Google, Facebook Vow to Work with French Police

Tech firms including Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. pledged to deepen cooperation with French police in fighting terrorism online, as pressure mounts on companies world-wide to comply with government demands to delete content and turn over data on users. But points of tension remain unresolved in France and elsewhere over sensitive topics such as data encryption and online surveillance, underscoring the delicate balance Silicon Valley superpowers are attempting to strike between protecting their users and following laws in the countries where they operate.

House Passes 'Protecting Cyber Networks Act'

The House passed the first major cybersecurity bill since the calamitous hacks on Sony Entertainment, Home Depot and JPMorgan Chase. Passed 307-116, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (PCNA), backed by House Intelligence Committee leaders, would give companies liability protections when sharing cyber threat data with government civilian agencies, such as the Treasury or Commerce Departments.

'Smart Cities' Called Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

So-called smart cities, with wireless sensors controlling everything from traffic lights to water management, may be vulnerable to cyberattacks, according to a computer security expert. Last year, Cesar Cerrudo, an Argentine security researcher and chief technology officer at IOActive Labs, demonstrated how 200,000 traffic control sensors installed in major hubs like Washington; New York; New Jersey; San Francisco; Seattle; Lyon, France; and Melbourne, Australia, were vulnerable to attack.

FBI, TSA Warn Airlines About Wi-Fi Hacking Reports

In response to reports that passenger Wi-Fi networks make some planes vulnerable to hacking, the FBI and TSA have issued an alert to airlines advising them to be on the lookout for evidence of tampering or network intrusions. The FBI and TSA note that they currently have no information to support claims that an attacker could commandeer a plane’s navigation system through the passenger Wi-Fi or IFE (In Flight Entertainment) networks, but they are taking the claims seriously.

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Aereo Settles $99M Copyright Claim for $950,000

Aereo Inc. agreed to pay CBS Corp. and other broadcasters a total of $950,000 to resolve copyright claims totaling more than $99 million as the online-TV service backed by Barry Diller seeks to wind down in Chapter 11.The deal to pay less than a penny on the dollar would resolve all litigation between the companies, including Aereo’s lawsuit accusing the broadcasters of intentionally botching its asset auction, according to a filing Monday in federal bankruptcy court in Manhattan.

Judge Rejects Dismissal Against Goldman Sachs Programmer

The criminal case against Sergey Aleynikov — the former Goldman Sachs programmer who was convicted in federal court, then acquitted, only to be charged again in state court — will soon head to a jury after Mr. Aleynikov’s last-ditch effort to toss out the case came up short. In a ruling in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, the judge overseeing the weekslong case rejected Mr. Aleynikov’s request for a dismissal, handing a victory to prosecutors who accused Mr. Aleynikov of stealing secret source code from Goldman’s computers.

Judge OKs Blind Discrimination Suit Against Uber

Uber Technologies Inc must defend against a lawsuit accusing the popular ride-sharing service of discriminating against blind people by refusing to transport guide dogs, a federal judge ruled. U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Jose, California, said the plaintiffs could pursue a claim that Uber was a "travel service" subject to potential liability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Appeals Court Rejects Facebook Ownership Suit

A federal appeals court rejected the fugitive Paul Ceglia's efforts to revive his civil lawsuit against Facebook Inc and founder Mark Zuckerberg seeking a big stake in the social media company, and to halt a related criminal prosecution for fraud. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said "overwhelming forensic evidence" demonstrated that a 2003 "Work for Hire" contract that Ceglia claimed entitled him to a 50 percent Facebook stake was forged.

Russian Cyber Spies Used Unknown Windows Flaws

A widely reported Russian cyber-spying campaign against diplomatic targets in the United States and elsewhere has been using two previously unknown flaws in software to penetrate target machines, a security company investigating the matter said. FireEye Inc., a prominent U.S. security company, said the espionage effort took advantage of holes in Adobe Systems Inc.'s Flash software for viewing active content and Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous Windows operating system.

Monitor Says Apple Cooperating Less in Antitrust Compliance

Apple Inc's cooperation with a court-appointed monitor has "sharply declined" as he reviews the iPad maker's antitrust compliance policies, the monitor wrote in a report to a judge. Michael Bromwich, who became Apple's monitor after it was found liable for conspiring to raise e-book prices, said in a report on Thursday that Apple objected to providing information and "inappropriately" attempted to limit his activities.

Court in Berlin Upholds Ban on Uber Service

A Berlin court has upheld a ban on the U.S-based online taxi service Uber, which allows users to summon a ride with their smartphones, saying the company did not comply with German laws on the carriage of passengers. The ruling by the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Appeals Tribunal confirms a ban from last August that prohibited the service because it did not offer drivers and vehicles licensed to carry passengers or provide full insurance cover.

China Suspends Bank Rules for Technology Firms

China suspended a policy that would have effectively pushed foreign technology companies out of the country’s banking sector, according to a note sent by Chinese regulators to banks. The rules, which were put into effect at the end of last year, called for companies that sell computer equipment to Chinese banks to turn over intellectual property and submit source code, amid other demands.

Tech Groups Urge Congress to Change Surveillance Laws

Trade groups representing nearly every corner of the tech industry are putting pressure on Congress to rein in government surveillance ahead of a new battle over U.S. spying. In a letter, a half-dozen major industry groups called for Congress to end some of the government’s most controversial spying programs, which they claim continue to erode global trust in American tech companies.