U.S. Expands Sanctions Against Russia on Buying Advanced Technology

The Biden administration announced further sanctions and restrictions on Russia and Belarus, adding 71 organizations to a government list that prevents them from buying advanced technology. Since Western allies announced extensive restrictions on exports of semiconductors, computers, lasers, telecommunications equipment and other goods in February, Russia has had difficulty obtaining microchips to replenish its supply of precision-guided munitions, according to one senior U.S. official, who, along with most other officials interviewed for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss matters based on intelligence.

EU Lawmakers Set to Approve Single Charging Port for Mobile Devices

EU countries and EU lawmakers are set to agree on a common charging port for mobile phones, tablets and headphones on June 7 when they meet to discuss a proposal that has been fiercely criticized by Apple, people familiar with the matter said. The proposal for a single mobile charging port was first broached by the European Commission more than a decade ago after iPhone and Android users complained about having to use different chargers for their phones.

Amazon to Stop Selling Kindle Devices, Book Downloads in China

Amazon Inc. is closing its Kindle digital bookstore in China and has halted sales of Kindle devices to retailers in the country in the latest retreat by a U.S. tech company there. The pullback is the latest for American tech giants operating in China, which has some of the world’s most stringent censorship rules and a fiercely competitive homegrown technology ecosystem.

New York Senate Passes Bill to Limit Some Power Plants in Bitcoin Mining

The Bitcoin mining boom in New York state hit a roadblock as the State Senate passed a bill that will halt new permits for certain fossil fuel power plants to be used in Bitcoin mining. The measure, which also initiates a study on the environmental impact mining facilities are having in the state, passed in the State Assembly earlier this year.

Ex-Product Manager at NFT Marketplace OpenSea Charged with Insider Trading

U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan charged a former product manager at OpenSea, the largest online marketplace for non-fungible tokens, with insider trading, the first such case involving digital assets. Nathaniel Chastain, 31, of Manhattan, was accused of secretly buying 45 NFTs on 11 separate occasions based on confidential information that the tokens, or others by the same creator, would soon be featured on OpenSea's home page.

FBI Thwarted Iranian-Backed Cyberattack on Boston Children's Hospital

The FBI thwarted a planned cyberattack on a children’s hospital in Boston that was to have been carried out by hackers sponsored by the Iranian government, FBI Director Christopher Wray said. Wray told a Boston College cybersecurity conference that his agents learned of the planned digital attack from an unspecified intelligence partner and got Boston Children’s Hospital the information it needed last summer to block what would have been “one of the most despicable cyberattacks I’ve seen.”

Supreme Court Blocks Texas Law Limiting Bans by Social Media Companies

The Supreme Court blocked a Texas law that would ban large social media companies from removing posts based on the views they express. The court’s brief order was unsigned and gave no reasons, which is typical when the justices act on emergency applications. The order was not the last word in the case, which is pending before a federal appeals court and may return to the Supreme Court.

Judge Refuses to Dismiss App Store Cydia's Lawsuit Against Apple

Apple Inc. lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit in California federal court from competing app store Cydia, which accused the iPhone maker of maintaining an unlawful monopoly over software distribution on its operating system. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, rejected Apple's contention that Cydia's allegations fell outside a four-year window allowed under federal antitrust law.

Russian Regulator Opens Case Against Google Over Personal Data Law

Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor said it had opened administrative cases against Alphabet Inc's Google and six other foreign technology companies for alleged violations of personal data legislation. Moscow has clashed with Big Tech over content, censorship, data and local representation in a simmering dispute that has erupted into a full-on information battle since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Yubo Livestreaming App Cooperating with Law Enforcement in Uvalde Shooting

Yubo, a livestreaming app marketed toward teenagers, is cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation into the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting as reports emerge that the gunman used the platform to discuss his plans before carrying out the attack. Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old gunman who was killed by law enforcement during the shooting, exchanged messages on the platform with a 15-year-old girl in Germany earlier on the day of the attack saying he was going to shoot his grandmother and “shoot up” an elementary school, The New York Times reported, citing screenshots provided by the girl he spoke with, identified by her nickname Cece.

Only 19% of Cyber Risk Executives Prepared to Respond to Ransomware Attacks

Despite Washington’s recent attempts to expand cybersecurity rules and disrupt hacking gangs, ransomware continues to proliferate and executives report unease about their companies’ ability to ward off the threat. About 19% of cyber risk executives are highly confident in their organization’s ability to understand and respond to cyber threats, according to a more than 660-person survey published Thursday by Marsh & McLennan Co.’s insurance broking business and Microsoft Corp.

Chinese-Backed Content on Political Positions Tops Search Results

China’s global campaign to expand the reach of its political positions is helping it secure a coveted piece of online real estate: first-page search results on Google and other major Western portals. Content reflecting Beijing’s position on its human-rights record and the origins of Covid-19 now regularly appears among top results on Google, Bing and YouTube, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution and another Washington think tank, the Alliance for Securing Democracy, which seeks to study and resist the influence of authoritarian governments.

Twitter to Pay $150 Million to Settle 'Security and Privacy' Allegations

Twitter Inc. has agreed to pay $150 million to settle allegations it misused private information, like phone numbers, to target advertising after telling users the information would be used for security reasons, according to court documents. Twitter's settlement covers allegations that it misrepresented the "security and privacy" of user data between May 2013 and September 2019, according to the court documents.

Norwegian Company Plans Greater Protections Against Industrial Cyber Attacks

Norwegian firms Telenor, Aker ASA and Cognite say a new software security company they plan to launch this year will help companies protect their industrial assets from an increased cyber attack risk since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "More and more (industrial) objects (are) being connected, and then you can add Russia-Ukraine on top of that," said Telenor CEO Sigve Brekke, adding that a trend that accelerated during COVID, is “now going faster and faster.”

Russian Invasion of Ukraine Renews Push for Global Data-Privacy Agreement

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is putting more pressure on governments to work toward a global data-privacy agreement as digital communication tools continue to grow in importance, European officials said. Moscow’s assault shows a sharper “dividing line” between democratic countries with rules to protect privacy and more authoritarian nations that could misuse data, said Bruno Gencarelli, an official responsible for negotiating international data deals on behalf of the European Union.

Ransomware Attacks Increased 13% in 2021, According to Verizon Report

Ransomware continued to dominate cyberattacks in 2021 as attackers focused on making quick money by locking up data, rather than stealing it. Attacks involving ransomware, which involves malicious code scrambling the data on a victim's computer, increased 13% for the year, equaling the rise of the previous five years combined, according to Verizon's 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report.

  • Read the article: CNET

Democratic Lawmakers Ask Google to Stop Collecting Abortion Data

A group of 42 Democratic lawmakers urged Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a letter to stop collecting and keeping unnecessary or non-aggregated location data that could be used to identify people seeking abortions. The letter comes ahead of the anticipated reversal of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that protected the federal right to an abortion, after Politico published a draft opinion that would do just that.

  • Read the article: CNBC

11th Circuit Rejects Florida's Law Limiting Social Media from Banning Politicians

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled it is unconstitutional for Florida to bar social media companies from banning politicians, in a major victory for tech companies that are fighting another appeals court ruling that allowed a similar law in Texas to take effect. In a detailed, 67-page opinion, a three-judge panel of the court — all appointees of Republican presidents, including one named by Donald Trump — unanimously rejected many of the legal arguments that conservative states have been using to justify laws governing the moderation policies of major tech companies after years of accusing the tech companies of bias against their viewpoints.

Match Group Says Google Made Concessions on App Store Payments

Match Group Inc. withdrew its request for a temporary restraining order against Alphabet Inc.’s Google, saying Google has made some concessions over its app store payment practices that Match Group demanded. The concessions include guaranteeing that Match apps, such as Tinder and Hinge, won’t be rejected or removed from Google’s app store for offering alternatives to Google’s billing system, Match said.

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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.