Bayonetta’s voice actor for the series’ first two games called on fans to boycott the upcoming Bayonetta 3 this weekend, saying developers offered her an “immoral” rate to return to the role, then misled the public about why she didn’t.
Why it matters: With a series of viral tweets, actress Hellena Taylor changed the online discussion around a signature Nintendo Switch release and resurfaced debate about what video game voice actors should be paid.
Bitcoin as a safe haven against inflation, once accepted wisdom for crypto proponents, is proving questionable.
Why it matters: In the face of persistently high consumer price index prints, the world's largest and oldest digital asset has crumpled, eroding investor confidence that it can act as a safe haven during times of market turmoil.
The Justice Department has required lobbyists for Hikvision, a leading Chinese surveillance equipment company, to register as foreign agents, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The move comes amid a broader federal crackdown on Chinese industries deemed potential U.S. national security threats. The push is now reaching D.C. representatives for the world's largest manufacturer of video surveillance equipment.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, plans to acquire Parler, a Twitter-like social media app that has become a haven for conservatives.
Why it matters: In a statement, Ye said he's buying the platform to ensure people with conservative opinions "have the right to freely express ourselves" online.
Ro Khanna, the Democrat who represents a big chunk of Silicon Valley in Congress, is still optimistic that his party will hold onto the House and that Congress will pass meaningful regulations of Big Tech . But if Republicans win the House, he warns, they'll devote less time to those issues and more to investigating Hunter Biden.
What they're saying: "These debates are going to be about the Republicans interested in perpetuating a cultural war, where they are going to be targeting the most vulnerable in our societies, people who they think are don't fit the mold of how they define a true American, and it is going to be an ugly, ugly two years," Khanna told Axios' Ina Fried in an interview at last week's Lesbians Who Tech Summit.
Facebook, Twitter and other online services set rules for users' posts not just to flag individual statements, but more broadly, to ensure they're complying with the law, to help define their businesses and to protect their users.
Driving the news: Public debate over online speech peaked again with Kanye West's ban from Twitter and Elon Musk's willingness to bring Donald Trump back to that service if he becomes its owner. But public understanding of why social networks moderate content remains murky.
Online content aggregator Flipboard last week laid off 24 staffers, or 21% of its workforce, Axios has confirmed.
Why it matters: The cuts are one more sign that a slowdown in the online advertising market, fed by broader economic headwinds, is hurting a range of tech firms large and small.
Uber Eats customers in Toronto will be able to order cannabis starting Monday, thanks to a new partnership with Leafly.
Why it matters: It's the first time that marijuana delivery will be available through a major third party delivery platform, such as Uber, according to Leafly.
