Coronavirus Encourages Opportunists to Exploit Online Scams

The coronavirus pandemic has fueled demand for a wide variety of products, including some that aren’t readily available to the general American public, like at-home testing kits. Other things, like government-approved, proven Covid-19 treatments or cures, don’t yet exist. But online opportunists are working hard to take advantage of the public’s desperation, selling counterfeits on social media platforms, e-commerce marketplaces, and the dark web.

Man Charged with Conspiracy in Plot to Firebomb Online Pharmacy

Hyrum T. Wilson was arrested and charged by federal prosecutors in Virginia with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to use fire and explosives — including Molotov cocktails — and possession of firearms. In an affidavit that detailed the plot, prosecutors said he planned the firebombing with William Anderson Burgamy IV, a drug dealer who had been illegally selling the prescription medication online for Mr. Wilson.

California Attorney General Objects to Sale of .org, Delaying ICANN Decision

ICANN has again delayed a decision on the sale of the .org registry, pushing the issue off for another month, multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting have told The Register. The organization’s board of directors was due to decide whether to approve the $1.13bn sale of the .org domain from the Internet Society to private equity firm Ethos Capital, but a last-minute letter from California’s attorney general Xavier Becerra appears to have upended the plan.

Tech Groups Urge Congress to Modernize Cybersecurity Amid Pandemic

Leading tech industry groups urged Congress to support efforts to modernize information technology and ward off cybersecurity threats during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Americans move online and networks are put under increasing stress. The Internet Association, CompTIA, the Cybersecurity Coalition, the Alliance for Digital Innovation, the Center for Procurement Advocacy and the Information Technology Industry Council sent a letter to congressional leaders strongly urging them to include funding for IT modernization and cybersecurity in the next coronavirus stimulus package.

European Commission Pushes Apps to Track Coronavirus Exposure

European officials have a plan to use smartphone apps to stem the Covid-19 pandemic without trampling on the bloc’s strict privacy rules: track individuals’ exposure to the virus without tracking their locations. The European Commission — the EU’s executive arm — called on member states to build an interoperable system of voluntary apps that use short-range radio waves to measure users’ proximity to one another, rather than tracking their phones’ physical locations, such as with the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Facebook's Libra Cryptocurrency Project Shifts Focus to Payment Network

When Facebook unveiled its Libra cryptocurrency project last June, the social networking company described it as a futuristic global money that could serve as the foundation for a new kind of financial system. But now, Facebook and its partners rolled out a less ambitious design for Libra after the effort encountered numerous hurdles and heavy regulatory scrutiny.

Facebook to Notify Users Who Engage with False Posts About COVID-19

Facebook Inc. said it would start notifying users who had engaged with false posts about COVID-19 which could cause physical harm, such as drinking bleach to cure the virus, and connect them to accurate information. The social media giant, which also owns photo-sharing network Instagram and messaging app WhatsApp, said it has been battling to control large volumes of misinformation such as posts that say physical distancing will not curb the disease.

North Korean Cyber Activities Threaten Finance System, U.S. Warns

The U.S. government warned that North Korea’s digital activities, including cybertheft and extortion, threatens the “integrity and stability of the international finance system.” Amid heavy sanctions, North Korea “has increasingly relied on illicit activities -- including cybercrime -- to generate revenue for its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs,” according to an advisory.

Amazon Temporarily Shuts Distribution Centers in France After Court Order

Amazon said that it would temporarily shut down its distribution centers in France after a court ruled that the company could only deliver food, hygiene and medical products until it addressed workplace safety at its warehouses amid the coronavirus pandemic. The move comes as the online retail giant faces intensifying scrutiny both domestically and abroad over what it's doing to keep workers safe.

Apple, Google Must 'Convince a Rightfully Skeptical Public' of COVID-19 App

Smartphone software makers Alphabet’s Google and Apple will have to convince the public that any apps to help track who has been exposed to the new coronavirus will not lead to a violation of their privacy, Senator Richard Blumenthal said. “Apple and Google have a lot of work to do to convince a rightfully skeptical public that they are fully serious about the privacy and security of their contact tracing efforts,” he said in an email statement.

Apple Sharing Mobility Data from Maps with Health Authorities

Apple is sharing its mobility data from Apple Maps to assist public health authorities in analyzing how people are moving in communities amid the pandemic, the company announced. The data trends tool uses information from Apple Maps to calculate the volume of people driving, walking or taking public transit in major cities and 63 countries or regions.

Facebook, WHO Launch Chatbot for Messenger to Get Coronavirus Info

Facebook and the World Health Organization (WHO) are again teaming up to make it easier to find reliable information about the coronavirus. The organization launched a new chatbot for Messenger, which allows Facebook users to access news and updates about the pandemic, such as the latest official statistics and press releases from the organization.

French Court Limits Amazon to Orders for Groceries, Hygiene, Health

A court in Nanterre, France, has ruled that Amazon should greatly restrict orders in France in the coming weeks. According to the decision that AFP and a union have obtained, Amazon can only accept orders of groceries, hygiene and health-related products. The company has 24 hours to comply or it’ll have to pay a fine of €1 million per day.

Zoom to Let Paying Customers Choose Data Centers, Addressing Privacy

Zoom Video Communications Inc. will let paying customers decide which countries their virtual meetings get routed through, a move to assuage clients worried they may be vulnerable to possible Chinese snooping. The ability to select preferred data center locations will be available beginning April 18, Brendan Ittelson, Zoom chief technology officer, said in a blog post.

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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.