News

NTSB: Tesla owner got into driver's seat before deadly crash

Home security camera footage shows that the owner of a Tesla got into the driver’s seat of the car shortly before a deadly crash in suburban Houston, according to a government report Monday. But the preliminary report on the crash that killed two men doesn’t explain the mystery of why authorities found no one behind […]

2 on trial as China enforces online control amid pandemic

Two amateur computer coders taken by police from their Beijing homes last year were standing trial Tuesday in a case that illustrates the Chinese government’s growing online censorship and heightened sensitivity to any deviation from the official narrative on its COVID-19 response. Authorities have not said specifically why Chen Mei, 28, and Cai Wei, 27, […]

Online speech shield under fire as Trump Facebook ban stays

Lurking beneath Facebook’s decision on whether to continue Donald Trump’s suspension from its platform is a far more complex and consequential question: Do the protections carved out for companies when the internet was in its infancy 25 years ago make sense when some of them have become global powerhouses with almost unlimited reach? The companies […]

Is Epic Games' showdown with Apple turning into a mismatch?

If Epic Games hopes to dismantle the fortress surrounding Apple’s iPhone and its app store, the video game maker probably will need to roll out some heavier artillery heading into the second week of a trial threatening Apple’s $2 trillion empire. So far, at least, Epic has been having trouble proving its allegations that the […]

China targets 33 apps over misuse of private user data

Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has ordered 33 app developers to cease the practice of collecting private user data without first receiving consent from its users, under threat of penalties, the severity of which are yet to be clear. The developers, which include Baidu, Tencent, iFlytek and Sogou, have been given ten days to comply […]

EU leaders attend summit in person for 1st time this year

On the list of things not to do during a pandemic, holding big international gatherings is close to the top. But European Union leaders and their large following of diplomats and advisers are meeting in Portugal on Friday for two days of talks, sending a signal that they see the threat from COVID-19 on their […]

Uber demand jumps as delivery grows, ride-hailing recovers

Uber saw record demand in the first quarter as its food delivery business grew and ride-hailing began to see some recovery. The San Francisco-based company said Wednesday that its bookings jumped 24% to $19.5 billion _ an all-time high _ in the January-March period. That was far ahead of the $18 billion Wall Street was […]

The possible rippling impact of Bill and Melinda Gates’ divorce

After a 27-year marriage, Bill and Melinda Gates have announced the end of their marital relationship. Their professional relationship as heads of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation will, however, endure. “We have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive […]

Verizon sells internet trailblazers Yahoo and AOL for $5B

AOL and Yahoo are being sold again, this time to a private equity firm. Wireless company Verizon will sell Verizon Media, which consists of the once-pioneering tech platforms, to Apollo Global Management in a $5 billion deal. Verizon said Monday that it will keep a 10% stake in the new company, which will be called […]

Sony, Discord team up to bring chat-app to PlayStation

Sony Interactive Entertainment and Discord announced on Monday a partnership that will see the popular gaming-focused chat app integrated within the PlayStation’s in-house social tools, both companies said in a joint statement. While the brief announcement didn’t specify the nature of the partnership, it highlighted a promise to “bring the Discord and PlayStation experiences closer […]