The family of slain journalist Alison Parker, who died in 2015, is asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action against Facebook for not removing a video of her death, the Associated Press reports.
Why it matters: Facebook has faced mounting widespread scrutiny in recent weeks from lawmakers and the public, initially spurred by whistleblower accounts by former employee Frances Haugen.
Epic Games is working with "Among Us" creator Innersloth on something new, after finally acknowledging the indie developer's influence on its Impostors mode in "Fortnite."
Why it matters: It's the first time Epic has publicly conceded the game's clear similarities to Innersloth's breakout hit, in which players attempt to complete tasks while rooting out a traitor in their midst.
Senators at the Facebook hearing last week used an analogy we’ve all heard before — Big Tech is having a Big Tobacco moment. Are the harmful effects of social media sites like Facebook and Instagram that clear cut?
Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ chief technology correspondent Ina Fried about how Big Tech compares to Big Tobacco.
Magic Leap, a Plantation, Florida-based augmented reality company, raised $500 million at a $2 billion post-money valuation from unspecified "existing investors."
Why it matters: This is a company that lives up to its name, at least in terms of separating VCs from their money, as Magic Leap has now raised nearly twice as many dollars as its current valuation. Maybe that's why none of those return backers are eager to be identified.
Google announced Tuesday it has created a new cybersecurity team to help respond to and prevent cyberattacks against governments, critical infrastructure managers and other crucial companies.
Why it matters: It said the creation of the team is in response to the recent surge in cyber and ransomware attacks, including the ransomware attempt against the Colonial Pipeline in May and the sprawling SolarWinds breach, which was uncovered in December 2020 but likely existed for months before its discovery.
A new global agreement to levy a near-universal 15% minimum tax on large corporations' profits could cost tech giants billions each year. Yet lobbies representing the companies have rallied behind the plan, largely because it phases out a different kind of tax that tech dislikes even more.
The big picture: The minimum tax passed a crucial hurdle last week when more than 130 nations reached agreement at an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting. It still awaits final approval from many stakeholders, including the U.S. Congress.
Internet freedom around the world has dropped for the 11th consecutive year, according to an annual report from Freedom House, a non-profit focused on expanding freedom and democracy.
Why it matters: The findings suggest that a broader shift in power from tech companies to nation states over the past year has resulted in "a record-breaking crackdown" on freedom of expression online.
The new Superman, Jonathan Kent, will soon come out as bisexual after becoming romantically involved with his reporter friend Jay Nakamura, DC Comics announced Monday.
Why it matters: The major announcement on the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane coincided with National Coming Out Day. Writer Tom Taylor told the New York Times following the announcement that the idea of "replacing Clark Kent with another straight white savior felt like a missed opportunity."
Two of the governmental organizations suing Activision are now fighting each other in court.
Driving the news: On Thursday, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing said it objected to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's planned harassment lawsuit settlement with Activision Blizzard.
The durability of the Nintendo Switch's controllers remains an open question, four and a half years into the popular console’s existence.
Driving the news: Nintendo itself acknowledged that uncertainty in a recent promotional interview in which its hardware designers discussed, but did not fully detail, efforts to improve the device.
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen said Monday she will meet with the social media company's Oversight Board sometime in the coming weeks. The Oversight Board said in a statement it wants to "gather information that can help push for greater transparency and accountability."
Why it matters: Last week, Haugen urged lawmakers to regulate Facebook, saying it knows its algorithms can lead teens to pro-anorexia content and that it boosts extreme content more likely to elicit a reaction from users.
Facebook's latest firestorm highlights a broader reckoning over what public companies should disclose to investors, both about their external impacts and their inner workings.
Why it matters: The belief that all companies need to disclose is how much money they’re making, and how much they’re spending, is quickly becoming outdated.
A former Facebook employee has filed eight complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging the social network deceived investors. But even if regulators find the company at fault, it’s unlikely to remake Facebook in a drastic way.
Why it matters: Critics of Big Tech companies like Facebook have increasingly pushed for the government to halt certain practices — driven by advertising business models — they say allow or encourage harmful content.
Critics say the tech industry is having a "Big Tobacco moment," but limiting harms caused by giant tech firms is likely to prove even trickier than reducing the toll of smoking.
One key difference is that Big Tobacco was a relatively stationary target, with the big companies all producing roughly the same product and doing so year after year.
