Senate Democrats Raise Privacy Concerns Over Coronavirus Website

A coronavirus screening service launched by Google’s sister company is raising red flags on Capitol Hill, where five senior Senate Democrats are questioning whether the tech giant is properly safeguarding patients’ data. Lawmakers’ concerns center around the tech giant’s new tool that allows people in the San Francisco Bay Area to input their symptoms, and if they show signs of coronavirus, obtain testing.

U.S. Considers Using Personal Location Data to Track Coronavirus

The U.S. government is in active talks with Facebook, Google and a wide array of tech companies and health experts about how they can use location data gleaned from Americans’ phones to combat the novel coronavirus, including tracking whether people are keeping one another at safe distances to stem the outbreak. Public-health experts are interested in the possibility that private-sector companies could compile the data in anonymous, aggregated form, which they could then use to map the spread of the infection, according to three people familiar with the effort, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the project is in its early stages.

Amazon Bans Sales of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' -- But Only for a Few Days

Amazon quietly banned Adolf Hitler's manifesto “Mein Kampf” late last week, part of its accelerating efforts to remove Nazi and other hate-filled material from its bookstore, before quickly reversing itself. After disappearing for a few days, “Mein Kampf” is once again being sold directly by Amazon. But secondhand copies and those from third-party merchants appear to be still prohibited, a distinction that sellers said made no sense.

Senators Urge FCC to Free Up Internet Funds for Online Learning

A group of 16 Democratic Senators sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to free up funds for schools to provide Internet for students as more classes have to shift online because of coronavirus. The lawmakers are asking for the FCC to determine how much of the E-Rate program, which has a $4 billion yearly cap, can be used for one-time discounts to schools attempting to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots or enable internet access on other devices.

U.S. Disputes Fake Online Reports of Coronavirus Warnings

Independent researchers overall have struggled to track some of the coronavirus misinformation spreading as the fast-moving pandemic and rapidly evolving government actions spur insatiable demand for information — and opportunities to spread falsehoods. Often the messages are traveling from person to person, or through closed groups of people, through email or texts that are not seen by the general public.

N.Y. Attorney General Questions Google About Ads for Face Masks

New York has reached out to Google about online advertisements for medical face masks showing up in news articles and other web sites at a time when the products are needed by health-care workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, a person familiar with the matter said. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., previously said it was banning advertisements for medical face masks, but several ads were still being embedded in news stories.

More Videos Face Takedowns as YouTube Relies on Automated Software

YouTube could see a jump in videos erroneously taken down for content policy violations as the company relies more on automated software during the novel coronavirus pandemic, Alphabet Inc’s Google warned. Google said in a blog post that to reduce the need for people to come into its offices, YouTube and other business divisions are temporarily relying more on artificial intelligence and automated tools to identify problematic content.

Chinese Internet Police Pursue Critics of Government's Coronavirus Response

As China tries to reshape the narrative of its fumbled response to the coronavirus outbreak, it is turning to a new breed of police that carry out real-world reprisals for digital misdeeds. The Internet police, as they are known, have gained power as the Communist Party has worked to seize greater control over the thoughts, words, and even memories of China’s 800 million web users.

Federal Agencies Warn About Phishing Scams Related to Coronavirus

With workers across the country doing their jobs at home to comply with government coronavirus recommendations and employer policies, federal agencies warn that scammers are exploiting the outbreak to target both businesses and consumers. The U.S. Secret Service issued a bulletin warning that criminals have been employing email “phishing” scams against consumers.

To Ensure Reliability, Apple Limits Coronavirus Apps to 'Recognized Entities'

In a statement posted to its developer website, Apple said it would accept coronavirus-related apps only from "recognized entities such as government organizations, health-focused NGOs, companies deeply credentialed in health issues, and medical or educational institutions." The company said it wants to ensure "data sources are reputable."

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As Federal Workers Telecommute, Risks of Data Breaches Increase

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers and congressional staff may soon be asked to work remotely full time as the coronavirus spreads, putting reams of sensitive government data at higher risk of hacking and threatening to overwhelm outdated government computer systems. The surge in telework will mark a first-of-its-kind test for the government, which has struggled to update and secure its arcane technology systems after a string of damaging data breaches during the Obama administration.

Internet Companies Won't Disconnect Service for Unpaid Bills

AT&T, Comcast and dozens of other telecommunications firms have committed to not disconnecting service to residential and small business customers who can’t pay their bills because of the coronavirus outbreak, the Federal Communications Commission said. The pledge the companies plan to implement also calls for them to open public Wi-Fi hot spots and waive late fees for 60 days.

Facebook, Twitter Take Down Network of Russian-Linked Fake Accounts

Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. said they had taken down a network of Russian-linked fake accounts operated out of Ghana and Nigeria which targeted the United States. Facebook told reporters that the network, which it removed from Facebook and Instagram for engaging in foreign interference, was in the early stages of building audiences and was operated by local nationals, some wittingly and some unwittingly, on behalf of individuals in Russia.

Chinese Hackers Spreading Malware via Fake Coronavirus Documents

Chinese hackers have used fake documents about the coronavirus to deliver malicious software and steal sensitive user information, according to a report from researchers documenting a growing wave of cybercrime exploiting fears about the global pandemic. As the novel coronavirus has moved across the world, cybercriminals and spies have taken advantage of the growing demand for information by loading malicious software into tracking maps, government reports and health fact sheets in numerous languages.

French Consumer Watchdog Planning to Fine Apple Over Sales Practices

France’s competition watchdog is set to fine iPhone maker Apple Inc over anti-competitive behavior in its distribution and sales network, two sources close to the matter said. Apple mentioned in its latest annual report that France’s competition authority was alleging that aspects of the its sales and distribution practices were violating French competition law, which it denies.

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