Thanks for your interest!

Which friend or family member is always on their phone? Who continually posts for validation or flame wars? 

Talk to them about how technology is intentionally designed to be addictive, distracting, and manipulative,  perhaps using these resources. 

We find comfort in being reminded how society is currently allowing technology companies to blame us (the individual) for a systemic, societal problem. As Stolen Focus puts it: 

“The truth is that you are living in a system that is pouring acid  on your attention every day, and then you are being told to blame  yourself and to fiddle with your own habits while the world’s attention burns.” 

Helping bring awareness to a few friends and family members would be a great step towards our cause. Even better if they get connected with us by joining our events and mailing list. 

What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? How could your talents be used to promote awareness of the need for technology to support Coloradans, and the need for laws ensuring technology would benefit you and your community? 

Photography and Videography 📸: Capturing powerful images and videos that tell a story and evoke emotions. 

Writing ✍️: Crafting compelling articles, blog posts, and social media content can inform and persuade people. 

Artwork 🎨: Creating impactful and thought-provoking art pieces that can capture attention and convey powerful messages about how technology is being used or what you'd like to see instead.

Poetry 📝: Writing evocative poems or spoken word can inspire, move, and engage people emotionally, helping to raise awareness technology use injustices and a need for social justice.

Public Speaking 🎤: Communicating with audiences can spread the message widely. Opportunities include class presentations, charity events, local government meetings, professional conferences, and neighborhood associations. 

Graphic Design 🎨: Creating visually appealing materials like posters, infographics, and social media graphics can attract attention.

Networking 🤝: Building and maintaining relationships with key Colorado stakeholders, influencers, and community leaders.

Event Planning 📅: Organizing events such as rallies, fundraisers, and informational sessions to mobilize support. Smaller events include book clubs and movie nights, perhaps using these resources.

Fundraising 💰: Skills in raising funds to support awareness campaigns and related activities.

Research and Data Analysis 📊: Gathering and interpreting data to support the cause with facts and evidence.

Advocacy and Lobbying 🏛️: Persuading Colorado policymakers and legislators to take action on the issue.

Share what you do with your friends, family, community, or with us (we'd be happy to feature your contributions on this website). If you participate in social media, follow us and let us know how you've built awareness in your Colorado community. 

In other states, local companies have stopped responsible technology regulation by putting sustained pressure on state lawmakers. We must work to avoid that threat here by using our voice and business to recognize Colorado companies supporting responsible technology regulations and calling out companies lobbying against regulation. 

We can call, write, and draw attention to how companies are opposing or supporting current regulation. Colorado's SB25-205: Consumer Protections for Artificial Intelligence was passed earlier this year, and mandates responsible use of certain types of technology such as stopping technology companies sharing your brain-wave data. Just before the governor was able to sign the bill into law, many companies wrote letters to the governor asking him to veto the bill because the regulations would hurt profits. Even though the bill passed, Colorado technology companies continue to lobby within the CO Artificial Intelligence Impact Task Force to recommend SB25-205 be revised to include less regulation for AI. 

We will be posting soon to list the Colorado companies actively working against the technology regulations, as well as Colorado companies supporting the bill. 

You can help by putting pressure on these companies to support responsible technology regulation: 

• call these companies to say something like: 
  •  I’m reaching out because there is a growing concern in our community about the current regulations that your company opposes. Many of us believe that these regulations are essential for protecting our community’s well-being and ensuring that people’s rights are prioritized over profits. 
• using social media channels to raise awareness

State-level Regulation Works. 

Citizens have demanded regulation to curb unhealthy practices by billion-dollar companies. 

1. In 1988,  California voters approved Proposition 99, which increased the cigarette tax and dedicated revenue to create a statewide tobacco control program in California. 

2. In 1990, Colorado's Colorado Limited Gaming Act restricted minors from participating in these addictive behaviors. 

3. In 2003, California passed an anti-spam act (California Business and Professions Code, Section 17529.5), making certain e-mail marketing activities illegal. In response, the federal government stepped up. In 2003 the CAN-SPAM Act passed 395-5 and 97-0 in Congress and George W. Bush signed it into law. It makes it illegal to not include an unsubscribe button in a commercial email. CA and the Federal Trade Commission continue to advance regulations making it easier to unsubscribe from such email practices.  

4. On Sept. 16, 2024, Meghan Pensyl, policy director for BSA-The Software Alliance, told the CO Artificial Intelligence Impact Task Force that “Colorado and the European Union are really leading the way in passing significant pieces of AI regulation.” The regulation in reference, SB25-205: Consumer Protections for Artificial Intelligence, is currently being discussed by the  CO Artificial Intelligence Impact Task Force so lawmakers can revise the bill in 2025. This is why we have made advocating for responsible technology recommendations within this task force our Goal 1. 

Several business-friendly privacy laws have been passed in states like Montana, Minnesota and New Hampshire. These regulations have loopholes benefiting industry and allowing technology to be used to exploit people. Uniting for responsible technology regulations in Colorado is essential to resist powerful forces trying to influence our state. 

The future of technology, machine learning, and artificial intelligence is not predetermined - it's a future that we humans have the power to shape. This is your call to action, inviting you to step up and help us make the change you want to see in the world. 

Here's a ranked list of how we suggest you help the cause:
1. Subscribe to the mailing list below to stay informed. If you feel ambitious, send us a note via our contact form saying how you can contribute your strengths as a volunteer.
2. Look at our upcoming events and add one to your calendar. We have virtual meetings if you are far from Denver or out of state.
3. Get the word out. Think of 3 people who might be interested in this non-profit. Who needs to hear this information? Talk to them. If you use social media, connect and share our socials.