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Techmeme
January 10, 2025, 3:10 PM
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Axios:
Memo: Meta terminates major DEI programs, including for hiring, training, and procurement, citing a changed “legal and policy landscape” around DEI in the US  —  - The moves come just three days after Meta ended many of its efforts to fact-check and police speech on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
New York Times:
Sources detail Zuckerberg's sprint to remake Meta after meeting with Trump at Thanksgiving; he no longer wants to keep his views of how Meta should be run quiet  —  After visiting President-elect Donald J. Trump in November, Mr. Zuckerberg decided to relax Meta's speech policies.
Casey Newton / Platformer:
Meta's new policies for contractors and staff moderating Facebook and Instagram allow dehumanizing speech, like “a trans person isn't a he or she, it's an it”  —  “A trans person isn't a he or she, it's an it,” reads a new guideline telling moderators what is now allowed on Facebook and Instagram
Sam Biddle / The Intercept:
A look at Meta's convoluted or contradictory hate speech examples for user content moderators, allowing derogatory remarks about races, nationalities, and more  —  Meta is now granting its users new freedom to post a wide array of derogatory remarks about races, nationalities, ethnic groups …
Jason Koebler / 404 Media:
Sources: many of Meta's employees are furious about its moderation changes allowing “allegations of mental illness” when based on “gender or sexual orientation”
Wired:
A live blog where The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in TikTok's appeal against the divest-or-ban law  —  We're tuning in live as the justices consider what could be one of the most consequential First Amendment rulings of the past several decades.  —  The US Supreme Court is expected …
Greg Stohr / Bloomberg:
SCOTUS signals it is likely to uphold the TikTok divest-or-ban law, as a majority of justices suggested they see national security overriding free speech issues  —  - Roberts points to parent company's close ties to China  — Law would ban TikTok on Jan. 19 if ByteDance doesn't sell
Joseph Cox / Wired:
A hack of data company Gravy reveals Candy Crush, Tinder, and thousands of other apps are used to collect user location data; app developers may not even know  —  A hack of location data company Gravy Analytics has revealed which apps are—knowingly or not—being used to collect your information behind the scenes.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney, Fox, and WBD say they have agreed to discontinue their Venu Sports streaming joint venture and will focus on existing products and distribution channels  —  The sports-focused streaming service will not move forward, the companies said Friday.  —  Venu is dead.
CNBC:
Sources: Venu's cancellation came after the companies decided it was better to avoid the risk of an extended lawsuit that could jeopardize bundling in general
Kevin Purdy / Ars Technica:
The Linux Foundation launches an initiative to fund developing Chromium projects in a “neutral space”, with support from Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Opera  —  But it's really a “neutral space” for funding and support, corralling together some big names with a stake in the future of Chrome's open source roots, Chromium.
Automattic:
Automattic plans to cut its WordPress contributions to ~45 hours per week “due to the lawsuits from WP Engine”, focusing mostly on security and critical updates  —  Automattic has always been deeply committed to the success of WordPress, dedicating significant resources and talent to its development for almost two decades.
Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Court docs: Mark Zuckerberg approved the Meta team that trains AI Llama models to use data from LibGen, a “links aggregator” to pirated, copyrighted material  —  Counsel for plaintiffs in a copyright lawsuit filed against Meta allege that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave the green light …

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This is a Techmeme archive page. It shows how the site appeared at 3:10 PM ET, January 10, 2025.

The most current version of the site as always is available at our home page. To view an earlier snapshot click here and then modify the date indicated.

From Mediagazer

Associated Press:
The DOJ withdraws subpoenas that would have forced three NYT reporters to testify about sources, after a federal judge criticized the DOJ for sloppy legal work

Ted Johnson / Deadline:
A judge extends the temporary order pausing the Paramount-WBD merger for 14 more days and writes that the WGA can participate in a scheduled hearing on August 3

Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Sony Pictures Entertainment plans to restore the Cinerama Dome and adjacent 14-screen theater in Los Angeles, reopening in 2028 and operated by Alamo Drafthouse

More News

Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / TechCrunch:
The US DOJ indicts three Russian citizens for allegedly operating Bender.io and Sinbad.io crypto mixing services used by North Korea and ransomware gangs
Sean Lyngaas / CNN:
Sources: Chinese hackers breached CFIUS, the US government office that reviews foreign investments for national security risks
Politico:
In a weird X Spaces chat, Elon Musk and Alice Weidel, a co-chair of the German far-right party AfD, pushed disinformation about Hitler, migrants, war, and more

Earlier Picks

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
X says it is rolling out labels for parody or satire accounts to distinguish them and “increase transparency”; accounts have to apply the labels themselves
Richard Lawler / The Verge:
Apple says it “has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles” and never sold it for advertising or other purposes, after paying $95M to settle a lawsuit
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