current farming operation or an addition to your already existing agribusiness.We offer a salary/commission draw to support you as you begin to develop your business. Our average ISRs earn an average of k+ in commissions each year and our top 25% earn k+ per year! If you are a highly driven individual and a natural entrepreneur this is a rare opportunity for you to work with unlimited earning potential. Why become an ISR with Stine Seed Sell a 30 plus year reputation for quality seed products Unlimited earnings with no cap on commissionFlexibility to work your territory your way Ongoing training and agronomic support An ideal candidate bringsThree or more years of experience preferably in agriculture, farming, agronomy, seed and/or ag equipment with preference to a sales backgroundAbility to build and maintain strong relationships with growers by understanding their needs and values and achieve desired results What you will be doingServe as a primary ambassador of the Stine brand within the assigned territory Develop and maintain a thorough agronomic and technical knowledge of Stine seed products and services applicable to the assigned territory Proactively seek new and profitable grower accounts to drive business growth; continually develop relationships and track all activity through a CRM systemUnderstand and implement marketing initiatives while driving key products and services in key target markets Communicate and implement our sales programs and policies within the assigned territory to meet sales goals for the district Work in conjunction with the Stine Regional Sales Agronomist to provide a high level of sales support within the assigned territory Develop and enhance relationships with customers and potential customers, either personally or through a designated seller . Date posted: 03/02/2025 #stine #seed #independent #sales #representative

Birkenstock is raising the prices of its shoes. Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images 2025-05-16T04:36:46Z d Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Birkenstock is raising the prices of its shoes to mitigate the effect of Trump's tariffs. Its finance chief said the company will implement a "low single-digit price increase globally." The company said hikes will be rolled out globally, not just in the US. Birkenstock will be increasing the prices of its shoes globally to offset President Donald Trump's tariffs.Representatives for the German footwear brand talked about price hikes in its latest earnings call on Thursday.The company's finance chief, Ivica Krolo, said Birkenstock will need a "low single-digit price increase globally" for a "full offset of tariff impact." She said the brand is less exposed to tariff impact "with 100% of our production and 96% of our materials sourced from Europe and no contract manufacturing from Asia."Per Trump's announcement on April 2, 10% tariffs would be applied to goods from all countries entering the US. Goods from the European Union would be subjected to an additional 10% "reciprocal" tariff.But on April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause on the additional tariffs to allow room for trade negotiations.Krolo said tariffs in the US would not change Birkenstock's global pricing structure. Its popular models, like the Arizona and Boston, are priced at around "We will be fully offsetting the effects from current existing tariffs," Krolo told Reuters in an interview. "We're not raising in one region only, we see it as a global exercise."In addition to raising prices, the brand is also offsetting the impact of tariffs by making its production more efficient and negotiating with vendors, Krolo said in the earnings call.Representatives for Birkenstock did not respond to queries asking how much the cost of the shoes would increase, when the hikes would be implemented, or which models would see hikes.Birkenstock posted a 19% increase its its latest quarterly revenue compared to the year before, reporting sales of 574.3 million euros, or million.The Americas accounted for a majority of Birkenstock's sales last quarter, with 312.5 million euros.Its second largest market was Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where it earned 212.8 million euros in sales. Finally, 47.8 million euros came from the Asia Pacific region. Recommended video #birkenstock #raising #prices #offset #hit

🌟 About the roleWe are looking to expand our support team and are hiring Customer Support Representatives who love to delight our landline users. An advanced command of the English language is required for this role.🚀 You will...Track customer concerns, identifying trends, and driving callsWork Cross-Functionally to remove customer obstaclesEnsure every customer has an extraordinary experienceUnderstand why customers wish to cancel and working on solutions to keep customers satisfiedListen for opportunities to Upsell our customers on additional products and services that will save them money and solve their issues🏆  You are...Calm Under Pressure, excellent at establishing rapport, and comfortable chatting with a variety of peopleKind to your coreAble to Adapt quickly to changeExcellent in both Verbal and Written English Communication skillsA Skilled Multitasker and Organizational by natureExperience with Zendesk, Hubspot or similar technology💰 Compensation:We are hiring globally and paying /hour as a base salary with additional commission potential📆Shifts:Our shifts are US timezone based, we are open every day from 9 am EST to 9 pm EST, you can expect to work on weekends on a rotating basis💙 Community Phone CultureCommunity Phone has a customer-obsessed culture. We are looking for team members who love our product and mission. Beyond the job description, here are some traits members of our team share:We value Curiosity and learning in our employees. We promote open-mindedness, embrace mistakes, and encourage challenging questions for personal growth. We create a culture of continuous learning to empower our team to tackle challenges and excel in their roles.Efficiency Where it Counts. We operate lean, optimizing resources to improve our products and deliver a world-class customer experience. We prioritize value over excess, embodying a scrappy and resourceful spirit to achieve our mission and values.We prioritize taking decisive action over deliberation, recognizing that building a world-class product requires pushing personal limits and taking risks. We believe that a Bias Toward Action is essential for achieving our goals and delivering exceptional results to our customers.We strive for Transparency and prioritize open, Direct communication. This helps us resolve issues quickly and build strong relationships with our stakeholders.We take our work seriously and see it as a reflection of who we are. We're always looking for ways to improve and are open to feedback. We approach our work with a sense of ownership and a desire to deliver the best possible results. By embodying a Founder Mindset, we're able to achieve our goals and create exceptional products.We value a Caring Mentality. Our customers come first, and we collaborate to provide exceptional service. We prioritize teamwork over personal accolades, fostering a customer-focused culture that drives our success and promotes a supportive work environment.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Meet JobCopilot: Your Personal AI Job HunterAutomatically Apply to Remote Customer Support JobsJust set your preferences and Job Copilot will do the rest-finding, filtering, and applying while you focus on what matters. Activate JobCopilot #community #phone #customer #support #representative

On Life SupportMay 15, 3:38 PM EDT / by Noor Al-SibaiA Draconian Abortion Law Is Forcing Doctors to Keep a Pregnant Brain-Dead Woman Alive for Months So She Can Give Birth"Every day that goes by, it’s more cost, more trauma, more questions."May 15, 3:38 PM EDT / Noor Al-SibaiImage by Getty / FuturismDevelopmentsA draconian "heartbeat law" in Georgia is forcing a brain-dead pregnant woman to be kept on life support for months so she can deliver — all at the expense of her family.As Atlanta's WXIA-TV reports, the family of 30-year-old Adriana Smith, a nurse at the city's Emory University Hospital, was declared brain-dead more than 90 days ago after doctors found that she had blood clots in her brain.It's a particularly horrifying situation, highlighting the alarming state of reproductive rights in the US, especially following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which struck down federal protections for abortion rights.Smith, as her mother, April Newkirk, told the broadcaster, was initially taken to the hospital for bad headaches earlier in her pregnancy. She was given medication and discharged — only to wake her boyfriend the next morning with loud, gurgling gasps for air.Upon finally conducting CT scans, doctors at Emory University discovered the clots. The window to do surgery to relieve the pressure had passed, and the young woman's family was left with few options but to let the clots take their course.Smith's body still hasn't been taken off of life support thanks to Georgia's "Living Infants Fairness and Equality" Act, which stipulates that after six weeks, when fetal heartbeats generally begin to be detected, any fetal death — including in the case of miscarriage — becomes illegal.Though there are carveouts in the case of rape, incest, or the mother's life being in danger, Smith's case falls into a legal grey area.Because her life is not per se "at risk" following the cessation of brain activity, Emory doctors decided that she must be kept alive until the child is ready to be delivered so that the fetus gestating will not die, a technicality required by Georgia's heartbeat law and many others like it that have proliferated in the three years since Roe v. Wade was overturned.At press time, Smith is about 21 weeks or five months pregnant, and the fetus growing inside her will only be considered viable at 32 weeks or more, which means that she has to be kept on life support for at least 11 more weeks under the hospital's strict reading of the law.According to Newkirk, the doctors at her daughter's former employer told her that there were no other legal avenues to pursue while they wait for the fetus to be viable for birth. She's concerned not only about the child she's soon going to have to raise, who may well have serious impairments due to his mother being in a vegetative state, but also about the massive bill she'll be footing."They’re hoping to get the baby to at least 32 weeks," Newkirk told WXIA. "But every day that goes by, it’s more cost, more trauma, more questions."In a statement to Newsweek, Emory representatives insisted their decision was made after consulting "consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance."Ironically, the relevant heartbill law — which was passed in 2019 but did not go into effect until 2022, when Roe was overturned — was rescinded for a week after a county court found that the state could not interfere with personal reproductive decisions prior to fetus viability at 32 weeks.Georgia's Supreme Court overruled that decision and reinstated the ban shortly thereafter, a move described by Monica Simpson of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective as "with anti-abortion extremists."Newkirk, meanwhile, said she's not sure what Smith or her family would have chosen had she been given the option to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life or be allowed to die naturally.Nonetheless, it should have been their choice to make."I think every woman should have the right to make their own decision," the mother told WXIA-TV. "And if not, then their partner or their parents."More on reproductive weirdness: Trump Appears to Have Accidentally Declared That Every Person in America Is Now FemaleShare This ArticleImage by Getty / FuturismRead This Next #draconian #abortion #law #forcing #doctors