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Senate bill aims to boost accountability for Section 230 without gutting it

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Greater accountability would come by requiring a “defined complaint system” that handles reports and alerts users to moderation actions within two weeks while providing an appeals process. Companies would have 24 hours to remove any content deemed illegal, although smaller outlets would have more leeway for responding to requests and user complaints.

The bill would limit Section 230’s ability to to protect companies from actions by federal regulators and state attorneys general, and would have the Government Accountability Office examine the possibility of an FTC-run whistleblower program for online platforms.

If all goes well, this would hold sites to task when they’re abusing the law or are clearly aware of users’ illegal activity. A site that thrives on user uploads of pirated material would have a more difficult time avoiding legal action. This wouldn’t weaken encryption (as the EARN IT Act and other initiatives might), however, and it wouldn’t force sites to carry content.

There’s no certainty this bill and its expected House counterpart will survive Congress and become law. Schatz pointed out that this is not only a bipartisan bill, but is sponsored by both the chairman and ranking member of the Senate committee. It might gain traction where single-party bills have fallen short.

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Devin Nunes can’t sue Twitter over parody cow account

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In the ruling, the judge said Twitter is protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which says tech platforms can’t be held liable for what their users say.  

In a statement, Twitter praised the ruling. “Twitter strongly believes the court made the right decision today to dismiss the claims raised by Congressman Nunes,” a company spokesperson said. “Twitter enforces the Twitter Rules impartially for everyone who uses our service around the world, regardless of their background or political affiliation. We are constantly improving our efforts to serve the public conversation and will continue to be transparent with the public.”

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App Clips could be a Trojan Horse for Sign In with Apple

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Apple first came up with its “Sign in with Apple” service last year as a privacy-focused alternative to Google and Facebook. These are often used as a convenient alternative to signing up for a new account every time you want to test a new app or read a news story. For a lot of people, it’s just easier to rely on a single login and password. Unfortunately, whenever you use a login from Google and Facebook, that allows the website in question to request data about you, such as your name, birthday, your internet activity, and more. Google and Facebook in turn get a lot of information about you, which they often use to serve you ads. 

According to the company, Apple’s sign-in service cares more about your data than the other two because it’ll let you limit the amount of private information that apps typically get. So, for example, while sites and apps will still be able to request your email address, Apple’s Sign In offers the option to hide it. Plus, Apple also will let you generate a unique, random email address that can forward messages from those services to your inbox. This, Apple says, will prevent companies from knowing your real email. Apple also claims that it won’t let these third-party companies use the login to track your internet activity like Google or Facebook might. 

As a way to spread the Sign in with Apple service to its customer base, the company made it mandatory for apps to include it as an option if they already had third-party logins. But as widespread as it is, most people will likely already have existing Google or Facebook logins that they use with their favorite apps. And even though Apple’s login option might have better privacy features than its rivals, A) that’s not the kind of information that’s easily conveyed in most apps and B) most people probably don’t care very much. 

App Clips, however, could change the rate of adoption for Sign In with Apple significantly. Since these are apps that users don’t already have, it’s very likely that they will just pick the Sign In With Apple option rather than having to go through a whole new account sign up.

What’s more, Apple is opening the possibility for App Clips to work even for businesses that don’t have a specific app of their own. It announced that it’s allowing apps with listings for multiple businesses, such as Yelp, to create App Clip “experiences” for each of them. So, for example, you could launch an “App Clip” for a plumber that you found on Yelp, and pay for its services that way. 

As for why Apple would want users to use its sign-in service versus Google or Facebook, there are a few reasons. One is that this makes the iPhone a more holistic all-Apple experience, which is a clear priority for the company. Consider how Apple is attempting to win users away from Google Maps and over to Apple Maps. This reduces Apple’s dependence of third-parties and, importantly, gives it a lot more control over the user experience. 

Additionally, Apple’s sign-in service is a way for it to separate itself from the competition. As iOS and Android get more and more alike in terms of services and features, privacy is where Apple hopes to differentiate itself. This is clearly a priority for the company, as evidenced by its giant CES ad that claimed “What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone.” If people continue to sign in with Google or Facebook, then Apple’s claim falls apart pretty quickly. But by making it much easier for users to use Sign In with Apple, it can make the case that privacy remains a priority. And, the more people that use the service, the easier it is for the company to argue users do indeed care about privacy. 

Of course, the success of this ploy rests on the popularity of App Clips. As mentioned, Apple is pushing App Clips to be mostly used in very specific contexts, such as scooter apps or parking apps, and its appeal is mostly to first-time users (Regular users will likely just go ahead and download the full app). Much like with Android Instant Apps, most developers will probably prefer you download the full version instead. And it’s worth noting that Instant Apps never quite got enough traction on Android, likely due to low developer adoption. But considering Google and Facebook’s dominance in this arena, Apple could use any help it can get. 



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Sony starts a PlayStation bug bounty program

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Sony has launched a bug bounty program that anyone can participate in, and rewards for reporting critical PS4 vulnerabilities can be up to $50,000, Sony Senior Director of Software Engineering Geoff Norton wrote on the PlayStation blog. While Sony had a bug bounty that was previously only available to private researchers, it’s now partnering with HackerOne to open the program to “the security research community, gamers and anyone else.”

PlayStation engineers are particularly interested in reports on PlayStation 4 hardware, operating system, accessories and the PlayStation Network, according to its bug bounty page on HackerOne. A report for a low-priority issue on PlayStation 4 would start at $500, while a critical issue could net up to $50,000. Reports for the PlayStation Network pay a little less — low priority issues start at $100 while critical issues pay $3,000.Companies like Apple, Google and Netflix have their own public bug bounties as well, so it’s not surprising to see Sony launch something for the PlayStation brand.

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NASA names its DC headquarters after its first Black female engineer

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“Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology,” Bridenstine said in a statement.

Jackson was born in Hampton, Virginia, and earned a dual degree in math and physical sciences from Hampton Institute in 1942. She worked as a math teacher, bookkeeper and US Army secretary before joining the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the Langley Research Center. In 1951, she was recruited by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which was later succeeded by NASA.

Jackson worked as a “human computer” for two years. After which, she conducted experiments in the 60,000-horsepower Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, which blasted models with winds nearly twice the speed of sound. Jackson was encouraged to take a training program that would allow her to advance from mathematician to engineer. But because the classes were held at the then-segregated Hampton High School, she needed special permission to attend.

Jackson did complete the training, and in 1958 she became NASA’s first Black female engineer. She authored and co-authored numerous reports and joined Langley’s Federal Women’s Program, where she worked to address the hiring and advancement of the next generation of female mathematicians, engineers and scientists. She worked alongside Katherine Johnson, Dororhty Vaughan and Christine Darden, also featured in Hidden Figures.

Jackson retired in 1985 and was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously in 2019.

“NASA facilities across the country are named after people who dedicated their lives to push the frontiers of the aerospace industry. The nation is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation… We know there are many other people of color and diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our success, which is why we’re continuing the conversations started about a year ago with the agency’s Unity Campaign. NASA is dedicated to advancing diversity, and we will continue to take steps to do so,” Bridenstine said.

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Boston bans police and city use of facial recognition software

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The ban comes after software called DataWorks Plus and human error led to the wrongful arrest of a Black man in Detroit. Police arrested Robert Williams after the software incorrectly matched his driver’s license photo to security footage from the scene of a burglary. The incident is the first known instance of a wrongful arrest in the US based on an incorrect facial recognition match, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). However, research suggests most facial recognition software isn’t great at correctly identifying people of color. A 2018 MIT study, for instance, found that three commercially available programs incorrectly identified dark-skinned women as much as 34.7 percent of the time. 

“This is a crucial victory for our privacy rights and for people like Robert Williams, who have been arrested for crimes they didn’t commit because of a technology law enforcement shouldn’t be using,” said ACLU of Massachusetts executive director Carol Rose. “Lawmakers nationwide should follow suit and immediately stop law enforcement use of this technology. This surveillance technology is dangerous when right, and dangerous when wrong.”

It’s worth pointing out that once Boston Mayor Marty Walsh signs the bill into law, it won’t prevent federal agencies like the FBI from using the tech while conducting investigations in the city. Still, with cities like San Francisco and Boston limiting the use of the technology, other jurisdictions may do the same. 

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‘Marvel’s Avengers’ will pit the superheroes against MODOK

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MODOK was previously known as George Tarleton, a founding member of AIM. Kamala Khan, one of the game’s main characters, suspects that tech corporation is experimenting on Inhumans such as herself, and sets out to bring the truth to light.

During the single-player campaign, you’ll take on hero-specific missions as Kamala (aka Ms. Marvel) attempts to reunite the Avengers. The stream offered an in-depth look at gameplay, in a level centered around Thor. With the help of Mjolnir (and a friend or two), he battles an army of AIM mechs on a helicarrier.

Heroes have core abilities, and you’ll be able to unlock other skills and moves. Each has three special (or “heroic”) powers: assault, support and ultimate. Assault is pretty self-explanatory. Support allows to you buff your teammates. Ultimates, meanwhile, have the potential to impact fights massively — Thor’s, for instance, can bypass otherwise unbreakable shields and mete out huge damage.

There are plenty of other RPG mechanics in the game, which are a bit reminiscent of Destiny. You can also customize your heroes with gear that grants extra abilities or perks. You can change up their looks with different outfits, emotes and nameplates. You’ll rebuild and upgrade your own helicarrier as well, on which you can unlock new gear and missions.

The stream also provided some more details about multiplayer. War Zones are missions you can tackle with up to three other players or by yourself with AI companions, which are based on the heroes you’ve unlocked and leveled up. When you and a companion max out a large enemy’s stun meter, you can deliver a final blow with a team finisher.

Crystal Dynamics plans to add more heroes, locales and story later at no extra cost. After delays, Marvel’s Avengers is set to finally hit PC, Stadia, Xbox One and PS4 on September 4th. If you buy it on PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll get a free upgrade to the PS5 or Xbox Series X version.

The game also includes cross-gen compatibility, so if you’re playing on Xbox One, you’ll still be able to team up with a buddy who’s running it on XSX. Whether it’ll be strong enough to fend off early worries about how good it’ll actually be remains to be seen.

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Tesla trails the pack in its first JD Power car quality study

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Tesla has appeared in a JD Power Initial Quality Study for the first time, and it doesn’t look good for the electric car maker — although the story is more complex than it sounds. JD Power ranked Tesla last out of 32 brands operating in the US, with 250 problems per 100 vehicles. The top brands, Dodge and Kia, had ‘just’ 136 problems. Tesla wasn’t officially participating in the study as it doesn’t grant permission to survey owners in 15 states where it’s required, but JD Power collected enough surveys (about 1,250) from other states to produce a score.

That’s not a sterling result, but the numbers don’t say everything. JD Power automotive president Doug Betts told CNBC that Tesla’s issues were mostly related to production-related issues like body panel gaps, paint flaws and squeaks. For contrast, nearly a quarter of all automakers’ problems stemmed from infotainment issues like touchscreens, phone connectivity and built-in navigation. Tesla vehicles may have more issues, then, but they’re less likely to be ones that affect the basic functionality of the car.

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Republican Senate bill seeks an end to ‘warrant-proof’ encryption

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It’d also require the AG to create a competition that would reward “participants who create a lawful access solution in an encrypted environment, while maximizing privacy and security.” In addition, the bill would allocate funding for the Justice Department’s National Domestic Communications Assistance Center in order to bolster “digital evidence training for law enforcement.”

“Our legislation respects and protects the privacy rights of law-abiding Americans,” said Graham, the Judiciary Committee chairman. “It also puts the terrorists and criminals on notice that they will no longer be able to hide behind technology to cover their tracks.”

Encrypted communication has been a contentious issue for some, particularly following a number of high-profile criminal acts. For instance, following the 2015 San Bernardino shooting, the FBI sued Apple in an attempt to make it unlock the suspect’s iPhone. The agency eventually brought in a contractor to crack the device using brute force. 

Earlier this year, the FBI and Attorney General asked Apple to unlock the phone of a suspected naval base shooter, but the company declined. It has argued that data privacy is a human rights issue. Americans have a constitutional right to privacy, as covered by the Fourth Amendment. The Department of Justice also asked Facebook last year to pause its plans to adopt end-to-end encryption in all its private messaging services. 

“The Lawful Access To Encrypted Data Act will make it easier for bad actors to access people’s communications,” said Alan Butler, interim executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. “You cannot build a backdoor that only law enforcement can access. That’s not how encryption works.” 

While the bill might curry favor in the Republican-controlled Senate, it may encounter greater resistance in the House, in which the Democrats hold sway.

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Slack lets up to 20 companies chat in the same channel

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manage calendars across teams. With Slack Connect, the company says organizations can “work faster with vendors, strengthen client relationships, provide top-tier enterprise support and manage supply chains.”

There are obviously some security concerns with cross-organization communications like this, but Slack assures that all of it’s existing enterprise-grade security features and compliance standards extend to Slack Connect. It does, of course, recommend that you only connect to trusted parties in order to reduce spam and phishing attempts. 

More than just a chat app, Slack has for a long time positioned itself as a replacement to email, especially with features like calendar management and Office 365 integration. Now, with Slack Connect, it aims to take that one step further.

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