A new government task force will work to bolster US cyber defenses to combat surging ransomware attacks. Though an important first step, effective ransomware prevention will likely require either comprehensive legislation or scalable local security initiatives.
A pair of government watchdog reports into federal use of facial recognition has reinvigorated bipartisan calls for AI regulation generally. Algorithmic amplification of online content could present an opportunity for consensus for both parties, albeit from different angles.
Big Tech is backed into a corner: Facebook has followed Amazon and asked for FTC chair Lina Khan to recuse herself in its antitrust suit—a sign that the companies are scared regulation will actually stick this time around.
Tech companies are ditching legacy industry lobbying firms like the Internet Association in favor of their own individual approach. The shift allows Big Tech firms to target particular legislation that most specifically affects their products or business practices.
Antitrust gets even more support from Biden administration: The president signed an executive order Friday that will allow government agencies to crack down on past mergers and acquisitions in the tech space, as well as examine their practices and power when it comes to personal data collection and usage.
Google is dragged into the app store battle: The US antitrust lawsuit follows similar suits against Apple, alleging that the 30% app store fees are anticompetitive.
Tweetus deletus: Twitter is now legally liable for unlawful content posted on its platform in India following its refusal to comply with the country's new social media laws. Its response could set a precedent for how it tackles similar liability laws in the future, including the US' Section 230.
Norway aims to curb photo retouching: The country's new amendment requires advertisers and influencers to disclose edited photos, but wrangling influencers into compliance will be almost impossible.
The company petitioned for the recusal of FTC chair Lina Khan from all related antitrust investigations over her past criticism. Amazon’s aggressive move may ultimately backfire by galvanizing regulatory and legislative interest in clamping down on its business practices.
The FTC’s lawsuit was deemed “legally insufficient” because it failed to provide concrete details on what a social media network was, or how dominant Facebook’s market share is or was in the past.
LAPD officers reportedly acted as Ring brand ambassadors for years, promoting the company’s surveillance tech in exchange for free gadgets and discounts. The discontinued influencer program is among Ring’s many police partnerships further eroding consumer trust and imperiling long-term growth opportunities.