Breaking Up Facebook Would Harm Consumers, Law Firm Document Says

A government effort to break up Facebook Inc. from Instagram and WhatsApp would defy established law, cost billions of dollars and harm consumers, according to a paper company lawyers have prepared in the wake of rising antitrust legal threats. The 14-page document, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, offers a preview of the social-media giant’s defense as federal antitrust enforcers and members of Congress continue to pursue investigations into Facebook’s power and past competitive behavior.

Despite Some Early Actions Against It, QAnon Built Online Following

Although Facebook and Twitter took actions against individual QAnon accounts and pages in the years before the recent crackdowns — including in April, when Facebook took down five pages and six QAnon-affiliated groups that had amassed more than 100,000 members and followers — by the time of more systemic action this summer, more than 7,000 accounts affiliated with QAnon were spreading what Twitter called harmful disinformation on its service. Researchers say these moves curbed QAnon’s reach somewhat, but several asked: What took so long?

Ransomware Attack Targets Company Involved in Coronavirus Trials

A Philadelphia company that sells software used in hundreds of clinical trials, including the crash effort to develop tests, treatments and a vaccine for the coronavirus, was hit by a ransomware attack that has slowed some of those trials over the past two weeks. The attack on eResearchTechnology Inc., which has not previously been reported, began two weeks ago when employees discovered that they were locked out of their data by ransomware, an attack that holds victims’ data hostage until they pay to unlock it.

Pinterest to Prohibit 'Advertisements with Culturally Inappropriate Costumes'

Social media platform Pinterest announced that it would be limiting recommendations for Halloween costumes that could be considered culturally insensitive. The photo-sharing company issued a statement on its website announcing the move, adding that it would be prohibiting “advertisements with culturally inappropriate costumes, and make it possible for Pinners to report culturally-insensitive content right from Pins.”

Justice Department Appeals Order Barring U.S. from Banning WeChat

The U.S. Justice Department said it was appealing a judge's decision to block the government from barring Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google from offering Chinese-owned messaging app WeChat for download in U.S. app stores. The injunction blocked the U.S. Commerce Department order, which would also bar other U.S. transactions with Tencent Holding's 0700.HK WeChat, potentially making the app unusable in the United States.

Amazon, eBay Block Sales of Merchandise with Proud Boys Reference

Amazon and eBay have blocked sales of merchandise featuring the phrase "stand back and stand by," words that've been adopted by right-wing extremist groups after U.S. President Donald Trump used the phrase during Tuesday night's presidential debate. The two online retail giants and Teespring, an online custom apparel company, began pulling down listings of merchandise bearing the phrase, as well as products that feature the insignia of the Proud Boys, a far-right group.

  • Read the article: CNET

Treasury Department Warns of Ransomware Payments, Sanctions Rules

Cyber insurers and other financial institutions that facilitate payments to hackers to end cyberattacks risk running afoul of sanctions rules, the U.S. Treasury Department warned. The warnings, which referenced malicious programs known as ransomware, came in advisories from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Hackers Increasingly Target Health-Care Institutions, Endangering Patients

Hackers are increasingly targeting health-care institutions and threatening people’s well-being as their software attacks get more sophisticated and brazen. Ransomware attacks, in which hackers cripple a software system until they receive a bounty, have surged this year, along with financial demands, security experts say.

EU Digital Services Act Could Restrict Tech Companies by Year-End

Alphabet unit Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple and other U.S. tech giants could be banned from favoring their services or forcing users to sign up to a bundle of services under draft EU rules aimed at reining in their power. The draft rules, known as the Digital Services Act, aim to set the ground rules for data-sharing and how digital marketplaces operate.

Sonos Files Another Patent Lawsuit Against Google Over Wireless Audio

Sonos has filed another patent lawsuit against Google, alleging that the search giant is infringing five wireless audio patents across the entire line of Nest and Chromecast products. Sonos filed its first patent lawsuits against Google in January in California federal court and with the International Trade Commission; the federal case has been put on hold while the ITC reaches a decision on whether to block Google’s allegedly infringing products from market.

Biden Campaign Calls Facebook 'Foremost Propagator of Disinformation'

Joe Biden is putting pressure on Facebook to take down President Trump’s posts containing voting misinformation as the two prepare to face each other in the first presidential debate. In a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Biden campaign accused the social media giant of regressing in its mission to aggressively fight misinformation about the 2020 election by not barring posts from the president that misrepresent the voting process.

Court Dismisses Suit That Google Spied on Students in Violation of COPPA

A federal court dismissed a New Mexico lawsuit alleging that Alphabet Inc.’s Google knowingly spied on students and their families through its suite of cloud-based products for schools. U.S. District Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal ruled that the internet company didn’t violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, in relying on schools to review or limit what data its education platform collects and uses on behalf of students’ parents.

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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.