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Tag: President Trump

  • Mozilla CEO Calls For More Transparency to Combat Online Hate

    Mozilla CEO Calls For More Transparency to Combat Online Hate

    In the wake of President Trump’s ban from Twitter, Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker is calling for more transparency from internet platforms.

    Twitter banned Trump permanently following an initial 12-hour ban. Trump is widely blamed by his political opponents for inciting the insurrection at the US Capitol earlier this week, and Twitter banned him over fears his recent tweets would incite further violence that appears to be planned for January 17.

    Facebook and Instagram similarly banned Trump for the remainder of his presidency, citing their accusation that he had a role in inciting the insurrection.

    Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker is calling for companies to do more to combat hate and violence.

    But as reprehensible as the actions of Donald Trump are, the rampant use of the internet to foment violence and hate, and reinforce white supremacy is about more than any one personality. Donald Trump is certainly not the first politician to exploit the architecture of the internet in this way, and he won’t be the last. We need solutions that don’t start after untold damage has been done.

    Baker calls for platforms to take the following steps:

    Reveal who is paying for advertisements, how much they are paying and who is being targeted.

    Commit to meaningful transparency of platform algorithms so we know how and what content is being amplified, to whom, and the associated impact.

    Turn on by default the tools to amplify factual voices over disinformation.

    Work with independent researchers to facilitate in-depth studies of the platforms’ impact on people and our societies, and what we can do to improve things.

    In the aftermath of Wednesday, tech companies are increasingly looking to strike a balance between free speech and not enabling hate and violence. Baker’s suggestions may provide a way forward for many such companies.

  • Twitter Bans Trump Permanently

    Twitter Bans Trump Permanently

    Twitter has banned President Trump from its platform permanently, following an initial ban of 12 hours.

    Social media platforms have been under increased fire in the way of Wednesday’s insurrection at the US Capitol. While Twitter and Facebook have long been slow to ban political figures in the name of public interest, many critics and experts have blamed Trump’s rhetoric for inciting the insurrectionists. As a result, calls mounted for Twitter and Facebook to take more aggressive action to ban Trump and cut him off from his preferred method of communication.

    Facebook announced on Thursday that it would ban Trump for the remainder of his presidency. In the post announcing the decision, CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the reasons.

    We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete.

    Twitter has now taken an even stronger stance, banning Trump permanently from its platform.

    https://twitter.com/TwitterSafety/status/1347684877634838528?s=20

    The company explains its decision-making process in detail in a blog post, outlining the company’s belief that Trump’s recent tweets violate its Glorification of Violence Policy.

    As such, our determination is that the two Tweets above are likely to inspire others to replicate the violent acts that took place on January 6, 2021, and that there are multiple indicators that they are being received and understood as encouragement to do so.

    Social media firms are under increased scrutiny for their role in society’s ills, with many politicians on both sides of the aisle wanting the protections afforded by Section 230 rolled back.

    It remains to be seen if Twitter and Facebook’s actions will be enough to stave off significant regulatory changes.

  • Social Media Under Fresh Fire After Mob Storms Capitol

    Social Media Under Fresh Fire After Mob Storms Capitol

    Social media is under fresh fire in the wake of what is being called an “insurrection,” after a mob stormed the US Capitol.

    The US Congress met Wednesday to tally the Electoral College votes. Lawmakers were interrupted, however, when a mob stormed the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to shelter-in-place and eventually evacuate. In the aftermath of the unprecedented scene that unfolded, much of the attention turned to President Trump and the role he played in inciting the mob.

    At the same time, attention also turned to social media companies that have increasingly been criticized for allowing hate speech and radical content on their platforms. In many cases, social media platforms allow public officials more leeway than private citizens’ in the name of public interest.

    It appears today’s events, however, were the final straw, with Twitter banning President Trump for 12 hours and Facebook locking his account for 24. Twitter removed three of Trump’s tweets and Facebook put up warning labels. Twitter has also said its ban will become permanent if there are any further infractions against its policies.

    https://twitter.com/TwitterSafety/status/1346970431039934464?s=20

    https://twitter.com/TwitterSafety/status/1346970432017031178?s=20

    In spite of those actions, some are saying the platforms have not gone far enough. In recent months, Section 230 — the law that protects social media platforms from legal liability for what their users post — has drawn attention from politicians on both sides of the aisle. Many politicians, as well as industry experts, believe it is time to revisit the law and repeal it in favor of regulation that combines freedom of speech with civic responsibility.

    In view of yesterday’s events, we may have witnessed Section 230’s dying breath and, with it, the death knell of the sweeping immunity social media platforms have enjoyed.

  • NASA: America’s Space Agenda Is Really On Fire

    NASA: America’s Space Agenda Is Really On Fire

    “America’s space economy and America’s space agenda is really on fire right now,” says NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “That’s in large part because of President Trump and in fact bipartisan support in the House and Senate. What we are doing is inspiring the nation for American greatness to go out decades into the future. It really is starting right now with America’s and President Trump’s Moon to Mars program. Without him, this would not be happening.”

    NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine

    Jim Bridenstine, Administrator of NASA, discusses the NASA Economic Impact Report that was released today and says that under Trump America’s space agenda is on fire:

    America’s Space Agenda Is Really On Fire

    Today’s NASA Economic Impact Report is about direct economic output. What’s not in the report are all of the advancements that come from NASA that get commercialized over decades. For example, satellites and internet broadband. Then from there, we think about not just communications but navigation, how we produce food, and how we produce energy. Also, how we predict the weather, how we do disaster relief, and national security.

    President Trump is as focused as any president in history on America’s space agenda. That’s not just exploration. It’s also national security and defense. I used to say, President Trump is more supportive of space than any president since John F. Kennedy. But I will also tell you, John F. Kennedy didn’t create the Space Force. America’s space economy and America’s space agenda is really on fire right now. That’s in large part because of President Trump and in fact bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

    Economic Impact Of Artemis: 120,000 Jobs by 2021

    The economic impact of the Artemis Program alone is over 60,000 jobs in 2019. The agenda to get to the Moon is ramping up right now. By 2021, those numbers are going to double. These are not low paying jobs. These are high tech jobs employing highly qualified people. These are the kind of things that also inspire the next generation to go into the STEM fields to make sure that America remains preeminent in technology.

    If you just walk around NASA today and ask people why they work at the agency, they will tell you about how inspired they were when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon. Then we did five Moon missions after that. What we are doing is inspiring the nation for American greatness to go out decades into the future. It really is starting right now with America’s and President Trump’s Moon to Mars program. Without him, this would not be happening.

  • Oracle/Walmart/TikTok Deal May Be Headed For Another Impasse

    Oracle/Walmart/TikTok Deal May Be Headed For Another Impasse

    The deal to keep TikTok running in the US is headed for another impasse over control of the new company.

    According to TheStreet, TikTok Global will be a new company created to handle operations outside of China. Oracle, along with Walmart, will take a 20% stake in the company. This is a big win for Walmart, as they originally had tried to partner with Microsoft in their failed bid. TikTok’s CEO was insulted by Microsoft describing the social media platform as a security risk, torpedoing Microsoft’s involvement in the company’s future. Walmart, however, was able to avoid the fallout and jump onboard with Oracle’s successful bid.

    Unfortunately for the companies involved, there appears to be some disagreement about who will have majority ownership. President Trump had claimed that TikTok’s ownership would “have nothing to do with any outside land, any outside country. It will have nothing to do with China.”

    ByteDance, on the other hand, has said TikTok Global’s technology, majority ownership and the bulk of its executive board would be based in China. According to International Business Times, however, Trump has vowed to block any deal that leaves the new company under Chinese control.

    It remains to be seen if the involved parties will be able to work out a resolution.

  • Trump Will Not Extend TikTok Ban Deadline

    Trump Will Not Extend TikTok Ban Deadline

    As the TikTok negotiations run into trouble, President Trump has indicated he has no intention of extending a ban deadline of September 15.

    TikTok has earned the ire of US officials with repeated accusations of privacy and security violations. As a result, officials have repeatedly labeled it a threat to national security and Trump announced a ban that is scheduled to go into effect September 15.

    Microsoft and Walmart joined forces and emerged as early frontrunners to buy the social media platform’s US operations. Oracle also expressed interest, with Trump speaking favorably about a possible deal. Unfortunately, for the first time in years, the Chinese government altered its export rules to prohibit selling technologies that include AI, impacting TikTok’s algorithm.

    It’s unclear if a deal will be able to be reached, although Trump has made it clear there will be no extension granted.

  • Trump Bans TikTok and WeChat, Effective September 15

    Trump Bans TikTok and WeChat, Effective September 15

    President Trump has followed through on his promise, issuing a ban on TikTok, as well as WeChat, with both bans set to take effect in mid September.

    Trump has been threatening to ban TikTok as concerns have mounted that the social media platform represents a security and privacy threat. Microsoft is currently working on a deal to buy TikTok’s US operations. Although Trump initially opposed such a deal, following a call with CEO Satya Nadella, Trump gave Microsoft a limited window to make it happen.

    It appears that window is 45 days, as executive orders will result in TikTok and WeChat being banned on September 15.

    According to Reuters, Trump said WeChat “automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information.”

    In the order banning TikTok, Trump said the US “must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security.”

  • Microsoft Moving to Purchase TikTok

    Microsoft Moving to Purchase TikTok

    Following a weekend of back-and-forth talks, Microsoft appears to be pursuing a deal to purchase TikTok.

    TikTok has found itself in hot water, with the Trump administration threatening to ban the social media app. This comes on the heels of numerous controversies surrounding the app’s privacy and security. It has been sued over claims it uploaded user videos to servers in China without permission. Numerous government, military and business organizations have banned the app, and the company has been accused of violating child privacy. In a rare rebuke within the tech industry, at least one CEO labeled it “fundamentally parasitic.”

    The end result has been the Trump administration first threatening, and then promising to ban the app in the US. At the last minute, however, Microsoft floated the possibility of buying the beleaguered social media company. After initial opposition from the administration, it appears a meeting between Trump and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has opened the way for talks to continue.

    ”Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J. Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States,” says the company blog.

    ”Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury.

    ”Microsoft will move quickly to pursue discussions with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, in a matter of weeks, and in any event completing these discussions no later than September 15, 2020. During this process, Microsoft looks forward to continuing dialogue with the United States Government, including with the President.”

  • Justice Department Recommends Rolling Back Big Tech Protections

    Justice Department Recommends Rolling Back Big Tech Protections

    In the wake of President Trump’s executive order targeting social media companies, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed rolling back tech protections.

    The issue started several weeks ago when Twitter, for the first time ever, fact-checked Trump on two of his tweets. As a result, Twitter suddenly found itself in the crosshairs of the president, who wasted no time signing an executive order to target the legal protections tech companies enjoy.

    Now the DOJ has taken up the banner, proposing changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Section 230 largely grants immunity to tech companies for what their users post on their platforms. This immunity has helped tech and social media companies to grow, with minimal concern about the legal repercussions of what their users say.

    “When it comes to issues of public safety, the government is the one who must act on behalf of society at large. Law enforcement cannot delegate our obligations to protect the safety of the American people purely to the judgment of profit-seeking private firms. We must shape the incentives for companies to create a safer environment, which is what Section 230 was originally intended to do,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Taken together, these reforms will ensure that Section 230 immunity incentivizes online platforms to be responsible actors. These reforms are targeted at platforms to make certain they are appropriately addressing illegal and exploitive content while continuing to preserve a vibrant, open, and competitive internet.”

    The proposed changes center around four primary goals, including incentivizing platforms to address illicit content, being more transparent in how content is moderated, clarifying the government’s enforcement powers and promoting competition.

    It remains to be seen if any proposed changes will gain enough traction in Congress. Section 230 has been around as long as it has specifically because navigating these issues can quickly turn into a quagmire.

  • Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Social Media Companies

    Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Social Media Companies

    President Trump signed an executive order targeting social media giants, following a spat with Twitter.

    Once the darling of the president, and his preferred platform for connecting with his supporters, the social media company drew his ire when it fact-checked him Tuesday on two of his tweets. In one of the tweets in question, Trump claimed “there is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent,” prompting Twitter to pair the tweet with a link to more information about mail-in ballots.

    As a result, Trump claimed the company is stifling free speech and has signed an executive order designed to weaken the protections social media and like companies enjoy.

    The order is unlikely to have any real impact, at least for the time being. In case after case, the courts have so far refused to side with individuals who have claimed social media is biased against them.

    At the same, the situation could help stifle innovation. Recent years have not been easy for social media companies, with them alternately being accused of not doing enough to curb offensive hate speech and then having a president issue an executive order when they fact-check his posts.

    With that kind of ‘rock and the hard place’ situation, it may give some entrepreneurs pause before focusing on the field, or trying to create the next great thing in social media.

  • Lawmakers May Block FCC’s Ligado 5G Decision

    Lawmakers May Block FCC’s Ligado 5G Decision

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently voted unanimously to allow Ligado to deploy a low-power 5G network, and lawmakers are not happy.

    In its initial ruling, the FCC authorized “Ligado to deploy a low-power terrestrial nationwide network in the 1526-1536 MHz, 1627.5- 1637.5 MHz, and 1646.5-1656.5 MHz bands that will primarily support Internet of Things (IoT) services.”

    There was only one problem with the FCC’s decision: It was opposed by numerous organizations and agencies, including major airlines, the Departments of Commerce, Defense and Justice. The reason for the objection is the potential for Ligado’s network to interfere with commercial and military GPS equipment.

    In an op-ed published in C4ISRNET, Sen. Jim Inhofe, Sen. Jack Reed, Rep. Adam Smith and Rep. Mac Thornberry lay out the case for why they believe the FCC made a mistake:

    “The problem here is that Ligado’s planned usage is not in the prime mid-band spectrum being considered for 5G — and it will have a significant risk of interference with GPS reception, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA),” the lawmakers write. “The signals interference Ligado’s plan would create could cost taxpayers and consumers billions of dollars and require the replacement of current GPS equipment just as we are trying to get our economy back on its feet quickly — and the FCC has just allowed this to happen.”

    The lawmakers go on to highlight that no fewer than nine federal agencies and departments did extensive testing and came to the conclusion that Ligado’s network would interfere with existing GPS equipment.

    “Considering the risks, it’s clear the FCC commissioners made the wrong decision regarding Ligado’s plan, which will set a disastrous precedent while impeding ongoing work on spectrum sharing,” the lawmakers continue. “The vulnerabilities to our national and economic security are not worth the risk, particularly for a band of spectrum that isn’t necessary to secure a robust 5G network.

    “We encourage the FCC to withdraw its approval of Ligado’s application and take this opportunity to work with the NTIA and other federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Transportation, to find a solution that will both support commercial broadband expansion and protect national security assets. Moreover, we expect the FCC to resolve Department of Defense concerns before moving forward, as required by law.

    “If they do not, and unless President Trump intervenes to stop this from moving forward, it will be up to Congress to clean up this mess.”

    We will continue to monitor the story for the FCC’s response and whatever action is taken by either side.

  • DOJ Inspector General Lends Support to Microsoft’s JEDI Win Over Amazon

    DOJ Inspector General Lends Support to Microsoft’s JEDI Win Over Amazon

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) has reviewed Microsoft’s JEDI win and found no interference by the Trump administration.

    Microsoft stunned the industry when it won the Pentagon’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract, worth some $10 billion. Amazon had widely been considered the likely candidate to win the contract, especially given the company’s history of working on sensitive government contracts in the past. In short order, Amazon launched legal challenges to try to have the Pentagon’s decision overturned. One of the alleged discrepancies was disparaging comments President Trump made that Amazon believed may have played a part in Microsoft winning.

    With the DOJ watchdog’s report, however, those concerns seem to have been put to rest—albeit with a bit of a caveat. While acknowledging investigators did encounter some interference from the White House, they said: “However, we believe the evidence we received showed that the DoD personnel who evaluated the contract proposals and awarded Microsoft the JEDI Cloud contract were not pressured regarding their decision on the award of the contract by any DoD leaders more senior to them, who may have communicated with the White House.”

    At the same time, Microsoft has used the DOJ’s report to accuse Amazon of unfairly trying to gain an advantage in the bidding process. In a blog post following the DOJ’s report, Microsoft said the following:

    “That brings us to where we are today. The DoD is seeking to be responsive to the issue the Court raised in issuing the preliminary injunction. But that’s not good enough for Amazon. Amazon doesn’t want a solution that addresses the Court’s concerns and sticks to the original pricing in the competitors’ bids. According to its brief, it wants no ‘constraint on the offerors’ ability to revise their pricing.’

    “This, according to the government, is a ‘a transparent effort to undercut Microsoft on price, now that [Amazon] has a target at which to aim.’ Amazon dresses its argument in the language of fairness and level playing fields, but the government’s brief looks right through it: ‘That AWS now regrets its pricing strategy is no reason to allow AWS a do-over, after it gained significant information about its competitor’s pricing, enabling it to use the currently prevailing information asymmetry to underbid its competitor in an effort to secure the contract.’”

    While not clearing Microsoft to move forward with the contract, the IG’s findings certainly lend weight to Microsoft’s win and undermine Amazon’s complaints.

  • Next Mining Venture: The Moon and Asteroids

    Next Mining Venture: The Moon and Asteroids

    President Trump signed an executive order further solidifying U.S. policy toward mining and resource acquisition in space.

    According to Space.com, the executive order has been in the works for roughly a year, and is “called Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources.” The order follows the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, not the 1979 Moon Treaty that was largely ignored by the U.S. and other space-capable nations. Under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, mining and resource gathering in space is allowed.

    “As America prepares to return humans to the moon and journey on to Mars, this executive order establishes U.S. policy toward the recovery and use of space resources, such as water and certain minerals, in order to encourage the commercial development of space,” said Scott Pace, deputy assistant to the president and executive secretary of the U.S. National Space Council.

    With the U.S. once again making space exploration a priority, including a planned moon based within the decade, this executive order provides clear guidelines for U.S. space organizations.

  • President Trump Signs Laws to Improve Broadband Availability and 5G Security

    President Trump Signs Laws to Improve Broadband Availability and 5G Security

    President Trump signed two bills into law Monday, aimed at improving both 5G security and broadband availability.

    According to a statement by the Whitehouse, the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020, calls on the “President to develop a strategy to: (1) ensure the security of next generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure in the United States; and (2) assist allies and strategic partners in maximizing the security of next generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure.”

    This has been an ongoing concern for U.S. officials, as Huawei is one of the top three network equipment providers and is widely believed to be the leader in scale and technology. The U.S. has banned the firm from participating in its own networks, and engaged in a campaign to pressures allies to do the same over concerns the company is a conduit for Beijing to spy on governments and countries throughout the world. Throughout the process, the U.S. has framed the debate about network security as a national security issue. As a result, it’s not surprising Trump signed the bill into law.

    The second bill, the “Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act or the Broadband DATA Act” is aimed at improving the accuracy of information about availability of broadband services. To do that, it “requires the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules relating to the collection of data with respect to the availability of broadband services.”

    The signing of the bills was met with bipartisan praise. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce issues the following statement:

    “The bills signed into law today by the President are critical to ensuring that all Americans can access broadband and that our networks are secure and trusted.”

  • Coronavirus: Senators Express Privacy Concerns Over Google Screening Site

    Coronavirus: Senators Express Privacy Concerns Over Google Screening Site

    It was bound to happen: Senators have expressed concern about Google’s role in developing a site to help screen potential coronavirus patients.

    Google was caught off guard last week when President Trump said the company had 1,700 engineers working on a website designed to help screen potential coronavirus patients. In spite of the surprise, Google quickly got on board with the project and vowed to develop the site Trump had promised.

    Unfortunately for the company, however, Google doesn’t have the best track record with privacy and security. As a result, several senators have raised concerns about the project, in a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Joining Sen. Bob Menendez in sending the letter were Sens. Sherrod Brown, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris and Richard Blumenthal.

    “There are numerous privacy concerns about such an endeavor, including: whether people will be required to sign waivers forfeiting their privacy and personal data in order to access the questionnaire; whether Google or any of its subsidiaries will be prohibited from using data received through the website for commercial purposes; and whether Google and any of its subsidiaries will be prohibited from selling any data collected through the website to a third-party.”

    The letter goes on to highlight the valuable nature of the data that will be collected and how much of a target it will be for hackers.

    “To state the obvious, the information Americans enter on this website will be highly valuable to potential hackers, foreign state and nonstate actors with nefarious intent, and other criminal enterprises,” the senators continue. “We are concerned that neither the Administration nor Google has fully contemplated the range of threats to Americans’ personally identifiable information.”

    Both points the letter raises are extremely pertinent. It was recently discovered that Google partnered with the Ascension healthcare group to collect the medical records of millions of American patients, without their knowledge. If patients are going to trust a website Google creates, they need to know their data is going to be used for the advertised purpose and not swallowed up into one of Google’s other commercial endeavors. Likewise, the data will represent a goldmine for hackers, requiring the very best in security technologies and processes.

    The senators certainly aren’t the only individuals questioning whether Google is up to the task—on both fronts.

  • Coronavirus: Google Scrambling to Catch Up to Trump’s Announcement

    Coronavirus: Google Scrambling to Catch Up to Trump’s Announcement

    President Trump surprised Google Friday, saying the company was working on a coronavirus web portal. Now the company is scrambling to catch up.

    During Friday’s briefing, wherein he declared a national emergency, Trump said that Google was working on a website to assist with coronavirus screening. The President even went so far as to say that some 1,700 Google engineers were hard at work on the project. There was only one problem: it wasn’t entirely true. Both President Trump, and White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Debbie Birx, had mixed up the facts and left out one very important one.

    First and foremost, the company working on the site was Verily, Google’s sibling company. Like Google, Verily falls under parent company Alphabet, and is its life science company. Second, the website in question is nowhere near ready for prime time, and was only slated for initial testing in the Bay Area. In addition, according to a statement to The Verge, Verily said the website was aimed at helping healthcare professionals, not the general public as Trump indicated.

    In the aftermath of the surprise announcement, however, it seems Google is shifting gears to try to deliver what Trump promised. The company made the announcement via its Google Communications (@Google_Comms) Twitter account:

    ”We are fully aligned and continue to work with the US Government to contain the spread of COVID-19, inform citizens, and protect the health of our communities.

    “Google is partnering with the US Government in developing a nationwide website that includes information about COVID-19 symptoms, risk and testing information.

    ”This is in addition to other measures we are taking, including: a Google “home page promotion” to promote greater awareness of simple measures citizens can take to prevent the spread of the disease;

    ”Work being done by our sister company Verily to launch a pilot website that will enable individuals to do a risk assessment and be scheduled for testing at sites in the Bay Area;

    ”Promoting authoritative information through Google Search and YouTube; taking measures to protect users from misinformation, including phishing, conspiracy theories, malware and misinformation;

    ”Rolling out free access to our advanced Hangouts Meet video-conferencing capabilities to all G Suite and G Suite for Education customers globally until 7/01/20; advancing health research and science; and financially supporting global relief efforts.” – Google Spokesperson

    — Google Communications (@GoogleComms) 3/14/20

    While Google is to be commended for stepping up to the plate, even under confusing circumstances, the company will likely face additional challenges convincing individuals to trust it with their health data. Google recently found itself in hot water over its Project Nightingale, when it was discovered the company partnered with Ascension to collect medical data on millions of Americans without their knowledge. In the wake of that, there may not be many Americans that want to voluntarily give their medical data to the search giant.

  • Coronavirus: Trump Administration Bans Travel, Cargo From Europe

    Coronavirus: Trump Administration Bans Travel, Cargo From Europe

    President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday evening, walking back comments he has previously made and unveiling sweeping measures to address the coronavirus threat.

    A somber and subdued Trump began by highlighting the World Health Organization’s recent classification of the virus as a global pandemic, pointing out that from the beginning of time nations have faced health threats. The President then said “it only matters how you respond, and we are responding with great speed and professionalism.”

    Trump then outlined a number of measures that have been taken, as well as those that will now be taken, some of which will have profound impacts on a wide range of industries. Most significantly, the U.S. will suspend all travel from Europe for the next 30 days. These restrictions go into effect Friday at midnight.

    “These prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval,” said Trump. “Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom.”

    Trump also said travel restrictions on China and South Korea would be evaluated as those countries get the virus under control. In addition, health insurers have agreed to waive copayments for coronavirus treatment, extend insurance treatment to cover the virus and reduce surprise billing issues.

    The President highlighted the $8.3 billion package signed into law last week to help agencies combat the virus. He also said testing capabilities are expanding rapidly.

    “The vast majority of Americans—the risk is very, very low,” Trump continued. “Young and healthy people can expect to recover fully and quickly if they should get the virus. The highest risk is for [the] elderly population with underlying health conditions. The elderly population must be very, very careful. In particular, we are strongly advising that nursing homes for the elderly suspend all medically unnecessary visits. In general, older Americans should avoid non-essential travel and crowded areas….Smart action today will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow.”

    After highlighting basic hygiene rules that should be followed, the President said those who are sick should stay home. To help ensure they can stay home without financial hardship, Trump said he will soon be taking emergency action to provide financial relief for “workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus.”

    Trump also said he was authorizing the Small Business Administration to provide loans in impacted areas, and will be asking Congress to provide an additional $50 billion in funding for the program. The President is also using emergency authority to instruct the Treasury Department to defer tax payments, without penalties or fees, for those impacted, providing “more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy. Finally, I am calling on Congress to provide Americans with immediate payroll tax relief.”

    Overall the address was a substantial change of tone for the President and illustrates the risk the coronavirus poses to world. Throughout the address, Trump tried to reassure viewers that “this is just a temporary moment of time, that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world,” while at the same time acknowledging “we are at a critical time in the fight against the virus.”

    Coronavirus: Trump Administration Bans Travel, Cargo From Europe
  • Not So Fast: Amazon Likely to Win Defense Contract Lawsuit

    Not So Fast: Amazon Likely to Win Defense Contract Lawsuit

    U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith says Amazon is likely to win its lawsuit challenging Microsoft’s win of a coveted Pentagon contract.

    Last year Microsoft surprised Amazon, and industry insiders alike, by securing the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure Cloud (JEDI) contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), worth some $10 billion. Many believed Amazon was all but guaranteed to win the contract, given its long history of working on sensitive projects for the government. In addition, at the time the contract was awarded, Amazon was the only company to have the coveted Impact Level 6 security clearance, although Microsoft was awarded it shortly thereafter.

    Amazon almost immediately launched a lawsuit to overturn the contract award, claiming improper interference by President Trump, who allegedly told then-Defense Secretary James Mattis to “screw Amazon.” Amazon was successful in getting a temporary injunction, preventing Microsoft from beginning work on the contract, which was slated to begin February 13.

    According to U.S. News & World Report, although she did not address Trump’s comments, “Campbell-Smith wrote Amazon ‘is likely to succeed on the merits of its argument that the DOD improperly evaluated’ a Microsoft price scenario. She added Amazon is likely to show that Microsoft’s scenario was not ‘technically feasible’ as the Pentagon assessed.”

    Given that Microsoft is already counting on a halo effect from winning the contract, having the Pentagon’s decision overturned would be a big loss for the company.

  • Amazon Wins Temporary JEDI Injunction

    Amazon Wins Temporary JEDI Injunction

    A federal judge has sided with Amazon imposing a temporary injunction preventing Microsoft from working on the Pentagon’s JEDI contract.

    Microsoft won the Pentagon’s coveted Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract in October 2019, pulling off what was seen as an upset against rival Amazon. Industry experts had believed Amazon was all but guaranteed to win the contract, given its long history of working with classified government data. In fact, it wasn’t until after Microsoft won the award that it was granted the Impact Level 6 clearance, allowing it to store sensitive data in the cloud, rather than air-gapped computers.

    Following Microsoft’s win, Amazon immediately decried what it saw as bias and interference from President Trump. According to former Defense Secretary James Mattis’ biography, President Trump called him in 2018 and told him to “screw Amazon” over the JEDI contract.

    Amazon almost immediately filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. In the meantime, it also filed for a temporary injunction to prevent Microsoft from working on the contract until the matter could be settled. With a judge now granting the injunction, it appears the JEDI saga is far from over.

  • U.S. Space Force Completes First Nuclear-Capable Missile Test

    U.S. Space Force Completes First Nuclear-Capable Missile Test

    BGR is reporting that the newly formed U.S. Space Force has just conducted a successful nuclear-capable missile test.

    As BGR points out, there’s nothing specifically interesting about a routine missile test. What makes this one stand out is that it was conducted by the 30th Space Wing, part of the newly formed Space Force.

    The sixth branch of the U.S. military was formed when President Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that, among other things, authorized its creation. Space Force falls under the Department of the Air Force, similar to how the Marines fall under the Department of the Navy, and will be responsible for protecting U.S. interests in space.

    Tuesday night’s test is an indication the new branch is not wasting any time spooling up.

  • U.S. Officials Visit Britain In Last Ditch Push For Huawei Ban

    U.S. Officials Visit Britain In Last Ditch Push For Huawei Ban

    According to Reuters, U.S. officials are visiting Britain in an effort to persuade the government to ban Huawei.

    The UK is expected to make a decision later this month on what role Huawei will or will not play in the country’s 5G rollout. Amid ongoing allegations that Huawei poses a security risk and could let Beijing spy on other countries, the U.S. has banned Huawei and lobbied for its allies to do the same.

    Most recently, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton is working on a bill that would severely restrict intelligence sharing with countries that use Huawei. Given the close relationship the U.S. and UK enjoy, if such a bill were signed into law and the UK uses the telecom equipment giant, it could have a profound impact on how the two countries work together.

    According to Reuters, British defense Minister Ben Wallace confirmed to the Sunday Times “that U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisers have threatened to cut off some intelligence to the UK if the National Security Council gives Huawei a green light.”

    This would seem to indicate a willingness on President Trump’s part to sign Senator Cotton’s bill once it is drafted.

    “It’s not a secret. They have been consistent. Those things will be taken into account when the government collectively decides to make a decision on it,” said Wallace.