Technologies

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review: A Brighter Screen Makes My Favorite Watch Better

A searingly bright screen and faster responses are nice but not necessary upgrades.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, simply because it doesn’t have to. After wearing the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for a week on hikes, bike rides and some casual spelunking (seriously!), it has less of a wow factor compared with the first Ultra. And that’s only because it feels so familiar. It’s available now alongside the Apple Watch Series 9, which shares the same upgraded chip.

Like Apple’s first Ultra, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $799 (£799, AU$1,399) and is sold as an outdoors watch with a rugged design and a range of sports features. The Ultra 2 still has a customizable action button, fall and car crash detection, ECG, temperature sensor, dual-frequency GPS, and built-in LTE. It shares the same heart rate sensor, which is incredibly accurate, and has the same collection of sports features to suit divers, runners and outdoor enthusiasts. It also looks identical to the first Ultra, even though the 49mm case is now made from 95% recycled titanium.

So what is different? The screen, chip and new Double Tap feature are the key highlights. For hikers and cyclists in particular, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a lot to offer, but that’s more a reflection on WatchOS 10 than the hardware itself. You’ll be able to get most of the same great experience on earlier, compatible Apple Watches too, including the original Ultra, which I named the most exciting watch in years when it came out in 2022.

That blisteringly bright Apple Watch Ultra 2 screen

It’s impossible to spot the difference between the original Ultra and the Ultra 2 — that is, until you see the screens. Apple has cranked the brightness to 3,000 nits on the Ultra 2, earning it the title of the brightest screen on any Apple product. The iPhone 15 Pro by comparison reaches a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, the same as the original Apple Watch Ultra.

I took the Ultra 2 on a hike in the Marin Headlands on a bright overcast day, then to Ocean Beach in San Francisco when the sun was in full force the following day. I didn’t have any issues seeing the screen in either situation, whether it was a quick time check, reading a message or glancing at my workout stats. To be fair, I had no issue with the screen brightness on the first Ultra when it comes to readability and outdoors use.

But it’s the flashlight that gets a bigger boost. I took the Apple Watch Ultra 2 into a cave and it lit up the rockface much better than the first Ultra when I compared the two.

You can even force the Ultra 2’s flashlight to hit maximum brightness by turning the digital crown, which is something you can’t do on the first Ultra. Side note: Don’t do what I did and crank the brightness on the flashlight in a dark room, screen aimed at your eyes. My retinas are still cursing me.

From a safety point of view, the brighter flashlight is great if you’re walking, running or riding at night. But you can’t see workout stats, messages or make a call without losing the light. Maybe in the future, the edge of the screen could stay at maximum brightness so you could still interact with the watch and not lose the light. I’m still not totally sure what the best use case is for this brighter new screen if it’s not for safety purposes, given the screen on the first Ultra was bright enough for just about any environment.

On the flip side, the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s screen also gets dimmer than the first watch, going down to just one nit when you have the watch in sleep mode. It can also get that dim if the screen isn’t active and you’re in a really dark room.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 gets Double Tap

The Ultra 2 shares the same S9 chip as the Series 9, which allows for on-device Siri, overall performance improvements and the double tap gesture.

Just as the name suggests, you double tap your thumb and index finger to act as a screen press when you can’t reach the watch with your other hand. There are over 65 different actions you can make in Apple’s own apps, like skipping a track in the Music app, taking a photo on the iPhone with the Camera remote app or starting a timer. Third-party apps can also work with Double Tap.

While I wasn’t able to use Double tap on my Ultra 2 review unit, I was able to try a preview of it on the Series 9, and the implementation will be the same. So far, the most helpful Double Tap action has been responding to a message when I can’t reach the screen, like when I’m walking my dog. I’ll feel the buzz of an incoming message, raise my wrist to read it, then double tap to reply and voice-to-text dictation automatically pops up.

Double Tap builds on the foundation set by AssistiveTouch, a feature designed to help people with physical impairments control the Apple Watch without touching the screen. Double Tap is a separate function exclusive to watches that have the S9 chip, and it’s on by default, while AssistiveTouch needs to be turned on from the Accessibility menu.

Double Tap has been accurate at registering my gestures, but I wish it did more for the workout app specifically. At the moment, double tapping doesn’t do anything. I’d love to see it sub in for the action button so if you can’t press it, you could just double tap instead to perform the same action, like marking a segment.

WatchOS 10 adds so much to Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 brings several important updates for hikers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts thanks to WatchOS 10. Offline and topographic maps are now available in Apple Maps and the compass app supports cellular waypoints. This means it shows the last place you had a signal so you can make a call and check messages on your own carrier, or a spot where you can make an emergency call on any network.

Cyclists get two big updates with WatchOS 10: support for Bluetooth accessories like power meters and being able to see your metrics as a live activity on the iPhone. Both features work for indoor and outdoor cycling workouts.

From a safety perspective, I love seeing the live activity on screen, because you don’t want to lift off the handlebars all the time to see your stats on the watch. It shows you all the same detail as the Apple Watch but on a much larger surface area. If you pair the watch with a cycling accessory like power meter pedals you can also see more in-depth data like cadence, speed and power, including functional threshold power.

You’re also getting a few new Ultra-exclusive watch faces including Modular Ultra, which has a horizontal complication slot and the option to show the time nice and big. It’s coming to the original Ultra too. Night mode on this watch face and the Wayfinder face now activates automatically using the ambient light sensor, instead of turning the digital crown like before.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 is faster thanks to that S9 chip

Aside from Double Tap, the S9 chip also supports on-device Siri, which is helpful because it’s faster and works when the Ultra 2 or your iPhone doesn’t have a signal. You can do things like start timers, start a workout, or even add a waypoint in the Compass app with your voice.

Later in the year, you’ll be able to ask Siri for health data, such as how many hours you slept or log medications. I wish that feature was active at launch, because it’s probably one of the big reasons I’d choose to use Siri on the watch rather than pull out my phone.

To see if there was a tangible difference in performance between the first and second Ultras, I ran a couple of side-by-side tests. Opening apps was the same, but the Ultra 2 turned on 20 seconds faster than the first Ultra. Message dictation was faster on the Ultra 2, but the biggest perk is it’s more accurate, especially getting my Australian accent right.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has the same new ultra wideband chip found in the Apple Watch Series 9 that supports precision finding. You do need an iPhone 15 or 15 Pro to take advantage, otherwise you’ll just hear the familiar chime when you ping your phone from the watch.

I also appreciate that the Ultra 2 doubles the internal storage to 64GB of the original, a big deal for any media storage but especially for offline music. Unlike earlier Apple Watches, there is no limit to the amount of manual music downloads you can make on the watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 battery life is the same as before

There’s not much new when it comes to battery life as the Ultra 2 lasts the same amount of time as the first Ultra. It’s tricky to give a catch-all estimate of how long the battery will last since everyone uses their watch differently, but I get close to two full days of use out of the Ultra 2 on a single charge with notifications, a GPS workout and sleep tracking. Apple’s official rating is up to 36 hours with regular use, but it’s possible to get almost three days with light use and by not using LTE, playing music or tracking sleep.

For extended outdoor workouts with GPS, you can expect up to 12 hours, which is enough for a marathon or century ride. There’s also a low power mode that can now get up to 72 hours of runtime out of the Ultra 2 thanks to performance optimizations and the new chip. Compare that with the 60 hours Apple quoted for the first Ultra. I still have more battery testing to run with the Ultra 2, especially around LTE connectivity, so check back soon for more. You can also charge the Ultra 2 from the iPhone 15, thanks to USB-C.

While it’s a good thing that Apple managed to maintain the same battery life while adding resource-intensive tools like a brighter screen and S9 chip, I would have preferred to keep the same screen on the original Ultra and get more runtime as a result.

Who is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for?

If you already own the first Apple Watch Ultra, this is a modest update and I’d recommend skipping the Ultra 2, especially since Apple’s always good at delivering feature updates to older watches through software. If you’re coming from an earlier Apple Watch Series, it’s more compelling because you get a completely new design, a huge screen and better battery life.

The Ultra 2 feels like it’s forging its own path compared with other sports and endurance watches because you can wear it everywhere, for almost any activity. Most importantly, it’s a true smartwatch: there are no compromises on app support, cellular connectivity or that seamless second screen experience that you often miss out on with competing sports watches.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still missing a way to interpret all your health and fitness data with recovery metrics. I hope that’s in the works and maybe something that could be added in a software update.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra vs. Series 9

	Apple Watch Ultra 2	Apple Watch Ultra	Apple Watch Series 9
Shape	Square	Square	Square
Watch size	49mm	49mm	41mm, 45mm
Materials, finishes	Titanium	Titanium	Aluminum, stainless steel
Display size, resolution	1.91-inch, 502 x 410-pixel OLED	1.91-inch, 502 x 410-pixel OLED	41mm: 1.61-inch, 430 x 352-pixel OLED; 45mm: 1.77-inch, 484 x 396-pixel OLED
Dimensions	44mm x 49mm x 14.4mm	49 x 44 x 14.4mm	41mm: 35 x 41 x 10.7 mm; 45mm: 38 x 45 x 10.7 mm
Weight	61.4g	61.3g	31.9g-51.5g, depending on size, spec and material
Colors	Natural titanium	Natural titanium	Aluminum: midnight, starlight, silver, pink, Product Red; stainless steel: graphite, silver, gold; Hermes stainless steel: silver, space black
Always On	Yes	Yes	Yes
Interchangable bands	Yes	Yes	Yes
GPS	Yes (L1 and L5)	Yes	Yes (L1)
Automatic workout detection	Yes	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes	Yes
Altimeter	Yes (operating range: -500m to 9,000m)	Yes	Yes
Water resistance	10ATM (100 meters) and recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters	Yes, up to 100m	5ATM (50 meters)
Calls	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes (3-mic array)	Yes	Yes
Speaker	Yes	Yes	Yes
Voice assistant	Yes (Siri, on-device)	Yes (Siri)	Yes (Siri, on-device)
Mobile Payments	Yes (Apple Pay)	Yes (Apple Pay)	Yes (Apple Pay)
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Period tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sensors	SPo2 (blood oxygen), ECG, optical heart, ambient light, high dynamic range gyroscope, high-g accelerometer, water temperature, depth gauge + app	SPo2 (blood oxygen), ECG, optical heart, ambient light, high dynamic range gyroscope, high-g accelerometer, water temperature, depth gauge + app	SPo2 (blood oxygen), ECG, optical heart, ambient light, high dynamic range gyroscope, high-g accelerometer
Emergency features	International emergency calling, Emergency SOS, crash detection	International emergency calling, Emergency SOS, crash detection	International emergency calling, Emergency SOS, crash detection
Compatibility	iOS 17	iOS 16	iOS 17
Software	WatchOS 10	WatchOS 9	WatchOS 10
Processor	Apple S9	S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor	Apple S9
Connectivity	LTE and UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3	LTE and UMTS, Wi-FI	LTE and UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3
Memory and storage	64GB	64GB	64GB
Power	USB-C magnetic fast charging	USB-C magnetic fast charging	USB-C magnetic fast charging
Battery life	Up to 36 hours; up to 72 hours (low power mode)	36-hour battery life, 18 hours on LTE	Up to 18 hours; up to 36 hours (low power mode)
Battery capacity	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable
Price (USD)	$799	$799	41mm: from $399; 45mm: from $429
Price (GBP)	£799	£849	41mm: from £399; 45mm: from £429
Price (AUD)	AU$1,399	AU$1,299	41mm: from AU$649; 45mm: from AU$699

Technologies

TikTok’s Sexy Affair With National Parks Isn’t Clickbait. It’s a Wake-Up Call

Social media thirst traps are spotlighting a funding crisis for public lands. And millions of people are paying attention.

National parks, gay country music and thirst traps have a lot in common, at least on the internet.

Hundreds of TikTok posts combining sexually explicit audio, comical memes and stunning views of nature have flooded social media feeds. The viral trend coincides with President Donald Trump’s unprecedented funding cuts targeting federal parks, forests, monuments, seashores and trails.

The message of #ParkTok and #MountainTok is G-rated: to conserve and protect public lands. The raunchy content is merely a wrapper to lure followers and get that message in front of as many people as possible.

At first glance, the TikTok fan accounts for Yellowstone and Joshua Tree — among dozens of other national parks, forests and recreation sites — appear to be competing in an unhinged brawl. Some commenters speculate that federal park rangers or marketing strategists have gone rogue to garner outside financial support.

But the unofficial accounts, which are growing in number daily, are run by independent content creators with no affiliation to the government. According to the National Park Service’s Office of Public Affairs, the NPS has no official presence on TikTok, as there are no terms of service between federal agencies and the platform.

«Viral trends focused on national parks can certainly boost park visibility and drive increased interest and awareness,» the National Park Service told CNET in an email. «We appreciate the enthusiasm for our nation’s parks and the creative ways individuals share their experiences online.»

And millions of social media followers say they’re here for it. Promoting the country’s vast landscape and its preservation for future generations could serve as a kind of spiritual uplift in dark times.

Nature is sexy; budget cuts aren’t

Far beyond the racy adult content, there’s a unifying purpose to posting videos of cascading waterfalls, colossal trees, seductive deserts and enchanting wildlife.

Researchers have noted that national parks are key to conserving biodiversity and supporting people’s well-being. And it seems everyone, not just nature nerds, can get behind these public lands: US national parks saw a record number of recreation visits last year, nearly 332 million.

«If you actually love all this stuff, you get attached to that beauty,» said Kim Tanner, the creator of the Joshua Tree fan account. «And then you realize you don’t want that beauty damaged.»

The Trump administration’s 2026 budget plan includes slashing more than $1 billion from the National Park Service. It also threatens to axe a whopping $33 billion from national recreation management programs and conservation and preservation grants. The grants are critical to maintaining 433 individual areas of public lands covering more than 85 million acres, which are managed by the NPS.

The National Parks Conservation Association says the White House’s budget reductions are the largest proposed cuts to the National Park Service in its 109-year history and could «decimate at least 350 National Park sites.» Many have said Trump is laying the groundwork to sell off public lands and turn recreational areas over to state-level management.

According to Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, the NPS has already lost nearly 2,500 employees, or nearly 13% of its staff, in what she calls a «brain trust exodus» of environmental experts.

«What’s happening right now, in trying to dismantle the National Park Service from the inside out, is more horrific than anything we’ve seen before,» Brengel told me.

Getting wild for the wild

TikTok is controversial, and so is sex. That’s precisely why trends like these have political capital, capable of attracting admirers and haters, and bringing everyone else into the conversation.

«The polarization on social media is reflective of our real-life political polarization,» said CNET social media reporter Katelyn Chedraoui.

The #ParkTok and #MountainTok creators, some of whom are former park employees, are all nature lovers who span the political spectrum. Many of the accounts openly denounce the administration’s threats against the parks and direct viewers to demonstrations or fundraisers, but the trend isn’t overtly partisan or activist-driven.

«Most of their posts work on a subconscious level, prompting viewers to think about the national parks and their own experiences with them,» said Chedraoui. «It’s simple but effective.»

In fact, the TikTok engagement around public lands originated before the budget cuts to the parks. The first three fan accounts — Mount Hood, Mount Rainier and Yellowstone — appeared right after the elections last November. Managed by three friends who are avid outdoor enthusiasts, the accounts put up posts early on that were a mix of comic relief and wilderness awe.

There wasn’t much thirst trap content then. «It was just waterfalls and vistas and sunsets,» said Jaime Wash, the creator behind the Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens fan accounts. Then, two of the creators started trolling each other, and folks loved it.

It was fake beef, but the diss-track template became a winning strategy. By January, the trend started picking up speed, with more fan accounts joining the fray. Over the last several months, the popularity of the posts has seen ebbs and flows — until fairly recently, when all of #MountainTok and #ParkTok blew up for their risqué content.

Private parts in public lands became a magic formula, a kind of viral virility, that the creators knew how to play up.

«Social media users are very used to brands acting unhinged on TikTok,» said Chedraoui.

A bridge over troubled water

Some critics have slammed the parody accounts, accusing creators of trying to monetize a legitimate cause, or claiming that the sexually charged content damages the parks’ reputations.

But according to the creators, who collaborate regularly in a group chat, making money wasn’t, and never will be, their intention. Wash told me that if at any point they do collect a payout for the content, they plan to donate the funds to the parks.

After gaining such a huge following, Wash said, she felt it was her responsibility to get people involved. In April, the Mount Hood fan account brought out followers to Portland’s Hands Off protest.

«We’re building a community to show that things aren’t helpless, that change can happen and we’re there for each other,» Wash said. And besides raising the alarm, the posts add comic relief and entertainment to a daily cycle of doomscrolling and anxiety.

Tanner told me that #ParkTok and #MountainTok can open people’s eyes, showing how fragile nature really is. By highlighting endangered animals and the environmental damage from logging, drilling and mining, the posts can help millions of followers understand what’s really at stake.

The stunning power of social media

Social media acts as a cultural barometer, unveiling public sentiment in real time and broadcasting issues that most resonate. Platforms like TikTok also give grassroots movements a megaphone, allowing everyday people to bypass traditional media filters and speak directly to broad audiences.

«We’ve seen digital action lead to tangible action,» said Sheila Nguyen, associate director of communications and engagement for the National Parks Conservation Association. «The more people who see that social media content, the bigger the pool of people who may speak up and the more collective impact we can have,» Nguyen told CNET in an email.

In fact, social media publicity has been shown to boost national park visitation. A 2024 research study found that positive social media posts that include photos or videos drive the biggest increases in visitation.

«The more people we can get into these parks, the better. That way, they can experience it firsthand, see it, fall in love with it, and then want to protect it,» said Tanner.

The National Parks Conservation Association urges people to sign up for alerts on its advocacy page so they can raise concerns with congressional representatives.

«We feel that Congress is the best option right now to get the administration to back off of these bad proposals,» said the NPCA’s Brengel. «Congress needs to be pushed to stop some of these terrible actions.»

Many TikTok creators I spoke with also said they’re advocating ways to hold elected officials accountable.

«It’s heartbreaking to think the places that I absolutely love may never be the same again,» said Wash, «and I want to do anything to stop that.»

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for May 20, #239

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 239, for May 20.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Connections: Sports Edition has one of those oddball purple categories today, and I think I could’ve stared at the puzzle for a week and not solved it. It’s one of those «play with the letters» categories, and they’re always fun after I see the answer, but I seldom get it right. Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Your group.

Green group hint: Where the Pope is from.

Blue group hint: All-Star player.

Purple group hint: Change a letter.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Team

Green group: Chicago teams

Blue group: Teams Juan Soto has played for

Purple group: NBA teams with the first letter changed

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is team. The four answers are club, side, squad and unit.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Chicago teams. The four answers are Bears, Fire, Sky and White Sox.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is teams Juan Soto has played for. The four answers are Mets, Nationals, Padres and Yankees.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is NBA teams with the first letter changed. The four answers are Buns, Gulls, Meat and Slippers.

Technologies

Trump to Sign Bill Banning Deepfakes, Nonconsensual Images: What to Know

The bipartisan ‘Take It Down’ Act passed swiftly in both the Senate and the House, and has been championed by First Lady Melania Trump.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bipartisan Take It Down Act into law on Monday, a significant step in regulating the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. The legislation aims to protect individuals from the harmful effects of such content, which has been increasingly prevalent in the digital age with the expansion of artificial intelligence.

Read more: Jamie Lee Curtis Celebrates Meta’s Removal of Fake AI Ad

What are deepfakes?

Deepfakes are realistic but fake images, videos or audio created using artificial intelligence to mimic someone’s appearance, voice or actions.

One widely reported example was a 2022 viral video of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the altered clip, Zelenskyy appeared to urge Ukrainian soldiers to surrender to Russian forces, a message he never actually delivered. The video was quickly debunked, but it raised serious concerns about the use of deepfakes in disinformation campaigns, especially during wartime.

Deepfakes have also been used to spread sexually explicit content or revenge porn.

Read more: Election Deepfakes Are Here and Better Than Ever

What are the key aspects of the Take It Down Act?

The Take It Down Act prohibits knowingly sharing or threatening to share intimate images of someone without their permission, including digitally altered or AI-generated deepfakes. Here is a breakdown of the bill and what it targets:

Criminalization of nonconsensual sharing: The act makes it a federal offense to distribute intimate images without the subject’s consent. The bill applies to both real and AI-generated content.
Mandatory removal: Online platforms, such as tech and social media sites, are required to remove flagged content, including any copies of the material, within 48 hours of notification by the victim.
Mandatory restitution: Violators will face mandatory restitution and criminal penalties such as prison time, fines or both.
Protection of minors: The legislation imposes stricter penalties for offenses involving minors, aiming to provide enhanced safeguards for vulnerable individuals.
Enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission: The FTC is designated as the primary agency responsible for enforcing the provisions of the act.

Who supports the Take It Down Act?

First Lady Melania Trump has been a vocal advocate for the legislation over the last several months, emphasizing the need to protect children and teenagers from the damaging effects of online exploitation. Her efforts included public appearances and discussions with lawmakers to garner support for the bill.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), gained bipartisan backing, with cosponsors including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). It passed the Senate unanimously in February, followed by House approval in April with a 409-2 vote.

What are the criticisms and concerns about the bill?

While the act has been praised for addressing a growing issue, it has also faced criticism from various groups. Some digital rights organizations express concerns that the law could infringe on privacy and free speech, particularly regarding the potential for false reports and the impact on encrypted communications. There are also apprehensions about the enforcement of the law and its potential misuse for political purposes.

For instance, representatives of The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, a nonprofit that supports victims of online abuse, voiced strong concerns about the bill, according to PBS News. The group criticized the takedown provision as overly broad, vaguely written and lacking clear protections to prevent misuse.

What are the next steps?

Trump is expected to sign the bill Monday at 3 p.m. ET. This act will mark Trump’s sixth bill signed into law so far in his second term. By his 100th day back in office, he had enacted only five, marking the lowest number of new laws signed by a president in the first 100 days of a term since the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s, based on an analysis of congressional records by NBC News.

The signing of the Take It Down Act represents a significant move towards regulating nonconsensual intimate imagery in the digital realm. While it aims to provide greater protection for individuals, ongoing discussions will be essential to address the concerns and ensure the law’s effective and fair implementation.