Tag: utah

Utah first state to hold websites liable for users who mask their location with VPNs — law goes into effect, designed to prevent bypassing age checks

Utah’s Online Age Verification Amendments, formally Senate Bill 73, take effect on May 6, making the state the first in the U.S. to explicitly target VPN use as part of age verification legislation.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox on March 19, the controversial law establishes that a user is considered to be accessing a website from Utah if they are physically located there, regardless of whether they use a VPN or proxy to mask their IP address. It also prohibits covered websites from sharing instructions on how to use a VPN to bypass age checks.

NordVPN has called the law an “unresolvable compliance paradox” and a “liability trap,” arguing that it holds websites responsible for identifying users whose tools are specifically designed to be unidentifiable. The EFF warned that the legal risk could push sites to either ban all known VPN IPs or mandate age verification for every visitor globally.

The law is also technically flawed, given that it assumes that a web provider can reliably detect VPN traffic and determine a user’s true physical location — they can’t. IP reputation databases such as MaxMind and IP2Proxy can flag traffic from known datacenter IP ranges, but commercial VPN providers rotate addresses constantly, and residential VPN endpoints are largely indistinguishable from standard home connections. Autonomous System Number analysis can catch traffic originating from datacenter networks, but can’t identify a personal WireGuard tunnel running on a cloud VPS, for example, which routes through the same infrastructure as ordinary web hosting.

The only detection method that reliably identifies VPN protocol signatures is deep packet inspection, which analyzes traffic at the network level, not system- or app-level. China’s Great Firewall and Russia’s TSPU system deploy DPI via ISPs, but a website operator can’t because it requires access to network infrastructure that sits between the user and the server, not on the server itself.

Meanwhile, setting up a personal WireGuard instance on any major cloud provider takes minutes, meaning the law will be more likely to negatively impact non-technical users who rely on commercial VPN services for legitimate privacy: journalists, people living under authoritarian regimes, political dissidents, and abuse survivors, among others.

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Disgusting TikTok Trend Using Sound Effect from Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Condemned by TPUSA

A disturbing TikTok trend emerged following Charlie Kirk’s assassination that is having a resurgence.

The videos use a sound effect from the moment of Kirk’s murder and is being used in ‘transition’ videos.

The trend uses a 6-second audio clip from the moment Kirk was assassinated in September 2025, capturing his last words “Counting or not counting gang violence…”), followed by the sound of the fatal gunshot, and immediate background and screams/chaos.

The trend is mostly young women doing fashion/outfit transition, or “GRWM” (Get Ready With Me) content.videos where they start in casual or “boring” clothes and, at the exact moment the gunshot sound plays, they transition to party-style, glamorous, or revealing outfits with the timing making the gunshot the “reveal” beat.

The sound, which has been used in tens of thousands of videos, went viral in the days after the assassination and has had multiple resurgences.

TPUSA shared an example of the distasteful trend and condemned it.

The organization wrote on X, “Turning Point USA condemns in the strongest terms the TikTok audio trend that uses or references the assassination of our founder, Charlie Kirk, for entertainment.”

“Charlie Kirk was the victim of a real act of political violence. Turning that into viral content is grotesque and dehumanizing. There is nothing harmless, funny, or acceptable about it. It reflects a culture that trivializes violence and reduces real human loss to a punchline.”

“This has no place on TikTok. Or anywhere. This audio needs to be removed.”

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Erika Kirk Directly Calls Out Candace Owens For Claiming She “Murdered” Charlie

CEO of TPUSA Erika Kirk has directly addressed Candace Owens‘ “claims” that she was implicated in the murder of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

On Tuesday, Erika Kirk, during an appearance on the Charlie Kirk Show, shared, “Every morning I wake up to a new headline about me.”

She continued, “I have comedians dressing up in whiteface, I have people saying I’m not fit to be CEO, and I have Candace Owens claiming I murdered my husband.”

The comedian Erika Kirk was responding to is Druski, who released a video of himself in whiteface portraying her.

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Forensic Analysis Debunks Media Frenzy Claiming Charlie Kirk Bullet Didn’t Match Gun

Charlie Kirk was murdered on Sept. 10, 2025. Millions of Americans lost their breath in despair at this violent tragedy. The FBI and Utah authorities had Tyler Robinson in custody within days, charged him with Kirk’s murder, and Utah prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

On March 31, the defense team in the Charlie Kirk murder case filed a simple, customary, and ordinary motion. It stated: “regarding the firearm evidence, the defense has been provided with an ATF summary report which indicates that the ATF was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson.”

This sent media outlets, influencers, and clickbait grifters into frenzied animation. A Daily Mail headline read, “Bullet used to kill Charlie Kirk did NOT match rifle allegedly used by suspect Tyler Robinson, new court filing claims.” A PBS headline asked, “Did a bullet analysis clear Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer?”

MSN claimed, “Bullet mismatch rocks Charlie Kirk murder case.” A People headline read, “Bullet that killed Charlie Kirk doesn’t match Tyler Robinson’s rifle, his lawyer’s claim.” TMZ boldly asserted in its headline that “Docs claim bullet used doesn’t match alleged rifle.” Countless others ran with this fake news.

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Prosecutors Reveal Camera Footage that Shows Captured Tyler Robinson Going to Sniper’s Perch, Taking Shot that Killed Charlie and then Running Off to Wooded Area

The trial of alleged Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson continued this wee in Utah.

The defense team for Tyler Robinson filed a motion this week asking the court to hold the Utah County Attorney and his team in contempt.

Tyler Robinson is charged with one count of aggravated murder with the victim targeting enhancement, one count of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and two counts of obstruction of justice with capital or first-degree felony conduct.

Prosecutors revealed the campus cameras captured Tyler Robinson going to the snipers perch, taking the shot at Charlie Kirk, and then running away into a wooded area.

That’s going to be evidence that will be difficult to beat in court.

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Utah Supreme Court Justice Faces Inquiry for Relationship With Lawyer in Congressional Redistricting Case

Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen is facing an investigation by state leaders after it was revealed that she reportedly had a romantic relationship with the lawyer who helped Democrats redraw the state’s congressional maps, stealing a seat from Republicans. 

Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Senate President J. Stuart Adams, and Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz are looking into a complaint that was submitted late last year about Hagen’s conduct with the attorney who was arguing the redistricting case before the high court.

“Texts reveal intimate relationship between the Justice and Attorney for the Redistricting case while the case was live. She ruled in their favor,” Hayek wrote. “Utah lost a safe Republican district thanks to the new map. Governor + legislative leaders launching a probe into the cozy “friendship.” Utah never should’ve lost that seat. Judicial swamp just got exposed.”

Here’s more:

The complaint, which was obtained exclusively by KSL through a public records request, came from a Provo-based attorney who said Hagen’s ex-husband told him the justice had exchanged “inappropriate” text messages with David Reymann, one of the attorneys involved in a case about redistricting, which led to Utah getting a new congressional map.

Hagen strongly denies allegations of an inappropriate relationship of any kind. Reymann also called the allegations “false.” He does outside legal work for KSL and as an attorney for the Utah Media Coalition, of which KSL is a member.

The Judicial Conduct Commission conducted a preliminary investigation into the complaint and interviewed Hagen’s ex-husband but ultimately decided not to investigate further. Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz told KSL that’s concerning.

“An initial review by the Judicial Conduct Commission and the court left important questions unresolved,” they said in a joint statement Thursday. “Allegations of this nature, especially involving public officials, must be examined with transparency and accountability to establish the facts and to maintain public confidence.”

They added, “We will move forward with an independent investigation to ensure the facts are fully examined. This process will be conducted objectively and thoroughly, because maintaining trust in our institutions is essential.”

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REVEALED: Handwritten letter from Tyler Robinson to lover Lance ‘Luna’ Twiggs confesses to ‘taking out’ Charlie Kirk: court docs

In an unsealed affidavit for a search warrant in the case of Tyler Robinson, the man charged with the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, it was revealed that he wrote a letter addressed to his trans lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs. That read: “If you are reading this … I am likely dead, or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I took it.”

Messages revealed in the affidavit for a search warrant show that Robinson sent messages to Twiggs after the assassination had occurred indicating that he was the one who committed the horrific act. Robinson made similiar declarations on Discord to other friends. 

The unsealed search warrant affadavits detail Robinson’s communications after the murder both in text and on Discord chat Robinson was a part of, where an acquaintance of his exclaimed, “Tyler killed Charlie!!!!” The warrants also detail a letter that Robinson left for Twiggs, whom the prosecution has also called on to testify in the case. Twiggs was taking black market hormone therapy and Robinson called him “Luna,” per Fox 13. 

“Luna, if you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry. I left the house this morning on a mission, and sent an auto text. I am likely dead or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it,” Robinson stated in the letter, per the warrant. 

“I don’t know if I will/have succeeded, but I had hoped to make it home to you. I wish we could have lived in a world where this did not feel necessary. I wish I could have stayed for you and lived our lives together. I lack the words to express how much I love you, and how very much you mean to me. Please try and find joy in this life. I love you, always, -Tyler,” the capital murder suspect added. 

A portion of the warrant said that one of the items found in Robinson’s residence in St. George was a “burnt note found in the trash.”

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These 4 States Already Enacted SAVE Act Look-Alikes While John Thune Does Failure Theater

While the SAVE America Act continues to languish in the Senate under the supervision of Republican Leader John Thune, leaders and voters in several states have taken it upon themselves to secure their own elections from noncitizen voting.

The overwhelmingly popular SAVE America Act would amend U.S. election law to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and voter ID when casting a ballot in federal elections. Federal lawmakers in the GOP-led Senate have yet to advance the common-sense legislation or commit to a “talking filibuster” that would allow it to pass with a simple majority. Meanwhile, within recent weeks, several states enacted their own citizenship verification election laws. Others are set to vote on amendment language clarifying that “only” U.S. citizens can vote in elections.

Already Law

Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s own version of the SAVE Act into law last week. The law, which requires citizenship verification against REAL ID data when registering to vote, will go into effect in January of next year.

According to DeSantis’ office, the law also allows applicants to present proof confirming their eligibility, “establishes a clear process to identify and remove potentially ineligible noncitizens from voter rolls,” includes “explicit notice that submitting false voter registration information is a felony,” and mandates voting take place on paper ballots.

The state has adopted a number of election reforms since 2020, including stronger vote-by-mail safeguards, more secure ballot drop boxes, and stricter enforcement of election law, as DeSantis’ office noted.

Mississippi

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also signed election integrity legislation into law last week. Named the Safeguard Honesty Integrity in Elections for Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act, the law requires registration officials to check certain applicants’ information against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to determine if they are citizens. This verification is required for registration applicants who are flagged as potential noncitizens or who do not provide their driver’s license number when registering to vote. As in Florida, if an applicant is determined to be a potential noncitizen, he will be given a chance to present documentation that proves citizenship.

The law also requires the registrar to annually report to the secretary of state “[t]he number of registrants flagged by a SAVE system check” and the number taken off the rolls “following confirmation.”

This law will take effect in July, ahead of the 2026 midterms.

South Dakota

Ironically, Thune’s own state has moved faster than he has when it comes to ensuring only Americans vote in American elections. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed South Dakota’s SB 175 into law last month. According to SDPB Radio, the legislation “requires anyone registering to vote for the first time in the state to provide proof of citizenship,” like a driver’s license issued after July 1, 2025 (the state recently enacted a law mandating that citizenship status be denoted on driver’s licenses), or a copy of a birth certificate.

“In South Dakota, we do things right, especially when running our state elections,” Rhoden said in a statement. “This bill ensures only citizens vote in state elections, keeping our elections safe and secure.”

This law went into effect immediately.

Utah

Gov. Spencer Cox signed Utah’s HB 209 into law late last month, and it is set to take effect on May 6 — more than a month before the state’s primary election. The law requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote in state elections. If an applicant registers to vote using a “federal voter registration form” and does not provide documentary proof of citizenship as laid out in the law, that voter can only vote in federal races.

The law also dictates that “a review of voter registration records be conducted by July 1 this year,” as Time summarized it. Voters who are already registered but “whose citizenship cannot be verified in that review will be notified by election officials and have to provide proof of citizenship to stay on the rolls.”

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Serious risk of ‘poisoning the jury’ in Charlie Kirk murder trial – former lawyer to RT

Inaccurate media reporting on the latest statements by the defense team in Charlie Kirk’s murder case shows that there is a real risk of “poisoning the jury” and affecting the trial, legal commentator and former lawyer David Freiheit has told RT.

Earlier this week, several outlets reported, citing the lawyers representing Tyler Robinson – the man accused of killing Kirk – that the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) could not conclusively connect a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk’s body to a rifle found at the scene.

According to Freiheit, some of those reports, such as the one by the Daily Mail, were inaccurate. “The headline was overtly misleading,” he said, adding that the British media outlet said “it did not match, whereas in reality… the ATF or the reports [said] that they couldn’t match it based on the fragments, which is not uncommon in these types of incidents.” 

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Tyler Robinson’s parents, trans boyfriend to testify for prosecution in Charlie Kirk murder trial

A Friday motion filed by the defense team of Tyler Robinson, the man charged with assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, revealed that the prosecution intends to call Robinson’s parents, as well as his transgender roommate with whom he had a romantic relationship, as witnesses in the preliminary hearing currently set for May. The defense is attempting to delay those proceedings.

The defense filing stated that counsel for the parties met on March 12 and spoke about discovery issues and evidence the state intends to present in May. The preliminary hearing is currently set to take place the week of May 18 through 22.

“Based upon the State’s representations at this meeting, the State intends to present discrete ‘buckets’ of evidence through three identified law enforcement witnesses. This includes conclusory forensic DNA and ballistics reports authored by the FBI and the ATF, phone and social media data, testimony by law enforcement officials about the crime scene and search locations, and testimony by Mr. Robinson’s parents and roommate,” the filing stated.

The team requested that the court either vacate or delay the May preliminary hearing dates currently scheduled, citing the large amount of discovery materials that need to be reviewed.

“Discovery in this case is incomplete, voluminous, and the processing of it is complex,” the defense team wrote. They said that the initial review of digital electronic discovery received during the March 12 meeting “is anticipated to take sixty days to complete, after which time it can be determined if the downloads are complete, or if additional time is necessary to obtain complete downloads.”

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