L4s Bot

Misinformation Is Warfare::Joan Donovan explores how misinformation had become a tactic in the Israel-Hamas war.

CEO Bobby Kotick will leave Activision Blizzard on January 1, 2024 | Schreier: Kotick will depart after 33 years, employees are “very excited.”::Schreier: Kotick will depart after 33 years, employees are “very excited.”

Some Walmart employees say customers are getting hostile at self-checkout — and they blame anti-theft tech::When Walmart’s anti-theft self-checkout tech alerts an employee of a missed scan, it can cause some uncomfortable situations.

Microsoft completes Activision Blizzard acquisition, Call of Duty now part of Xbox | Microsoft now publishes franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush.::Microsoft has finalized its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The deal close comes after months of battles with regulators in...

Meta made its Llama 2 AI model open-source because ‘Zuck has balls,’ a former top Facebook engineer says::Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took a big risk by making its powerful AI model Llama 2 mostly open source, according to Replit CEO Amjad Masad.

Microsoft completes $69bn takeover of Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard::It comes after the UK approved the $69bn takeover of Activision Blizzard, which makes Call of Duty.

It Is Time to End the War on Remote Work::undefined

Best Buy to end DVD & Blu-ray disc sales::Best Buy plans to phase out sales of DVDs and Blu-ray discs both in-store and online by early 2024, the company said.

X illegally fired employee who publicly challenged return-to-work plans, NLRB alleges::The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint on Friday against Elon Musk’s X, claiming the company violated the National Labor Relations Act.

21-year-old uses AI to decode a burnt & unopened Herculaneum scroll::undefined

FTX thief cashes out millions during Bankman-Fried trial::Chunks of the stolen $470m in cryptocurrency have been laundered every day since the trial began.

EU opens investigation into X over alleged disinformation - The European Union announced today it is opening an investigation into X for allegedly spreading illegal content and disinformation, incl…::The European Union is cranking up the heat on Elon Musk-owned X. Late Thursday, the Commission sent the company a formal request...

Netflix to Open Stores Where Fans Can Play, Shop and Eat in 2025::Netflix Inc. plans to open new destinations where fans can immerse themselves in the worlds of their favorite TV shows, shop for clothing, eat themed food and maybe even try a Squid Game obstacle course.

Europe gives TikTok CEO 24 hours to respond about Israel-Hamas war misinformation::Europe gives TikTok 24 hours to respond about Israel-Hamas war misinformation, graphic content

Netflix to open branded retail stores for some reason::Netflix has decided to open a number of brick-and-mortar locations to sell items based on hit shows, offer dining and provide live events. There’s also going to be an obstacle course based on ‘Squid Game.’

T-Mobile switches users to pricier plans and tells them it’s not a price hike::T-Mobile: “We are not raising the price… we are moving you to a newer plan.”

22 Democrats Sponsor a Bill That Could Censor Abortion Info From the Internet::The Kids Online Safety Act is “a blank check” for Republican AGs to “intimidate any way they can,” a digital civil liberties advocate told Jezebel.

New York lawmakers are cracking down on kids’ exposure to social media algorithms | If passed, anyone under 18 would require permission from a parent or guardian to view content on accounts they do…::If passed, anyone under 18 would require permission from a parent or guardian to view content on accounts they don’t follow.

Casino giant Caesars tells thousands: Yup, ransomware crooks stole your data::House always wins, er, wait …

Apple AirTags stalking led to ruin and murders, lawsuit says — Dozens join lawsuit alleging Apple AirTags are stalkers’ “weapon of choice.”::Dozens join lawsuit alleging Apple AirTags are stalkers’ “weapon of choice.”

Finding a Tech Job Is Still a Nightmare | WIRED::Tech companies have laid off more than 400,000 people in the last two years. Competition for the jobs that remain is getting more and more desperate.

Vapes, chargers, and other “invisible” e-waste are a 9-million-ton problem.::Chargers, vapes, and other small electronics make up millions of tons of “invisible” e-waste each year. Recycling them could recover billions of dollars worth of precious materials.

X claims it is erasing ‘illegal’ Hamas content after EU ultimatum::The platform follows X and Meta to be urged to step up efforts to stop the spread of disinformation.

X removes hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts since attack, CEO says::undefined

YouTube TV, which costs $73 a month, agrees to end “$600 less than cable” ads::Google to “modify or cease” ads after industry review board rejects appeal.

Six months ago NPR left X. The effects have been negligible — X wasn’t worth the effort, at least in terms of traffic::Covering thought leadership in journalism

FTX tried a lawyer, Thai prostitutes and finally a bribe to get frozen funds unlocked, witness says::undefined

Ebay faces $2 billion fine for ‘rolling coal’ sales::Videos show anti-environmentalist drivers of pickup trucks deliberately emitting black clouds as they pass cyclists and electric vehicles

Exxon, Apple and other corporate giants will have to disclose all their emissions under California’s new climate laws – that will have a global impact::California is the world’s fifth-largest economy. Laws tested there often spread across the U.S. and around the world.

Pressure grows on Apple to open up iMessage::Samsung has joined Google’s campaign to force Apple to make iMessage RCS-compatible—but European regulators are more likely to get that job done.

Amazon sellers say they made a good living — until Amazon figured it out::undefined

FTC lays out new rule that could end hidden fees | The agency is proposing a new rule that could require businesses, from hotels to ticket sellers, to provide clear disclosures on costs and whether…::The US Federal Trade Commission is proposing a new rule known as the Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees that it...

Microsoft owes $29 billion in back taxes plus penalties and interest to IRS::The IRS sent a surprise bill to Microsoft, hitting the company with a $28.9 billion bill for back taxes and penalties spanning a decade, starting in 2003.

German anti-racism body leaves X over ‘rise in hate speech’::A German agency that tackles discrimination and racism says it is quitting the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. It cited a rise in hate speech since owner Elon Musk took over last year.

The FTC wants to ban hidden ‘junk fees’ that jack up the price of your purchases::A new rule proposed by the FTC targets hidden and “bogus” fees businesses often add onto their services at checkout, aiming to do away with the deceptive practices.

Firefox will have a built-in ‘fake reviews detector’ — Amazon is in trouble | It should arrive next month.::undefined

Facebook’s sexist, ageist ad-targeting violates Calif. law, court finds | “Shocking” ruling could have “devastating effects,” tech law expert warns.::“Shocking” ruling could have “devastating effects,” tech law expert warns.

Utah sues TikTok, alleging it lures children into addictive and destructive social media habits::Utah has become the latest state to sue TikTok, alleging the social media company is “baiting” children into addictive and unhealthy habits.

New Breakthrough in Energy Storage – MIT Engineers Create Supercapacitor out of Ancient Materials::Constructed from cement, carbon black, and water, the device holds the potential to offer affordable and scalable energy storage for renewable energy sources. Two of humanity’s most ubiquitous historical materials, cement and...

Google pays Apple $18B to $20B a year to keep its search in iPhone::Bernstein estimates value of agreement, warns it and similar deals may end if DoJ wins antitrust case

Caroline Ellison tells jury Alameda took $14 billion from FTX customers::Caroline Ellison, the former head of Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto hedge fund, took the stand Tuesday as the prosecution’s star witness against the FTX founder

Sam Bankman-Fried thought there was a 5% chance he would be president, Caroline Ellison testified in his trial::Sam Bankman-Fried told Caroline Ellison that he could one day be the US president, she testified on Tuesday.

Europe gives Elon Musk 24 hours to respond about Israel-Hamas war misinformation and violence on X::Thierry Breton, the European commissioner for the internal market, warns Elon Musk about disinformation on X related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Ebay Could Owe $1.9 Billion in Fines for Allowing Sale of 343,000 Emissions Defeat Devices::The Department of Justice alleges that eBay illegally sold 343,011 emissions defeat devices, and could face billions in penalties.

People Are Okay With Wind & Solar Installations In Their Neighborhoods, Studies Say::More neighborhoods than ever are accepting the role of solar and wind power installations near their homes and towns.

Samsung expected to report 80% profit plunge as losses mount at chip business::The semiconductor business — typically Samsung’s cash cow — is likely to see continued pressure as memory prices and demand for end products remain low.

Amazon’s Alexa fumbles its facts by falsely claiming the 2020 presidential election was stolen::Alexa cited Rumble to claim the 2020 election was “stolen by a massive amount of election fraud,” The Washington Post reported.

Amazon linked to trafficking of workers in Saudi Arabia, who say they were tricked into toiling and living in grueling, squalid conditions::Dozens of contract workers at Amazon warehouses say they were tricked into toiling and living in grueling, squalid conditions