FTC to Hear Staff Report on Big Tech Deals, Antitrust Scrutiny

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will hold its next open meeting on Sept. 15 to hear staff findings on deals that Big Tech firms like Facebook and Apple make which are sometimes too small to spark antitrust scrutiny, the agency said. The staff report will include Big Tech acquisitions from 2010 to 2019, some of which were not reported to antitrust enforcers because of their small size.

Texas-Based Abortion Tracking Website Shut Down for Second Time

A Texas-based abortion tracking website that was designed to help enforce the state’s recently enacted abortion ban has been shut down for a second time. Prolifewhistleblower.com, which was created by anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life, invited people to send in anonymous tips on those who may be performing or aiding in abortions in violation of the state's new law.

Yandex Removes Kremlin Critic Navalny's Voting Site from Search Engine

Russian tech firm Yandex said it had removed jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's tactical voting website from its search engine to comply with a government ban ahead of a parliamentary election this month. Navalny and his allies want to use the website and a separate app to organise a tactical voting campaign at the Sept. 17-19 contest to land a blow against the ruling United Russia party.

Operators Behind REvil Ransomware Group Resurface After Closure

The operators behind the REvil ransomware group have resurfaced after allegedly closing shop following the widespread attack on Kaseya that caused thousands of victims on July 4. Security researchers said all of the dark web sites for the prolific ransomware group -- including the payment site, the group's public site, the 'helpdesk' chat and their negotiation portal -- went offline on July 13 after the Kaseya attack drew worldwide condemnation and tough threats from US lawmakers.

Apple Delays Tools to Identify Images of Child Abuse

Apple delayed a set of features designed to protect children from sexual predators on some of its iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. The move follows criticism from privacy advocates and security researchers who worried the company's technology could be twisted into a tool for surveillance. In a statement, Apple said it would delay its new tools to identify images of child abuse on its devices as well as features to warn children about sexualized messages sent by SMS or iMessage.

  • Read the article: CNET

Google Locks Afghan Government Email Accounts

Google has temporarily locked down an unspecified number of Afghan government email accounts, according to a person familiar with the matter, as fears grow over the digital paper trail left by former officials and their international partners. In the weeks since the Taliban's swift takeover of Afghanistan from a U.S.-backed government, reports have highlighted how biometric and Afghan payroll databases might be exploited by the new rulers to hunt their enemies.

News Publishers Linked to Misinformation Received More Facebook Traffic

A new study of user behavior on Facebook around the 2020 election is likely to bolster critics’ long-standing arguments that the company’s algorithms fuel the spread of misinformation over more trustworthy sources. The forthcoming peer-reviewed study by researchers at New York University and the Université Grenoble Alpes in France has found that from August 2020 to January 2021, news publishers known for putting out misinformation got six times the amount of likes, shares, and interactions on the platform as did trustworthy news sources, such as CNN or the World Health Organization.

GoDaddy Terminates Service for Abortion-Reporting Website in Texas

Website hosting service GoDaddy said it will terminate services for the owner of an anti-abortion website that allows people to report suspected abortions in response to a new Texas law that imposes a near-total ban on abortion. “Last night we informed prolifewhistleblower.com they have violated GoDaddy’s terms of service and have 24 hours to move to a different provider,” the company said in a statement.

  • Read the article: CNBC

Amazon to Take More Proactive Approach to Web Content Violations

Amazon.com Inc. plans to take a more proactive approach to determine what types of content violate its cloud service policies, such as rules against promoting violence, and enforce its removal, according to two sources, a move likely to renew debate about how much power tech companies should have to restrict free speech. Over the coming months, Amazon will hire a small group of people in its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division to develop expertise and work with outside researchers to monitor for future threats, one of the sources familiar with the matter said.

Streaming TV App Locast Shuts Down After Losing Court Ruling

The streaming TV app Locast is shutting down for now, after losing a critical court ruling in a case brought by the broadcast networks, including CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox. “As a non-profit, Locast was designed from the very beginning to operate in accordance with the strict letter of the law, but in response to the court’s recent rulings, with which we respectfully disagree, we are hereby suspending operations, effective immediately,” the company wrote in an email message to users.

Reddit Bans Anti-Vaccine Forum, Others Linked to Coronavirus Denial

Reddit banned an anti-vaccine forum and limited the visibility of 54 other subreddits associated with coronavirus denial after several moderators protested the platform’s approach to health misinformation. The subreddit r/NoNewNormal was banned for breaking Reddit's rules around intentionally targeting conversations elsewhere on the platform.

Russia's Internet Censor Threatens Fines Against Google, Apple

Russia’s Internet censor threatened to fine Google and Apple if they don’t remove an app built by opposition leaders that encourages voters to cast ballots against the party of President Vladimir Putin, saying the companies are interfering in the nation’s electoral processes. The move follows weeks of private demands by the censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, to both companies, ahead of legislative elections that begin Sept. 17.

WhatsApp Fined $270 Million for Violating EU Data Privacy Law

Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging service was fined nearly $270 million by Irish authorities for not being transparent about how it uses data collected from people on the service, in a case that represents a big test of Europe’s ability to enforce its landmark data privacy law. The 265-page decision is the first major ruling against Facebook under the European Union’s far-reaching General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, a three-year-old law that many have criticized for not being properly enforced. Irish regulators said WhatsApp was not clear with users about how data was shared with other Facebook properties like its main social network and Instagram.

Judge Allows Class-Action Privacy Suit Against Apple Over Siri

A federal judge said Apple Inc. must face nearly all of a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that its voice-activated Siri assistant violates users' privacy. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said the plaintiffs could try to prove Siri routinely recorded their private conversations because of "accidental activations," and that Apple disclosed these conversations to third parties, such as advertisers.

SEC Files Fraud Suit Against Founder of Cryptocurrency Exchange BitConnect

The top U.S. securities regulator sued the founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange platform BitConnect over his alleged role in fraudulently raising about $2 billion from thousands of retail investors. Expanding a civil case announced in May, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged BitConnect founder Satish Kumbhani, an Indian citizen, with lying about BitConnect's ability to generate profits, and violating registration laws meant to protect investors.

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