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June 23, 2020, 11:15 PM
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| Ian Hamilton / UploadVR: |
Facebook says it will stop selling Oculus Go, ending app submissions for it in December, and vows to no longer make headsets that only track head rotation — Facebook will stop selling Oculus Go this year as the company sharpens its focus on fully positionally tracked VR headsets like Oculus Quest.
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Oculus-blog, VentureBeat, CNET, TechCrunch, TechRadar.com, Motley Fool, Road to VR, UploadVR, GamesIndustry.biz, UploadVR, Tom's Hardware, Engadget, GameSpot, ZDNet, The Verge, XDA Developers, Destructoid, VRFocus, Bloomberg, Gizmodo, and CNBC
Tweets: @hmltn, @uploadvr, @bengeskin, @elkmovie, @oculus, @davezatz, @mcclure111, @drash_vr, @edlago, and @tommy_palm
| Janus Rose / VICE: |
1,000+ technologists, including some from MIT, Facebook, Google, urge Springer to not publish a paper that describes a system to predict crime based on faces — Technologists from MIT, Harvard, and Google say research claiming to predict crime based on human faces creates a “tech-to-prison pipeline” that reinforces racist policing.
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Coalition for Critical …, MIT Technology Review, iTnews, OneZero , VentureBeat, and Brumpost
Tweets: @techreview, @springernature, @shannonvallor, @wewatchwatchers, @ibjiyongi, @bigblackjacobin, @ibjiyongi, @motherboard, @scheidegger, @jonniepenn, @seanmmcdonald, @bethmsemel, @mirowskipiotr, @schock, @katecrawford, @wellslucassanto, @vice, @hardmaru, @forcriticaltech, @mdekstrand, @gemmamilne, @onekade, @chels_bar, and @gillianmsmith
| New York Times: |
Over 70 people, mostly women, have shared stories of discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault within the video game live-streaming industry since Friday — After more than 70 allegations surfaced on Twitter this weekend, gaming companies and streamers responded with action.
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The Next Web, Gamasutra, TwitLonger, Blue's News, Forbes, GamesIndustry.biz, TechRadar, NBC News, INSIDER, TwitLonger, VICE, TwitLonger, and USgamer.net
Tweets: @justinwong, @sampai, @itsmemollyo, @jessyquil, @hollowtide, @ladytiabeanie, @silcris88, @thescarberry, @rnoelliams, @malikaplays, @thatenolaleone, @rezzanancetv, @professorbroman, @femfreq, @taylorlorenz, @ohmwrecker, @raidhyn, @taylorlorenz, @gothalion, @thehaleybaby, @jessyquil, @twitch_bigschem, and @prod1gyxx
| Isaac McIntyre / Dexerto: |
Twitch pledges to make platform “safer for everyone” in response to numerous sexual abuse allegations recently leveled at a handful of high-profile streamers — Twitch has pledged to make their streaming platform “safer for everyone” in a statement released in response …
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Game Rant, Ars Technica, GameSpot, Kotaku UK, Dot Esports, Input, Win.gg, Digital Trends, PCGamesN, EssentiallySports, Engadget, Dot Esports, and VG247
Tweets: @twitch, @eshear, @yourstarling, @hollytwolf, @itssimplyaj, @twelfthdoc, @kawaiifoxita, @guaconmysock, @slasher, @aravelle, and @justinwong
| Cara Lombardo / Wall Street Journal: |
Sources: Dell is examining spinning off its ~$50B stake in VMware as well as other options; after hours, Dell's stock is up 18%+, VMware's is up 8%+ — PC maker is saddled with sluggish shares and heavy debt load — Dell Technologies Inc. DELL 1.49% is examining options including a spinoff …
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Barron's Online, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, MarketWatch, TheStreet, SiliconANGLE, CRN, and CNBC. Tweets: @wsjmarkets
| Bloomberg: |
Recent pledges by Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft to diversify their workforce come after years of similar claims followed by little progress — Spurred by nationwide protests and calls to end systemic racism after the police killing of George Floyd, Google, Microsoft Corp …
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The Official Microsoft Blog, GeekWire, Digital Commerce 360, Business Insider, Bloomberg, and diginomica
Tweets: @aarti411, @qmatteoq, @sbanjo, @bradsmi, @carnage4life, @fxshaw, and @lorrainebardeen
| Alfred Ng / CNET: |
Senate Republicans introduce bill calling for an end to “warrant-proof” encryption, citing apps like WhatsApp that use end-to-end encryption — The proposed legislation is Congress' latest attempt to weaken encryption from tech giants. — A group of Senate Republicans are looking … | Kyle Daly / Axios: |
Twitter flags a Trump tweet for breaking rules on abusive behavior; it threatened “serious force” against anyone who may try creating an “autonomous zone” in DC — Twitter on Monday opted not to take down or flag a tweet from President Trump that baselessly tied mail …
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news.com.au, CNET, Washington Post, Gizmodo, The Hill, Forbes, New York Post, Washington Examiner, Daily Mail, Reuters, The Independent, Fox News, PCMag, ABC News, Newser, New York Times, CNBC, Deadline, TechCrunch, and Raw Story
Tweets: @twittersafety, @cat_zakrzewski, @ct_bergstrom, @bruno_j_navarro, @tedcruz, @bryandeanwright, and @caseynewton
| Dana Mattioli / Wall Street Journal: |
Amazon unveils the Climate Pledge Fund, which will invest an initial $2B in startups building sustainable technologies — Tech giant plans to invest in transportation, energy, food and other industries — Amazon. AMZN 2.36% com Inc. is launching a $2 billion internal venture-capital fund focused …
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Amazon.com, Inc., The Amazon Blog, CNBC, Inc42 Media, Sustainability - US, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Barron's Online, Reuters, Forbes, Bloomberg, Axios, TechCrunch, TheStreet, Investopedia, Entrepreneur, Engadget, The Hill, MIT Technology Review, Gizmodo, TechSpot, and Business Insider
Tweets: @danprimack, @teddyschleifer, @madhavchanchani, @jjacobs22, @jmpyper, and @jjacobs22
| Catalin Cimpanu / ZDNet: |
Microsoft releases the first public preview of its Defender antivirus Android app, as Microsoft Defender ATP for Linux becomes generally available for all users — UPDATE: Microsoft Defender ATP for Linux has also exited public preview and is now generally available for all users.
More:
TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM, Microsoft Security, Ars Technica, Pocket-lint, The Verge, Microsoft Docs, Windows Central, and Droid Life
Tweets: @msftsecurity, @msintune, and @campuscodi
| Paul Sawers / VentureBeat: |
DoNotPay, which creates bots to automate mundane tasks and save users money, raises $12M Series A led by Coatue Management at a valuation of $80M — The pandemic has opened a Pandora's box of consumer concerns, with flights canceled, gyms closed, and monthly membership commitments to contend with.
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Telegraph, Fortune, Business Insider, SiliconANGLE, and BGR
Tweets: @psawers, @jbrowder1, and @epro
| Karin Matussek / Bloomberg: |
A previously suspended German antitrust order against Facebook gets reinstated amid pending lawsuit, after a judge says Facebook abuses its dominant position — - Social network giant is abusing its market power, judges say — Antitrust order won't be suspended while suit is pending
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New York Times, TechCrunch, The Information, Associated Press, Axios, Financial Times, RTÉ, Business Insider, Agence France-Presse, The Irish Times, DW.COM, iTnews, EURACTIV.com, and Law360
Tweets: @marietjeschaake, @nytimes, @karaswisher, @jason_kint, @cernovich, and @profcarroll
| Tiffany Hsu / New York Times: |
Ben & Jerry's, Eddie Bauer, and Magnolia Pictures join Patagonia, REI, and others suspending Facebook ads in July to protest amplification of hate speech — Eddie Bauer, Magnolia Pictures, Ben & Jerry's and others have suspended campaigns over the platform's content moderation practices.| Mark Wilson / Fast Company: |
Segway, the two-wheeled, self-balancing vehicle known for the hype it generated in the early 2000s, ends production as the company lays off most of its staff — Steve Jobs said it would be bigger than the PC. Some dubbed it the most hyped product since the Apple Macintosh.
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CNN, Digital Trends, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Fortune, Engadget, The Verge, NPR, Forbes, SlashGear, TechSpot, Mashable, CNET, Electrek, and KnowTechie
Tweets: @jasonlk, @ctrlzee, @mollywood, @ingridlunden, @samuelstolton, and @philwahba
| David Gelles / New York Times: |
TaskRabbit says CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot is stepping down after four years; she is one of the few Black female tech CEOs in Silicon Valley — Stacy Brown-Philpot, one of the few prominent black women in the technology industry, has led the gig worker marketplace for four years, and oversaw its sale to Ikea.
More:
CNET, Business Insider, TechCrunch, and NBC Bay Area
Tweets: @kimcrayton1, @nytimesbusiness, @nytimesbusiness, @aunder, @nytimesbusiness, @veenadubal, and @stanfordgsb
| Bloomberg: |
Sources: BigCommerce, which develops software for making online storefronts, has confidentially filed for an IPO, potentially valuing the company at $1B — - Startup has filed for initial public offering confidentially — Austin startup could be valued at roughly $1 billion
More:
Digital Commerce 360
| Russell Brandom / The Verge: |
Open Technology Fund, the US digital speech advocate that funded Signal, faces turmoil after the abrupt firing of entire leadership team and resignation of CEO — 'There are so many countries and individuals who need this support right now,' says former OTF president
More:
Electronic Frontier Foundation and SiliconANGLE
Tweets: @jstrauss, @campuscodi, @russellbrandom, @adellelin, and @internetff
| Janko Roettgers / Protocol: |
Source: Amazon is “actively pursuing” licensing deals to add live and linear TV to complement its Prime Video offerings — The company has plans to add live and linear programming to complement its on-demand catalog. — Amazon is looking to add 24/7 live programming …
More:
The Verge, Gizmodo, Pocketnow, SlashGear, XDA Developers, and Windows Central. Tweets: @matthewkeyslive
| Bloomberg: |
Central Bank of Brazil tells Mastercard and Visa to stop payments via WhatsApp in the country to evaluate risks and regulations — - Authority wants to assess risks to country's payment system — Lawyer says suspension is an unusual move by the bank| Catalin Cimpanu / ZDNet: |
Twitter permanently suspends @DDoSecrets account for violating distribution of hacked data policy after it shared links to data stolen from US law enforcement — Twitter said DDoSecrets account leaked and promoted BlueLeaks, a huge collection of files stolen from more than 200 US police departments and fusion training centers.
More:
VICE, Gizmodo, Security Boulevard, The Daily Dot, and The Hill
| Sarah Perez / TechCrunch: |
Instagram says it is opening its Shopping tools to more businesses that comply with its new requirements, including creators selling their own merch — Instagram announced today it's expanding access to Instagram Shopping to more businesses, including creators who want to sell their own merchandise.
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Engadget, Ubergizmo, SlashGear, Talking Influence, Social Media Today, Input, Mashable, and Adweek
| Nathaniel Popper / New York Times: |
Small businesses complain about Square withholding 20%-30% of their customers' payments, which it said it was doing to protect against risky transactions — Small businesses say the Twitter chief's other company is holding on to 30 percent of their customers' payments during the pandemic.
More:
Square, PYMNTS.com, CoinSpice, Reclaim The Net, PaymentsSource, Seeking Alpha, and Input
Tweets: @nathanielpopper, @lisaabramowicz1, @alexlindsay, @ungarino, @felixsalmon, and @xeni
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