Founder of Gab, Used for Hate Speech, Vows to Keep Site Alive

Before Robert Bowers allegedly opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue, few had heard of Gab.com, the two-year-old social-media site where he apparently posted anti-Semitic and Holocaust-denying messages. Now it is at the center of a renewed debate over what online platforms can and should do to act on hate speech, with the site’s founder pledging that it won’t be sidelined. “Gab is not going anywhere,” said Andrew Torba, Gab’s founder, in a post on Gab. “I don’t care what we have to do, I don’t care what it takes.”

Head of Britain's Treasury Proposes Tax on Big High-Tech Companies

The head of Britain’s treasury has proposed a new tax targeting tech giants such as Google, Facebook and Amazon.com, in what he described as a necessary evolution of the corporate tax system in the digital age. Philip Hammond, chancellor of the exchequer, said his proposed “digital services tax” would apply to “established tech giants” rather than start-up companies and would take shape as a narrow tax on revenue generated in Britain for tech-platform business models.

Facebook Removes 82 Accounts in Iran for 'Inauthentic Behavior'

Facebook Inc. removed 82 fake pages, accounts and groups that originated in Iran, the latest effort by the company to clean up its social network ahead of midterm elections in the U.S. The Menlo Park, California-based company said in a blog post that it took action against the accounts for “coordinated inauthentic behavior” that targeted people in the U.S. and U.K.

Studies Find Increase in Anti-Semitic Content on Twitter, Instagram

Two separate studies found a notable increase in anti-Semitic images and other posts on Twitter and Instagram over the past year, despite content policies on both platforms supposedly banning hateful content against minority groups. A study released Friday by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization that tracks anti-Jewish sentiment, reported the existence of “online propaganda offensives” containing anti-Semitic content designed to intimidate Jewish people and Jewish journalists ahead of the 2018 midterms.

After Synagogue Murders, Gab Suspended by Payment Providers, Web Host

Hours after PayPal confirmed that it had suspended social network platform Gab, two additional companies have informed the site that they plan to suspend their services: payment processing site Stripe, and cloud hosting company Joyent. Gab posted a screenshot of a notification from Joyent, which says that it “received notice of breach of the Joyent Terms of Service,” and that it would suspend the site.

California, U.S. Agree to Delay Net Neutrality Lawsuit

California has struck a temporary agreement with the Justice Department not to move forward with a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s new net neutrality law, delaying a pivotal legal battle over the future of the Internet. The Justice Department will postpone its litigation against the state until a separate case directly involving the Federal Communications Commission runs its course, according to court filings.

Mail Bomb Suspect's Threats on Twitter Were Not Taken Down

Two weeks before Cesar Sayoc allegedly mailed pipe bombs to political figures across the country, political commentator Rochelle Ritchie says she complained to Twitter about threats he made against her, including menacing messages and disturbing images such as alligators and human body parts, following one of her appearances on Fox News. One of the tweets from Sayoc's account read: "We will see you 4 sure. Hug your loved ones real close every time you leave you home." Ritchie says Twitter informed her that Sayoc's tweets did not violate the company's rules.

Uber Hackers Indicted for Stealing Data on 55,000 Lynda Users

Two hackers who stole millions of users’ data from ride-hailing firm Uber have been indicted on separate hacking charges related to a data breach at online learning portal Lynda, two people familiar with the case have told TechCrunch. Vasile Mereacre, a Canadian citizen living in Toronto, and Brandon Glover, a Florida resident, were indicted earlier this month in Florida on federal hacking and extortion charges for stealing data on 55,000 Lynda users’ accounts.

More Fake Retail Websites Phishing for Customer Information

The number of fake retail websites designed to phish for customer information is on the rise, according to a joint report published by e-commerce fraud prevention company Riskified and cyber intelligence company IntSights. Analyzing data from the third quarter of last year to Q3 2018, Riskified and IntSights found a 297 percent increase in retail phishing sites.

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European Parliament Wants Full Data Protection Audit for Facebook

The European Parliament has called for a full audit of Facebook following a string of data breach scandals — including the Cambridge Analytica affair. MEPs are urging the company to allow European Union bodies to carry out a full audit to assess data protection and security of users’ personal data, following the scandal in which the data of 87 million Facebook users was improperly obtained and misused.

Cathay Pacific Says Data Breach Affected Up to 9.4 Million People

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific informed the Hong Kong stock exchange of a data breach that could affect 9.4 million people. Cathay said that passenger details including name, nationality, date of birth, phone number, email address, passport number, identity card number, frequent flyer membership number, customer service remarks, and historical travel information could have been accessed.

Chinese Spies Reportedly Listen to Trump's Cell Phone Calls

When President Trump calls old friends on one of his iPhones to gossip, gripe or solicit their latest take on how he is doing, American intelligence reports indicate that Chinese spies are often listening — and putting to use invaluable insights into how to best work the president and affect administration policy, current and former American officials said. Mr. Trump’s aides have repeatedly warned him that his cellphone calls are not secure, and they have told him that Russian spies are routinely eavesdropping on the calls, as well.

Apple CEO Supports 'Comprehensive Federal Privacy Law'

The head of Apple endorsed tough privacy laws for both Europe and the U.S. and renewed the technology giant’s commitment to protecting personal data, which he warned was being “weaponized” against users. Speaking at an international conference on data privacy, Apple CEO Tim Cook applauded European Union authorities for bringing in a strict new data privacy law this year and said the iPhone maker supports a U.S. federal privacy law.

Senators Criticize Says Google's Delayed Disclosure of Data Exposure

Two U.S. senators said Alphabet Inc.’s disclosure of user data vulnerabilities at Google+ raised “serious questions” over whether it violated a 2011 consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission, potentially exposing Google to penalties. Alphabet said this month it would shut down the consumer version of its failed social network Google+ and tighten its data-sharing policies after announcing the private profile data of at least 500,000 users may have been exposed to hundreds of external developers.

Italy Fines Apple, Samsung $5.7 Million for Slowing Down Phones

Italy’s anti-trust watchdog said it was fining Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. 5 million euros ($5.7 million) each following complaints they used software updates to slow down their mobile phones. Apple was hit with an additional 5 million euro fine for failing to give clients clear information about how to maintain or eventually replace handset batteries.

Yahoo Agrees to Pay $50 Million, Offer Credit Monitoring for Breach

Yahoo has agreed to pay $50 million in damages and provide two years of free credit-monitoring services to 200 million people whose email addresses and other personal information were stolen as part of the biggest security breach in history. The restitution hinges on federal court approval of a settlement filed in a 2-year-old lawsuit seeking to hold Yahoo accountable for digital burglaries that occurred in 2013 and 2014, but weren't disclosed until 2016.

Android Apps Discovered as Part of Digital Advertising Fraud Scheme

An investigation by BuzzFeed News reveals that seemingly separate Android apps and companies are today part of a massive, sophisticated digital advertising fraud scheme involving more than 125 Android apps and websites connected to a network of front and shell companies in Cyprus, Malta, British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Bulgaria, and elsewhere. More than a dozen of the affected apps are targeted at kids or teens, and a person involved in the scheme estimates it has stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from brands whose ads were shown to bots instead of actual humans.

U.S. Cyber Command Targets Individual Russians to Protect Elections

The United States Cyber Command is targeting individual Russian operatives to try to deter them from spreading disinformation to interfere in elections, telling them that American operatives have identified them and are tracking their work, according to officials briefed on the operation. The campaign, which includes missions undertaken in recent days, is the first known overseas cyberoperation to protect American elections, including the November midterms.

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