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☆ Christopher Reeve's 3 kids are celebrating their father in a new documentary. Here's everything you need to know about them.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Christopher Reeve with wife Dana in 1998. AdvertisementMatthew Reeve, 44Christopher Reeve and Matthew Reeve in 2002. He made the documentary "Christopher Reeve: Hope in Motion," which was nominated for an Emmy and was released on the BBC a year after he graduated from Brown. Alexandra Reeve Givens, 40Dana, Christopher, and Alexandra Reeve in 1997. AdvertisementWill Reeve, 32(L-R) Will, Dana, and Christopher Reeve with family friend Robin Williams.

Persons: —, Christopher Reeve, Reeve, — Matthew, Alexandra, Will —, Dana, Ron Galella, Matthew Reeve, Getty Matthew, Gae Exton, Jane Seymour, Seymour, Matthew, Exton, Hope, kiteboarder Aaron Hadlow, Christopher, Dana Reeve, Alexandra Reeve Givens, Alexandra Reeve, Moore, Committee's, She's, Will Reeve, Will, Robin Williams, Evan Agostini, David Muir, James Gunn's Organizations: Service, Business, Entertainment, Brown University, BBC, Brown, Dana Reeve Foundation, Getty, Yale, Columbia University, Columbia, Institute for Technology Law, Georgetown Law, Center for Democracy & Technology, Middlebury College, MSG Network, ESPN, ABC News, Variety, TMZ Locations: London, Exton, Cravath, New York City

The White House wrote that image-based sexual abuse “has skyrocketed,” disproportionately affecting women, children and LGBTQ people. More nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfake videos were uploaded online in 2023 than all previous years combined. Franks said that while the voluntary efforts the White House highlighted are welcome, she does not see them as a substitute for legislation. Still, he said, the Biden administration’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ focus on gender violence, online harassment and image-based sexual abuse was “transformative” compared with the work of previous administrations and the impact it has on victims and their advocates. On Google’s search engine and Microsoft’s Bing, NBC News previously found that nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes were available at the top of some search results.

Persons: “, deepfakes, ”, Mary Anne Franks, “ It’s, Franks, Biden administration’s, Kamala Harris ’, Microsoft’s Bing, Alexandra Reeve Givens Organizations: White House, ” Tech, Meta, Microsoft, Group, Center for Democracy and Technology, Civil Rights Initiative, National Network, Civil, Initiative, Communications, Google, NBC News, NBC, Facebook

☆ Twitch terminates all members of its Safety Advisory Council
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Twitch on Friday will terminate all members of its Safety Advisory Council, according to sources familiar with the situation and documents viewed by CNBC. The council is a resource of nine industry experts, streamers and moderators who consulted on trust and safety issues related to children on Twitch, nudity, banned users and more. The Amazon -owned game-streaming company formed its Safety Advisory Council in May 2020 to "enhance Twitch's approach to issues of trust and safety" on the platform and guide decisions, according to a company webpage. "Looking ahead, the Safety Advisory Council will primarily be made up of individuals who serve as Twitch Ambassadors," the email, viewed by CNBC, stated. Payment depended on the length of the contract, but council members were paid between $10,000 and $20,000 per 12-month period, according to a source familiar with the contracts.

Persons: Twitch, Sameer Hinduja, Emma Llansó, T.L, Taylor Organizations: Advisory, CNBC, Council, Twitch, Cyberbullying Research, Center for Democracy, SAC

☆ Opinion: Restricting and monitoring social media won’t protect kids — here’s what will
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Opinion Michal Luria | Aliya Bhatia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But the bills mentioned by policymakers at a congressional hearing last month to address the problem — specifically, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act — may do more harm than good. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will be considering the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act on Thursday. Both KOSA and the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act also propose parental monitoring tools to help guardians observe their children’s online activities. Join us on Twitter and FacebookBut that’s not enough — social media platforms should continue taking active steps toward more thoughtful designs for young people. A parent might talk to their child about what they are doing online or respond to something they post on social media.

Persons: Michal Luria, Aliya Bhatia, Aliya Bhatia Tim Hoagland, — Organizations: Center for Democracy & Technology, CNN, US, American Psychological Association, Pew Research Center, Social Media, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Research, Global, American Privacy, APRA, Federal Trade Commission, Social, Twitter

☆ Opinion: Is the US on the brink of another civil war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Opinion Bruce Hoffman | Jacob Ware | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The most dismal assessment, though, is that of Canadian journalist Stephen Marche who, in his 2022 book, The Next Civil War: Dispatches form the American Future, contends that a new American civil war is inevitable. Remember that the United States leads the world — by far — in the number of firearms in private hands. There are an estimated 393 million privately held firearms in the United States — more than one gun per person. In fact, there are more civilian-held guns in the United States than the other top 25 countries in the world combined. Indeed, more guns were purchased in the United States in 2020 — nearly 23 million — than any other year on record.

Persons: Bruce Hoffman, Jacob Ware, Donald Trump, Biden, … ” Bruce Hoffman Michael Lionstar, Barbara F, Walter, ” Jacob Ware Jacob Ware Accelerationism, Barack Obama, Steven Simon, Jonathan Stevenson, “, ”, Stephen Marche, —, Simon, Stevenson, Bois —, Timothy McVeigh, Richard Haass, ” Haass, ” Robert Miles Organizations: of Foreign Relations, Georgetown University, DeSales University, . Press, CNN, Department of Homeland Security, Oklahoma City, National Security, University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy, Washington Post, University of Maryland, “, Capitol, ”, Survey, Foreign, Irish Republican Army, IRA Locations: America ”, Columbia, Texas, Western, America, Northern Ireland, United States, Switzerland, Northern, Ireland

☆ The TikTok ban is headed to a vote in the House. Here's what to know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A bipartisan group of representatives introduced a bill on March 5 to effectively ban TikTok. The House is set to vote on the legislation on Wednesday, where it's expected to pass. The bill has faced criticism from advocacy groups, TikTok fans, and former President Donald Trump. AdvertisementThe House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on a bipartisan-supported bill that could decide the future of TikTok. If this bill or a similar one passes through Congress, President Joe Biden has already said he'll sign it into law.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Mike Gallagher, Raja, " Gallagher, we've, Zuckerschmuck, ByteDance, Jeff Yass, GOP Sen, Todd Young, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Facebook, Susquehanna International Group, Trump, New York Times, Republican, Democratic, GOP, Center for Democracy & Technology, American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation Locations: United States, TikTok, Yass, Congress

☆ The proposed TikTok ban has been deemed unconstitutional by some, but framing around national security could help advance it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThe widely-popular social media app TikTok is once again facing a possible ban in the United States over concerns about its links to China. "It is targeted to address the national security threat that we believe these apps, like TikTok, pose to the United States because of its ownership by a foreign adversary." "The First Amendment protects Americans' right to access social media platforms of their choosing," Krishnan said. Former President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Okla. AP Photo/Sue OgrockiTrump once supported a TikTok ban, but is now against itMeanwhile, Trump — whose administration tried to ban TikTok in the US — but was blocked from doing so in court after TikTok sued — has now come out against a ban for the app. "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business," Trump argued on his social media platform, Truth Social, in a dig at Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Sarah Kreps, TikTok's, weaponize, Steve Scalise, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, McMorris Rodgers, Kreps, ByteDance, Krishnan, TikTok, Sue Ogrocki Trump, Trump, Zuckerschmuck, Mark Zuckerberg, Jenna Leventoff, Leventoff Organizations: Service, Business, Tech, Institute, New York's Cornell University, Foreign, ByteDance Ltd, Republican, GOP, House Energy, Commerce Committee, Fox Business, Columbia University, Columbia Law School, Chinese Communist Party, AP, Facebook, Meta, Commerce, American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy and Technology Locations: United States, China, TikTok's Beijing, New York, Tulsa, Okla, TikTok

☆ House committee unanimously supports forcing TikTok divestiture
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A bipartisan panel of lawmakers unanimously approved a controversial bill on Thursday that could lead to TikTok being blocked in the U.S. if it doesn't break with Chinese parent ByteDance. The committee voted 50-0 to advance the bill to the full House or Representatives. On the app, they were greeted with a screenshot warning them that Congress was "planning a total ban of TikTok." "Today, it's about our bill and it's about intimidating members considering that bill," said Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wi., chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. WATCH: Biden campaign joins TikTok despite ban of app on government phones

Persons: TikTok, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Lawmakers, Mike Gallagher, Biden Organizations: U.S, Lawmakers, Energy, Commerce Committee, National Security, American Civil Liberties Union, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Center for Democracy & Technology, CNBC, Chinese Communist Party Locations: U.S, ByteDance, China

The proposal to classify AI systems by four levels of risk — from minimal to unacceptable — was essentially intended as product safety legislation. That changed with the boom in generative AI, which sparked wonder by composing music, creating images and writing essays resembling human work. Foundation models give generative AI systems such as ChatGPT the ability to create something new, unlike traditional AI, which processes data and completes tasks using predetermined rules. Resistance to government rules for these AI systems came from an unlikely place: France, Germany and Italy. “The race should be for the best AI regulations, not the first AI regulations."

Persons: —, Bard chatbot, “ Rather, won’t, ”, Nick Reiners, “ there’s, Reiners, Sam Altman, Thierry Breton, ” Reiners, Kent Walker, Iverna McGowan, McGowan, Altman, OpenAI, Alpha, it's, ” Dragos, “, “ We’re Organizations: European Union, Eurasia Group, European Commission, Microsoft, Mistral, Elon, Center for Democracy and Technology, EU Locations: European, U.S, China, Brussels, France, Germany, Italy, Europe, German, Romanian

☆ VP Harris meets with labor and rights groups to discuss threats from A.I.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Broadband Event at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 26, 2023. "It is a false choice to suggest that we either can advance innovation, or we protect consumers," Harris said. "We should not dampen or in any way slow down innovation that can improve the condition of people's lives," Harris said. The meeting Wednesday includes groups that advocate on behalf of specific populations or on digital rights issues. Harris said the group would discuss transparency in AI, so the public can understand what is going into these systems and how they make decisions.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Alexandra Reeve Givens, Technology Harlan Yu, Janet Murguia, UnidosUS Jo Ann Jenkins, Lisa Rice, Liz Shuler, Mary Anne Franks, Wiley, Sneha Revanur, Susan Henderson, Chuck Schumer, Sam Altman Organizations: White, Washington , D.C, White House, for Democracy, Technology, Fair Housing, AFL, Cyber Civil, Conference, Civil, Rights Education, Defense, Microsoft, Google Locations: Washington ,, U.S

☆ U.S. officials call spy program key to big cases, but give few details
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Zeba Siddiqui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SAN FRANCISCO, June 12 (Reuters) - Senior U.S. government officials warned on Tuesday of serious national security risks if a key surveillance program set to expire this year isn't renewed, but declined to share specifics of cases in which it had been useful. But the agency has misused the program to spy on Americans numerous times, because the program also allows access to information of Americans in communication with foreigners. "It's not just useful or important or helpful, but at this point, it is vital to addressing a wide array of national security challenges." Among other reforms, the groups have called for requiring a warrant for searches of Americans’ information on the database. Requiring a warrant would be "profoundly harmful" to the country's national security, one U.S. official said.

Persons: isn't, It's, Zeba Siddiqui, Gerry Doyle Organizations: FRANCISCO, Senior U.S, Foreign Intelligence, U.S, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Colonial Pipeline, U.S ., Center for Democracy & Technology, Monday, National Intelligence, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, San Francisco

☆ Biden and Republican senators join forces in attack on Big Tech at Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | David Ingram | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A person walks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building during rainy weather, in Washington, U.S. January 17, 2023. WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and some of his most prominent Republican adversaries in Congress have become allies, of sorts, in an upcoming Supreme Court showdown between Big Tech and its critics. Biden took a shot at tech companies in his State of the Union address earlier this month, although he did not mention Section 230. "I think this is an opportunity for the Supreme Court to disentangle some of the knots that the courts themselves have woven here into the law," he said in an interview. "The rhetoric is that these are bad powerful tech companies that are harming ordinary people and causing a lot of harm and injustice," Rathi said.

☆ How the Supreme Court could soon change free speech on the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Musk's actions since closing the deal last year have illuminated how he sees the balance internet platforms must strike in protecting free expression versus user safety. The Supreme Court has yet to decide if or when to hear the cases, though many expect it will take them up at some point. The Age-Appropriate Design Code requires internet platforms that are likely to be accessed by kids to mitigate risks to those users. Google said such a change would also make the internet less safe and less hospitable to free expression. The Supreme Court of the United States building are seen in Washington D.C., United States on December 28, 2022.

☆ The most-popular big tech default email programs are old and vulnerable
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Elizabeth Macbride | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

All over the world, organizations of all sizes, including small businesses, scrambled to upload patches and to figure out if they'd been infiltrated. Each time big software companies have changed default settings or made blanket changes with cybersecurity in mind, he points out, cybercrime fell measurably. Some of its donors are big technology companies. "Microsoft takes email security very seriously," said Girish Chander, head of Microsoft Defender for Office, in a statement to CNBC. Updating email software default settings.

"The worst governments are already going to suppress speech," said David Kaye, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine and the former free speech watchdog for the United Nations between 2014 and 2020. The free speech experts who spoke to NBC News on Friday said Twitter's actions could invite international attempts to manipulate Musk. Would some head of state say, 'Hey, can you do this for my country and prevent public reporting?' Kaye, the former U.N. free speech watchdog, said Musk's behavior reminded him in part of authoritarian leaders who enforce rules against challenging the government or criticizing powerful figures, such as royal family members or regime allies. Musk can talk about standing for free speech all he wants, but this should make it clear to everyone that what he’s doing is quite the opposite.

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