Category: State News

Warns that interference with negotiations could violate federal antitrust laws

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal today wrote the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) regarding their reported interference in the Mohegan Tribe’s negotiations with competing bidders for ownership of the Connecticut Sun women’s basketball team.

After more than two decades of ownership, the Mohegan Tribe is considering offers to sell the Sun. The WNBA has reportedly used its league governance powers to block proposals that would keep the team in Connecticut or New England — a potentially devastating loss to the state.

In his letter, Blumenthal warns the WNBA that such interference could violate federal antitrust laws.

“Any further attempts by the WNBA to use its considerable governance and market power over the Connecticut Sun to limit or dictate negotiations with the state of Connecticut could be a unreasonable restraint of trade and interference with the market that would violate federal antitrust laws,” Blumenthal writes. “As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over antitrust matters, I am closely monitoring the WNBA’s actions and will demand investigations and enforcement actions from the appropriate federal authorities if it takes any step to hinder or constrain Connecticut’s negotiations.”

Full text of Blumenthal’s Letter is Available Below:

Dear Commissioner Engelbert:

I write regarding the Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) reported interference in the Mohegan Tribe’s negotiations with competing bidders for the ownership of the Connecticut Sun women’s basketball team and to warn that any attempts by the WNBA to block efforts to keep the Sun in Connecticut could violate federal antitrust laws.

For more than twenty years, the Connecticut Sun has been a cornerstone of the state’s sports identity, hosting world-class, professional women’s basketball in a state with a long tradition of basketball excellence. Under two decades of ownership by the Mohegan Tribe, the Sun has become consistently one of the league’s most commercially successful teams and developed a loyal fan base with strong regional support. In a growing league, the Connecticut Sun has stood out among their peers. And that support is increasing as the Sun has sold out 2025 season tickets — the first time in franchise history. 

After the Mohegan Tribe entertained offers to sell the Sun, the WNBA used its league governance powers to block proposals that would keep the team in New England, instead seeking to move it thousands of miles from its fan base to cities such as Cleveland or Houston. Unwilling to relent from its opposition, the WNBA then sought to strong-arm the Mohegan Tribe with a $250 million offer to purchase the team itself – far below previously disclosed $325 million offers – in order to control the sale for its own purposes. 

Proud of the Sun’s storied history of community involvement, this month, the state of Connecticut has stepped in to resolve the matter and proposed to acquire minority ownership in the team under an arrangement that would split time between its current home, Uncasville, and Hartford. Connecticut’s proposal would value the team at more than the WNBA’s offer and, with the proposal to build a new practice facility and play in PeoplesBank Arena, ensure that the Sun could easily grow further and achieve an even greater attendance than the 2024 league average. 

Hartford has already demonstrated the ability to draw fans, notably hosting both the UCONN men’s and women’s basketball games, two of the most successful college basketball programs in the country, as well as NCAA Tournament games. Furthermore, relocating the team out of Connecticut would leave New England without a WNBA team, and disrupt the stability and growth the Sun have achieved over the years in the state, which has made it the successful franchise that it has become.

The state of Connecticut’s proposal fully ensures the continued commercial and professional success of the Connecticut Sun, and addresses the reported expansion concerns of the WNBA. Any further attempts by the WNBA to use its considerable governance and market power over the Connecticut Sun to limit or dictate negotiations with the state of Connecticut could be a unreasonable restraint of trade and interference with the market that would violate federal antitrust laws. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over antitrust matters, I am closely monitoring the WNBA’s actions and will demand investigations and enforcement actions from the appropriate federal authorities if it takes any step to hinder or constrain Connecticut’s negotiations. 

I strongly urge the WNBA to refrain from any further actions that would interfere with the state of Connecticut’s efforts to keep the Sun where it belongs, in Connecticut. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 

Hurricanes, flooding and home fires pose biggest threats to Connecticut

September is National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross in Connecticut urges everyone to protect their loved ones by getting their households ready now.

So far this year, the Red Cross has responded to more than 350 disasters across Connecticut. The vast majority of these emergencies were related to home fires. In fact, our volunteer disaster action teams have assisted around 2,000 Connecticut residents after home fire in 2025 alone. River and coastal flooding may also put neighborhoods at risk this season.

“National Preparedness Month is a great time to ask whether your family would be ready if something unexpected happened tomorrow,” said Rebecca Johnson, regional disaster officer, Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “It’s not about being scared; it’s about being smart and looking out for the people you love. Taking a few simple steps now so that you have a plan can make all the difference when it matters most.”

HOW TO GET READY Disasters don’t wait for the “right time” — they can happen in the middle of the night, during your commute or while your kids are at school. Protect your family by making a plan to stay safe, gathering important supplies and knowing how you’ll stay connected by taking these steps:

• Depending on the emergency, you may need to stay where you are or go somewhere else to stay safe. If you may need to leave, think about where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay and what you’ll take with you. Plan well in advance if you’ll need help leaving or use public transportation.
• Next, gather and organize critical supplies — like food, water and medicine — into a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit. Make sure to include backup batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.), a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, and critical personal records.
• Your go-kit should include three days of supplies that you can take with you. Your stay-at-home kit should have two weeks of food and water, and a one-month supply of medications, if possible.
• Customize your kit to meet your household’s specific needs. If you have young children, don’t forget formula and diapers. If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, food, bowls, litter and a litterbox.
• Finally, make a plan to reconnect with loved ones if you are separated or if the phone or internet is down. Write down important phone numbers on a contact card and carry it with you. 

Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for weather alerts, safety steps for different emergencies and expert advice in both English and Spanish. Don’t forget to sign up for local government emergency alerts to get critical local information — like evacuation notices — during an emergency.

People can also help their community be better prepared for disasters by giving blood, taking a class in lifesaving skills like CPR, or becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Visit redcross.org or call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to learn more today.

“Whether it’s a fire in someone’s home or a storm that destroys an entire town, disasters can happen anywhere, at any time,” Johnson said. “Taking a few minutes now to get ready will help you protect your loved ones if the worst happens.”

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that beginning on January 1, 2026, Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $16.35 per hour to $16.94 per hour.

The change is required under a state law Governor Lamont signed in 2019 (Public Act 19-4) that connects the state’s minimum wage to economic indicators, specifically the percentage change in the federal employment cost index. Under that law, the minimum wage is required to be adjusted each year based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s calculation of the employment cost index for the twelve-month period ending on June 30 of the preceding year. The commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor is required to review this percentage change and announce any necessary adjustments by October 15 of each year. Those adjustments must take effect on January 1 of the following year.

Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo reports that the employment cost index increased by 3.6% over the twelve-month period ending on June 30, 2025, accounting for a $0.59 increase to the state’s minimum wage that will become effective on January 1, 2026.

“Nobody who works full-time should have to live in poverty,” Governor Lamont said. “For too long, as the nation’s economy grew the income of the lowest earning workers has stayed flat, making already existing pay disparities even worse and preventing hardworking families from obtaining financial security. This is a fair, modest increase, and the money earned will go right back into our own economy, supporting local businesses in our communities.”

“The minimum wage was established to provide a fair, livable baseline of income for those who work,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “This is a fair, gradual increase for workers that ensures that as the economy grows, our minimum wage grows with it – and that’s good for everyone.”

“Minimum wage increases help Connecticut’s lowest wage workers keep pace with a growing economy,” Commissioner Bartolomeo said. “Indexing minimum wage to the employment cost index helps protect the most vulnerable earners from inflation and cost increases, and it helps keeps wage gaps from widening.”

According to the Current Population Survey as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60% of minimum wage earners in Connecticut are women and people of color.

Continuing forward under this recently adopted law, Connecticut workers and employers can anticipate that announcements will be made by October 15 of each year declaring the change in the minimum wage that will become effective on January 1 of the approaching year.

(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding today’s court ruling on the remedies in the Google search antitrust case to restore competition in the market and for the benefit of consumers:

“Today’s decision is an important step towards restoring a fair, free and competitive digital advertising marketplace. Google abused its monopoly to quash innovation and competition, and their illegal conduct harmed us all. We will be watching them like a hawk and will not hesitate to return to the courts to safeguard free and fair competition,” said Attorney General Tong.

For years, the Google browser has been the dominant gateway for users to search the internet. Attorney General Tong joined a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general in December 2020 in filing the states’ lawsuit against Google for illegally maintaining its monopoly over search engines and related search advertising through a series of anticompetitive contracts and conduct. The multistate lawsuit was a companion to an earlier federal antitrust lawsuit the Justice Department filed in October 2020.

In August 2024, a D.C. federal district court judge ruled in a landmark decision that Google has abused its monopoly power and harmed consumers in online search and search text ads. Earlier this year, the 38-state coalition of attorneys general and the Justice Department proposed a comprehensive and legally sound package of remedies to restore competition and spur renewed innovation in the search marketplace and to benefit consumers.

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced the Trump Administration will fully release all withheld AmeriCorps funds, following a lawsuit brought by Connecticut, 23 other states and the District of Columbia.  The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) agreed to release over $184 million in funding for service programs across the country. OMB’s attempted cuts threatened the survival of those programs and the well-being of those who depend on them.

“In the face of what would have been a blistering legal defeat, the Trump Administration chose not to defend the indefensible and will now finally release all $184 million in AmeriCorps funding. This is a good day for programs across Connecticut that have helped stock our food pantries, tutored our kids, assisted homebound seniors, supported our veterans, and helped combat the opioid epidemic. These cuts were irrational, cruel and lawless, and deeply hurtful to people and communities across Connecticut,” said Attorney General Tong.

On April 29, Attorney General Tong and the coalition challenged the administration’s plans to eliminate nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. In June, the Court granted a preliminary injunction that reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that were unlawfully cancelled and barred AmeriCorps from making similar cuts without formal rulemaking. Despite the order, OMB continued to withhold over $184 million intended for outstanding service programs, including AmeriCorps Seniors programs, and many programs funded with highly competitive federal grants. The coalition filed an amended complaint in July to add OMB as a defendant. On August 8, the coalition then filed a motion for preliminary injunction, seeking an order to stop OMB from withholding the funds.

On Thursday, August 28, when OMB’s response for these actions was due in Court, the Trump Administration instead agreed to fully release the previously withheld funds as quickly as possible.

This relief means that service programs across the country will be protected from the administration’s devastating attempted cuts. AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by funding and placing volunteers in local and national organizations that address critical community needs. Organizations rely on support from AmeriCorps to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide.

As of the 2024 program year, AmeriCorps engaged 2,255 members and volunteers across 253 service locations throughout Connecticut, contributing to a total investment of $12.4 million in the state. Locally, AmeriCorps programs secured over $2.9 million in external funding from businesses, foundations, public agencies, and other sources across Connecticut. This local investment amplified community impact and enhanced the value of taxpayer contributions.

AmeriCorps programs in Connecticut address critical community needs through various initiatives:

•             Education: Members support early childhood education, literacy programs, and college readiness initiatives.

•             Public Health: Volunteers engage in health education, nutrition assistance, and mental health support services.

•             Economic Opportunity: Programs focus on workforce development, financial literacy, and housing assistance.

•             Disaster Services: Members assist in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

•             Environmental Stewardship: Initiatives include conservation projects and environmental education.

•             Veterans and Military Families: AmeriCorps Seniors organizes and manages Veterans Coffeehouses across the state. These gatherings offer veterans and their families a welcoming environment to connect, share experiences, and access essential resources.

Attorney General Tong was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in filing the lawsuit.

In response to an alarming increase in bicycle-related fatalities across Connecticut, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), together with Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, today held a press conference to call attention to the troubling trend and outline critical steps being taken to improve safety for all road users.

So far in 2025, preliminary CTDOT data show six bicyclist fatalities — already exceeding the annual totals for 2021 through 2024, and matching the number of cyclist deaths reported in all of 2020. In addition, there have been 21 serious injuries and 102 minor injuries involving cyclists statewide this year.

“This is a crisis that demands immediate attention,” said CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “Every number in this data represents a human being whose life was cut short, or someone who will live with lasting injuries. We need everyone — drivers and cyclists — to commit to safer habits starting today.”

“Whether you are behind the wheel or on two wheels, we all have the same goal: to get home safely,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “These numbers are unacceptable, and we must work together to stop this trend.”

The press conference, held at Charles Wright Elementary School in Wethersfield, featured local and state traffic safety advocates, law enforcement leaders, and community members who reinforced the importance of improved infrastructure, education, and behavioral change.

The event highlighted the latest outreach efforts being deployed across Connecticut to promote safer streets. For motorists, the focus is on increased awareness, caution, and respecting cyclists’ right to share the road. For cyclists, CTDOT is emphasizing helmet use, high visibility gear, and defensive riding practices.

According to state law, many electric bicycles (e-bikes), including pedal-assist models (pedelecs), are legally classified as bicycles. This means they are included in crash and fatality statistics when operated on public roads. For reporting purposes, a bicycle includes all pedal-powered vehicles such as bicycles, tricycles, and unicycles. Starting this fall, Connecticut’s new safety laws will require helmets for all cyclists under 18, all e-bike riders regardless of age, and all motorcyclists and moped riders under 21.

The state of Connecticut continues to collaborate with community partners, schools, and law enforcement agencies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on its roads. Officials today called on all residents to take action — whether through education, enforcement, or personal responsibility.

For more information on bicycle safety and related resources:

• CTDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Resources: drivetosavelivesct.com
• NHTSA Bicycle Safety: nhtsa.gov/bicycle-safety

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction finding Connecticut and a multistate coalition were likely to succeed on their claim that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to provide unfettered access to individual personal health data to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), violated the Administrative Procedure Act’s prohibition on arbitrary and capricious rulemaking. The preliminary injunction blocks DHS from using Medicaid data obtained from plaintiff states for immigration enforcement purposes, and blocks HHS from sharing Medicaid data obtained from coalition states with DHS for immigration enforcement purposes. The preliminary injunction will remain in place either until 14 days after HHS and DHS complete a reasoned decision-making process that complies with the Administrative Procedure Act, or until litigation concludes.

 “Donald Trump does not need your private medical records to secure the border. ICE does not need your immunization records, your cancer diagnosis, your prescriptions, or your weight. This rushed and sloppy plan was about one thing—bullying immigrant families away from seeking healthcare. And that makes all of us less healthy and less safe. This is a major early victory, but we are prepared to keep fighting for as long as it takes to protect our privacy and public health,” said Attorney General Tong. 

On July 1, 2025, Connecticut joined a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration arguing that the mass transfer of Medicaid data violates the law and asking the court to block any new transfer or use of this data for immigration enforcement purposes. The lawsuit highlighted that the Trump Administration’s illegal actions are creating fear and confusion leading noncitizens and their family members to disenroll, or refuse to enroll, in emergency Medicaid for which they are otherwise eligible, leaving states and their safety net hospitals to foot the bill for federally mandated emergency healthcare services. In the limited preliminary injunction order, the court ruled that the Trump Administration’s actions were likely arbitrary and capricious and rulemaking in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Created in 1965, Medicaid is an essential source of health insurance for lower-income individuals and particular underserved population groups, including children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. The Medicaid program allows each participating state to develop and administer its own unique health plans; states must meet threshold federal statutory criteria, but they can tailor their plans’ eligibility standards and coverage options to residents’ needs. As of January 2025, 78.4 million people were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) nationwide. 

“Dr. Malone’s escalating and violent rhetoric—including in the aftermath of this tragic incident—has no place on a panel responsible for determining immunization recommendations for children and adults throughout our country.”

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on U.S. Department Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to fire Dr. Robert Malone, a recently appointed member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), for his violent and incendiary rhetoric in the wake of the recent shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta. The shooting, took the life of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, continues to be under investigation as early reports suggest that the gunman was motivated by his misinformation-fueled belief that his depression and suicidality were caused by the COVID-19 vaccine

In a letter to Kennedy, Blumenthal demanded Dr. Malone’s removal and condemned his unfathomable failure of judgment and heartlessness toward the family of slain Officer Rose and for the thousands of CDC staff on whom the work of ACIP depends. Blumenthal also urged Kennedy to restore the 17 qualified experts he had fired from ACIP who had worked to uphold the panel’s commitment to transparency and scientific independence.

Blumenthal wrote, “Just hours before a police officer was brutally murdered and CDC headquarters would be scarred with bullets, forcing hundreds employees into lockdown, Dr. Robert Malone, whom you recently appointed to ACIP, uploaded a post to his personal blog that included an image of a revolver loaded with a single bullet and the words ‘Five out of six scientists have proven that Russian roulette is harmless.’ Less than 48 hours after the attack, Dr. Malone issued a meme-filled post that included violent and threatening images that appeared to be directed at government officials, writing, ‘if you need a disarmed society to govern, you suck at governing.’”

“Law enforcement officers and public health officials already face serious risks in their work protecting the public. Those risks are heightened by ideologically motivated attacks, which send a chilling message about the normalization of violence in public discourse. A federal agency must absolutely avoid even the appearance of legitimating such statements by keeping in a position of power someone who makes them,” Blumenthal continued.

Blumenthal pointed out the harms associated with Kennedy’s efforts to undermine ACIP’s work by replacing qualified members with conspiracy theorists and purveyors of misinformation, “Last week’s profound tragedy shows the harms that result from replacing science with zealotry – not only the increased risk of disease, but also ideologically motivated violence. Appointing Dr. Malone and retaining him in this role would seem to legitimate incendiary rhetoric and dangerous misinformation.”

“I sincerely hope that last week’s attack will demonstrate to you what should have been obvious from the beginning: Dr. Malone has no business being on ACIP, and the firings you ordered to put him there should never have occurred,” Blumenthal concluded.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

            On August 8, 2025, a gunman opened fire on the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose and leaving public health workers at the CDC and around the nation fearing for their safety after years of increasing threats following the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] While the investigation is ongoing, early reports suggest that the gunman, who fired nearly 500 rounds during the attack, was motivated by his misinformation-fueled belief that his depression and suicidality were caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.^[2]

Just hours before a police officer was brutally murdered and CDC headquarters would be scarred with bullets, forcing hundreds employees into lockdown, Dr. Robert Malone, whom you recently appointed to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), uploaded a post to his personal blog that included an image of a revolver loaded with a single bullet and the words “Five out of six scientists have proven that Russian roulette is harmless.”^[3] Less than 48 hours after the attack, Dr. Malone issued a meme-filled post that included violent and threatening images that appeared to be directed at government officials, writing, “if you need a disarmed society to govern, you suck at governing.”^[4]

Dr. Malone has displayed an unfathomable failure of judgment and heartlessness for the family of slain Officer Rose, and for the thousands of CDC staff on whom the work of ACIP depends. Dr. Malone’s escalating and violent rhetoric—including in the aftermath of this tragic incident—has no place on a panel responsible for determining immunization recommendations for children and adults throughout our country. I therefore call on you to immediately fire Dr. Malone from his role on ACIP.

The shooting of a police officer in the line of duty is not only a criminal act—it is an assault on the stability and safety of our communities. Law enforcement officers and public health officials already face serious risks in their work protecting the public. Those risks are heightened by ideologically motivated attacks, which send a chilling message about the normalization of violence in public discourse. A federal agency must absolutely avoid even the appearance of legitimating such statements by keeping in a position of power someone who makes them.^[5]

Last week’s profound tragedy shows the harms that result from replacing science with zealotry – not only the increased risk of disease, but also ideologically motivated violence. Appointing Dr. Malone and retaining him in this role would seem to legitimate incendiary rhetoric and dangerous misinformation.

Your response must begin with the immediate firing of Dr. Malone, but should rightly include restoring the entire ACIP panel that existed before it was decimated last June. At that time, you replaced 17 sitting members, whose qualifications and expertise were unchallengeable, with conspiracy theorists and purveyors of misinformation. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about these firings, you lamented that, without your actions, “the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028.”^[6] Your comment shows how thoroughly the Trump Administration has confused independent scientific guidance with its own whims, and betrays a fundamental ignorance of ACIP’s role as an apolitical panel with members appointed by multiple Presidents for overlapping terms. Indeed, for most of the Biden Administration, a majority of ACIP members were appointed during the first Trump Administration.^[7] As the 17 members you fired noted in an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, ACIP’s commitment to transparency and scientific independence have historically made “the decisions and deliberations of this committee a beacon for immunization programs globally.”^[8] Unfortunately, because of your actions, its credibility has been shredded.

I sincerely hope that last week’s attack will demonstrate to you what should have been obvious from the beginning: Dr. Malone has no business being on ACIP, and the firings you ordered to put him there should never have occurred.

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (D-TN) sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urging him to shut down Instagram’s new map feature, which would put children’s safety at risk by allowing them to expose their location to dangerous individuals, including pedophiles and traffickers.

“We write to express our concern with the introduction of Instagram’s new map feature, which would allow individuals to share their location in real time with users around the world. For years, we have sounded the alarm regarding real time location sharing on social media platforms—specifically when it comes to underage users—and we again urge you to protect children’s safety instead of potentially exposing their location to dangerous individuals online, including pedophiles and traffickers,” wrote the senators.

“Instagram’s new Map feature will share a user’s last active location with other individuals using the application. While Meta has argued that the feature is inactive unless users opt in to sharing their location, some consumers have reported that their location was automatically shared without their consent. This addition is a cause of particular concern for us when it comes to children and teens that are active on Instagram. Meta’s platforms have been consciously designed to prioritize profit over the protection of its most vulnerable users: our children,” continued the senators. “While Meta has argued that parents with supervision settings on their children’s accounts have control over their location settings, it is clear that existing parental controls are not sufficient. Meta has made it difficult for parents to fully understand or utilize parental controls, leading to abuse, exploitation, and victimization of these precious children.”

“Meta’s track record on protecting children online—even in recent days—is abysmal. From deploying AI chatbots that engaged in sexually explicit conversations with minors to continuing to use kids as products, one can only assume that Instagram’s introduction of real time location sharing will be used to further addict children to social media. Investigations have found in the past that Instagram’s algorithms promote underage-sex content and often facilitate communication between minors and adults. As you know, children often accept follow requests from individuals they do not know personally. Allowing children to share their real time location and more readily displaying where they take pictures to strangers—many of whom may be pedophiles and traffickers—will only increase the dangers children face online due to your inaction. Your company has repeatedly shown that it will always fail to protect children’s lives—unless we pass legislation like the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act. Allowing the geolocation of minors on your platform is just the latest example of this sad reality,” concluded the senators. “We urge you to immediately abandon Instagram’s map feature and instead institute meaningful protections for children online—they deserve nothing less.”

Video of Senator Blumenthal’s press conference today in New Haven is available here.

The full text of the letter is available here.

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced the launch of Operation Robocall Roundup, a multistate effort by the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force to crack down on robocalls across the country. Attorney General Tong and 50 bipartisan attorneys general are sending warning letters to 37 voice providers demanding that they act now to stop illegal robocalls being routed through their networks. 

“Robocalls aren’t just annoying, they are a primary pathway for scammers to steal information and inflict serious financial harm. We are cracking down on the country’s worst scam enablers with the full weight of 50 attorneys general across the nation. If you receive a call or a text from someone you do not recognize, do not answer, do not engage, and report it to us,” said Attorney General Tong.

Help bolster investigations in Connecticut by reporting your robocalls to www.ct.gov/agcomplaints. Connecticut’s website complaint intake is enabled to gather robocall-specific complaint data.

These providers haven’t complied with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules about responding to government traceback requests, haven’t registered in the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Databases, or haven’t filed a plan that describes how they will reduce illegal robocalls on their network. By disregarding these simple rules, these companies are allowing robocallers onto their phone networks and then passing their calls on to other downstream providers until they reach the phones of Connecticut residents.

The task force is also sending the letters to 99 downstream providers that accept call traffic from the 37 companies, so that they know they’re doing business with bad actors that are not willing to follow the rules that apply to everyone equally. 

The FCC is also taking a close look at several of these companies. It announced yesterday that it will be removing seven of these providers from the Robocall Mitigation Database, which means that other providers will no longer be allowed to accept and route any calls from their networks.  

The voice service providers receiving warning letters are:

1.           Advantage Investors LLC

2.           Alpha Stream

3.           Ananya Traders LLC

4.           Ariyan Khan

5.           BBT Voice Private Limited

6.           Belthrough

7.           BPO VoIP

8.           Collection 3 LLC

9.           Communications and Telephone Systems Co.

10.        Dial Vista Corp.

11.        DigitalOcean, LLC

12.        Dtel Network LLC

13.        End Zone Financial Services

14.        EON Telecom Inc.

15.        Family Communication Inc.

16.        Fiber Flux VOIP

17.        First Tele Communications Inc.

18.        Flow VOIP LLC

19.        Globe Tech Solutions

20.        Higher Response Marketing, Inc.

21.        HK KwaiFong Group Limited

22.        Infinity SIP LLC

23.        Lexico Telecom LTD / Lextel LTD

24.        Mexico IP Phones LLC

25.        Nexusphere VOIP LLC

26.        Pleedex LLC

27.        Quantum Link VOIP LLC

28.        Ringnition

29.        SK Teleco LLC

30.        SkyPulse VOIP

31.        Stacy Newsome LNCC LCC

32.        Telnextrix LLC

33.        Terra Voip

34.        TheVisionConnect

35.        Tiera Enterprises LLC

36.        Voip Torque

37.        Whisl Telecom, LLC / Telconus / Telcon US / Telcon Voice

In 2022, 51 attorneys general joined forces to create the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, which is led by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The Task Force investigates and takes legal action against companies responsible for significant volumes of illegal and fraudulent robocall traffic routed into and across the United States.