California Lawmakers Pitch Major Overhaul of Kids’ Web Privacy
By: Politico Date: February 16, 2022 Two California lawmakers are proposing a web overhaul to protect California kids when they’re online, the most sweeping privacy measure since voters approved the California Privacy Rights Act in 2020. The bipartisan proposal from Assembly members Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Jordan Cunningham (R-Templeton) is modeled after a […]
Nick Clegg Promoted to Top Facebook Role
By: The Guardian Date: February 16, 2022 Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has promoted the company’s top policy executive, Nick Clegg, to president of global affairs, Zuckerberg said in a post on Wednesday, reducing his own role in the company’s policy decisions. Clegg, who previously served as Britain’s deputy prime minister, had joined Facebook as vice‑president for […]
Texas Sues Meta Over Facebook’s Facial-Recognition Practices
By: Wall Street Journal Date: February 14, 2022 The Texas attorney general filed a suit against Facebook parent Meta Platforms on Monday, charging that the social-media giant’s longstanding and now discontinued use of facial-recognition technology violated that state’s privacy protections for personal biometric data. The lawsuit, filed in state district court in Marshall by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, […]
China, Not SpaceX, May Be Source of Rocket Part Crashing Into Moon
By: The New York Times Date: February 14, 2022 On March 4, a human-made piece of rocket detritus will slam into the moon. But it turns out that it is not, as was previously stated in a number of reports, including by The New York Times, Elon Musk’s SpaceX that will be responsible for making […]
C.I.A. Is Collecting in Bulk Certain Data Affecting Americans, Senators Warn
By: The New York Times Date: February 10, 2022 The Central Intelligence Agency has for years been collecting in bulk, without a warrant, some kind of data that can affect Americans’ privacy, according to a newly declassified letter by two senators. The C.I.A. kept censored the nature of the data when it declassified […]
Atomico Hires Inaugural ESG Head, as VCs Wake up to Consumer Push for Impact
By: Sifted Date: February 10, 2022 The Atomico office in central London is an eco-warrior’s dream. The building is carbon-neutral, the in-house chef limits meat consumption and food waste, its giant annual report is printed on recycled paper and partners have guidelines to make working from home greener. But the firm now wants its […]
Is the Cryptocurrency Trading Boom Creating a New Generation of Addicts?
By: The Guardian Date: February 8, 2022 When bitcoin first became available for purchase in 2009, cryptocurrencies were a relatively obscure niche product. Not any more. Some estimates suggest 221 million people were trading cryptocurrencies around the world last year, often using slick, gamified apps on their smartphones. The Guardian business reporter Rob Davies is […]
IRS Retreats From Facial Recognition to Verify Taxpayers’ Identities
By: Wall Street Journal Date: February 7, 2022 The Internal Revenue Service is scrapping its use of a private facial-recognition system to authenticate taxpayers’ identities for online accounts, the agency said Monday after criticism from lawmakers in both parties over privacy concerns. “Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured, and […]
Scam Ads: Why an Australian Billionaire is Launching Legal Action Against Facebook
By: The Guardian Date: February 3, 2022 The Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest has launched criminal proceedings against Facebook for failing to take action on scam ads featuring his image. A Guardian investigation into the scam ads sheds light on how the scam works and what the ads look like. The ads appear on Facebook or on news […]