Category: iNews

Category: iNews

Biden’s New FTC Head Could Make Big Tech Sweat 
06/17/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

U.S. President Joe Biden’s unexpected decision to name a staunch antitrust advocate to lead the Federal Trade Commission has thrilled supporters of stronger regulation of the tech industry and has prompted predictions of regulatory overreach from representatives of some of the country’s largest internet companies.Lina Khan, 32, a professor at Columbia Law School prior to

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Internet Outages Briefly Disrupt Access to Websites, Apps
06/17/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

A wave of brief internet outages hit the websites and apps of dozens of financial institutions, airlines and other companies across the globe Thursday.The Hong Kong Stock Exchange said in a tweet Thursday afternoon Hong Kong time that its site was facing technical issues and that it was investigating. It said in another post 17

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NASA, ESA Astronauts Take Space Walk to Install Solar Panels on ISS
06/16/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Astronauts from both the U.S. space agency, NASA, and the European Space Agency ((ESA)) left the International Space Station ((ISS)) Wednesday to begin a project to upgrade the floating laboratory’s solar panel power supply system.   NASA flight engineer Shane Kimbrough and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet worked for several hours to install the first two

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MacKenzie Scott Donates $2.7 Billion to ‘Underfunded and Overlooked’ Causes
06/16/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced Tuesday that she has donated $2.7 billion to communities “that have been historically underfunded and overlooked.” “Because community-centered service is such a powerful catalyst and multiplier, we spent the first quarter of 2021 identifying and evaluating equity-oriented nonprofit teams working in areas that have been neglected,” Scott wrote in a blog

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Biden, Putin Brace for Possible Fight Over Ransomware
06/16/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

As President Joe Biden prepares for his first meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Geneva, the White House says the threat of ransomware will be a “significant topic” of conversation between the two leaders.Until just a couple of years ago, ransomware was viewed largely as a financial crime, hardly an issue that would

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Fake AI People Created by Companies Could Trick You
06/15/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Digital images of fake people–that look real–are being sold online—by the thousands. Deana Mitchell explores the issue.Producer: Deana Mitchell …

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Indian Government in Standoff with Twitter Over Online Speech
06/15/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in a battle with U.S. tech firms over a new set of online speech rules that it has enacted for the nation of nearly 1.4 billion.  The rules require companies to restrict a range of topics on their services, comply with government takedown orders and identify the original source of information shared. If the companies fail to comply, tech firm employees can be held criminally liable.  The escalation of tensions between Modi’s government

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India’s Government in Standoff with Twitter Over Online Speech
06/15/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in a battle with U.S. tech firms over a new set of online speech rules that it has enacted for the nation of nearly 1.4 billion.  The rules require companies to restrict a range of topics on their services, comply with government takedown orders and identify the original source of information shared. If the companies fail to comply, tech firm employees can be held criminally liable.  The escalation of tensions between Modi’s government

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Trip to Space with Jeff Bezos Sells for $28 Million
06/13/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

A mystery bidder paid $28 million at auction Saturday for a seat alongside Jeff Bezos on board the first crewed spaceflight of the billionaire’s company Blue Origin next month.The Amazon founder revealed this week that both he and his brother Mark would take seats on board the company’s New Shepard launch vehicle on July 20,

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Criminal Organizations Hire Hackers to Look for Targets
06/11/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Ransomware cases are on the rise worldwide and criminal groups based in Russia are suspected of being behind some of the biggest recent attacks. Michelle Quinn reports on the changing world of ransomware.Camera: Matt DibbleProduced by: Michelle Quinn …

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Google Pledges to Resolve Ad Privacy Probe with UK Watchdog
06/11/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Google has promised to give U.K. regulators a role overseeing its plan to phase out existing ad-tracking technology from its Chrome browser as part of a competition investigation into the tech giant.     The U.K. competition watchdog has been investigating Google’s proposals to remove so-called third-party cookies over concerns they would undermine digital ad competition and

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White House Launches Broader Scrutiny of Foreign Tech
06/11/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

An executive order signed by President Joe Biden this week dropped a Trump-era measure that barred Americans from downloading TikTok and several other Chinese smartphone apps. But analysts say the order also broadens the scrutiny of foreign-controlled technology.Biden’s move replaced three Trump administration executive orders that sought to ban downloads of TikTok and WeChat and

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Cyber Regulation Could Be Coming Following Spate of Hacks, Ransomware Attacks
06/11/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The United States may soon look to regulate private companies, mandating higher standards for cybersecurity following a series of damaging hacks and ransomware attacks against key firms and critical infrastructure.U.S. President Joe Biden’s nominees to fill two top cyber roles in his administration warned Thursday that malign actors are currently operating with impunity and that

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Hire a Hacker: Criminal Organizations Work with Hackers to Look for Targets, Collect Ransom Proceeds
06/11/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Ransomware cases are on the rise worldwide and criminal groups based in Russia are suspected of being behind some of the biggest recent attacks. Michelle Quinn reports on the changing world of ransomware.Camera: Matt DibbleProduced by: Michelle Quinn …

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US Again Condemns Nigeria’s Twitter Ban 
06/10/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The U.S. has condemned Nigeria’s continuing ban of Twitter in the country, saying the action “has no place in a democracy.”“Freedom of expression and access to information both online and offline are foundational to prosperous and secure democratic societies,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Thursday in a statement calling for the African nation to

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Insect-Tracking Drones to Boost Rare Bug Conservation in New Zealand
06/10/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

A “swarm” of bug-tracking drones and tiny radars are being developed to help conservation of rare insects in New Zealand.  The new tag-and-track technology is being developed at the University of Canterbury on New Zealand’s South Island. Researchers hope it could lead to a deeper understanding of New Zealand’s threatened and endangered insects. The research draws on years of experience in the area

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Biden Administration to Review Trump Ban on TikTok, WeChat, Other Apps 
06/09/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Former president Donald Trump’s executive order that attempted to ban Chinese video app TikTok has been replaced by the Biden administration, which has implemented its own executive orders to review several Chinese apps for possible national security and privacy risks. President Joe Biden’s executive order directs the Commerce Department to analyze TikTok, WeChat and other Chinese

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Biden Replaces Trump Ban on TikTok, WeChat, Other Apps 
06/09/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Former president Donald Trump’s executive order that attempted to ban Chinese video app TikTok has been replaced by the Biden administration, which has implemented its own executive orders to review several Chinese apps for possible national security and privacy risks. President Joe Biden’s executive order directs the Commerce Department to analyze TikTok, WeChat and other Chinese

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Pipeline Executive Felt Cornered by Ransomware Attack
06/09/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The top executive for the biggest fuel pipeline operator in the United States told lawmakers he felt like he had no choice but to pay off hackers after a ransomware attack shut down operations along the East Coast. Testifying Tuesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Colonial Pipeline Chief Executive Joseph Blount took

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How a Fake FBI-Encrypted Device Ensnared Criminals Around the World
06/09/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The global sting operation billed as “Trojan Shield” that led to the arrests of hundreds of criminals this week began with the takedown of an encrypted device maker catering to drug traffickers around the world.  In 2018, the FBI dismantled Canada-based Phantom Secure, forcing its customers — at the time estimated at more than 10,000

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Senate Passes Bill to Boost US Tech Industry, Counter Rivals
06/09/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Tuesday that aims to boost U.S. semiconductor production and the development of artificial intelligence and other technology in the face of growing international competition, most notably from China. The 68-32 vote for the bill demonstrates how confronting China economically is an issue that unites both parties in Congress. That’s a

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With Trump Suspension, Facebook Tells World Leaders: Your Speech Will Not Get a Pass   
06/09/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook’s recent decision to ban former president Donald Trump for two years sends a message to world leaders that Facebook is stepping up its role as sheriff on its service. Tina Trinh reports.Produced by Tina Trinh …

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