French Court Says Steam Must Let Consumers Resell Their Games

In a court decision that could fundamentally change how Steam operates, European Union consumers have won the right to resell their Steam titles through Valve's digital marketplace. French website Next Inpact reports the Paris Court of First Instance ruled that European Union law allows Steam users to resell their digital games, just like they can any physical product.

California Governor Signs Bill Changing Classification of Independent Contractors

California businesses will soon face new limits in their use of independent contractors under a closely watched proposal signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, a decision praised by organized labor but unlikely to quell a growing debate over the rules and nature of work in the 21st century economy. Newsom, who signed Assembly Bill 5 in a private ceremony in his state Capitol office, had already committed to embracing the new law.

Lawmakers Drafting DHS Commission to Study Social Media Abuses

Congressional lawmakers are drafting a bill to create a “national commission” at the Department of Homeland Security to study the ways that social media can be weaponized — and the effectiveness of tech giants’ efforts to protect users from harmful content online. The draft House bill obtained by The Washington Post is slated to be introduced and considered next week.

Global Trade Group on Cybersecurity Suspends Huawei's Membership

Huawei Technologies Co. has been suspended from membership in a global trade group of companies, governments and experts set up to tackle computer security breaches and share information about vulnerabilities. The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, called “First,” was set up in the 1990s to encourage international cooperation in addressing and preventing hacking incidents.

Facebook Unveils Plan for Independent Oversight Board to Review Content

Facebook unveiled its blueprint for an independent oversight board to review the company’s decisions about the posts, photos and videos it takes down or leaves online, responding to a wave of criticism that inconsistent policies have undermined the platform. The roughly 40-person panel is supposed to function as the social media giant’s version of a “Supreme Court,” serving as the final word for Facebook users who want to appeal the company’s moderation decisions.

London Police, Facebook to Share Resources to Prevent Live Terrorism Streaming

London police and Facebook said they plan to share resources to stop the live streaming of terrorist attacks like that in Christchurch, New Zealand, earlier this year. The Metropolitan Police will share video of its firearms officers training with Facebook to help the company develop technology to identify the live streaming of an attack on its platform.

European Central Bank Board Member Calls Digital Currencies Disruptive

Digital currencies such as Facebook’s Libra will disrupt the financial system, either by forcing central banks to innovate or by grabbing a global role that could challenge the dominance of the dollar, ECB board member Benoit Coeure said. Looking to set up a cheap global payment network, Facebook announced plans earlier this year to create the Libra “stablecoin” by next year, spooking global regulators who are now scrambling to come up with the needed regulation.

FTC, DOJ Admit to Turf War in How to Investigate Big Tech Companies

The two federal agencies charged with investigating Big Tech are jockeying over how to divide up their responsibilities, setting up a messy showdown that could undermine the government’s efforts to take on the Silicon Valley giants. At a Senate hearing, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joe Simons and the Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim offered blunt assessments of the recent turf war between the FTC and the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Antitrust Division over how to investigate the tech sector.

Drug Dealers Selling Illegal Steroids on Social Media, Group Says

Drug dealers are turning to Facebook and other popular social media sites to peddle steroids, which are illegal without a prescription, raising more questions about whether the companies are properly policing their platforms. Those substances are being aggressively sold or marketed through posts and videos on sites including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, according to new research by Internet safety nonprofit group Digital Citizens Alliance and cyberintelligence firm GiPEC.

Law Enforcement Investigating Human Trafficking, Prostitution Websites

A year after U.S. authorities closed Backpage.com, the biggest player in the online sex-for-sale industry, investigators are focused on three websites now dominant in the American market and the Swiss businessman who they believe may control them. U.S. authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department, are investigating whether the sites have engaged in or knowingly enabled human trafficking, prostitution and money-laundering, and what ties they may have with David Azzato, according to people familiar with the matter.

Russian Hacker to Plead Guilty to Stealing Data from JP Morgan Chase Accounts

A Russian hacker at the center of an alleged scheme to steal financial data on more than 80 million JP Morgan Chase & Co. clients will plead guilty later this month, according to a U.S. court filing. Andrei Tyurin, who was extradited last year from the Republic of Georgia, is accused of performing key tasks that netted hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds from the hack of JPMorgan and other companies. Tyurin has struck a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in New York to resolve the charges and is set to appear for a plea hearing.

Australian Intelligence Blames China for Cyberattack on Parliament

Australian intelligence determined China was responsible for a cyber-attack on its national parliament and three largest political parties before the general election in May, five people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Australia’s cyber intelligence agency — the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) — concluded in March that China’s Ministry of State Security was responsible for the attack, the five people with direct knowledge of the findings of the investigation told Reuters.

Music Publishers Seek to Double Claims, to $300M, Against Peloton

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has asked the courts to allow it to double its claims against exercise bike and treadmill startup Peloton, after discovering more unlicensed music — including songs by Taylor Swift and Kesha — being used in workout videos that play on the bikes’ built-in screens. It’s now seeking $300 million in damages, as reported by Forbes. The original complaint, filed in March, accused Peloton of using over 1,000 songs without getting the proper license.

U.S. Sanctions Hacking Groups Linked to WannaCry Ransomware Attacks

The U.S. government sanctioned three hacking groups that allegedly carried out several high-profile cyberattacks under orders from the North Korean government, the Treasury Department said. The groups' exploits allegedly include the WannaCry ransomware attacks and a hack on Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as the theft of millions of dollars from the Central Bank of Bangladesh and similar attempts on banks around the world.

  • Read the article: CNET

French Finance Minister Says France Will Block Facebook's Cryptocurrency

Facebook, already dealing with scrutiny and concerns from U.S. lawmakers about its plans for its Libra cryptocurrency, now is facing some hostility from financial corners in Europe. At a financial policy forum in Paris, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said France will move to block Facebook from developing Libra in Europe on the grounds that “the monetary sovereignty of (European) countries” is a stake if the tech giant is allowed to proceed with its cryptocurrency plans.

Twitter Deletes Tweet from Lawmaker for Making Violent Threats

Twitter took down a tweet from a Republican state lawmaker in Texas who wrote that his “AR is ready” for former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas), the Democratic presidential candidate who at a debate said, "Hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15s." Twitter told The Hill the tweet from Texas state Rep. Briscoe Cain violated its rules against making violent threats and that it had removed the tweet.

Lawmakers Ask Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google to Disclose Documents

A congressional antitrust investigation into Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google entered a new phase after lawmakers called on each of the tech giants to turn over a trove of sensitive documents, including top executives’ private communications. The requests sent by Democrats and Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee ask the companies to share detailed information about their internal operations, including financial data about their products and services, private discussions about potential merger targets and records related to “any prior investigation” they have faced on competition grounds.

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