March 28, 2024

Web and Technology News

NY AG is investigating Twitch, Discord and 4chan for their role in the Buffalo mass shooting

New York Attorney General Letitia James will launch an investigation into the role that social media and online message boards played in the tragedy that unfolded in Buffalo over the weekend. On Saturday, an 18-year-old shooter opened fire at a Tops supermarket, killing 10 people and wounding three others. In online materials, the suspected shooter […]

Elon Musk gives Europe’s speech platform rules the thumbs up

While the world continues to wonder what ‘free speech absolutist‘ and gadfly billionaire Elon Musk might mean for the future of Twitter, the European Union has chalked up an early PR win in the long game of platform regulation — extracting agreement from the Tesla founder that its freshly rebooted approach toward content policy sounds […]

Europe seals a deal on tighter rules for digital services

In the small hours local time, European Union lawmakers secured a provisional deal on a landmark update to rules for digital services operating in the region — grabbing political agreement after a final late night/early morning of compromise talks on the detail of what is a major retooling of the bloc’s existing ecommerce rulebook. The […]

EU’s digital rule-book reboot could fumble dark patterns ban and trader checks, warns BEUC

When the European Commission presented its Digital Services Act (DSA) proposal in December 2020, it listed beefed up consumer protections as a headline goal for the flagship update to the bloc’s rules for digital services. But now, as negotiations over the draft law are in the final stretch, where EU co-legislators hash out the detail […]

Productsup raises $70M to help retailers navigate sales strategies in the choppy world of e-commerce

To many people, e-commerce is synonymous with shopping on Amazon, but the reality is that a retailer has the option to use a bundle of different channels to sell and market products, and many do. Today, a startup called Productsup, which has built a platform that helps retailers navigate that landscape, is announcing $70 million […]

UK expands Online Safety Bill to cover scam ads and eyes wider reforms

The UK government has again announced an extension to the scope of the draft Online Safety Bill — this time bringing scam ads into scope following pressure from campaigners. In parallel, it has also launched a consultation on strengthening existing regulation of the online ad industry, laying out a range of options to beef up […]

EU’s ban on Russia Today and Sputnik is now in effect

The EU’s ban on Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik has just gone into effect after the bloc formally adopted the sanctions, meaning media regulators are now expected to monitor compliance, with the risk of fines being levied by national watchdogs across the bloc for any platforms found continuing to distribute the Kremlin-linked media firms’ content. […]

Google pulls Russia Today, Sputnik from Play Store as EU ban looms

Google has followed Apple’s lead and removed the apps of Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik from its mobile app Store, Play, per Reuters. The two Kremlin-lined media outlets have been sanctioned in the European Union following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s not immediately clear if the Play Store ban on the Russian state-affiliated media entities’ […]

EU confirms ban on Kremlin-backed media is expected to cover online platforms

The EU’s ban on Kremlin-backed media outlets, Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik (plus any subsidiaries), is expected to cover online platforms and apps as well as traditional broadcast channels, TechCrunch has confirmed. The “unprecedented” sanction was announced yesterday as the bloc dialled up its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A spokesman for Thierry Breton, […]

As EU says it’ll ban Russia’s ‘toxic media machine’, social media firms face pressure to act

Late yesterday the European Union announced an “unprecedented” step against Russian disinformation, saying it would ban Kremlin-based media outlets, Russia Today (aka RT) and Sputnik — extending measures targeting the country following president Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. “The state-owned Russia Today and Sputnik, as well as their subsidiaries will no longer be able to spread […]

Senators propose the Kids Online Safety Act after five hearings with tech execs

Last year, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen leaked a trove of internal company documents, which illuminated just how harmful apps like Instagram can be for teens. These bombshell revelations sparked five Senate subcommittee hearings on children’s internet safety, featuring testimony from executives at TikTok, Snap, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. As a result of these hearings, […]

Senators propose the Kids Online Safety Act after five hearings with tech execs

Last year, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen leaked a trove of internal company documents, which illuminated just how harmful apps like Instagram can be for teens. These bombshell revelations sparked five Senate subcommittee hearings on children’s internet safety, featuring testimony from executives at TikTok, Snap, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. As a result of these hearings, […]