Twitter Removes Thousands of Accounts Linked to QAnon Conspiracies

Twitter said that it had removed thousands of accounts that spread messages about the conspiracy theories known as QAnon, saying their messages could lead to harm and violated Twitter policy. Twitter said it would also block trends related to the loose network of QAnon conspiracy theories from appearing in its trending topics and search, and would not allow users to post links affiliated with the theories on its platform.

Microsoft President Discusses Concerns About Apple with U.S. Lawmakers

Microsoft Corp. President Brad Smith raised concerns to U.S. lawmakers about what the company regards as Apple Inc.’s anti-competitive behavior around its app store, according to a person familiar with the matter. Smith, who is also chief legal officer, was invited by the House of Representatives’s antitrust subcommittee to share his experiences around Microsoft’s own antitrust battle with the U.S. government in the late 1990s.

U.S. Indicts Two Chinese Nationals for Hacking Related to Covid-19 Vaccine

The Department of Justice accused two Chinese nationals, who it said were working on behalf of the Chinese government, of stealing trade secrets and hacking into computer systems of firms working on the Covid-19 vaccine. According to the 11-count indictment, Li Xiaoyu, 34, and Dong Jiazhi, 33, conducted a global hacking campaign for more than a decade.

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Army's Ban on Critical Users on Twitch Raises First Amendment Concerns

The Army’s official video gaming team is battling criticism of its online conduct, traced back to a single emoji-laden tweet. The military, recognizing the enormous appeal of video game streaming, has a team that plays popular games like “Call of Duty” and “Valorant” to showcase a slice of Army life and to reach potential recruits.

Coinbase Blocked 1,100 Customers from Sending Funds in Twitter Scam

The cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase said that it stopped around 1,100 customers from sending bitcoin to hackers who gained access to high-profile Twitter accounts. More than 100 Twitter accounts, some belonging to major companies like Apple and high-profile people like Vice President Joe Biden and Bill Gates, were hacked as part of a massive coordinated bitcoin scam.

FTC Considers Depositions for Zuckerberg, Sandberg in Antitrust Probe

The Federal Trade Commission is considering taking sworn testimony from Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg as part of its investigation into whether the social-media giant has violated U.S. antitrust laws, according to people familiar with the matter. Top Facebook officials are preparing for potential depositions and some are worried about the possibility, a person familiar with the matter said.

Russian Hackers Accused of Trying to Steal Coronavirus Vaccine Research

Russian hackers are attempting to steal coronavirus vaccine research, the American, British and Canadian governments said, accusing the Kremlin of opening a new front in its spy battles with the West amid the worldwide competition to contain the pandemic. The National Security Agency said that a hacking group implicated in the 2016 break-ins into Democratic Party servers has been trying to steal intelligence on vaccines from universities, companies and other health care organizations.

FBI to Lead Probe of Hacker Attacks on High-Profile Twitter Accounts

Fallout from Twitter’s massive security breach intensified, as authorities launched investigations and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle called for more information on a widespread hack of high-profile accounts. The FBI will lead a federal inquiry into the hack, it said in a statement, and. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) directed New York state to start a probe of the incident, saying the hack is “deeply troubling” particularly in light of the approaching elections.

European Court Strikes Down Data-Transfer Privacy Agreement with U.S.

Europe’s top court struck down a trans-Atlantic agreement that allows scores of companies to move data between the European Union and the United States, causing uncertainty for businesses that rely on moving digital information seamlessly around the world. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that the agreement, known as Privacy Shield, did not comply with European privacy rights.

High-Profile Twitter Accounts Hacked in Bitcoin Solicitation Scheme

A wave of tweets in apparent hacking swept through Twitter, with more than half a dozen high-profile accounts — belonging to U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden, billionaire Bill Gates, and rapper Kanye West, among others — used to solicit bitcoin donations. The cause of the breach was not immediately clear, but the scale and the scope of the problem suggested that it was not limited to a single account or service.

European Court Overrules $14.9 Billion Tax Decision Against Apple

Apple won a major legal victory against European antitrust regulators as a European court overruled a 2016 decision that ordered the company to pay $14.9 billion in unpaid taxes to Ireland. The decision, which can be appealed to the European Union’s top court, is a setback for the region’s efforts to clamp down on what the authorities there believe is anticompetitive behavior by the world’s largest technology companies.

Trump Secretly Authorized CIA to Conduct Cyber Attacks Against Iran

The Central Intelligence Agency has conducted a series of covert cyber operations against Iran and other targets since winning a secret victory in 2018 when President Trump signed what amounts to a sweeping authorization for such activities, according to former U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the matter. The secret authorization, known as a presidential finding, gives the spy agency more freedom in both the kinds of operations it conducts and who it targets, undoing many restrictions that had been in place under prior administrations.

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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.