James Damore, the former Google engineer who was fired in 2016 after releasing a manifesto that questioned the benefits of diversity programs, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Google. Damore also discussed his belief that Google is politically biased in…
Google Now Sharing National Security Records Requests With the Public
Google has begun sharing certain public records requests, many from the FBI related to national security, in order to illustrate to its users a high level of transparency. Google and all major search and social internet platforms are deluged with…
Progressive Tech Companies Want Trump to Protect Sharing Economy From Dem Attacks
Michael Beckerman, President & CEO at Internet Association which represents big internet focused tech companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Uber, Netflix, Twitter, Lyft, PayPal, Salesforce, Rackspace and many more, sent a congratulations letter to the Trump transition team today.…
Google Updates Transparency Report, Enables Search of Removal Requests
Google released today an updated Transparency Report on their copyright removal requests from Google search results. These requests come from copyright owners who claim that sites linked to in Google search results are violating copyright laws. Often these pages are…
WhatsApp Begins Sharing Data with Facebook
In a reversal of previous pledges, WhatsApp is going to begin sharing data with Facebook in order to connect accounts, detect spam and improve ad targeting. This includes sharing your phone number and usage information for Facebook’s internal use, but…
Net Neutrality Upheld: No Blocking, Throttling or Fast Lanes, Cisco Slams
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit released their ruling today upholding the FCC’s current Net Neutrality rules. The ruling stated: But nothing about affording indiscriminate access to internet content suggests that the broadband provider agrees…
Gawker Files Bankruptcy, Selling To Ziff Davis
Gawker announced today that it has filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in order to safeguard its assets and keep publishing while it appeals the $130 million Hulk Hogan verdict. Gawker also said that it has an agreement with…
France Wants To Impose Its Laws On Google Worldwide
Google is fighting a ruling in France that requires Google to not just honor search removal requests from users in France, but to also censor those results worldwide, including the USA. In March, the French data protection regulator (CNIL) ordered…
Homeland Security To Subpoena Techdirt.com Over Article Comment
Techdirt published a story Wednesday about an Arab man being pulled over by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBC) in Indiana, seizing $240,000 and then refusing to give it back. A reader calling himself “Digger” posted a comment that caught…
Google Loses Antitrust Appeal
Google has reportedly lost an appeal in an antitrust related to Android in Russia. The complaint was lodged last year by Yandex, and in September, Russian antitrust authority The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service ruled that Google mustn’t require device manufacturers using…
Companies Pay Up For Fake Yelp Reviews
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced settlements with Machinima, Inc. and three other companies in separate investigations regarding the companies’ role in posting fraudulent content on the Internet. This includes fake Yelp reviews. Machinima agrees to pay $50,000 for…
Google Faces Another Complaint From German Publishers
Google is still battling German publishers over including their content among Google News links as it faces a new legal complaint related to a war that just won’t end. Will this end up with Google shutting Google News down in…
Yahoo Faces Class Action Suit Over Alleged Text Message Spam
Yahoo will face a class action lawsuit related to unwanted text messages it allegedly sent to Sprint customers. According to reports, the company was ordered by a federal judge on Monday to face the suit, which claims it sent unsolicited…
Yelp Reviews Under Government Spotlight
On Tuesday, Yelp and other members of the Consumer Electronics Association, including Zenefits and R Street Institute, briefed Congressional staff, businesses, and advocacy organizations on SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and what it calls “chilling impacts” of lawsuits filed…
Being A Yelp Reviewer Doesn’t Make You A Yelp Employee , Rules Federal Judge
It’s hard to believe that anybody thinks Yelp should pay them for the reviews they write, but some do, and some even banded together in a class action lawsuit against the company to try and seek out wages for reviews…
Uber Sued Again Over Employee / Contractor Issue
Uber’s stance has always been that it’s a software company. Uber connects people wanting a ride to those offering a ride. It’s a logistics company. Uber simply connects third-party contractors with customers. Its drivers are independent contractors, not employees. That…
Uber Sued for $2M over Teen’s Sexual Assault
Uber is facing yet another lawsuit after one of its drivers assaulted a passenger. The mother of a 13-year-old Virginia girl is suing the ridesharing company for $2 million, claiming that Uber and its lax screening processes are responsible for…
Yelp Wants Users To Speak Up About Nevada Bill
Yelp is encouraging its users around the country, but particularly in Nevada, to let members of the Nevada State Assembly and Governor Brian Sandoval’s office know that they oppose a bill sponsored by casino Mogul Steve Wynn, which the company…
Google Sued over Alleged Age Discrimination
Google, once again, finds itself the target of an age discrimination lawsuit. This time the claim comes from a 64-year-old engineer, who says Google never even considered hiring him due to his age. From the Wall Street Journal: Robert Heath…