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☆ Mark Zuckerberg's apology is 'the least that he could do', says Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMark Zuckerberg's apology is 'the least that he could do', says Meta whistleblower Arturo BéjarArturo Béjar, former Facebook engineering director and former Instagram consultant, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the Senate child-safety hearing with top social media CEOs, key takeaways from their testimonies, what companies can do to safeguard their apps, and more.

Persons: Mark, Arturo Béjar Arturo Béjar Organizations: Facebook

☆ US senators demand documents from Meta over its handling of teen mental health
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —A group of US senators is demanding that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hand over troves of emails and documents that could show how the company handled the knowledge that its platforms could harm the mental health of teens. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. Meta spokesman Andy Stone said that the company is in touch with the members who signed the letter. The letter further accuses Meta of showing an “apparent willful disregard” for young people’s well-being, of “misrepresentations to Congress” and of “profiting from threats” to user safety. The letter requests a response by Nov. 30 and calls for Meta to provide its correspondence related to Bejar’s warnings to executives, as well as senior leaders’ own correspondence with Zuckerberg about proposed investments in user well-being.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, ”, Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal, Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn, Dick Durbin, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham ; Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren, Missouri Republican Josh Hawley, Meta, Arturo Bejar, Andrea Joy Campbell, didn’t, Andy Stone, people’s, ’ Organizations: Washington CNN, Facebook, Connecticut Democrat, Tennessee Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham ; Massachusetts Democrat, Missouri Republican, Meta Locations: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Tennessee, Illinois, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham ; Massachusetts, Missouri

☆ We can't trust Instagram with our teens over child safety: Former Instagram consultant Arturo Béjar
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe can't trust Instagram with our teens over child safety: Former Instagram consultant Arturo BéjarArturo Béjar, former Facebook engineering director and former Instagram consultant, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss his testimony to Congress on Meta's child safety gap, the harmful effects of Instagram on teenage users, the lack of action from the social media company, and more.

Persons: Arturo Béjar Arturo Béjar Organizations: Facebook

☆ Mark Zuckerberg ignored teen and user safety warnings from Meta executives
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The disclosures highlight Zuckerberg’s sway over decisions at Meta that can affect billions of users. And they also shed light on tensions that have occasionally arisen between Zuckerberg and other Meta officials who have pushed to enhance user well-being. In response to the newly unsealed communications, Meta spokesman Andy Stone said such image filters are commonly used in the industry. “These unreacted documents prove that Mark Zuckerberg is not interested in protecting anyone’s privacy or safety. “Clegg’s comments follow a pattern and practice at Meta where employees repeatedly flagged under-investment in well-being tools, despite having the research,” Qureshi said.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, —, Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, Global Affairs Nick Clegg, Karina Newton, Fidji Simo, Margaret Gould Stewart, Simo, Mosseri, Stewart, Newton, Andrew Bosworth, Andy Stone, ” Stone, “, Stone, Meta, Clegg, Frances, Instagram, Haugen, ” Zuckerberg, Susan Li, Li, David Ginsberg, Ginsburg, Li “, Arturo Bejar, Bejar, Instagram’s, ” Bejar, I’ve, ”, Sacha Haworth, Zamaan Qureshi, ” Qureshi Organizations: CNN —, Facebook, Global Affairs, Massachusetts, Meta, CNN, ” Tech, Technology, Tech Locations: Massachusetts, United States, Mosseri

☆ Meta failed to act to protect teens, second whistleblower testifies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A second Meta whistleblower testified before a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday, this time describing his fruitless efforts to flag the extent of harmful effects its platforms could have on teens to top leadership at the company. Meta leadership was aware of prevalent harms to its youngest users but declined to take adequate action to address it, Bejar told lawmakers on Tuesday. "When I returned in 2019, I thought they didn't know," Bejar testified. Part of the issue, according to Bejar, is that Meta directs resources toward tackling a "very narrow definition of harm." If one user restricts a second user, only the second user will be able to see their own comments on user one's posts.

Persons: Arturo Bejar, Instagram, Bejar, Frances Haugen, Blumenthal, Chris Cox, Cox, Haugen, Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Mosseri, Zuckerberg, he'd, Sandberg, Mosseri, Andy Stone, Stone Organizations: Facebook, Privacy, Technology, Capitol, Lawmakers, Law, Meta, Senate Locations: Washington

☆ Meta ignored warnings on Instagram’s harm to teens, whistleblower says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington CNN —Meta’s top executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, ignored warnings for years about harms to teens on its platforms such as Instagram, a company whistleblower told a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday. Meanwhile, both parties have united behind blaming Meta for contributing to a nationwide mental health crisis. Bejar’s research “is basically a smoking gun,” Haugen told CNN in an interview Tuesday. “Every day countless people inside and outside of Meta are working on how to help keep young people safe online,” said Meta spokesman Andy Stone in a statement. He said everyday Americans understand “the harm being done” and compared it to harms from smoking.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, Arturo Bejar, Bejar, Zuckerberg, Bejar’s, ” Bejar, Frances Haugen, Instagram, ” Haugen, “, Sheryl Sandberg, ”, Andy Stone, Stone, Connecticut Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal ., Josh Hawley, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Adam Mosseri, Sandberg, Chris Cox, Mosseri, ” Blackburn, Louisiana Republican Sen, John Kennedy, we’re, ” Meta, Blumenthal, Cox, Haugen, Hawley, ” Blumenthal, ” CNN’s Samantha Kelly Organizations: Washington CNN, Washington CNN — Meta’s, Facebook, Wall, Meta, CNN, Connecticut Democratic, Big Tech, Tennessee Republican, Louisiana Republican, Wall Street, “ Big Tech, Tobacco Locations: Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal . Missouri, Instagram

☆ Taiwan probes four firms accused of helping China's Huawei
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the ministry would be looking into whether the firms' activities in China "matched up" with their initial investment approval from the island's government. A Bloomberg news report this week said the firms had been working with Huawei-connected firms to build infrastructure for chip plants. The companies - Topco Scientific (5434.TW), L&K Engineering (6139.TW), United Integrated Services (2404.TW) and Cica-Huntek Chemical Technology Taiwan (6725.TWO) - have all denied any wrongdoing. Wang also said Taiwan's government will soon unveil tighter rules on "key technologies", taking into account international practice, she added, without giving details. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has in recent years increased its military activities around the island.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Wang Mei, Wang, chipmaker TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Bloomberg, K Engineering, United Integrated Services, Chemical Technology, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Chemical Technology Taiwan, U.S

HONG KONG (AP) — Taiwan authorities are investigating four Taiwan-based companies suspected of helping China’s Huawei Technologies to build semiconductor facilities. Political Cartoons View All 1202 ImagesThe companies could be fined up to 25 million Taiwan dollars ($777,665) for violating regulations. Cleanrooms and other high-tech equipment and services are crucial for the delicate process of making computer chips. But Wang reminded companies that if they used U.S. technology and equipment they would not be able to co-operate with firms included in the U.S. U.S. officials say the company is a security risk and might facilitate Chinese spying, an accusation that Huawei denies.

Persons: Economic Affairs Wang Mei, Wang, Yuan Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Economic Affairs, of Economic Affairs, Bloomberg, Huawei, Strategic, Tech Commodities, Taiwan's China News Agency, Topco, K Engineering, United Integrated Services Co, Chemical Technology, Chemical Technology Taiwan Co, Science, Technology Council, U.S . Commerce Locations: HONG KONG, Taiwan, China, Chemical Technology Taiwan, U.S

Taipei/Hong Kong CNN —Taiwan is investigating whether four of its firms broke US sanctions or its own investment rules when they provided services to Chinese companies that are reportedly helping Huawei build chip factories. Many Taiwanese companies, including chip giant TSMC and Apple supplier Foxconn, operate in China and are closely integrated into its supply chains. For years, Taiwan’s companies have been treading a fine line between engaging China’s commercial opportunities and avoiding potential violations of export controls, particularly as Beijing has ramped up military pressure on the island. But China’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan, home to 24 million residents, as its territory — despite never having controlled it. It has long vowed to “reunify” Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary.

Persons: Emile Chang, ”, Chang, Economic Affairs Wang Mei, Wang, China’s, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Huawei, Ministry of Economic Affairs, CNN, United Integrated Services, K Engineering, Technology, Apple, Foxconn, Taiwan’s, Economic Affairs, Bloomberg, Communist Party Locations: Taipei, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, United States, China . Washington, Europe, Asia, Beijing

☆ Jay Leno towed 30 tons with a Tesla Semi and said it felt like nothing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jay Leno got to drive the Tesla Semi, Elon Musk's electric big rig. AdvertisementAdvertisementJay Leno had a field day with Tesla's new Semi truck on the latest episode of his car show, "Jay Leno's Garage." The comedian and car connoisseur got a tour of Elon Musk's electric big rig and even got to take it for a spin that culminated in hauling another Tesla Semi. Leno took the Semi out on the road and remarked that it felt easy and familiar to drive. Then Leno and the Tesla team hooked up a trailer carrying another Semi and kept going.

Persons: Jay Leno, —, Jay, Elon, Tesla, Franz von Holzhausen, Dan Priestley, Tesla's, Leno, I'd, Priestley Organizations: Elon, Service, Pepsi

☆ He was employee No. 8 at Stripe. Now, he's taking on Salesforce and AWS with $50 million in new funding for his startup Render. Here's the pitch deck it used.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

That led to Render, a cloud provider that has now raised $50 million in Series B funding. That's the idea behind Render, a tech startup that makes a modern cloud to build and run apps and websites. RenderBefore Render, Goel got hired as the eighth employee of a then-unknown tech startup called Stripe. It serves more than half a million developers, an increase from just under 100,000 developers in July of 2022, Goel said. The latest funding will allow Render to hire its first chief of marketing and expand its engineering team.

Persons: Anurag Goel, Elliott Robinson, Mary D'Onofrio, Catalyst, Goel, Salesforce, It's, They've Organizations: Investors, Bessemer Venture Partners, Fund, Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Developers

☆ The 14-year-old hired by Elon Musk's SpaceX is too young for LinkedIn, has his account restricted
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But age wasn't a barrier to him landing a job as a software engineer at Elon Musk's SpaceX. Kairan Quazi, the newest software engineer to join Elon Musk's SpaceX, is only 14 years old. But while his age didn't prove to be a barrier to him landing a job at SpaceX, LinkedIn says he still is too young to join the networking platform. Before his LinkedIn was restricted, Quazi wrote in a LinkedIn post about his new position working as a software engineer with Starlink, SpaceX's satellite and internet service division. "I will be joining the coolest company on the planet as a software engineer on the Starlink engineering team," Quazi's LinkedIn post read.

Persons: he's, Kairan Quazi, Quazi Organizations: Elon, SpaceX, LinkedIn, Santa Clara University, Seattle Times, The Times Locations: Redmond , Washington

☆ Meet the newest employee at Elon Musk's SpaceX. He's 14.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

SpaceX has hired a young prodigy to join its Starlink division as a software engineer. The latest recruit at SpaceX is a software engineer who passed its "technically challenging" and "fun" interview process. He's planning to make the move from Pleasanton, California with his mother to start work at SpaceX in Redmond, Washington, per the report. "I felt like I was learning at the level that I was meant to learn," he told the LA Times. Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet service and started operating in January in Nigeria – its first African market.

Persons: Santa Clara University's, he'd, BrainGain, Quazi, Starlink Organizations: SpaceX, Santa Clara University, Morning, Santa Clara, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, LA Times, Intel Labs, ABC7, Nigeria – Locations: California, Santa, Pleasanton , California, Redmond , Washington, Nigeria

☆ Supreme Court requests $12 million more for justices' security after threats in the wake of abortion ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Supreme Court requested millions more from Congress in security funding. "On-going threat assessments show evolving risks that require continuous protection," the budget request read. "Additional funding would provide for contract positions, eventually transitioning to full-time employees, that will augment capabilities of the Supreme Court police force and allow it to accomplish its protective mission." It's the court's first budget request following heightened concerns about the justices' safety. Additional fencing had also been erected outside of the Supreme Court building, though was later taken down as protests dwindled near the end of August.

☆ Tesla CEO Elon Musk kicks off first Semi truck deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla CEO Elon Musk kicks off deliveries of the company's heavy-duty truck, the Semi, at the Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada. Tesla CEO Elon Musk kicked off deliveries of the company's first few production Semi trucks on Thursday, speaking on stage at the company's factory in Sparks, Nevada, with Dan Priestly, the company's senior manager for Semi truck engineering. He later thanked and the handed the mic to representatives from PepsiCo Frito Lay , which is Tesla's first customer to receive and use production Semi trucks. While the Tesla Semi was in development, other fully electric heavy-duty trucks launched into the market. The new fast-charging tech will eventually be installed at Tesla SuperCharging stations and used to power up Cybertrucks, the consumer pickup truck Tesla is planning, Musk revealed.

☆ Tesla delivers its first electric Semi trucks promising 500 miles of range
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Tesla Semi was first shown as a prototype in 2017. The fully electric semi truck features an unusual design in which the driver sits in the center of the cab rather than on one side. Tesla has boasted of the truck’s performance — saying it accelerates much more quickly, even with a full load, than traditional diesel-powered semi trucks. A video during the presentation showed, according to Tesla, a fully loaded Tesla Semi accelerating up a steep grade and passing other trucks. Since it has no multi-geared transmission, as diesel trucks do, it’s also much easier to drive than other semi trucks, Musk said.

☆ Shopify's C-suite revamp could signal more acquisitions and a focus on services over software, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Most of Shopify's C-suite has been replaced in the past two years. "There was some hope that they would reprioritize software, whether it's marketing-automation software or customer-engagement software," he added. The former chief technology officer Jean-Michel Lemieux, chief legal officer Joe Frasca, and chief talent officer Brittany Forsyth all departed in 2021. The chief product officer Craig Miller left the company a few months before that, in fall 2020. Shopify has yet to formally fill the chief product officer role, whose responsibilities Lütke said he would take on in the wake of Miller's departure.

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