Jewish Members of Congress Facing Anti-Semitic Attacks on Twitter

Jewish members of Congress are facing anti-Semitic attacks on Twitter in the lead-up to the November election, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League. “The findings of this report, while limited, are alarming and, unfortunately, not surprising,” said the ADL, which reviewed 5,954 tweets directed at 30 Jewish members of Congress who are up for re-election in November.

FCC Chairman Proposes Rules Changes, Defends Net Neutrality Stance

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said he stands by the agency’s repeal of landmark net neutrality rules and circulated a proposal to address three issues raised by a U.S. appeals court. A federal appeals court in October 2019 largely upheld the FCC’s December 2017 net neutrality repeal, but directed the agency to reconsider the order’s impact on public safety, regulations on attachments to utility poles and the agency’s ability to provide subsidies for broadband service.

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.

Subscribe

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.