Germany Drops Hate Speech Investigation Against Facebook

German prosecutors​​ dropped an investigation of Facebook Inc.​ ​managers on allegations ​the social network failed to remove hate speech from its platform, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors’ office in Hamburg said. Prosecutors had been investigating whether Facebook managers may have infringed criminal law after users posted hateful comments against specific groups or people on the social network, an increasing concern amid an influx of refugees into Germany.

FCC Approval of Charter-Time Warner Could Boost Online Video

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is likely to circulate a draft order approving Charter Communications Inc.’s $55 billion deal to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. with certain conditions, according to people familiar with the matter. The order would impose a number of conditions on the transaction, many of them aimed at boosting online video as a competitor to cable.

Lord & Taylor Settles with FTC Over Paid Posts Online

National retailer Lord & Taylor has agreed to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission that it allegedly deceived customers by paying for advertisements on fashion blogs and the online publication Nylon without revealing that the posts were, in fact, paid promotions. The commission’s complaint alleged that, as part of the roll-out of Lord & Taylor’s Design Lab clothing collection, the retailer paid 50 top online so-called fashion “influencers” to post Instagram photos of themselves wearing a paisley dress from the collection.

Hacker Charged in Leaking Nude Photos of Celebrities

The man who digitally victimized dozens of female celebrities, leading to a nude photo leak that shocked Hollywood, was charged with felony computer hacking, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Ryan Collins, 36, is facing up to five years in federal prison, but prosecutors will recommend 18 months, according to the statement.

Apple Says Court Must Consider 'Broader Context' on Encryption

Apple emphasized its opposition to a court order requiring it to help unlock an iPhone for law enforcement purposes, saying the government’s “methods for achieving its objectives are contrary to the rule of law, the democratic process, and the rights of the American people.” The issue cannot be weighed without taking into account the larger national debate over data privacy concerns, Apple said in a new court filing.

Bangladesh Bank Official Resigns After $81 Million Cyber Heist

Bangladesh's central bank governor resigned over the theft of $81 million from the bank's U.S. account, as details emerged in the Philippines that $30 million of the money was delivered in cash to a casino junket operator in Manila. The rest of the money hackers stole from the Bangladesh Bank's account at the New York Federal Reserve, one of the largest cyber heists in history, went to two casinos, officials told a Philippines Senate hearing into the scandal.

British Interior Minister Defends Internet 'Investigatory Powers Bill'

A proposed British law that gives police and spies unprecedented powers to look at the Internet browsing records of everyone in the country will be governed by "the strongest safeguards" against abuse, the interior minister said. Opening a House of Commons debate on the contentious bill, Home Secretary Theresa May said the law would provide "unparalleled openness and transparency" about the authorities' surveillance powers.

Uber Driver Accused of Shootings Says App Controlled Him

A man charged with fatally shooting six people in southwestern Michigan interspersed with his stints as an Uber driver told investigators he was being controlled by the ride-hailing app through his cellphone, police said. According to a police report, Jason Dalton told authorities after the Feb. 20 shootings in and around Kalamazoo that “it feels like it is coming from the phone itself” and told of something “like an artificial presence,” the report said.

Hackers Behind Ransonware Linked to Chinese Government

Hackers using tactics and tools previously associated with Chinese government-supported computer network intrusions have joined the booming cyber crime industry of ransomware, four security firms that investigated attacks on U.S. companies said. Ransomware, which involves encrypting a target's computer files and then demanding payment to unlock them, has generally been considered the domain of run-of-the-mill cyber criminals.

Facebook, Google, Snapchat Focus on Stronger Privacy

Silicon Valley’s leading companies -- including Facebook, Google and Snapchat -- are working on their own increased privacy technology as Apple fights the U.S. government over encryption, the Guardian has learned. The projects could antagonize authorities just as much as Apple’s more secure iPhones, which are currently at the center of the San Bernardino shooting investigation.

Army Uses Crime-Reporting App to Fight Terrorism on Bases

The U.S. Army is using a new crime reporting application for smart phones called "iWatch Army" at 17 U.S. bases to boost its anti-terrorism and anti-crime efforts, with another 100 military bases likely to follow suit this year, the app's developer said. Omar Leeman, chief executive of CloseWatch Inc, told Reuters the privately-held firm had already gotten inquiries from additional Army bases, the Air Force, and increasingly security-conscious private companies.

North Korea Denies Cyber Attacks on South Korean Officials

North Korea denied that it conducted cyber attacks against officials from rival South Korea, calling the South's accusation that it did so a "fabrication." South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers that North Korea had recently stepped up cyber attack efforts against the South and succeeded in hacking the mobile phones of 40 national security officials, according to members of parliament who received a closed-door briefing.

U.S. Considers Whether to Fight WhatsApp on Encryption

While the Justice Department wages a public fight with Apple over access to a locked iPhone, government officials are privately debating how to resolve a prolonged standoff with another technology company, WhatsApp, over access to its popular instant messaging application, officials and others involved in the case said. No decision has been made, but a court fight with WhatsApp, the world’s largest mobile messaging service, would open a new front in the Obama administration’s dispute with Silicon Valley over encryption, security and privacy.

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The GigaLaw Firm helps companies of all sizes protect their brands online, using domain name dispute policies – such as the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) – and other legal tools available to copyright and trademark owners on the Internet.