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☆ TikTok is in the hot seat once again in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

An earlier version of the TikTok bill sailed through the House in March, but it has become bogged down in the Senate. Opponents, including TikTok and a range of civil society groups, have argued the bill risks violating TikTok users’ First Amendment rights. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the House TikTok bill if it reaches his desk. The latest version of the TikTok bill contains some updates. One key senator who was doubtful of the initial House TikTok bill appeared satisfied.

Persons: TikTok, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, there’s, “, Johnson, ”, Washington Democratic Sen, Maria Cantwell, I’ve, Cantwell, Cathy McMorris Rodgers Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Senate, House Republicans, Washington Democratic, Oracle, Republican, Washington Rep Locations: Israel, Ukraine, China, India, Texas

☆ Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter allegedly stole $16 million from his bank account. Here’s how to protect your own
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The interpreter, a longtime friend of Ohtani’s named Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly stole vast sums of money from a bank account established in Ohtani’s name. Mizuhara had unique access to Ohtani’s bank account, authorities say, because it was he who helped Ohtani create it in the first place in 2018 — which put him in a privileged position to take advantage of his client. Password managers help you generate and keep track of complex, secure passwords that aren’t easily guessed or cracked. And many password managers are also transitioning to support passkeys. This is another area where password managers can come in handy.

Persons: Shohei, Ohtani’s, Ippei Mizuhara, Mizuhara, It’s Organizations: CNN, Apple, Google, Microsoft

☆ Internet price hikes for low-income Americans could begin in May as federal funds run dry, FCC says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Due to lack of funds, April will be the final month the ACP can provide full benefits, the FCC said Tuesday. Next month, ACP subscribers can expect to receive only 46% of their usual benefit, the FCC said. After that, program subscribers may have to pay hundreds of dollars more per year to stay online, or could potentially have to give up internet service entirely. Many ACP subscribers have told CNN that without help, they could have to choose between paying for internet and putting food on the table. CNN is reaching out to major internet providers for comment on the FCC’s call for those voluntary measures.

Persons: Biden, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Ohio Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, Kansas Republican Sen, Roger Marshall, “ Organizations: CNN, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, ACP, Ohio Democratic, Kansas Republican, Senate Locations: Congress

☆ FCC rolls out mandatory ‘nutrition labels’ for internet providers’ plans
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Consumer broadband labels will be required for internet providers starting on Wednesday — in many cases in both English and Spanish. Known as “consumer broadband labels,” the FCC-mandated disclosures must be offered at the point of sale both online and in stores — and in many cases, in both English and Spanish. In 2016, an FCC advisory committee first released a version of the disclosures that providers were not required to adopt. Then, under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, the FCC moved to implement mandatory broadband disclosure labels and held a lengthy process to design and finalize them. Because providers will be required to prominently display the labels, FCC officials will be monitoring for evidence or consumer complaints about non-compliance, which could lead to agency investigations or fines.

Persons: ” Alejandro Roark, Roark, “ We’re, ” Organizations: CNN, Federal Communications Commission, White, Consumer, FCC, Biden, Comcast, Verizon, AT Locations: —

☆ US lawmakers unveil a plan to give all Americans a right to online privacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Two leading US lawmakers have reached a bipartisan deal that could, for the first time, grant all Americans a basic right to digital privacy and create a national law regulating how companies can collect, share and use Americans’ online data. But it could also override some of the toughest state-based privacy laws in the nation, such as in California. And it would guarantee Americans the right to request copies of their data, to correct it or even to have it deleted from a company’s records. The draft legislation breaks a yearslong deadlock between Republicans and Democrats over the scope of any national privacy bill. It would preempt more than a dozen state privacy laws already on the books in states such as California, Texas and Virginia.

Persons: hoover, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, —, ’, Biden, we’ve, ”, McMorris Rodgers, Cantwell, Joe Biden’s Organizations: Washington CNN, General Data Protection, Republicans, Democratic, Senate, Committee, Washington Rep, Republican, House Energy, Commerce, Democrats Locations: United States, California, China, Russia, California , Texas, Virginia

☆ Biden administration points finger at Republicans for internet bill hikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“President [Joe] Biden has been calling on Congress to pass legislation that would extend the benefit through 2024. “But unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have failed to act.”Biden has called on Congress to approve $6 billion to continue the ACP. A bill introduced in January by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate would authorize $7 billion. That legislation has 216 co-sponsors in the House, including 21 Republicans, and three in the Senate, including two Republicans. Administration officials declined to say whether Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris have personally discussed the ACP with congressional Republicans.

Persons: Biden, Joe, ”, ” Biden, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, ” Levin, Republican Sens, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Kevin Cramer of North, Spokespeople, Johnson, Chuck Schumer didn’t, Kamala Harris, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, Rosenworcel, Sen, Maria Cantwell Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Program, Federal Communications Commission, GOP, Democratic, Congress, Republican, New, Research, Administration, ACP, Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: Kevin Cramer of North Dakota

☆ Microsoft will now let customers worldwide buy Office without Teams, following EU antitrust concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —Microsoft will no longer sell its Teams collaboration software as a bundled product with its Office 365 suite anywhere in the world, the company said Monday, in the face of antitrust concerns. The decision to separate Teams from Office globally extends a previous announcement last year affecting only the European Union. And it comes after rivals such as Salesforce’s Slack complained in 2020 that Microsoft’s practices were a form of anticompetitive self-dealing. Slack’s complaint led to a European Commission antitrust investigation of Microsoft that is still ongoing. Monday’s announcement appears aimed at allaying some of those concerns, allowing customers worldwide to buy Microsoft’s Office software without Teams included and the ability to buy Teams as a standalone product for business customers.

Persons: Salesforce’s Slack Organizations: Washington CNN, Microsoft, European Union, Economic, European Locations: Switzerland

☆ VP Harris announces new requirements for how federal agencies use AI technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Brian Fung | Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a set of new, binding requirements for US agencies intended to prevent AI from being used in discriminatory ways. Under the requirements taking effect on Dec. 1, agencies using AI tools will have to verify they do not endanger the rights and safety of the American people. The new policy from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) also directs federal agencies to designate a chief AI officer to oversee how each agency uses the technology. She said the Biden administration intends for the policies to serve as a global model. Still, the new OMB policy marks the latest step by the Biden administration to shape the AI industry.

Persons: That’s, Biden, Kamala Harris, ” Harris, Shalanda Young, “, ” Young, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, Transportation, Administration, Management, Budget, “, Department of Homeland Security, Commerce Department, White House, Government, Office, OMB Locations: European Union, United States

☆ Judge’s stern rebuke of Elon Musk’s X gives critics fresh hope
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A federal judge’s decision this week reprimanding Elon Musk’s X will have reverberating effects on efforts to hold influential online platforms accountable, legal experts and advocacy groups say. Breyer held that the reports were “unquestionably” protected by the group’s free speech rights. Now, that decision could embolden other research groups and Musk critics who have faced legal threats from the billionaire. Researchers face hurdles to studying on-platform behaviorResearchers from non-profits and academic institutions have had a harder time studying X since Musk’s takeover in 2022. But one of Musk’s first changes at X was to put access to platform data behind a steep paywall.

Persons: reprimanding Elon Musk’s, Charles Breyer, Breyer, CCDH, X, Northern District of California —, Musk, White, Elon, ”, Alex Abdo, ” Abdo, Angelo Carusone, Carusone, Andrew Bailey, “, ” Carusone, David Karpf, ” Karpf, Nora Benavidez, Benavidez Organizations: CNN, Center, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Columbia University, “ Society, Twitter, Anti, Defamation League, Microsoft, Meta, Media, AGs, School of Media, Public Affairs, George Washington University, ” Free Press, Free Press Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, Texas, Missouri

☆ FTC investigating TikTok over privacy and security
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Brian Fung | Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok for its data and security practices, two sources told CNN on the condition of anonymity. The agency is also investigating whether TikTok violated a portion of the FTC Act, which prohibits “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce,” the sources said. The FTC could bring a suit against TikTok in the coming weeks, according to the sources. The FTC probe comes as TikTok faces an existential threat in the US. The short-form video company, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has denied assertions that its app poses a national security threat to US citizens.

Persons: TikTok, Public Affairs Douglas Farrar, “, ” TikTok, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, TikTok, Politico, Public Affairs, Senate Locations: China

☆ Federal judge tosses Elon Musk’s case against hate speech watchdog CCDH
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit by Elon Musk’s X that had targeted a watchdog group for its critical reports about hate speech on the social media platform. In a blistering 52-page order, the judge blasted X’s case as plainly punitive rather than about protecting the platform’s security and legal rights. X has blamed CCDH’s reports, which showcase the prevalence of hate speech on the platform, for amplifying brand safety concerns and driving advertisers away from the site. In the suit, X claimed that it had suffered tens of millions of dollars in damages from CCDH’s publications. “If CCDH’s publications were defamatory, that would be one thing, but X Corp. has carefully avoided saying that they are,” Breyer wrote.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, ”, Charles Breyer, ” Breyer, X, CCDH’s, Musk, Alex Jones, Breyer, “, CCDH, X’s, Imran Ahmed, @CCDHate, @ElonMusk’s @X, ” Ahmed, Ahmed, “ X Organizations: CNN, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Twitter, X Corp, Center Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, Newtown , Connecticut, California, San Francisco

☆ Florida governor signs law restricting social media access for children
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Shawn Nottingham | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law banning children under age 14 from having their own social media accounts on Monday, according to a news release from the governor’s office. In addition to restricting social media accounts for children, the legislation also places restrictions on pornographic websites. In February, a federal judge temporarily blocked Ohio’s law over concerns about its breadth and the likelihood that it could infringe on teens’ First Amendment rights to access information online. And last year, another federal judge temporarily blocked Arkansas’ law. DeSantis vetoed a prior version of the Florida law after saying he wanted to ensure that any legislation provides parents with enough of an opportunity to be involved in decisions about their kids’ social media use.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, ’, DeSantis Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, HB Locations: Florida, States, Arkansas , California , Louisiana , Ohio, Utah, Arkansas

☆ ACP, a digital lifeline for millions of Americans, is in jeopardy. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Cynthia George is one of millions of Americans in jeopardy of losing their home internet access. Yet Congress is nowhere close to approving the $6 billion that President Joe Biden says would renew the ACP and avert calamity for tens of millions of Americans. Courtesy Michelle McDonoughLike George, McDonough also expects she’ll have to cut back on groceries if the ACP goes away. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service. “You’re taking ACP away from the farmers that can check the local produce prices and be able to reasonably negotiate their prices with retailers.

Persons: Cynthia George, Cynthia George George, Joe Biden, Pedro Ugarte, ”, Gigi Sohn, “, George, ” George, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Mandel Ngan, Gary Johnson, Paul, —, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Scott, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Biden, ” Blair Levin, Bill Clark, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, Blaine Organizations: Washington CNN, MSN, Federal Communications Commission, Program, Lawmakers, ACP, FCC, Getty, CNN, ”, White, Comcast, George, Congress, Paul Bunyan Communications, American Library Association, Lifeline, House Republicans, New, Research, Republican, ” Lawmakers Locations: Washington ,, AFP, United States, Maine, Washington , DC, Minnesota, St, “, Lake Havasu City, Ariz, Vermont

☆ Live updates: Supreme Court hears arguments for First Amendment cases
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Dan Berman | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case that will decide whether the Biden administration's communication with social media companies during the Covid-19 pandemic violated free speech. The legal question: Whether the US government unconstitutionally pressured social media platforms into censoring users’ speech — particularly when the government flagged posts to the platforms that it believed violated the companies’ terms of service. How we got here: The states of Missouri and Louisiana, along with five social-media users, brought the lawsuit against various federal officials. In July 2023, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering federal agencies and more than a dozen top officials not to communicate with social media companies about taking down “content containing protected free speech." The Supreme Court paused that injunction from going into effect in October 2023 until it heard the case.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Biden Locations: Missouri, Louisiana

☆ Takeaways from the Supreme Court’s oral arguments over social media censorship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Brian Fung | John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The Supreme Court on Monday appeared deeply skeptical of arguments by two conservative states that the First Amendment bars the government from pressuring social media platforms to remove online misinformation. Louisiana and Missouri accused the Biden administration of a sweeping censorship campaign conducted through emailed and other communications with social media platforms. Barrett asked: Could the FBI not call the social media sites and encourage them to take such posts down? Fletcher pointed to the context of the communication between the Biden administration and the social media companies. That is Congress’ role, he said, challenging claims that the administration has issued credible threats against social media that could support a coercion argument.

Persons: Biden, Roberts, Kavanaugh, Barrett, John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, ”, Roe, Wade, Benjamin Aguiñaga, Alito, Samuel Alito, ” Alito, Brian Fletcher, Elena Kagan, Justice Kavanaugh, I’ve, ” Kagan, chuckles, Fletcher, Ketanji Brown Jackson, you’re, ” Aguiñaga Organizations: CNN, FBI, Facebook, New York Times, Communications, medica Locations: Louisiana, Missouri

☆ Reddit discloses FTC probe into its AI content licensing practices
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —The Federal Trade Commission is looking into Reddit’s plans to license its platform content to artificial intelligence companies, the social media company disclosed Friday in a securities filing. The FTC sent Reddit a letter on Thursday outlining the scope of the inquiry, Reddit said in the filing. “The FTC’s staff is conducting a non-public inquiry focused on our sale, licensing, or sharing of user-generated content with third parties to train AI models,” Reddit disclosed. The company has entered into an agreement to share its platform data with Google in order to train the tech giant’s AI models. Reddit said earlier this week that it expects to price shares between $31 and $34 each when it makes its IPO offering.

Persons: Reddit, ” Reddit, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Google

☆ Searches for VPNs spike in Texas after Pornhub pulls out of the state
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“The apparent spike in VPN searches in Texas shows that these types of age verification laws aren’t just unconstitutional, they’re also silly and ineffective,” Greer said. “Similar search spikes have been reported after other states passed age verification laws, which EFF opposes,” said Hudson Hongo, a spokesperson for the group. It also highlights the running debate in statehouses nationwide about how and whether governments can require websites to perform age verification. It requires adult websites to implement “reasonable age verification” methods to ensure that pornography is not being distributed to minors. The 5th Circuit court’s latest decision formally lifts the injunction against the Texas law.

Persons: Pornhub, “, VPNs, ”, Evan Greer, they’re, ” Greer, Hudson Hongo, ” Pornhub, David Alan Ezra, Ezra, Ken Paxton Organizations: CNN, Texas, Pornhub’s, Google, Texans, Frontier Foundation, EFF, Court, Western, Western District of, Circuit, “ Locations: Texas, China, Russia, Turkey, Montana , Utah, Virginia, statehouses, Western District, Western District of Texas

☆ Europe investigates Big Tech’s use of generative AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Regulators at the European Commission say they’re particularly concerned about how generative AI could sow chaos in the run-up to this summer’s EU parliamentary elections. Online platforms will have until April 5 to respond to questions about steps they’ve taken to prevent AI tools from spreading election misinformation. The companies’ responses could be incorporated into a series of election security guidelines for tech platforms the European Commission plans to finalize by March 27, another commission official said. The AI investigation also covers a broader set of topics including how platforms are addressing generative AI’s impact on user privacy, intellectual property, civil rights and children’s safety and mental health. “One of the grievances we have is the ability to manipulate the service through automated means and this can include generative AI, so yes, there’s a link to the ongoing investigation,” one of the commission officials said.

Persons: “, ”, Linda Yaccarino, Thierry Breton Organizations: CNN, European Union, Meta, Microsoft, Commission, Digital Services, Elon Locations: Israel, EU

☆ Who will buy TikTok from ByteDance?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

At $100 billion, there are few companies that could afford to buy TikTok outright. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Journal wrote that Kotick “floated the idea of partnering to buy TikTok to a table of people that included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.”CNN couldn’t independently confirm the report. Its one go at the social media scene, the buggy and short-lived Ping, was one of Apple’s biggest flops. And any tech executive or private equity investor thinking of buying TikTok would need to be prepared to enter the social media quagmire. A key question in assessing the value of a TikTok deal is whether China would allow ByteDance to export its algorithm — the secret sauce that keeps TikTok users glued to their phones.

Persons: CNN Business ’, There’s, Joe Biden’s, who’d, Dan Ives, ” Ives, Who’s, ”, Gene Kimmelman, OpenAi, Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard, “, Sam Altman, ” CNN couldn’t, Altman didn’t, doesn’t, quagmire, They’d, Mark Zuckerberg, Shou Chew, It’s, Trump, —, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Senate, Microsoft, Department, Google, ” Meta, Facebook, Street Journal, Activision, ” CNN, Kotick, Apple, Oracle, Walmart, Communist Party, ByteDance Locations: New York, United States, Beijing, Europe, China

☆ FCC cracks down on cable TV ‘junk fees’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The new junk fees rule requires cable and satellite TV companies to list “all-in” prices to consumers in their billing and marketing materials — including any miscellaneous fees, such as those related to sports programming or local broadcast channels. Between 24% and 33% of the typical consumer’s bill can be attributed to fees, consumer advocates told the FCC. In a separate move last year, the FCC proposed banning certain cable fees altogether, including early termination fees that the agency says hinder competition and prevent customers from easily switching providers. Mending the digital divideIn addition to cable, the FCC also addressed internet availability during its Thursday meeting. Defining high-speed internetThe report also reflects newly adopted revisions in how the country defines high-speed internet, which the FCC voted to approve on Thursday.

Persons: “, ”, Jessica Rosenworcel, ’ ”, NCTA, Dave Wallace, Amira Karaoud, Biden, Rosenworcel, you’re, Anne Neuberger, Neuberger Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Energy Star, National Institute for Standards, Technology, Logitech, LG, Samsung, Consumer, European Union Locations: Kentucky, Louisville , Kentucky, U.S, greenlight, Las Vegas, America

☆ Premarket stocks: Congress has bad news for Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New York CNN —Dealmaking is the lifeblood of Wall Street. But analysts say that funding cuts in the plan could end up harming mergers and acquisitions on Wall Street, squashing hopes of a recovery in dealmaking. The bad news: Recent regulations and proposed budget cuts threaten to step on those green shoots before they’re able to flower. Why it matters: Dealmaking isn’t just good for Wall Street. Shares of the stock are down nearly 30% so far this year after its seemingly nonstop streak of bad luck.

Persons: New York CNN — Dealmaking, Joe Biden, squashing, It’s, Goldman Sachs, ”, Lucille Jones, Jones, Mitch Berlin, Biden, ’, ” Berlin, That’s, Hewlett Packard, “, TikTok —, Brian Fung, TikTok, Shou Chew, Nadya Okamoto, Okamoto, Teddy Siegel, Siegel, David Goldman, LATAM, it’s, Max Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Wall, LSEG, Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, Congressional, Office, CNN, Discover Financial Services, Hewlett, Juniper Networks, Target, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, The National Transportation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, NTSB Locations: New York, dealmaking, EY, Berlin, “, LSEG, Australia, New Zealand, Newark

☆ House expected to vote on bill that could ban TikTok amid Trump resistance
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Clare Foran | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The House is expected to vote Wednesday on a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban against TikTok, a major challenge to one of the world’s most popular social media apps. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who support the bill have argued that it is not a ban. In recent comments to reporters, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who chairs a House select committee on China, rejected characterizations of the bill as a TikTok ban. “This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States,” the company wrote in a post on X. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday would not commit to holding a vote on the House’s TikTok bill, underscoring the uncertainty over what will happen if the House passes the bill as expected.

Persons: Donald Trump, equivocated, TikTok, It’s, Joe Biden, Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, ” Trump, “, Mike Gallagher, “ It’s, ”, Shou Chew, Chuck Schumer, CNN’s Kate Sullivan, Morgan Rimmer, Lauren Fox Organizations: TikTok, ByteDance, Apple, Google, House Energy, Commerce Committee, Facebook, CNBC, Lawmakers, Wisconsin Republican, Chinese Communist Party Locations: China, Beijing, Washington, United States

☆ EU approves landmark AI law, leapfrogging US to regulate worrying new technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —European Union lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a landmark law governing artificial intelligence, leapfrogging the United States once again on the regulation of a critical and disruptive technology. The first-of-its-kind law is poised to reshape how businesses and organizations in Europe use AI for everything from health care decisions to policing. It imposes blanket bans on some “unacceptable” uses of the technology while enacting stiff guardrails for other applications deemed “high-risk.”For example, the EU AI Act outlaws social scoring systems powered by AI and any biometric-based tools used to guess a person’s race, political leanings or sexual orientation. Meanwhile, the law outlines a separate category of “high-risk” uses of AI, particularly for education, hiring and access to government services, and imposes a separate set of transparency and other obligations on them. Companies such as OpenAI that produce powerful, complex and widely used AI models will also be subject to new disclosure requirements under the law.

Persons: Chuck Schumer Organizations: CNN — European Union, EU Locations: United States, Europe

☆ Analysis: Trump on Social Security cuts and a possible TikTok ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But Trump’s comments on TikTok and Social Security, both in an unfettered interview on CNBC, suggest not calculation, but confusion about Social Security and ambivalence about TikTok. Social Security was a top issue during the Republican presidential primary, when Trump attacked his GOP opponents, accusing them of wanting to take social security benefits away from older Americans. In an ad-libbed and meandering answer during a telephone interview broadcast on CNBC, Trump seemed to suggest that he was open to cutting Social Security. Have you changed your, your outlook on how to handle entitlements Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Mr. President? His answer also did nothing to address Kernen’s larger question, about Social Security and Medicare’s insolvency crisis.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, It’s, CNBC’s Joe Kernen, we’ve, Joe Biden’s, Karoline Leavitt, ” It’s, Abby Phillip, Nikki Haley, ByteDance, ” Trump, ” Biden, Brian Fung, Jeff Yass, Steve Bannon, “ Organizations: CNN, Social Security, Trump, CNBC, Social, Republicans, Republican, GOP, ISIS, Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, South Carolina Gov, House Republicans Locations: Trump, TikTok’s China, China, TikTok, Yass

☆ TikTok creators fear US ban as the House prepares to vote on crackdown bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

As House lawmakers prepare to vote on the bill Wednesday, TikTok is encouraging users to call their representatives with a full-screen notification about the legislation. Okamoto’s TikTok account features videos on women’s health, sex education and the occasional glimpse into her personal life. Her sisters are TikTok creators in their own right, one of whom is using her income from TikTok to pay her own way through college, Okamoto said. It’s so tired,” said Grey Prnce, who together with her spouse, Grayson France, co-manages the TikTok account @officiallyverygay. Thus was born @Got2GoNYC, a TikTok account that aims to map all the publicly accessible toilets in the city.

Persons: Washington CNN — TikTok, TikTok, Shou Chew, Nadya Okamoto, Okamoto, She’s, “, ” Okamoto, it’s Chew, ”, Grey Prnce, Grayson France, Teddy Siegel, Siegel, ducking, @Got2GoNYC, ” Siegel, it’s, Prnce Organizations: Washington CNN, Target, CNN, Chinese Community Party Locations: China, Beijing, United States, New York City, Utah, Salt Lake City

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