Brief #95 – Technology Policy Brief
by Mindy Spatt
A further irony to the debate is that the rideshare companies have made no secret of their own goal of eventually getting rid of drivers and moving to AVs themselves…
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X Marks the Spot as Elon Musk Makes More Enemies
Brief #94 – Technology Policy Brief
by Mindy Spatt
In a letter threatening suit on June 20, X cited this report in accusing the CCDH of “making inflammatory, outrageous, and false…
Is that Hotel or Airbnb Really Clean, Sunny and Well-Appointed?
Brief #92 – Technology Policy Brief
by Mindy Spatt
With the rise in online reviews we have seen that bad actors can manipulate or fake reviews to deceive consumers for their own benefit. In the meantime, how can you protect yourself?
Book Review: Traffic: Genius, Rivalry and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral, Ben Smith, Penguin Press, N.Y., 2023.
Brief #92 – Technology Policy Brief
by Mindy Spatt
Ben Smith describes how the founders of upstart news sites like Gawker and the Huffington Post started off racing to post breaking, under-reported news and ended up in a race for online traffic.
Google Profits from Barriers to Abortion Access
Brief #91 – Technology Policy Brief
by Mindy Spatt
A Google search for abortion services will often serve up just the opposite- ‘Pregnancy Crisis Centers’ and other fake clinics dedicated to preventing abortions rather than providing them.
Fintech Loans: Breakthrough in Payday Lending or Just Another Way to Bilk Consumers?
Brief #91 – Technology Policy
by Mindy Spatt
Earned Wage Access app users are living paycheck to paycheck, and being sucked into loans that hide their full costs, which can add up to the same 400 percent APR payday lenders charge.
The Battle Over Gig Worker Protections Heads to the California Supreme Court and the US Senate
Brief #86 – Technology Policy
by Mindy Spatt
Rideshare companies have won the latest round in their fight to stop California’s gig worker protection legislation from becoming law.
Meta’s Oversight Board Invites Comments on Martyrs
Brief #83 – Technology Policy
by Mindy Spatt
Meta’s Oversight Board has taken public comments on the way its platforms treat the Arabic word “Shaheed”, often deleting it from posts by posters Meta has deemed dangerous.
Banning TikTok Won’t Make the Data Safe
Brief #81 – Technology Policy
by Mindy Spatt
TikTok is under attack from all sides. The Biden Administration is threatening to ban the app altogether, the Justice department is investigating it, advocates say it is dangerous to children, a school district is suing, and governments in the US and the UK won’t allow their workers to use it.
Facebook’s Advertising Practices Run Afoul of Privacy Protection Rules in Europe
Brief #53 – Technology Policy
By Mindy Spatt
A groundbreaking decision by European regulators is pushing Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to make changes to its advertising policies. The ruling goes further than any US authority has gone in limiting Facebooks’ ability to collect users’ data. Meta is expected to appeal.