Techmeme
February 2, 2021, 3:35 PM

Top News

Federal Trade Commission:
FTC says Amazon will pay $61.7M to settle charges that it withheld some customer tips from Flex drivers over 2.5 years; FTC will use the sum to pay the drivers  —  Settlement prohibits Amazon from misrepresenting driver earnings, pay or percent of tips paid to drivers, changing its handling of tips without drivers' consent
Konrad Putzier / Wall Street Journal:
Amazon unveils plans for part of its HQ2 in VA, including three 22-story office buildings and the Helix, a 350-foot building with spiraling outdoor walkways  —  Centerpiece of design is a 350-foot building dubbed the Helix, which features two spiraling outdoor walkways
Dan Primack / Axios:
Uber says it is buying alcohol delivery startup Drizly for $1.1B in cash and stock; Drizly co-founder and CEO Cory Rellas is expected to remain with Uber  —  Uber on Tuesday announced an agreement to buy Drizly, a Boston-based alcohol delivery startup, for $1.1 billion in cash and stock.
Cat Zakrzewski / Washington Post:
In a report, NYU researchers call conservative claims of social media censorship “a form of disinformation” and warn against completely repealing Section 230  —  A new report concludes that social networks aren't systematically biased against conservatives, directly contradicting Republican claims …
Mikey Campbell / AppleInsider:
Kuo: Apple Car will use Hyundai's E-GMP battery electric vehicle platform; new models could be built in association with GM and European manufacturer PSA  —  Noted TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo weighed in on “Apple Car” on Monday, saying Apple will work in close cooperation with Hyundai …
Casey Newton / Platformer:
The unedited nature and serendipity of conversations makes Clubhouse a compelling platform for productive discussions on otherwise fraught topics  —  Elon Musk disrupts podcasting.  PLUS: Robinhood's big mistake  —  I. Andreessen Horowitz and the backdoor pilot  —  Hey, did you hear Elon Musk went on Clubhouse?
Mike Butcher / TechCrunch:
Elizabeth Culliford / Reuters:
Wikimedia begins work on implementing its first global code of conduct, which addresses harassment, the introduction of false or biased information, and more  —  (Reuters) - The foundation that operates Wikipedia will launch its first global code of conduct on Tuesday, seeking to address criticism …
Ian Hamilton / UploadVR:
Oculus says six Oculus Quest titles have each cleared $10M in revenue and 60, or one third of all paid apps available on its store, have earned $1M+  —  Six Oculus Quest titles cleared $10 million in revenue and one third of all the paid apps available on the store — more than 60 total — have earned more than $1 million.
Peter Rudegeair / Wall Street Journal:
Zoe Schiffer / The Verge:
Google to pay $2.5M to 5,500+ female engineers as well as female and Asian job applicants to settle pay and hiring discrimination allegations  —  The US Department of Labor alleges systemic pay and hiring discrimination  —  Google has agreed to pay $2.5 million to more than 5,500 employees …
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
Any US legislation to ban anonymity online will be unconstitutional, will not work, and most importantly will put many marginalized/vulnerable people at risk  —  There's an idea that pops up every so often among people who are upset about misinformation online but don't actually understand …

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More News

Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch:

Earlier Picks

Wall Street Journal:
Alex Heath / The Information:
Stephen Totilo / Kotaku:
Chris Velazco / Engadget:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
NetBlocks: