Techmeme: Bluesky, the decentralized social media initiative unveiled by Twitter in 2019, will be led by Jay Graber, a former startup founder and cryptocurrency dev (Michael McSweeney/The Block)

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August 16, 2021, 8:45 PM

Top News

Brad Stone / Bloomberg:

A look at US lawmakers' efforts to rein in Google and Apple's app stores, after a bipartisan companion bill to Senate's Open App Markets Act debuts in the House — Legislating your apps — The U.S. Congress wants to change the way your smartphone works. And the effort may actually succeed.

More: Axios and Reuters

Tweets: @repkenbuck, @markets, @margarethmcgill, @bradstone, and @senblumenthal

Joseph Cox / VICE:

T-Mobile confirms hackers gained access to its systems, following reports that sensitive data on over 100M people was for sale on the dark web — “We have determined that unauthorized access to some T-Mobile data occurred.” — Joseph Cox — T-Mobile confirmed hackers gained access …

More: T-Mobile, PYMNTS.com, Reuters, FierceWireless, Techaeris, KnowTechie, iClarified, IT Management, and Security Affairs

Tweets: @josephfcox, @lorenzofb, @josephfcox, @vice, and @lorenzofb

Joseph Cox / VICE:

T-Mobile investigates claims that hackers stole data from its servers, including phone numbers, names, SSNs, and driver's license info, related to 100M+ people

More: Krebs on Security, ZDNet, Computerworld, BleepingComputer, The Record, Reuters, Gizmodo, NBC News, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Register, New York Post, FrontPageTech.com, MacRumors, The Verge, CNN, BleepingComputer, FierceWireless, Channel Futures, The Daily Dot, Security Affairs, IT Management, Wired, Android Police, Techdirt, 9to5Mac, Tom's Guide, Bitcoin Magazine, KnowTechie, Softpedia News, Tech.co, TmoNews, MUO, Threatpost, TechSpot, HotHardware.com News, BGR, Security Boulevard, USA Today, SlashGear, Pocketnow, Input, Light Reading, HackRead, Dark Reading, CyberScoop, Android Central, Protocol, AppleInsider, Mashable, Graham Cluley, iMore, PYMNTS.com, Engadget, infosecurity-magazine.com, Coinspeaker, Droid Life, Cryptonews, Phandroid, The Verge, TheStreet, Silicon Republic, GeekWire, Digital Trends, TechRadar, Cointelegraph, BitcoinExchangeGuide, Slashdot, SiliconANGLE, The Mac Observer, phonearena.com, Neowin, Bloomberg, International Business Times, CNET, Techaeris, Insider, and PCMag

Tweets: @vice, @odell, @knieriemen, @mshelton, @deviantollam, @bdsams, @jason_koebler, and @seahawkerholm

Tom Krisher / Associated Press:

NHTSA opens a formal investigation into Tesla's Autopilot system, covering 765K vehicles, saying it has trouble spotting parked emergency vehicles — DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government has opened a formal investigation into Tesla's Autopilot partially automated driving system, saying it has trouble spotting parked emergency vehicles.

Tim Marcin / Mashable:

Yik Yak, the app that creates anonymous message boards for users within a five mile radius, returns to the US iOS App Store after its 2017 shutdown — Yes, it's really back. — Buckle up, millennials. Remember Yik Yak, the anonymous app that, in effect, allowed gossip and shit-talking …

More: The Verge, App Store, CNET, 9to5Mac, Insider, AppleInsider, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, USA Today, Social Media Today, The Wrap, Forbes, VICE, Complex, MUO, and Engadget

Tweets: @yikyakapp, @ronnui_, @davidcelis, @thekalenallen, @wittlett, @katiefliesaway, @brotigupta, @bigblackjacobin, @emmajerome, @iwriteallday_, @taylorlorenz, @mmasnick, @brookemiccio, @mashable, @imani_barbarin, @caseynewton, @stepheniscowboy, and @bigdonkey47

Michael McSweeney / The Block:

Bluesky, the decentralized social media initiative unveiled by Twitter in 2019, will be led by Jay Graber, a former startup founder and cryptocurrency dev — Bluesky, the decentralized social media initiative unveiled by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey at the end of 2019, has a project lead, according to a Monday announcement.

More: TechCrunch, PYMNTS.com, Bloomberg, The Verge, Social Media Today, Cointelegraph, Reuters, and CoinDesk

Tweets: @arcalinea, @jack, @petermccormack, @jeffjarvis, @arcalinea, @bluesky, @mmasnick, @glenweyl, @chrisblec, @timbray, @mikeelgan, @arcalinea, @lsanger, @arcalinea, @nischalshetty, @rabble, @evan_greer, and @avsa

Kate Conger / New York Times:

Inside Twitter's two-year effort to change its internal culture, led by controversial VP of design Dantley Davis, which led to HR investigations and staff exits — Two years ago, the company brought in a blunt executive to make things move faster and to promote diversity. Then the problems began.

More: Insider. Tweets: @daiwaka, @copyconstruct, @carnage4life, @dbedingfield, @dbedingfield, @gavinpurcell, @nytimesbusiness, @danpriceseattle, @tonyromm, and @kateconger

Vlad Savov / Bloomberg:

Google and Facebook say they will participate in a subsea cable system linking Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, launching 2024 — Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Facebook Inc. announced their participation in a new subsea cable system for 2024 set …

More: Cloud Blog, Facebook Engineering, Social Media Today, Financial Times, FierceTelecom, Reclaim The Net, Adweek, The Vibes, and PCMag

Tweets: @googlecloud, @internetthought, and @tysonbarker

Loni Prinsloo / Bloomberg:

Facebook, China Mobile, and MTN Group plan to expand the 2Africa undersea cable network in Africa, bringing the total landings to 35 in 26 countries

More: TechCrunch, Techpoint Africa, New York Post, and Reuters

Tweets: @ndekekwe and @mikenashtech

David Shepardson / Reuters:

Facebook and Amazon ask the FCC for approval for a new undersea data cable between the Philippines and California, intending to start operations in 2022

More: Silicon Republic

Kim Lyons / The Verge:

Tinder says it will bring its optional ID Verification feature, which has been available in Japan since 2019, to all members globally “in the coming quarters” — The feature has been active in Japan since 2019 — Tinder said on Monday that it will make its ID Verification feature available …

More: Tinder Newsroom, Gizmodo, Telegraph, 9to5Mac, Mashable, TechCrunch, SlashGear, and Neowin

Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:

Roblox reports Q2 bookings of $665.5M, up 35% YoY, vs. $689.2M est., revenue of $454.1M, up 127% YoY, net loss of $140.1M, and average DAUs of 43.2M, up 29% YoY — Roblox, the platform for Lego-like user-generated games, reported its bookings for the second quarter ended June 30 were $665.5 million …

More: Business Wire, TechCrunch, PYMNTS.com, TechCrunch, Roblox, Barron's Online, Reuters, Bloomberg, CNN, TheStreet, and MarketWatch. Tweets: @peterpandam

Alex Konrad / Forbes:

A look at Coinbase Ventures, which has backed 150+ companies over three years, writes mostly seed checks of $50K to $250K, and does not have any full-time staff — Look at the busiest U.S. investors in cryptocurrency startups this year, and in between investment firms like Digital Currency Group …

Tweets: @alexrkonrad, @alexrkonrad, @rsg, @magdalenakala, @davidlee, @sarthakgh, @efeng, @iampaulgrewal, @joonian, @jeffjohnroberts, @katie_haun, and @rachaelrad. Thanks:@alexrkonrad

Matt Mullenweg:

Automattic closed a new funding round of $288M in February and recently completed a $250M share buyback aimed at current and ex-employees at a $7.5B valuation — In February of this year, Automattic closed a new primary funding round of $288M, bringing in some great new partners including BlackRock …

Tweets: @danprimack, @jasonlk, @photomatt, and @peterpham

Wall Street Journal:

A look at chipmakers' race to capitalize on a wave of subsidies, as the US and other Western countries reassess their industrial policies to slow China's rise — U.S. semiconductor maker's appeal for subsidies plays on national security fears during chip shortage; ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’

Tweets: @pgelsinger, @aspi_icpc, @jordannovet, @bobdavis187, and @live_news_nick

Che Pan / South China Morning Post:

Chinese government says integrated circuit output rose 47.3% YoY to 203.6B units in the year to July, as new capacity is added to meet semiconductor demand

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From Mediagazer

Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:

Letter: Tennessee Deputy Governor Stuart McWhorter urged David Ellison to move Paramount's corporate headquarters from California to Tennessee

Naman Ramachandran / Variety:

BBC DG Matt Brittin says the BBC and UK public service broadcasting face “real jeopardy” as license fee erosion drives BBC's third consecutive annual deficit

Reuters:

Sources: Lionsgate has attracted takeover interest from France's Bolloré Group, owner of Canal+, and Banijay, which just completed an $8B merger with All3Media

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More News

Christine Hall / TechCrunch:

Tropic, which helps streamline software procurement, raises $25M Series A, says it passed $250M in managed spend, and processed transactions for 1,200+ vendors

More: FinSMEs

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

DistroKid, which has helped 2M+ musicians upload music to streaming services, says it is valued at $1.3B after a recent raise from Insight Venture Partners

Tweets: @ev, @sarahcuda, @danprimack, @rstephens, @jaycuthrell, and @pkafka

Earlier Picks

The Information:

Sources: seeking greater control, the Chinese government took a stake and a board seat in ByteDance's Beijing entity in April

More: Reuters. Tweets: @juroosawa, @juroosawa, @baldingsworld, @nickwingfield, @juroosawa, @ruima, @ericnewcomer, @amir, @juroosawa, and @juroosawa

Ivan Levingston / Bloomberg:

Vienna-based marketing analytics startup Adverity raises $120M led by SoftBank's Vision Fund 2, bringing its total raised to $165M+

More: FinSMEs, Tech.eu, and Business Wire

Joanna Ossinger / Bloomberg:

Crypto staking service Figment raises $50M Series B, led by Senator Investment Group and Liberty City Ventures, source says at a ~$500M valuation

More: Figment, FinLedger, Blockworks, SiliconANGLE, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, and The Block

Tweets: @spvenino33, @figment_io, and @jimandelman

Steven Kurutz / New York Times:

For some teenagers, making NFTs and other forms of digital art is seen as a gateway to a career as a full-time artist and has become their new summer job

Tweets: @ron_miller, @pakman, and @revolvegamesio

Manish Singh / TechCrunch:

Rapido, an Indian bike taxi operator available in about 100 cities, raises $52M Series C, bringing its total raised to $130M+

More: The Economic Times, The Economic Times, YourStory.com, The Hindu BusinessLine, and Tech in Asia

Kyle Chayka / New Yorker:

Profile of @images_ai, a Twitter account launched by a music student in June, which uses neural networks, including OpenAI's CLIP, to generate surreal art

Tweets: @newyorker, @renois, and @newyorker

Wall Street Journal:

In a new lawsuit, a US-based contractor claims Huawei stole its tech and pressured it to build a “back door” into a sensitive surveillance project in Pakistan

More: Engadget, Telecoms.com, Phandroid, Pocketnow, and Slashdot

Tweets: @baldingsworld, @johnkoetsier, @gandapurpat, @martijnrasser, @gibranashraf, @rajivmessage, @newley, and @ericgarland