All articles tagged with #tech firms
Originally Published 18 days ago — by PBS
The U.S. has barred five Europeans accused of pressuring tech companies to censor American viewpoints, citing concerns over extraterritorial censorship efforts and a new visa policy targeting foreign influence on online speech, with responses from European officials defending their digital laws and criticizing the move as repression.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by The Washington Post
Google co-founder Sergey Brin criticized the U.N. as 'transparently antisemitic' after a report accused tech companies like Google of profiting from Israel's actions in Gaza, sparking controversy within the company.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Bloomberg
Despite the success of some tech companies, many are struggling with debt, leading to a situation where creditors are turning against each other in a bid to get repaid. Troubled tech firms like Alvaria Inc., GoTo Group Inc., and Rackspace Technology Inc. have agreed to restructuring deals that provide select lenders with better terms on debt swaps than others, leading to what is being called 'creditor-on-creditor violence.'
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC News
Tech firms and billionaires are investing in nuclear energy to support the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence and other fast-growing technologies. While AI advancements are adding to energy consumption, nuclear power is seen as crucial for the green transition. Startups like Oklo, backed by Silicon Valley figures, are working on small-scale nuclear power plants to fuel data centers and industrial facilities, but face regulatory challenges. Despite past opposition, public support for expanding nuclear energy is growing as the climate crisis accelerates, with tech firms increasingly investing in nuclear projects to meet their energy needs directly. However, experts caution that the expansion of nuclear power should proceed methodically to avoid serious mistakes.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Reuters
Major American companies, including tech giants like Amazon, Meta Platforms, IBM, Spotify, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Intel, as well as Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs, have announced significant job cuts in recent months. Economic uncertainties, driven by rising interest rates, have forced these companies to slash thousands of jobs in an effort to reduce costs. The job cuts span various sectors, including technology, media, telecom, finance, consumer and retail, energy and resources, health and pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Verge
UK regulator Ofcom has released its first guidelines for tech firms to comply with the Online Safety Act, which aims to tackle illegal content such as child sexual abuse material, terrorism content, and fraud. The guidelines propose that tech platforms be proactive in removing illegal content and implement measures like blocking strangers from sending direct messages to children and using hash matching to detect and remove illegal material. Compliance with the guidelines will be voluntary, but failure to comply could result in fines or even blocking of offending sites in the UK. The guidelines also cover other illegal harms like harassment and the supply of drugs and firearms. However, controversial issues such as end-to-end encryption and AI-generated content will be addressed in future consultations.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Yahoo News
Tech firms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter (now known as X), are rolling back policies aimed at curbing misinformation ahead of the 2024 elections, raising concerns about the spread of falsehoods. These changes, driven by cost-cutting measures, pressure from right-wing groups, and accusations of suppressing free speech, have led to the loosening of content moderation policies, downsizing of trust and safety teams, and the restoration of accounts known for spreading bogus conspiracies. Researchers warn that these moves have weakened the ability of tech companies to tackle the expected surge of misinformation during major elections worldwide. Critics argue that social media platforms are ill-prepared for the upcoming election season, leaving democracies vulnerable to hate speech, election interference, and violent coup attempts.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNBC
Goldman Sachs is facing a crucial moment as tech companies Arm, Instacart, and Klaviyo prepare to test the IPO market. After a slow year for American IPOs, the success of these listings will boost confidence for CEOs and help revive other areas of finance. Goldman Sachs, which is more dependent on investment banking than its rivals, is the lead advisor for Instacart and Klaviyo and shares top billing for Arm. However, if these IPOs fail to trade for a premium, doubts may arise about Goldman Sachs' performance under CEO David Solomon. Additionally, there are concerns about Arm's valuation and its exposure to China.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Hacker News
Two U.K. teenagers, including Arion Kurtaj, have been convicted for their involvement in the LAPSUS$ hacking gang, responsible for high-profile hacks against major tech firms. The hackers conducted SIM swapping and prompt bombing attacks to gain unauthorized access to corporate networks, targeting companies like Uber, Revolut, and Rockstar Games. They demanded ransom in exchange for not leaking the stolen information and solicited rogue insiders for credentials. The group infiltrated organizations such as BT, EE, Microsoft, and Samsung. The teenagers are awaiting sentencing.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Reuters
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has initiated the process to block access to news on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada in response to the Online News Act, which requires internet giants to negotiate commercial deals with Canadian news publishers. Meta argues that users do not come to their platforms for news and that news links make up less than 3% of content on users' feeds. This move follows a similar campaign by Google, and both companies had previously threatened to limit their services in Australia over a similar law.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
Seven influential tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, have signed a voluntary pledge initiated by the White House to address the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI). The companies have committed to allowing independent security experts to test their AI systems before public release, sharing data on system safety with the government and academics, and developing watermarking systems to alert the public when AI-generated content is created. The pledge aims to raise industry standards for AI safety, security, and trust. The White House is also developing an executive order on AI and supporting bipartisan legislation on AI regulation in Congress. Consumer advocates welcome the pledge but caution that tech companies have a history of not fulfilling voluntary commitments.