DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

"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.

☆ Democrats criticize Elon Musk for suspending journalists covering Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Amanda Terkel | Amanda Is Senior Politics Editor For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — Democratic members of Congress had harsh words for Elon Musk on Thursday night after Twitter suddenly suspended a number of high-profile journalists who have been covering the company and Musk, its billionaire CEO. In November, shortly after he took over Twitter, Musk tweeted that he would not ban the account. Musk tweeted Thursday night. "Ro Khanna is great," Musk tweeted in response to one of some of the Twitter files. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., tweeted: "Twitter can suspend whoever it wants.

Twitter suspended several high-profile journalists Thursday evening who have been covering the company and Elon Musk. The suspensions come a day after Twitter changed its policies around accounts that track private jets, including one owned by Elon Musk. The Twitter account for Mastodon, a platform billed as an alternative, was also suspended early Thursday evening. As of Thursday evening, Twitter accounts operated by NBC News journalists were unable to tweet a link to the Mastodon account of @ElonJet. The suspensions add to what has been a tumultuous couple of days for Twitter after the company first suspended the account that tracked Musk’s jet.

☆ Elon Musk argued with reporters on Twitter Spaces about suspending multiple high-profile journalists' accounts — hear the full exchange, including the moment he abruptly left
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On Thursday, Twitter suspended the accounts of multiple high-profile journalists who cover owner Elon Musk. Elon Musk later dropped into Twitter Spaces, where reporters asked why the accounts were suspended. Multiple reporters, many of whom cover tech, including Musk and Twitter, saw their Twitter accounts suspended without warning or explanation on Thursday. Twitter suspended that account on Wednesday despite Musk, who has called himself a free-speech absolutist, tweeting in November that he wouldn't do so. Twitter Spaces later stopped working, which Musk says happened to fix a "legacy bug," but several Twitter users recorded the exchange between Musk and the reporters.

☆ Elon Musk hasn't filed a police report about the 'crazy stalker' incident which sparked journalists' Twitter suspensions, LAPD says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The LAPD says Elon Musk hasn't filed a police report about the "crazy stalker" who followed his son. Musk tweeted that the man had followed a car containing his son X Æ A-Xii, believing Musk was inside. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Department said "LAPD's Threat Management Unit is aware of the situation and Tweet by Elon Musk and is in contact with his representatives and security team." Musk then shared a video of the masked person who he said followed his son, and the car's license plate. The official Twitter account for Mastodon was also suspended.

☆ Twitter suspends multiple journalists who have been covering, criticizing Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Twitter suspended several journalists' accounts on Thursday. Many of the affected writers had been covering or criticizing Elon Musk in the preceding days. But Rupar told Insider that he didn't believe he had tweeted or even retweeted anything about the ongoing private jet saga. Nearly all of them had been reporting on Twitter, covering Musk, or writing critically about the billionaire in the days leading up to their suspension. The flight data Musk is trying to keep off Twitter is available online to anyone and relatively easy to track.

☆ Japan may build 2 huge warships to counter the growing missile threat from North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

That has led Japan to examine its missile defense, which relies on specially designed warships. The launches have forced Japan to examine its unique ballistic-missile defense system, which relies heavily on specially equipped warships to intercept incoming missiles. US Missile Defense Agency/Heather CavaliereJapan began developing its current BMD system in 2004. US Navy/MCS3 Quinton A. LeeThe Aegis-equipped BMD ships are the most important part of Japan's BMD system. US Navy/MCS Seaman Aleksandr FreutelThere are advantages to relying on maritime-based platforms for missile defense.

☆ The Cienfuegos Affair: Inside the Case that Upended the Drug War in Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Tim Golden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Seth DuCharme, who had returned to the Eastern District as the interim U.S. attorney after working as one of Barr’s counselors, offered a powerful defense of the prosecutors’ case. “Is it worth it?” Barr asked at one point, according to one official’s notes of the meeting. According to current and former Justice Department officials, Barr later asked one of his aides for an evaluation of the evidence against Cienfuegos. Ebrard told Barr he wanted to see the evidence against Cienfuegos. On Barr’s orders, Robotti and other Eastern District prosecutors hurriedly assembled a file of more than 700 pages of intercepts.

☆ Several left wing activists had their Twitter accounts suspended after a false-report campaign by far-right users, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Prominent left-wing Twitter accounts have been banned after false reports, The Intercept reported. Far-right activists have launched a campaign to report left-wing accounts for false violations, it reported. Right-wing activists coordinated a campaign to mass report left-wing Twitter users for fake violations to get their accounts suspended — Loder's account was mentioned on a list of accounts to report. Far-right users like journalist Andy Ngo on Twitter urged Musk to address the "large number of Antifa accounts" operating on Twitter. Loder told Intercept that his account was suspended just 90 minutes after Musk responded to Ngo on Twitter.

Democrats could have prevailed had their state party — which was busy deflecting progressive criticism of their conduct — marshaled better infrastructure and financial support for swing-district candidates. The icing on this rotten cake is that New York Democrats have no one to blame but themselves. Facing challenging new maps, Maloney and his moderate allies panicked that many of the popular progressives who had already announced their candidacies simply could not win. In a moment of exceptional self-unawareness that only underscored the broader myopia of establishment New York Democrats, Maloney took the news of his loss Tuesday as an opportunity to swipe at Ocasio-Cortez. Seth Wenig / AP fileBetween interparty bad blood and challenging electoral maps, the Democratic Party machine also appeared uninterested or unable to translate Democratic enthusiasm into meaningful on-the-ground organizing.

☆ US Navy finds 'massive amount' of explosive material able to fuel over a dozen ballistic missiles on a fishing boat sailing from Iran
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Navy intercepted a fishing boat in the Gulf of Oman traveling from Iran to Yemen last week. During a search, the Navy found lethal aid and a "massive amount" of explosive material. This material is able to fuel over a dozen medium-range ballistic missiles, a Navy official said. The Navy said it sank the ship last weekend and transferred the crew to Yemen's Coast Guard. Iran is the main supporter of the Houthis, who have fought a yearslong civil war against Yemen's internationally recognized government.

☆ U.S. Navy intercepts 'massive' shipment of explosive material in Gulf of Oman
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said on Tuesday it had intercepted a fishing vessel smuggling "massive" amounts of explosive material while transiting from Iran along a route in the Gulf of Oman that has been used to traffic weapons to Yemen's Houthi group. U.S. forces found over 70 tonnes of ammonium perchlorate which is commonly used to make rocket and missile fuel as well as explosives, the Fifth Fleet said in a statement. "This was a massive amount of explosive material, enough to fuel more than a dozen medium-range ballistic missiles depending on the size," said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. The intercepted vessel had four Yemeni crew members and also carried 100 tonnes of urea fertilizer, which is used in agriculture but also for making explosives, the Fifth Fleet said.

☆ AOC says 'it's so out of touch to imply that abortion isn't an economic issue' after reproductive rights were at the top of voters' minds in the midterms
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Reproductive rights got big wins in the midterms as voters chose to protect abortion access in five states. As the GOP sought to block abortions, AOC said it's "out of touch" to consider the issue separate from the economy. She referred to the lack of guaranteed healthcare and childcare that often comes alongside stripping abortion rights. At the midterm elections, abortion was a key concern for voters after the bombshell Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade this summer. Even in Republican and swing states, it was clear protecting the right to an abortion was a major concern for voters.

☆ Facebook has a special portal for government officials to request user content be throttled or suppressed for vaguely defined disinformation, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Intercept reported social media platforms are cooperating with a DHS initiative against misinformation. Facebook built a special portal for government officials to request user content be throttled or suppressed. Content about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial justice, and US support for Ukraine has been targeted. Specific actions taken by the private businesses remain unclear, but recent DHS reports indicate an increased focus on preventing disinformation campaigns online. On Facebook, using a portal called the Content Request System, The Intercept reported, government officials from DHS as well as law enforcement officers can directly submit reports about posts that were deemed subversive or suspicious.

☆ Israel offers help with air-attack alerts, but Ukraine wants interceptors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's ambassador, however, asked for systems that would shoot down the drones instead, while Defence Minister Benny Gantz said Israel was firm on not supplying Kyiv with weapons. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterOn Tuesday, Ukraine stepped up appeals for Israeli help after reporting multiple Russian strikes using Iranian Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones. Israel has asked Ukraine "to share information about their needs for air defence alerts," Gantz told EU ambassadors, according to a statement by his office. Similar early warning technologies could be on offer to Ukraine, a spokesperson for Israel's Defence Ministry said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Emily Rose; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russian soldier says he will 'pray for a wound' in Ukraine so he can leave the front lines, intercepted audio shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine shared audio it said was intercepted from a Russian soldier. The clip shows a man complaining about Putin and his partial mobilization plans. He also says he will "pray for a wound" in Ukraine so he can go home. A four-minute clip of the intercepted phone call was shared by The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on Tuesday. It said the conversation was between a Russian soldier based in the occupied city of Kherson and an unidentified woman.

After Ukrainian forces stage ambushes and cut off the key access route to the capital, Russian soldiers tell their relatives that the military strategy is failing. … That’s what we’re fucking going to do, it seems. “Frankly speaking, nobody understands why we have to fight this war," Sergey tells his girlfriend. Replay‘I’ll quit at once.’Frustrated by continuous setbacks and fearing for their lives, Russian soldiers say they are fed up with the military. As quickly as they came, the Russian soldiers in northern Kyiv withdrew, regrouped and pivoted east, where Russian-backed separatists have been waging war for over eight years.

☆ At a Google all-hands meeting, employees questioned executives about Project Nimbus, a controversial $1.2 billion contract with Israel's government. Management's answers left staff skeptical.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Tom Dotan | Rosalie Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Google spokesperson said the contract is for Israeli government ministries like healthcare. Google executives recently tried to assure employees that its controversial $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with Israel's government will not provide support to the country's sensitive military work. "The Nimbus contract is for workloads running on our commercial platform by Israeli government ministries," Fox-Martin said at the meeting on Tuesday. Some employees who attended Tuesday's meeting said the assurances from Google executives about Project Nimbus contradict what the company has said elsewhere. They pointed to earlier statements that a Google spokesperson made to WIRED acknowledging the contract will provide Israel's military access to Google technology.

☆ Florida migrant-moving company gave GOP cash, has ties to DeSantis' immigration 'czar' and Rep. Matt Gaetz
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Marc Caputo | Marc Caputo Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Vertol is based in the Florida Panhandle city of Destin, in Gaetz’s congressional district, and near Keefe’s home city as well. State and federal campaign finance data show Vertol contributed $2,500 to the North Florida Neighbors super PAC backing Gaetz’s first congressional bid in 2016. After DeSantis was elected, Vertol in 2019 contributed another $10,000 to the Republican Party of Florida, which is ultimately controlled by the governor. And Vertol contributed another $1,000 in June to state Rep. Jay Trumbull Jr.’s state Senate campaign. His father, Jay Trumbull Sr. had been appointed by DeSantis to the Florida Transportation Commission, which oversees the Florida Department of Transportation, the agency in charge of the Vertol contract.

Flags of United Arab Emirates and Israel flutter during Israel's National Day ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 31, 2022. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/DUBAI/NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Israel has agreed to sell an advanced air defence system to the United Arab Emirates, two sources familiar with the matter said, in the first such known deal between them since they forged ties in 2020. The deal reinforces how, for some Arab states, resolving the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict has now been overshadowed by national priorities, such as security and the economy. President Isaac Herzog, visiting the UAE in January when an intercepted strike took place, said Israel supported the UAE's security needs. Israel and the UAE this year signed a free trade deal; Israel's first with an Arab state.

☆ Inside the little-known tool that gives JPMorgan Chase the power to collect data about everything its employees do at work
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-27 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Insider learned about the WADU system through interviews and leaked internal documents that explain what kinds of data it captures. Though the use of Palantir was reportedly for security purposes, JPMorgan employees who spoke to Bloomberg said the situation quickly escalated. When companies are opaque about how they use employee data, the consequences can be detrimental — from harming employee "engagement" to eroding their "mental health," Garr said. Companies that fail to do this run the risk of cultivating the kind of mistrust that JPMorgan employees claim is running rampant through their ranks. "It does not sit well with me, what they're doing," said the US-based staffer with direct knowledge of the WADU system.

☆ Transgender TikTok creators say the app's mysterious 'For You' page is a breeding ground for transphobia and targeted harassment
▼ + stars: | 2021-02-27 | by ( Connor Perrett | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

Brickham, a 38-year-old trans woman living in Florida, posted photos of her transition after seeing other trans creators do the same. But transgender creators say TikTok is an unwitting accelerator for transphobia and harassment. TikTok features — like duets, which allow users to respond to another user's videos — have also been a tool for harassers. Trans creators told Insider that the "For You" page allowed them to quickly find a community and support on the app. Creators told Insider that the transphobia they faced on TikTok was more intense than on other social-media platforms.

Persons: —, Chelsea Brickham, TikTok, Brickham, she'd, didn't, they'd, Madelyn Whitley, Whitley, Gen, we're, Aiden Mann, I've, Mann, Daniel Sinclair, Sinclair, ByteDance, There's, Trump, you've, Fletcher Furst, Furst, who've, Samuel, he'd, it's, Eric Han, Han, Dr, Ric Matthews, Matthews, Melissa Robinson, Brown, I'm, Jade Marie Eichelberger, Marie Eichelberger, Eichelberger, Chris Organizations: Service, Business, Chelsea, Washington Post, Trans, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wired, City , University of London, Intercept, Australian, American Academy of Pediatrics, TikTokers, TikTok, New York Times Locations: Florida, TikTok, COVID, New York, France, Tennessee, China, Musical.ly, Alberta, Canada, Oregon, South Carolina, Black

☆ These journalists gave Democrats money, federal records say. But the records are wrong.
▼ + stars: | 2020-10-30 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Notable journalists from The New York Times, Washington Post, and The Atlantic were surprised to learn from Insider that federal records showed they had made political contributions. Federal records indicate they made political donations. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to refund his political contributions. Goldberg is one of several prominent journalists who say federal records incorrectly show they've contributed money to politicians. "This must be a case of mistaken identity," said Chang, whose newsroom generally prohibits staff members from making political contributions.

Search resuls for: "The Intercept"

23 mentions found