Tech

close Video Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., discusses latest from the Big Tech Censorship and Data Task Force Censorship critic tells Fox News Digital why the newest recommendations still don't go far enough to protect free expression NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! A three-part package of antitrust legislation authored by Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., aimed at strengthening antitrust laws and the ability to enforce them will come up for a vote this week in the House. The news comes as bipartisan criticism mounts against perceived misuse of user data in the case of social media companies, and alleged anti-competitive business practices both in e-commerce and in international business, particularly in regard to China. Endeavors to rein in Big Tech are the rare issue in Washington, D.C., that often receives bipartisan support, typically from the conservative right and progressive left. The antitrust package will be composed of three … [Read more...] about Big Tech hawk spearheads antitrust package in Congress aimed at reining in ‘goliath’ firms’ prowess

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which recently said that questioning official narratives on matters like coronavirus policies constitutes a terrorist threat , has awarded nearly $700,000 to left-wing researchers to study radicalization in video games, with a focus on “white supremacy.” “Over the past decade, video games have increasingly become focal points of social activity and identity creation for adolescents and young adults,” said DHS in its press release announcing the grant. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) “Relationships made and fostered within game ecosystems routinely cross over into the real world and are impactful parts of local communities.” The money will go to a joint project run by Middlebury Institute’s Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism (CTEC), Take This, a non-profit that pushes left-wing identity politics , and Logically, a company which, according to Vice , is “attempting to solve the problem of bad online … [Read more...] about DHS Funds Leftist Orgs to Study ‘Radicalization,’ ‘White Supremacy’ in Video Games

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for July 22 Fox News Flash top headlines for July 22 are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The Federal Trade Commission's reported settlement with Google over YouTube children's privacy violations has been blasted by tech critics for not going far enough to rein in the search giant. The settlement was reportedly backed by the agency's three Republicans but rejected by its two Democrats. It found that Google didn't do enough to protect children who used its video-streaming service and improperly collected their data in violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, known as COPPA , which does not allow the tracking of users under 13 years of age, two sources told The Washington Post. Although the company is expected to pay a multimillion-dollar fine, the exact details of the settlement are unknown and the final agreement … [Read more...] about FTC’s settlement with Google over YouTube kids privacy violations blasted by critics

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for July 19 Fox News Flash top headlines for July 19 are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! A pilot of Amazon's facial recognition program is coming to an end in Orlando after being plagued by technical issues, bandwidth problems and criticism of the controversial face-scanning technology. Amazon's Rekognition , which is designed to automatically identify and track suspects in real time, was being used with four cameras at the city's police headquarters. "At this time, the city was not able to dedicate the resources to the pilot to enable us to make any noticeable progress toward completing the needed configuration and testing," Orlando's Chief Administrative Office said in a memo to the city council, the publication reports , adding that the city has "no immediate plans regarding future pilots to explore this type of facial recognition … [Read more...] about Orlando ends Amazon’s controversial facial recognition pilot program after technical glitches

Leave it to Facebook to squander the good will it had generated in the LGBT community, and piss off everybody—all to make some money. Just a few months ago, Facebook earned kudos from both the gay establishment and grassroots trans, genderqueer, and gender-non-conforming folk for expanding its range of pronouns and gender identifications . But now, by suddenly and mysteriously enforcing its “real-name policy” against drag queens and others with chosen names, Facebook has blown it. Worse, given an opportunity to compromise at a brokered meeting Wednesday in San Francisco, Facebook instead doubled down and refused to budge. There are differing accounts of why the policy, which requires users’ profiles to conform to their legal names, exists at all. Facebook claims that it’s about safety. Requiring people to use their legal names ostensibly protects users from stalkers, jealous exes, and others who might want to hide behind a pseudonym. “We require everyone to provide … [Read more...] about Facebook’s ‘Real Name Policy’ Is a Real Drag

“You’ve become eccentric.” In February, Lily, 47, opened Facebook and found this message under the “Other” tab in her inbox. The message could might have come across as an awkward attempt to reconnect if it were from an old friend. It wasn’t. It was sent by the man who she says beat her, broke her ribs, and repeatedly raped her two decades ago. “My blood ran cold, I was sweating, and [having] heart palpitations opening the message,” Lily told The Daily Beast. “It made my skin crawl.” But Lily’s ex might never have been able to find her profile in the first place if Facebook hadn’t asked her to display her “authentic name” in order to reopen her account, which had been suspended in December of last year over her use of a pseudonym. Of the major social networking services, Facebook alone requires users to use an “authentic name” as listed on an “ acceptable ” form of identification such as a driver’s license, a passport, or a bill. LinkedIn’s User Agreement asks for a “ … [Read more...] about How Facebook Exposes Domestic Violence Survivors

Former TikTok employees are claiming that at least five senior leaders at the social media firm have left in the last two years because they discovered they were unable to significantly influence decision-making as the company is still largely directed by its Chinese parent company ByteDance. Forbes reports that former TikTok employees allege that at least five senior leaders hired at the firm in the last two years have left upon discovering that they would not be able to significantly influence decision-making at the company. Three of the former department heads who spoke with Forbes anonymously said that after taking their positions, they learned that they would be expected to follow explicit directions from the Beijing office of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming (STR/Getty) TikTok Influencers film video (MIGUEL MEDINA /Getty) One former leader stated: “A lot of our guidance came from HQ, and we weren’t necessarily a part of … [Read more...] about Report: U.S. Executives Flee TikTok Because China Calls All the Shots

New York (CNN Business) Retailers have already signaled big sales are coming for the holidays — with one major, sparkly exception. Stores are looking to offload overstocks of clothes, shoes, toys, gadgets and furniture. But jewelry might evade all that deep discounting. That's because holiday jewelry sales have been on fire over the last two years. On an annual basis they surged 32% in 2021 and 26.2% in 2020, according to MasterCard's SpendingPulse report that tracks retail spending from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 , the peak period for year-end gift shopping each year. "Jewelry is in good shape heading into this holiday season," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail industry adviser with NPD Group. He expects consumers will gravitate to bling because they perceive it to be a "good investment gift, so spending limits by consumers will feel better spent on jewelry." Fine jewelry like diamond studs and necklaces — and maybe even an engagement ring — have … [Read more...] about Expect big holiday sales on everything but the bling

Illustration: Doug Chayka One way to understand the past five years of social media is as a race to see who can copy TikTok the fastest and with the least dignity. Instagram (Reels), YouTube (Shorts), and most recently Facebook (Suggested for You) have all undergone covetous and occasionally disastrous renovations inspired by the video-sharing service. It was notable, then, when TikTok announced a copycat of its own on September 15, “a daily prompt to capture a ten-second video or a static photo to easily share what you’re up to.” This, the company says, is a way to share “your most authentic moments with the people who matter the most.” Users of BeReal , the French photo-sharing app that rocketed to popularity this year, will recognize the concept: the surprise notification; the apparently simultaneous double-camera image capture; a suggestion of “realness” or “authenticity.” Lest it be said that TikTok isn’t innovating, it will give users three minutes rather than … [Read more...] about TikTok Is the New King of Social Media. Now What?

NEW DELHI (AP) — Apple Inc. will make its iPhone 14 in India, the company said on Monday, as manufacturers shift production from China amid geopolitical tensions and pandemic restrictions that have disrupted supply chains for many industries. “The new iPhone 14 lineup introduces groundbreaking new technologies and important safety capabilities. We’re excited to be manufacturing iPhone 14 in India,” Apple said in a statement. Apple unveiled its latest line-up of iPhones earlier this month. They will have improved cameras, faster processors and longer lasting batteries at the same prices as last year’s models. India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market after China but Apple iPhone sales have struggled to capture a large share of the market against cheaper smartphones from competitors. The announcement from the Cupertino, California-based company dovetails with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for local manufacturing, which has been a key goal for his government … [Read more...] about Apple Inc will manufacture iPhone 14 in India