Category: Technology

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (22, 23, 24, and 25 February 2021)

Further Reading “The Long Hack: How China Exploited a U.S. Tech Supplier” By Jordan Robertson and Michael Riley — Bloomberg. This piece argues that the United States (U.S.) government knew of vulnerabilities in Super Micro Computer Inc.’s products used by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) but chose to keep them secret. This article follows … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (22, 23, 24, and 25 February 2021) →

An Online Misinformation Hearing Splits Along Predictable Lines

A key House committee begins its inquiry into misinformation, which implicates Section 230 legal protections. One House committee picked up its inquiry into lies, misinformation, disinformation, extremism, terrorism, and online media. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing titled “Fanning the Flames: Disinformation and Extremism in the Media” with … Continue reading An Online Misinformation Hearing Splits Along Predictable Lines →

Let’s Make A Deal: Facebook and Australia

Australia passes its code that requires Google and Facebook to strike deals with the nation’s news media to correct the imbalance in bargaining power. This happened only after Facebook pulled the plug on its News feature and provisions in the bill were loosened as part of a compromise. After imposing a news ban in Australia, Facebook … Continue reading Let’s Make A Deal: Facebook and Australia →

Senate Intelligence Views SolarWinds From The Private Sector Perspective

Congress starts chewing over the hack of agencies and companies, hinting at policy prescriptions. The first public hearing on the massive hack associated with SolarWinds and most likely perpetrated by the Russian intelligence services occurred this week. The Senate Intelligence Committee heard from private sector witnesses, including from SolarWinds, in what will be the first … Continue reading Senate Intelligence Views SolarWinds From The Private Sector Perspective →

Epic Games Asks EC To Investigate Apple

The maker of Fortnite filed an antitrust action against Apple in the EU; A UK court rules on Epic Games action, giving it a split decision. Epic Games sought to contest Apple and Google’s decisions to remove the maker of popular multi-player game, Fortnite, from their application stores last summer after the game maker started … Continue reading Epic Games Asks EC To Investigate Apple →

EDPS Renders Opinions on EC Legislation

EDPS suggests changes to Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, the EU’s legislation to remake how the bloc regulates large technology firms. European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Wojciech Wiewiorówski has issued his opinions on two of the centerpieces for the European Commission’s (EC) digital strategy: the Digital Services Act and a Digital Markets Act. … Continue reading EDPS Renders Opinions on EC Legislation →

Oklahoma Committee Releases Strong Privacy Bill

Oklahoma legislators unveil a strong bill. Chances of enactment are unclear. Oklahoma has followed other states in beginning consideration of data privacy legislation in the absence of a comprehensive federal privacy statute. The “Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act” (HB 1602) is a strong data privacy bill, one that would put teeth into Oklahoma’s regulation of … Continue reading Oklahoma Committee Releases Strong Privacy Bill →

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (18 February 2021)

Further Reading “Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm Protest Nvidia’s Acquisition of Arm Ltd.” By  David McLaughlin, Ian King, and Dina Bass — Bloomberg. Major United States (U.S.) tech multinationals are telling the U.S. government that Nvidia’s proposed purchase of Arm will hurt competition in the semi-conductor market, an interesting position for an industry renowned for being acquisition … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (18 February 2021) →

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (17 February 2021)

Further Reading “Sheryl Sandberg Downplayed Facebook’s Role In The Capitol Hill Siege—Justice Department Files Tell A Very Different Story” By Thomas Brewster — Forbes. According to charging documents, Facebook, and not Parler, was the app of choice the insurrectionists used in planning to storm the United States Capitol. And, of course, Facebook initially claimed this … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (17 February 2021) →

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (16 February 2021)

Further Reading “India cuts internet around New Delhi as protesting farmers clash with police” By Esha Mitra and Julia Hollingsworth — CNN; “Twitter Temporarily Blocked Accounts Critical Of The Indian Government” By Pranav Dixit — BuzzFeed News. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government again shut down the internet as a way of managing unrest or discontent … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (16 February 2021) →