Big Tech news and reports on Federal Newswire

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has announced that Tarah Wheeler, a social scientist studying international conflict and CEO of the cybersecurity compliance company Red Queen Dynamics, has joined its Board of Directors. Wheeler has been on EFF’s advisory board since June 2020.

New scorecard by EPIC assesses strength of AI legislation

The nonprofit research organization Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has published a document designed to assess the strength of state and federal artificial intelligence legislation.

CDT’s Tech Talk discusses Paul Gowder’s book on social media governance

The latest episode of CDT's Tech Talk, hosted by Jamal Magby, delves into the intersection of technology and Internet policy. Available on iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn, the podcast aims to clarify complex policies and their implications for everyday life.

Europe gears up for comprehensive implementation of Artificial Intelligence Act

Policymakers in Europe are diligently working on matters related to artificial intelligence, and updates are being closely monitored. This coverage includes laws and policies pertaining to AI, as well as their implications for Europe, fundamental rights, and democracy. Interested parties can sign up for CDT Europe's AI Bulletin via email through CDT’s website.

Op-ed highlights risks faced by pregnant individuals seeking abortions post-Dobbs decision

This op-ed, authored by CDT’s Aliya Bhatia, first appeared in Tech Policy Press on June 25, 2024. A portion of the text has been provided below.

Civil groups urge Congress to restore civil rights protections in APRA

Today, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) joined numerous civil society organizations in urging the House Energy & Commerce Committee to reinstate civil rights protections to the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) before proceeding with a markup of the bill.

Privacy advocates criticize removal of AI bias protections from data privacy bill

With protections against AI bias removed, data privacy bill ‘impossible for civil society to support’

Netflix expands mobile gaming library with four new titles

Netflix has expanded its gaming offerings this month with the release of four new games. These titles include Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, Netflix Stories: Perfect Match, The Case of the Golden Idol, and Hearts. All Netflix Games are available to members without ads or in-app purchases.

Splintercon Brussels addresses connectivity challenges during complete internet shutdowns

Last week, a group of internet technologists and social movement activists gathered in Brussels to simulate an internet shutdown. This "blockathon" was a technical demonstration designed to show what the network looks like to engineers when there is no network. Participants were encouraged to attempt breaking out of the simulated shut-down network while discussing the privacy and ethics of creating such a censorship test-bed.

Report highlights superior U.S. online consumer protections over China

WASHINGTON—U.S.-based online marketplaces offer superior consumer protections compared to Chinese-based platforms, which fail to meet consumer expectations, according to a new report from the Center for Data Innovation. The report evaluates consumer protection measures among popular online marketplaces in the U.S., including AliExpress, Amazon, DHGate, eBay, Etsy, Houzz, Meta Platforms, Newegg, Temu, Walmart, and Wayfair.

Meta's role in advancing interoperability through the global network

The fediverse is a global, open network of interconnected yet independent social media servers, each with its own users, content, and rules. These servers share information to enable people to connect and discover new things across the fediverse. This allows communication across different servers—akin to posting on Threads and having it visible on Tumblr or Flipboard.

ITIF criticizes EU's antitrust actions against Microsoft over Teams integration

Following the European Commission’s Statement of Objections against Microsoft for tying Teams with its 365 suite, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a leading think tank for science and technology policy, released a statement from Joseph V. Coniglio, Director of Antitrust and Innovation at ITIF’s Schumpeter Project on Competition Policy.

Expert suggests TikTok ban may not enhance US data security

Banning TikTok may not do much to protect Americans’ data in the absence of broader privacy laws, Lauren Leffer argued in Scientific American. The legislation “is a form of security theater,” said Calli Schroeder of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. “You could get rid of TikTok today, and China would not lose any significant [amount] of personal information on Americans.”

States' varied responses post-Dobbs ruling examined in new CDT report

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has released a report titled “Two Years After Dobbs: An Analysis of State Laws to Protect Reproductive Healthcare Information from Interstate Investigations and Prosecutions.” Authored by CDT interns Irene Kim and Divya Vatsa, the document addresses the legal landscape following the Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision in Dobbs to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Organizations urge Biden to renominate Sharon Bradford Franklin as PCLOB Chair

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), along with 15 other organizations, has urged President Biden to renominate Sharon Bradford Franklin as Chair of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). Ms. Bradford Franklin’s term as PCLOB Chair has expired, and her holdover capacity ends in January. Historically, vacancies within PCLOB have led to periods of reduced effectiveness or dormancy.

Netflix updates its culture memo emphasizing core principles

In August 2009, Reed Hastings, Netflix’s co-founder, published a 125-page PowerPoint presentation on the company's culture. Its direct tone and focus on values and performance over rules and controls have enabled the company to adapt and grow since then.

Meta AI launches in India: available on WhatsApp and Facebook

By Federal Newswire | Jun 23, 2024

Meta AI, built with Meta Llama 3, is now available in India. The advanced AI assistant, already accessible for free across more than a dozen countries, can be used on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram. Users can employ Meta AI to assist with various tasks including planning events, organizing trips, studying, and interior design.

Meta collaborates with partners on new AI accelerator for European startups

By Federal Newswire | Jun 23, 2024

Meta, in collaboration with Hugging Face and Scaleway, has announced the launch of a new "AI Startup Program" aimed at accelerating the adoption of open-source AI solutions across Europe. The program is open to startups from EU member states and seeks to extend the economic and technological benefits of open models to a broader ecosystem.

Apple opens its first retail store in Malaysia

By Federal Newswire | Jun 22, 2024

Apple's first retail location in Malaysia opened today in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s new Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) central business district. Apple The Exchange TRX will serve as a space for customers to discover and purchase Apple's lineup of products, receive service, and learn how to maximize their devices through Today at Apple sessions.