All Technology
- First LookFacebook's democratic role? New steps to stop misinformation.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the social media platform will restrict new political ads in the week before the election and remove posts that convey misinformation about COVID-19 and voting. Critics say the measures don't go far enough.
- First LookFacebook's new effort to stop misinformation: A voter info hub
Facebook will label posts about voting with an addendum directing readers to a voter information hub, where they'll find resources for registering to vote and election news. It's the company's latest step to combat the spread of misinformation on its platform.
- Embattled TikTok: Behind the dance duels, a platform for youth activism
To many youths, the Chinese app TikTok has emerged as a key political platform. But to the White House, it’s a potential national security threat.
- First LookAnti-Semitism on Facebook? #NoDenyingIt, say Holocaust survivors.
Facebook posts denying the Holocaust perpetuate an anti-Semitic myth that Jewish people made up the genocide to gain political advantage. In a new social media campaign, survivors argue that such claims violate the platform's hate speech policy.
- First LookCongress asks: Do Amazon, Facebook, Google, Apple play fair?
Are existing U.S. competition policies and century-old antitrust laws adequate for overseeing tech giants? The four CEOs are set to testify Wednesday before the House Judiciary subcommittee on their companies' practices.
- First LookFacebook audit finds biased algorithms, civil rights setbacks
As hundreds of companies boycott Facebook, an audit highlighted recent civil rights setbacks – including the company's decision to exempt politicians from fact-checking, even when statements violated existing policies.
- First LookIs TikTok, Facebook user data safe in Hong Kong? Maybe not.
TikTok joined Facebook, Twitter, and other social media companies halting operations in Hong Kong as authorities demanded access to user data. While TikTok stores its data in U.S. servers, Secretary Pompeo still views it as a national security risk.
- First LookHow COVID-19, Black Lives Matter became the target of FB groups
Like "creepy basements," private Facebook groups have enabled extremist views and misinformation to thrive. Private groups that first attacked stay-at-home orders now target the Black Lives Matter movement, spreading hate speech and conspiracy theories.
- First LookWhy Facebook removed $17,000 worth of Trump/Pence campaign ads
A Trump campaign official said the inverted red triangle featured in the ad was a nod to antifa, but experts say the symbol is not common among U.S. antifa groups today. It is better known for identifying political prisoners in Nazi concentration camps.
- First LookAbout-face: Amazon bars police from using Rekognition for a year
Last year, Amazon publicly challenged a researcher who found racial bias in face-recognition software. Now, it's stepping back from the technology. The tech giant said they are banning use by law enforcement for a year to allow for better regulation.
- First LookWhat's OK to tweet? Trump tweet tagged as glorifying violence.
Twitter flagged tweets from the president and the White House encouraging the military to shoot crowds protesting George Floyd's death. "We've taken action in the interest of preventing others from being inspired to commit violent acts," Twitter said.
- First LookTrump fires back at Twitter's fact-check with executive order
After Twitter applied fact-checking to two of President Donald Trump's tweets, the president, citing political bias, intends to sign an executive order Thursday that aims to curb liability protections for social media companies. But Congress needs to weigh in.
- First LookTwitter vs. Trump? President's tweets get fact-check warnings.
Twitter launched its most direct initiative to counter the spread of misinformation this week. For the first time, the company sent fact-check warnings to its most prominent user: President Donald Trump.
- Free movement or privacy? Pandemic forces new trade-offs.
Without a coronavirus vaccine, some nations and states are turning to digital contact tracing to enable them to reopen the economy.
- First LookTest, trace, isolate: Role of apps in combating coronavirus
Protecting privacy or public health? Using smartphone apps to track COVID-19 raises privacy concerns. Some apps record a digital trail who you encounter and which restaurants or stores you visit.
- First LookWashington DC's 'maker' community steps up to 3D print PPE
Georgetown Day School students launched the Print to Protect campaign to help fight the coronavirus. In less than a month, they've developed a network of 100 3D-printer enthusiasts to create face shields for Washington-area hospitals.
- ‘No longer a luxury’: As life moves online, the offline fall behind
With 42 million Americans lacking high-speed Wi-Fi access, the coronavirus pandemic exposes a sharp divide between the connected and the unconnected.
- First LookParty crashers or tech terrorists? New hackers target Zoom.
When confinement restrictions converted Zoom into a lifeline for work and socializing, the platform quickly became the target of a new form of cyberattack – "Zoom bombings." The attacks underscore the platform's focus on user-friendliness rather than privacy.
- First Look'We can do this': US engineers fix piles of broken ventilators
One California engineering firm took on the challenge of helping its state by repairing ventilators to offset the short supply in hospitals. Armed with downloaded manuals and guided by lots of YouTube videos, they figured it out, and have already repaired 500 machines.
- FocusPandemic dilemma: Emergency surveillance won’t be easy to unplug
Amid the coronavirus emergency, picking health over privacy as a higher value seems like a no-brainer. But what happens when the emergency passes?