Techmeme
April 21, 2021, 10:00 AM

Top News

Wall Street Journal:
EU proposes strict AI rules, banning “high-risk” uses of AI such as mass surveillance, with non-compliant companies fined up to 6% of annual global revenues  —  EU is proposing one of the first laws globally to regulate the use of artificial intelligence for applications like hiring and policing
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
How Kosta Eleftheriou became a one-man App Store fraud squad, by looking for top grossing apps with fake user reviews and ridiculously high subscription prices  —  A one-man Bunco Squad is poking holes in Apple's App Store image  —  Recently, I reached out to the most profitable company …
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Instagram is rolling out tools to filter out abusive DMs based on keywords and emojis, and to block users along with any new accounts they may create  —  Facebook and its family of apps have long grappled with the issue of how to better manage — and eradicate — bullying and other harassment …
Catalin Cimpanu / The Record:
REvil ransomware gang claims to have breached Apple contractor Quanta Computer and is threatening to leak Apple product schematics unless a ransom is paid  —  The operators of the REvil ransomware are demanding that Apple pay a ransom demand to avoid having confidential information leaked on the dark web.
Joseph Cox / VICE:
Facebook says a vulnerability that lets attackers find a Facebook profile given an email address is still active after being “erroneously closed out”  —  A video shared with researchers and Motherboard shows a tool linking email addresses to Facebook accounts.  —  Joseph Cox
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Ahead of its congressional testimony, Tile shares concerns of unfair competition regarding AirTag, which is tightly integrated with Apple's Find My network  —  Now that Apple's lost item finder AirTag has officially been introduced, competitor Tile is going on record ahead of its testimony …
Benjamin Mayo / 9to5Mac:
Apple updates 11" and 12.9" iPad Pros with M1, 8-core GPU, Thunderbolt, up to 2TB storage, 5G, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and a mini-LED screen on 12.9" model  —  As part of the Apple event today, the company unveiled the new lineup of iPad Pro tablets.  The 2021 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro feature …
Apple:
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Apple debuts Apple Card Family to let spouses build credit together and extend access to family members over 13, with optional controls, coming to US in May  —  Apple has been slowly building a position for itself as a financial services giant, banked around its digital wallet for storing …
Haroon Siddique / The Guardian:
Reuters:
FireEye and networking company Pulse Secure say two China-linked hacking groups used a flaw in its VPN devices to target customers in the US defense industry  —  At least two groups of China-linked hackers have spent months using a previously undisclosed vulnerability in American networking devices …
Netflix - Investors:
Netflix reports Q1 revenue of $7.16B, up 24% YoY, and 208M paid memberships, up 14% YoY but below its forecast of 210M; stock down 8%+  —  April 20, 2021 Fellow shareholders, Revenue grew 24% year over year and was in line with our beginning of quarter forecast, while operating profit and margin reached all-time highs.
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft introduces new settings in Outlook to allow breaks between back-to-back meetings after its own research showed that “digital overload is real”  —  Back-to-back meetings can now have a break in between  —  Microsoft is updating Outlook to give companies the option …
Apple:
iMac with M1 starts at $1,299 for 8-core CPU/7-core GPU in four colors and $1,499 for 8-core GPU in seven colors with Touch ID keyboard, shipping late May  —  iMac offers the best camera, mics, and speakers ever in a Mac, and Touch ID for the first time  —  CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced …
Zac Hall / 9to5Mac:
Apple announces Podcasts Subscriptions for new premium and ad free content and a new Podcasts app design with channels, launching next month in 170 regions  —  Apple has officially an all-new feature coming to Podcasts next month.  Apple Podcasts Subscriptions will allow listeners …
Peter Kafka / Vox:
Paul Sawers / VentureBeat:
RapidAPI, an API marketplace that covers everything from file storage to COVID-19 statistics, raises $60M Series C led by Green Bay Ventures  —  Join Transform 2021 this July 12-16.  Register fo r the AI event of the year.  —  RapidAPI, a platform that helps developers find, manage …
More: CTech and insideHPC
Alina Tugend / New York Times:
Researchers and therapists say VR has shown great promise for physical and occupational therapy, including pain management and relieving PTSD  —  While use of the gaming technology for improving physical ailments is still in the early stages, it shows promise — and it's fun.

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Earlier Picks

Jon Porter / The Verge:
Juli Clover / MacRumors:
Bloomberg:
Issie Lapowsky / Protocol:
Charlie Osborne / ZDNet: