Facebook is facing a new wave of criticism for letting users identify individuals by phone number even when they only gave Facebook the number for the purpose of two-factor authentication.
Why it matters: Critics are saying a measure that users take in order to protect their security is instead, in Facebook's hands, exposing their privacy.
Luminary Media, a Chicago-based subscription podcast network with exclusive content, reportedly raised around $60 million in new funding. The company has now raised nearly $100 million in total, from backers like NEA.
Why it matters: This comes just weeks after Spotify acquired a pair of large podcast networks, with its own ambitions of becoming Netflix for podcasts. "To some degree, of course, all media start-ups think they are going to be the next Netflix. The test for Luminary will come in the execution. And there are plenty of challenges. Subscription-based businesses are hot at the moment, but analysts say that consumers will begin pushing back and asking, How many entertainment services do I really need to be paying for every month?" writes Brooks Barnes in the New York Times.
Lyft has publicly filed its IPO prospectus, and word is that we should be getting the same from Uber within the next few weeks — though not this week.
By the numbers: Lyft's $911 million net loss in 2018 will be a massive hurdle to jump, given that it would appear to be the largest-ever net loss for a company entering the public markets for the first time. As of now, there is no visible path to profitability.
An investigation by fact-checking company Snopes finds that a series of seemingly innocuous local websites, which have popped up all over the country, are being run by GOP consultants whose businesses are funded in part by candidates the websites cover.
Why it matters: The consultants setting up these websites, first reported last year by Politico, are expanding their efforts to more battleground states in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election.
Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou is suing Canada over her arrest at Vancouver airport last year, CBC reported Sunday.
Why it matters: U.S. authorities formally requested in January for Canada to extradite Meng, after the Justice Department unveiled indictments against the executive and others associated with the Chinese tech giant. They are accused of violating Iran trade sanctions. Meng filed a notice of civil claim in British Columbia Supreme Court Friday against members of the Canada Border Services Agency, Canada's federal government and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, alleging "serious breaches of her constitutional rights" and false imprisonment.
The big picture: Lyft is much smaller than Uber — it only operates in the U.S. and Canada — but its role in the ride-share ecosystem is hugely important. Lyft has managed to grow its market share to 39%, which makes it ubiquitous enough that riders can easily and regularly compare price quotes between Uber and Lyft to see which one is cheaper.
