Techmeme
January 28, 2020, 2:00 PM

Top News

Geoffrey Fowler / Washington Post:
Facebook says its Off-Facebook Activity tool, which lets users clear all the data passed onto Facebook by other apps and sites, is now available globally  —  The new ‘Off-Facebook Activity’ tool reminds us we're living in a reality TV program where the cameras are always on.
The Guardian:
UK government says it will let Huawei build non-core elements of Britain's 5G network but will ban the company from operating at sensitive sites  —  Foreign secretary tells MPs government will introduce strict limits on Chinese firm designated ‘high-risk vendor’  —  Heather Stewart Political editor and Dan Sabbagh
John Gruber / Daring Fireball:
Ten years after the iPad's launch, it has not come close to being revolutionary or living up to its potential because of its inconsistent multitasking software  —  Ten years ago today, Steve Jobs introduced the iPad on stage at the Yerba Buena theater in San Francisco.  It surprised everyone, in several ways.
Scott Stein / CNET:
Filmic's free DoubleTake iPhone app lets users shoot video from two cameras at once; it can simultaneously record two 1080p videos at 24, 25, or 30 fps  —  Your phone is studded with cameras.  You're probably only using one at a time, though.  That could change in the near future …
Michael Kwet / The Intercept:
A look at the rise of vast AI-enabled video surveillance networks in US cities, which let private businesses and homes provide camera feeds to police HQs  —  There's widespread concern that video cameras will use facial recognition software to track our every public move.
Danny Palmer / ZDNet:
UK government proposes new IoT rules: firms must tell consumers how long security updates will be provided, ship individual devices with unique passwords, more  —  Proposed laws from the UK for Internet of Things security and suggests vendors will need to follow new rules to be considered secure.
Jonathan Shieber / TechCrunch:
Advano, which builds battery components using scrap silicon for powerful and longer lasting batteries, raises $18.5M from investors, including Tony Fadell  —  Using scrap silicon as its feedstock, a New Orleans-based company called Advano has raised $18.5 million to manufacture battery components …
More: VentureBeat and FinSMEs
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Directly, which helps companies train chatbots by crowdsourcing experts and analyzing usage, raises $20M, led by Samsung NEXT, at a $100M+ valuation  —  Chatbots have had a patchy track record world of tech, where early efforts not only failed to deliver on the magical idea of a computer producing …
Joshua Brustein / Bloomberg:
Profile of Miranda Sissons, hired by Facebook last November as its first human rights chief, as Facebook struggles with waves of online hate against minorities  —  The company has hired a respected expert to help stem the spread of online violence.  Can she change the world's largest social network?
Jennifer Elias / CNBC:
Congress sends Sundar Pichai letter requesting YouTube address four concerns on climate misinformation by Feb. 7, including removing videos from recommendations  —  - Climate Committee Chair Kathy Castor penned a letter to Google, requesting the company take action against disinformation related to climate change.

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Featured Podcasts

Big Technology Podcast:
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis: AI's Next Breakthroughs, AGI Timeline, Google's AI Glasses Bet
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Conversations with people I admire about things I'm genuinely interested in.
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Channels with Peter Kafka:
Chuck Klosterman on Why Football Owns TV (and Why It Won't Forever)
Media and tech aren't just intersecting - they're fully intertwined. To understand how those worlds work, Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers.
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Come be a fly on the wall as Y Combinator's Jessica Livingston and Carolynn Levy talk to some of the most successful founders in Silicon Valley about how they did it.
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The leading destination to learn about business and investing. We do this by showcasing exceptional talent and ideas.
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Special Edition: Key findings from the Microsoft AI Diffusion Report
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith speaks with leaders in government, business, and culture to explore the most critical challenges at the intersection of technology and society.
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More News

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Earlier Picks

Reuters:
Azeem Azhar / Exponential View:
Raymond Zhong / New York Times:
Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat: