google Google CEO Avoids Direct Answers on Censored Dragonfly Search Engine Sundar Pichai downplays Google's censored Dragonfly project during a US House hearing, calling it merely an internal effort with no current launch plans. Meanwhile, Chinese internet users and some Google staff view the potential return positively.
google Google's Censored China Search Engine Halted After Internal Privacy Dispute Google effectively ends its controversial Dragonfly censored search engine project for China after an internal confrontation over secret data collection practices. The shutdown marks a major setback for top executives who prioritize expanding into the Chinese market.
google Google CEO Faces Congress Over Bias and Privacy Concerns Google CEO Sundar Pichai testifies before the House Judiciary Committee, firmly denying accusations of political bias in search results while facing tough questions about data collection.
facebook Facebook Enters Smart Home Market With Video Chat Devices Portal and Portal+ Facebook introduces Portal and Portal+, two smart screens designed for video calling that face an uphill battle against consumer privacy concerns. The devices feature AI-powered cameras and rely heavily on the Facebook ecosystem.
facebook Facebook Enters Smart Home Market With Video-Calling Portal Device Facebook launches Portal, a camera-equipped smart speaker designed to enhance Messenger video calls and compete with Amazon Echo Show. The release comes at a challenging time as the company faces intense scrutiny over recent data breaches and user privacy concerns.
blockchain You're Going to Have to Learn to Love the Blockchain Blockchains face valid criticism but serve as a vital alternative to the internet's flawed advertising-driven architecture.
google Google Retools Duplex AI to Address Ethical Concerns Google showcases an updated version of Duplex, its human-sounding AI that makes phone calls on behalf of users. The revised system now clearly identifies itself as an artificial agent to address privacy and ethical backlash.
google Google Begins Public Testing of Duplex AI That Makes Phone Reservations Google is launching a limited public test of its Duplex AI system, which uses Google Assistant to make real phone calls to businesses. The initial tests focus strictly on asking about holiday hours in New York and San Francisco.
amazon Amazon Workers Urge Bezos to Halt Police Face Recognition Sales A group of Amazon employees is demanding that CEO Jeff Bezos stop selling facial recognition technology to law enforcement agencies. The workers warn the software will harm marginalized communities and urge the company to drop Palantir from its cloud servers.
amazon Investors Demand Amazon Halt Police Facial Recognition Sales A group of Amazon investors representing billions in stock urge the company to stop selling its Rekognition facial recognition software to police due to legal and ethical concerns.
google Google Establishes Ethical AI Principles Following Project Maven Protests Google introduces new ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence that explicitly ban the weaponization of its technology. This move follows months of intense internal protests over the company's involvement in a Pentagon drone program.
gdpr Privacy Advocates File First GDPR Complaints Against Facebook and Google Digital rights group noyb, led by privacy critic Max Schrems, files immediate GDPR complaints against Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Android for forcing user consent.
gdpr Privacy Group Files GDPR Complaints Against Google and Facebook Privacy activists are immediately testing Europe's new GDPR law by filing official complaints against Google, Facebook, and its subsidiaries for forcing user consent. The activists argue that making data sharing a condition of using these services violates the new regulations.
gdpr Privacy Group Seeks Billions in Fines Against Google and Facebook Over GDPR Privacy activist Max Schrems files massive complaints against Google and Facebook, accusing them of coercing user consent under Europe's new GDPR law. The legal action seeks up to 8 billion dollars in penalties.
google Google Duplex AI Sparks Debate Over Machine Deception Google unveils Duplex, an AI that makes phone calls sounding strikingly human, prompting serious ethical concerns about transparency and deception.