Senate Confirms Google Critic to Lead Justice Department's Antitrust Division

The Senate confirmed Google critic and competition lawyer Jonathan Kanter to lead the Justice Department’s antitrust division, marking yet another progressive win in antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration. Kanter has a long history representing tech companies, like Yelp and Microsoft, in lawsuits accusing Google of anti-competitive behavior.

Hackers from Pakistan Targeted People in Afghanistan During Taliban Takeover

Hackers from Pakistan used Facebook to target people in Afghanistan with connections to the previous government during the Taliban's takeover of the country, the company's threat investigators said in an interview with Reuters. Facebook said the group, known in the security industry as SideCopy, shared links to websites hosting malware which could surveil people's devices.

After Threatening to Leave, Google to Expand Cloud Infrastructure in Australia

Google will spend A$1 billion ($736 million) in Australia over five years, the tech giant said, just months after it threatened to pull its services from the country in response to tougher government regulation. The main operating unit of Alphabet Inc. said it planned to expand cloud infrastructure, set up a research hub staffed by Australian researchers and engineers and partner with science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Peloton Files Patent Suit Against Rivals Echelon, iFit Over On-Demand Classes

Peloton has filed lawsuits against Echelon and iFit, claiming each company violated patents related to Peloton’s on-demand classes, Bloomberg Law reports. The issue at hand is that Peloton says Echelon and iFit are gaining “free rides” from its technology. In court documents, the company specifically pointed to its leaderboards and the ability to participate in live classes with other users.

Ohio's Attorney General Sues Meta Over Misleading Facebook Algorithm

Ohio’s attorney general is suing Meta Platforms Inc., formerly known as Facebook Inc., alleging the company misled the public about how it controlled its algorithm and the effects its products have on children. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Meta investors and the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, seeks more than $100 billion in damages and demands that Meta make significant changes so as to not mislead investors again, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement.

China Telecom Corp. Asks U.S. Appeals Court to Block FCC's Ban

China Telecom Corp Ltd's U.S. subsidiary asked a U.S. appeals court to block the decision of the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the telecommunication company's authorization to operate in the United States. China Telecom Americas was ordered on Oct. 26 by the FCC to discontinue U.S. services by early January after the U.S. regulator cited national security concerns.

Hackers Compromise FBI's Email System, Send Spam Warning of Cyberattack

Hackers compromised the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s external email system, sending spam emails to potentially thousands of people and companies with a faked warning of a cyberattack. The FBI said in a statement it was “aware of the incident this morning involving fake emails from an @ic.fbi.gov email account” but declined to provide further details.

States File Amended Antitrust Complaint Against Google Over Ad Practices

A group of U.S. states led by Texas have filed an amended complaint against Alphabet Inc's Google accusing the tech giant of using coercive tactics and breaking antitrust laws in its efforts to boost its already dominant advertising business. The updated allegations are the latest in an onslaught of regulatory scrutiny of Google over its practices. The tech company faces several lawsuits, including one by the Justice Department for monopolistic practices.

China Wants Hong Kong Companies to Apply for Cybersecurity Inspections

China's cyberspace regulator proposed requiring companies pursuing share listings in Hong Kong to apply for cybersecurity inspections if they handle data that concerns national security. Large internet platforms planning to set up headquarters, operating or research centers abroad should also submit a report to regulators, the Cyberspace Administration of China said in the draft rules.

Human Rights Groups Accuse Facebook of Stifling Report on India

Human rights groups say Facebook is stifling an independent report it commissioned to investigate hate speech on its services in India, the company’s largest market by customers and where scrutiny of its operations is increasing. Representatives for the organizations say they have provided extensive input to a U.S. law firm that Facebook commissioned in mid-2020 to undertake the report.

U.S. Joins 80 Countries in International Agreement on Cybersecurity

The U.S. is now part of an international agreement on cybersecurity that the Trump administration declined to sign up for, Vice President Kamala Harris announced in Paris. Eighty countries, along with hundreds of tech companies — including Microsoft and Google — nonprofits and universities have signed the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, established in 2018 to create international norms and laws for cybersecurity and warfare.

Deputy Treasury Secretary to Discuss Cybersecurity in Visit to Middle East

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo will travel to the Middle East, a Treasury spokesperson told Reuters, where he will seek to build partnerships on ransomware and cybersecurity as hackers wreak havoc among some of America's more vital industries. Adeyemo, in the highest-ranking visit of a Treasury official to the region under President Joe Biden's administration, will also discuss countering terrorist financing and proliferation as well as economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic in his visits to Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Lawmaker Wants TikTok to Disclose Algorithm Info to Fight Dangerous Content

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) is calling for TikTok to disclose information about the its algorithm and the videos shown to minors on the platform. Krishnamoorthi, chair of the House Oversight subcommittee on economic and consumer policy, asked TikTok to send over relevant data and documents related to “dangerous content” shown to minors.

Biden Signs Law Stopping Huawei, ZTE from Getting Equipment Licenses

U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation to prevent companies like Huawei Technologies Co. or ZTE Corp that are deemed security threats from receiving new equipment licenses from U.S. regulators. The Secure Equipment Act, the latest effort by the U.S. government to crack down on Chinese telecom and tech companies, was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate on Oct. 28 and earlier in the month by the U.S. House on a 420-4 vote.

U.S. Says EU Proposal Could Put Intellectual Property at Risk

Draft landmark EU rules requiring U.S. tech giants to share information with rivals could put at risk companies' intellectual property and trade secrets, the United States government warned in a document seen by Reuters. The paper said requiring gatekeepers — companies that control data and access to their platforms — to change their business practices and the design of their software may have implications for security and consumer protection.

Judge Says Apple Can't Delay Payment Changes in App Store

A federal judge ruled that Apple could not delay making changes to its App Store, a move that could soon allow app developers to directly communicate with customers about ways to pay for services outside Apple’s ecosystem. Calling Apple’s request for a delay “fundamentally flawed,” Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California warned in her ruling that the company’s strict App Store rules were building toward “antitrust conduct.”

European Court Upholds $2.8 Billion Antitrust Fine Against Google

A key European Union court upheld a $2.8 billion antitrust fine against Google, a blow to the search giant’s efforts to challenge billions of dollars of fines it has accrued in Europe as it faces increased scrutiny from regulators around the world. The appeal was of a 2017 fine from the European Commission, which said the company illegally promoted its own shopping comparison service in search results, while demoting those of competitors.

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