FCC Bans Electronic Equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Citing 'National Security'

U.S. regulators imposed a ban on electronic equipment from Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp., continuing a years-long effort to limit the reach of Chinese telecommunications companies into U.S. networks. The Federal Communications Commission, in an order, also named connected-camera providers Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. and Dahua Technology Co., as well as two-way radio maker Hytera Communications Corp.

U.K. Online Safety Bill Would Ban 'Deepfake' Porn and 'Downblousing'

Nonconsensual “deepfake” pornography and “downblousing” will be made illegal when the online safety bill returns to parliament in December, the government has announced. Explicit images taken without someone’s consent, through hidden cameras or surreptitious photography, will be criminalised, including so-called downblousing pictures.

Musk Says Twitter Plans to Reinstate Most Previously Banned Accounts

Elon Musk plans to reinstate nearly all previously banned Twitter accounts — to the alarm of activists and online trust and safety experts. After posting a Twitter poll asking, “Should Twitter offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, provided that they have not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam?” in which 72.4 percent of the respondents voted yes, Musk declared, “Amnesty begins next week.”

New York Governor Signs Bill Regulating Cryptocurrency Mining

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed one of the most restrictive laws in the U.S. on regulating cryptocurrency mining, becoming the first state to impose such a ban. The bill triggers a two-year moratorium on new permits for crypto-mining companies that are powered by fossil fuels and use proof-of-work authentication methods, with millions of computers, to validate transaction data.

Three Democratic Senators Ask Fidelity to Halt Crypto Retirement Plans

Three Democratic senators have asked Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest 401(k) providers, to reverse a decision to allow retirement plan sponsors to expose their participants and employees to bitcoin and cryptocurrency investments. In a letter, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith expressed concern about the crypto market's volatility, highlighted by the collapse and bankruptcy of FTX, the industry's second-largest exchange.

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Britain's CMA Opens Probe of Apple, Google Mobile Browsers

Britain's competition watchdog launched an in-depth investigation into the dominance of the mobile browsers of Apple and Google. Responses to a consultation it launched in June revealed "substantial support" for a fuller investigation into the matter and into whether iPhone-maker Apple restricts cloud gaming through its app store, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said.

Microsoft Warns of Hackers Targeting Energy Sector via Outdated Software

Microsoft has warned that malicious hackers are exploiting a discontinued web server found in common Internet of Things (IoT) devices to target organizations in the energy sector. In an analysis, Microsoft researchers said they had discovered a vulnerable open-source component in the Boa web server, which is still widely used in a range of routers and security cameras, as well as popular software development kits (SDKs), despite the software’s retirement in 2005.

TikTok on 'High Alert' in Malaysia After Inconclusive General Election

Short video platform TikTok said it was on high alert for content that violates its guidelines in Malaysia after authorities warned of a rise in ethnic tension on social media following an inconclusive general election. The election ended in an unprecedented hung parliament with neither of two rival alliances able to secure enough seats in parliament to form a government.

France's Digital Regulator Expresses 'Deep Concern' About Twitter Content

France’s digital regulator has asked Twitter to confirm that it can still meet its legal obligations to moderate harmful content and misinformation as the company undergoes a major reorganization, including layoffs of half the company’s workforce, under the ownership of Elon Musk. The head of Arcom, the French regulator for digital and audiovisual communication, expressed “deep concern” in a letter to Twitter about how the chaos and staff erosion that have characterized Musk’s first weeks as owner and CEO since his $44 billion purchase of Twitter last month could affect the company’s ability to “maintain a safe environment for users of its service” in France.

Civil Rights Groups Urge Advertisers to Boycott Twitter Amid Hate Speech

Civil rights groups ramped up their calls for an ad boycott over Elon Musk’s decision to reinstate former President Trump on Twitter, saying Musk broke promises to curb hate speech and misinformation on the platform. “Any advertiser still funding Twitter should immediately pause all advertising now,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson tweeted over the weekend after Musk said Trump’s account would be reinstated.

Musk Reinstates Trump on Twitter Without Promised 'Content Moderation Council'

Elon Musk said on Twitter that he would reinstate former President Donald J. Trump to the platform as part of a shake-up of the social media service, with Mr. Trump’s account quickly showing up again on the site. Mr. Musk, who bought Twitter for $44 billion last month, had asked users on the platform about whether to allow Mr. Trump back onto the service.

Berkshire Hathaway Says Website Using Its Name in Domain Not Authorized

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., run by billionaire Warren Buffett, warned investors it has no affiliation with a purported cryptocurrency brokerage website using the Berkshire Hathaway name. The website describes its operator as a Texas-based broker founded in 2020 to give investors "an opportunity to achieve a completely passive income from investment in cryptocurrency mining."

Groups File FCC Petition Seeking Ban on Some Video Games Aimed at Kids

Some prominent children’s advocacy, privacy and health groups want to ban user-engagement techniques that, they say, unfairly steer the behavior of minors and hijack their attention. A coalition of more than 20 groups filed a petition asking the Federal Trade Commission to prohibit video games like My Talking Tom, as well as social networks like TikTok and other online services, from employing certain attention-grabbing practices that may hook children online.

FCC Releases Broadband Map Showing 98% Access at Residential Addresses

A new federal broadband map shows roughly 2% of American residential addresses lack access to broadband internet service, though officials said that figure could change as their database improves. The Federal Communications Commission released the map, as ordered by a 2020 law, showing millions of addresses with information about their access to broadband internet service from a variety of companies.

Google Loses, Apple Wins Appeal Against Decision by Italy's Antitrust Authority

An Italian administrative court rejected an appeal by Alphabet's Google against a decision by Italy's antitrust authority to fine the group, but accepted iPhone maker Apple's appeal against the watchdog's ruling. Last year, Italy's antitrust regulator fined Google and Apple 10 million euros ($10.36 million) each, claiming that the two tech groups had not provided "clear and immediate information" on how they collect and use the data of those who access their services.

Google Wins Default Judgment Against Operators of Glupteba Botnet

Google LLC won its lawsuit against the operators of the Glupteba botnet, after a federal district court in Manhattan granted the company’s motion for default judgment and monetary sanctions. The defendants, Dmitry Starovikov and Alexander Filippov, along with their lawyer, Igor Litvak, intentionally deceived the court in an effort to thwart discovery and disadvantage Google, Judge Denise L. Cote said.

Hate Speech Advocates Warn of Problems on Twitter During World Cup

Hate speech advocates are warning that the spread of racism on Twitter could be even worse during this year’s World Cup as the social media giant grapples with a mass exodus of employees and the tumultuous leadership style of new owner Elon Musk. Even before Musk laid off half of Twitter’s staff, his acquisition of Twitter had opened the door to a flood of racist and antisemitic trolls seeking to test Twitter’s content moderation practices under a new owner who for months had pledged to support free speech.

Senate Democrats Urge FTC to Investigate Twitter Over Consumer Protection

Senate Democrats urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Twitter over potential consumer protection violations after changes made to the platform in recent weeks under the helm of new CEO Elon Musk. The senators said “alarming steps” taken under Musk’s control, including allowing users to pay for verification check marks and laying off key staff, undermined the integrity and safety of the platform and may have already violated the FTC’s consent decree for the company.

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.