Techmeme
March 21, 2014, 6:30 PM

Top News

John Frank / Microsoft on the Issues:
Microsoft says Hotmail case met standard for a court order, adds new safeguards to policy  —  Strengthening our policies for investigations  —  Deputy General Counsel & Vice President, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft  —  We believe that Outlook and Hotmail email are and should be private.
Michael Arrington / Uncrunched:
About That Time Google Spied On My Gmail  —  I'm reading about how Microsoft read a blogger's Hotmail (or other Microsoft hosted email) to determine who leaked Microsoft information to that blogger.  Microsoft's response is pathetic, stating that “the privacy of our customers is incredibly important to us” …
Alex Hern / Guardian:
Yahoo, Google and Apple also claim right to read user emails  —  Like Microsoft, other webmail giants all reserve the right to read user emails, if ‘deemed necessary’  —  Microsoft is not unique in claiming the right to read users' emails - Apple, Yahoo and Google all reserve that right as well, the Guardian has determined.
Ed Christman / Billboard:
Apple explores Spotify-like streaming service, iTunes app for Android as downloads decline  —  Apple Mulls Launching Spotify Rival, Android App as Downloads Decline (Sources)  —  The iPhone maker explores multi-pronged strategy to shore up double-digit drops in iTunes downloads, according to IFPI and RIAA data.
Jim Cicconi / AT&T Public Policy Blog:
AT&T: costs caused by Netflix's growth should not be borne by all broadband subscribers  —  Who Should Pay for Netflix?  —  I saw Reed Hasting's blog yesterday from Netflix asserting in rather dramatic fashion (with diagrams) that ISPs should build facilities (he said provide …
Dan Rayburn / StreamingMediaBlog.com:
Reed Albergotti / Wall Street Journal:
Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Ashton Kutcher join $40M investment round of AI firm Vicarious  —  Zuckerberg, Musk Invest in Artificial-Intelligence Company Vicarious  —  Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook.  Ashton Kutcher portrayed Apple founder Steve Jobs in a movie.
Mike Isaac / Re/code:
Twitter's Sara Haider to join Secret as Android lead, VP of Analytics plans departure as well  —  More Departures at Twitter as VP of Analytics Exits, Android Lead Leaves for Secret  —  Looks like plenty more birds are flying Twitter's coop.  —  Sara Haider, a mobile engineer and technical lead …
Aaron Souppouris / The Verge:
Turkish citizens use Google public DNS to circumvent Twitter ban  —  Turkish citizens use Google to fight Twitter ban  —  Turkish citizens have found away to circumvent yesterday's reported block of Twitter: Google DNS.  —  After being implicated in a corruption scandal through recordings …
Ryan Lawler / TechCrunch:
After Acquisition, OpenTable Plans To Shut Down Ness On April 21  —  Ness, the personalized restaurant recommendation app acquired by OpenTable last month, now has an expiration date.  The company announced that the app would be discontinued on April 21, just a few months after the acquisition first was announced.
More: App Advice
Will Connors / Wall Street Journal:
BlackBerry Suffers Blow as White House Tests Samsung, LG Phones  —  The White House is testing smartphones from Samsung Electronics Corp. and LG Electronics Inc. for internal use, a person familiar with the matter said, threatening one of the last and most high-profile strongholds of BlackBerry Ltd.

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Earlier Picks

Tony Romm / Politico:
Roger Cheng / CNET:
Sophie Knight / Reuters:
Dan Goodin / Ars Technica:
The Intercept: