<h2>Coasting</h2>
The European Union is displeased with tech giants Google, Facebook, and Twitter — because all three corporations have failed to prevent the spread of fake news, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-tech-fakenews/google-facebook-twitter-fail-to-live-up-to-fake-news-pledge-idUSKCN1QH1O5">according to Reuters</a>.
In October, the three companies <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-25/google-facebook-and-twitter-agree-to-fight-fake-news-in-eu">agreed to a voluntary pledge</a> to fight the political misinformation that proliferated on their platforms, as an alternative to harsher legislation being enacted against them in Europe. But based on the companies&#8217; monthly progress reports, European officials now feel they aren&#8217;t trying hard enough.
<h2>Progress Report</h2>
The European Commission <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-19-1379_en.htm">published a statement</a> on Thursday that laid out exactly where each of the three tech giants fell short.
Facebook, for instance, hasn&#8217;t provided any information on how it ramped up scrutiny over political ads. The data that Google shared is too vague and incomplete to tell whether or not the company actually addressed its problems, and Twitter decided not to share any information with the European Commission during its January report.
<h2>Not Mad, Just Disappointed</h2>
According to the statement, which was penned by King and a team of other commissioners, the companies have until year&#8217;s end to get their act together before Europe will consider imposing stricter regulations on them.
&#8220;Sadly they have fallen further behind,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/JKingEU/status/1101077853729366016">tweeted Julian King</a>, Europe&#8217;s Security Commissioner, on Thursday. &#8220;They need to live up to the standards we are asking of them.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-tech-fakenews/google-facebook-twitter-fail-to-live-up-to-fake-news-pledge-idUSKCN1QH1O5">Google, Facebook, Twitter fail to live up to fake news pledge</a> [Reuters]
More on fake news: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/facebook-removes-pages-misinformation">Facebook Just Shut Down Dozens of Fake Pages</a>

If they continue to ignore their voluntary pledge, the tech giants may face stricter regulations.

EU: Facebook, Google, Twitter failed to fight fake news

See Me After Class

The European Commission just published a report saying that Facebook, Google, and Twitter have all been too lax on their pledge to fight fake news.

EU: Facebook, Google, Twitter Failed to Fight Fake News

"They need to live up to the standards we are asking of them."

<h2>Rotting Brains</h2>
No matter what your mother tells you about your smartphone frying your brain, there&#8217;s not a lot of solid scientific research on what smartphones do to the adolescent brain.
Evidence that smartphone use, especially social media, is correlated with signs of depression often sounds reasonable — but <a href="https://futurism.com/scientists-find-smartphone-addiction-alters-brain-chemistry">lacks scientific rigor</a>. That&#8217;s because many times, the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-018-0506-1">studies are based on large surveys</a> in which teens answer questions about their lives that may be vague or poorly defined.
To get to the bottom of things, some researchers have set their eyes on the treasure trove that is Google and Apple&#8217;s data stores about how people use Android and iOS devices, <a href="https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/science-and-health/2019/2/20/18210498/smartphones-tech-social-media-teens-depression-anxiety-research">according to Vox</a>.
<h2>Fellow Kids</h2>
There are two main problems with trying to understanding how smartphones affect brains. First, internet trends change rapidly, with apps rapidly falling in and out of fashion. Given that each of these apps, from TikTok to Fortnite, allow people to interact in different ways, it&#8217;s hard to come up with a universal explanation for how they impact people.
Second, it&#8217;s hard to get the right answers to even the best questions. Often, the surveys that have informed past studies lumped together all smartphone use.
&#8220;Screen time isn’t a thing; it’s 100 things,&#8221; Laureate Institute for Brain Research neuroscientist Florence Breslin from the ABCD Study told Vox. &#8220;It&#8217;s social media, it&#8217;s video games. It&#8217;s research, it&#8217;s reading.&#8221;
<h2>Access Granted</h2>
Google has already agreed to share its data about how adolescents user their smartphones — with both participant and parent permission — with the <a href="https://abcdstudy.org/">Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study</a>, but Apple hasn’t yet signed off on it.
With information from the two tech giants, scientists can better understand how teens use smartphones. The researchers would be able to discover whether kids are using their phones to socialize and whether social media is actually correlated with signs of depression, as anecdotal evidence often suggests.
&#8220;Naturally, we can&#8217;t actually do a pure experimental study where some children grow up with social media, some don&#8217;t,&#8221; Oxford Internet Institute psychologist Amy Orben told Vox. &#8220;Because, if not, we&#8217;re just going to have this debate without any evidence involved,&#8221; she said.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/science-and-health/2019/2/20/18210498/smartphones-tech-social-media-teens-depression-anxiety-research">Have smartphones really destroyed a generation? We don’t know.</a> [Vox]
More on smartphones: <a href="https://futurism.com/screen-time-smartphone-obsession">I Tried Apple’s Screen Time Tool. The Results Were Not Heartening.</a>

Most of the evidence that social media is harmful is anecdotal at best.

Google and Apple can help learn how phones affect kids' brains

Teen Studies

In order to better understand how smartphone use correlates with mental health in adolescents, scientists want to access Google and Apple's data stashes.

Google and Apple Can Help Learn How Phones Affect Kids’ Brains

Scientists have questions, tech giants have data.

<h2>Smart Bombs</h2>
China&#8217;s military is working to adopt artificial intelligence and autonomous technology as quickly as it can.
That&#8217;s because Chinese President Xi Jinping believes that AI and other cutting-edge technologies, especially when applied to military systems, are the key to keeping up and leveling the playing field between China and <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/jaic-militarys-ai-center">countries like the U.S.</a> that had a head start on its industrial development, according to a <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/understanding-chinas-ai-strategy?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Understanding%20Chinas%20AI%20Strategy%20White%20Paper%20Rollout%20Media&amp;utm_content=Understanding%20Chinas%20AI%20Strategy%20White%20Paper%20Rollout%20Media+CID_eecdd0d32a84c74e153b8409074cd04e&amp;utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&amp;utm_term=Read%20the%20full%20paper">new report</a> published Wednesday by a think tank called the Center for a New American Security.
<h2>World Powers</h2>
The push for advanced Chinese AI is focused on more than military might — the new report highlights how China is taking steps to move away from importing foreign technology.
In October, Xi was quoted as saying that China should strive to &#8220;achieve world-leading levels&#8221; in artificial intelligence tech while also eliminating its &#8220;external dependence for key technologies and advanced equipment,&#8221; according to the report.
In short, China is positioning itself to take a global leadership role in AI development and wants to make sure it can do so without the help of any other nation.
<h2>All Hands On Deck</h2>
The think tank&#8217;s report goes on to clarify that many Chinese leaders are concerned that they may be fostering a sort of arms race between China and the West as both push to develop and weaponized autonomous technology like AI.
Still, though, the report says that those same leaders believe that AI will inevitably become <a href="https://futurism.com/uk-autonomous-killer-robots">more prevalent in combat</a>. And when that happens, China is poised to take the lead, <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/612915/chinas-military-is-rushing-to-use-artificial-intelligence/">according to MIT Technology Review</a>, because Chinese tech corporations work hand-in-hand with the government while <a href="https://futurism.com/google-jk-project-maven-work-military-still">American companies like Google</a>, Microsoft, and Amazon are subject to worker protests over military contracts.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/612915/chinas-military-is-rushing-to-use-artificial-intelligence/">China&#8217;s military is rushing to use artificial intelligence</a> [MIT Technology Review]
More on military AI: <a href="https://futurism.com/military-created-ai-learned-to-program">The Military Just Created An AI That Learned How To Program Software</a>

President Xi Jinping wants to "achieve world-leading levels" of AI tech.

China thinks AI could make its military as powerful as America's

Arms Race

According to a prominent think tank's new report, the Chinese military is adopting artificial intelligence tech as quickly as it can.

China Thinks AI Could Make Its Military As Powerful as America’s

But some Chinese leaders are worried AI will spark an international arms race.

<h2>Scrubbed Search</h2>
Google has begun the process of scrubbing its search engine to comply with Russian censorship laws.
After years of pressure, Russians using Google will no longer see search results for pornography, political extremism, unlicensed gambling, drugs, pirated media, and other banned topics, according to the <a href="https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2019/02/06/793499-google?utm_source=yxnews&amp;utm_medium=desktop">Russian newspaper Vedomosti</a>.
The list of blocked sites and topics are maintained by Roskomnadzor, the Russian media and communications bureau — and it also appears to be censoring corruption by the Russian government on Google&#8217;s search results. In addition to controversial topics like sex and drugs, Roskomnadzor has also blocked an ongoing corruption investigation into Oleg Deripaska, a Russian industry leader and government official, <a href="https://themoscowtimes.com/news/google-began-censoring-search-results-russia-reports-say-64423">according to the Moscow Times</a>.
<h2>Progress Bar</h2>
The Russian paper&#8217;s source was an anonymous Google employee who said that the search engine has already scrubbed about 70 percent of the requested sites from its search results in Russia. BuzzFeed News <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hayesbrown/google-pull-sites-search-engine-russia-roskomnadzor">pored over</a> Google’s self-reported statistics, which show that the search giant has complied and removed roughly 80 percent of the 160,000 URLS that the Russian government requested be blocked from search results in the last year.
Regardless, Google pushed back in a statement to BuzzFeed News.
&#8220;We’re committed to enabling access to information for the benefit of our users in Russia and around the world,&#8221; a Google spokesperson said in the statement.
<h2>Compliance</h2>
Roskomnadzor says it&#8217;s pleased with Google’s compliance.
&#8220;We are fully satisfied with the dialogue at this time,&#8221; Roskomnadzor spokesperson Vadim Ampelonsky <a href="https://ria.ru/20190207/1550512397.html">told a state-run news agency</a> called RIA Novosti Thursday.
The news of online censorship anywhere in the world is troubling, and it goes against the promise of a free and fair internet. Unfortunately, for tech giants like Google that want to expand into new markets, <a href="https://futurism.com/google-future-china-internet">complying with censorship laws</a> might just be the price of admission.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hayesbrown/google-pull-sites-search-engine-russia-roskomnadzor">Google Is Pulling Websites From Searches At Russia&#8217;s Request</a> [BuzzFeed News]
More on censorship: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/censored-search-engine-google-china">Google’s Censored Chinese Search Engine Shows It’s No Longer Afraid of U.S. Backlash</a>

It's blocking any mention of porn, drugs, gambling, and piracy — and corruption.

Google is censoring search results to hide Russian corruption

Safe Search

Google has begun to comply with Russian censorship laws, scrubbing topics barred by the government from its search results.

Google Is Censoring Search Results to Hide Russian Corruption

Russian authorities say they're pleased with Google's compliance.

<h2>Gearing Up</h2>
Recent years have been filled with massive data breaches, from <a href="https://futurism.com/equifax-website-adware">Equifax</a> to <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/facebook-hack">Facebook</a>, that have rocked consumer confidence tech companies to keep their data safe.
To help cork up the leaky internet, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden introduced a bill that would better equip the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to deal with personal data breaches, <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2019/02/wyden-pitches-jail-time-billions-in-fines-for-online-privacy-violators-with-do-not-track-bill.html">according to The Oregonian</a>. In particular, the executives of large tech companies with lax cybersecurity could face jail time and steep fines.
&#8220;The point is the Federal Trade Commission on privacy issues thus far has basically been toothless, Wyden told The Oregonian. &#8220;I am trying to recreate this agency for the digital era.&#8221;
<h2>Iron Bars</h2>
Wyden’s bill, which faces steep odds in the Republican-controlled Senate, would give the FTC the power to introduce and, more importantly, actually enforce national cybersecurity standards. Any new standards introduced by the FTC would be mandatory for large companies that handle sensitive user data, but smaller companies with fewer resources than the tech giants wouldn&#8217;t be forced to commit to the same investments in cybersecurity as their larger competitors.
Also, the bill would give people who use online services like Google or Facebook the option to purchase a &#8220;do not track&#8221; subscription that prevents their personal data from being sold to third parties, according to The Oregonian.
<h2>Cut Off The Head</h2>
Wyden’s bill won’t actually punish companies when a data breach occurs. Rather, large companies would be punished if they falsify reports to the FTC about their cybersecurity and data privacy practices. Basically, breaches may still occur, but as long as the company had been following the FTC&#8217;s best practices, Wyden&#8217;s bill won&#8217;t come into effect.
Like the <a href="https://www.thebalance.com/sarbanes-oxley-act-of-2002-3306254">Sarbanes-Oxley Act</a>, a 2002 law meant to prevent corporate fraud, Wyden’s bill holds executives directly responsible for their company’s violations. If they’re found to be in violation of FTC standards, a large company’s executives could face 20 years in prison and fines of up to four percent of the company’s annual revenue.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2019/02/wyden-pitches-jail-time-billions-in-fines-for-online-privacy-violators-with-do-not-track-bill.html">Wyden pitches jail time, billions in fines for online privacy violators with ‘Do Not Track’ bill</a> [The Oregonian]
More on cybersecurity: <a href="https://futurism.com/cybersecurity-us-defense-cisa">The US Finally Has a Defense Agency Devoted to Cybersecurity</a>

"I am trying to recreate this agency for the digital era."

New bill would let FTC jail execs for data breaches

Digital Era

Oregon Senator Ron Ryden introduced a new cybersecurity bill that would let the FTC impose and enforce strict cybersecurity standards for tech companies.

New Bill Would Let FTC Jail Execs For Data Breaches

"The point is the Federal Trade Commission on privacy issues thus far has basically been toothless."

<h2>Cease and Desist</h2>
Drivers using Waze, Google’s community-driven traffic app, have the option of flagging police checkpoints meant to spot drunk drivers. The idea was to help drivers circumvent traffic, but the New York Police Department says it&#8217;s helping boozed up motorists escape justice.
The NYPD recently sent a cease and desist letter to Google over the weekend. The letter argues that the Waze feature is irresponsible — and that the individuals who flag police checkpoints could be considered to have participated in criminal behavior, <a href="https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/02/06/nypd-letter-google-dwi-checkpoints-waze-app/">according to CBS New York</a>.
<h2>Wazed and Confused</h2>
CBS New York and <a href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/02/06/app-horrent-google-maps-now-helps-drivers-avoid-speed-cameras/">StreetsBlog NYC </a><a href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/02/06/app-horrent-google-maps-now-helps-drivers-avoid-speed-cameras/">published portions</a> of the NYPD’s letter. The bulk of the letter, copied below, makes it clear that the NYPD sees the feature as a tool that helps people get away with drunk driving.
<blockquote>&#8220;Individuals who post the locations of DWI checkpoints may be engaging in criminal conduct since such actions could be intentional attempts to prevent and/or impair the administration of the DWI laws and other relevant criminal and traffic laws. The posting of such information for public consumption is irresponsible since it only serves to aid impaired and intoxicated drivers to evade checkpoints and encourage reckless driving. Revealing the location of checkpoints puts those drivers, their passengers, and the general public at risk.&#8221;</blockquote>
<h2>Enough is Enough</h2>
This isn’t the first time that police have complained about Waze’s police-tracking feature. The National Sheriff&#8217;s Association first raised concerns about the service back at a 2015 meeting, <a href="https://mashable.com/2015/01/26/some-sheriffs-hate-waze/#2M9R4wEMU8q9">according to Mashable</a>, after a cop-killer posted Waze screenshots to Instagram suggesting they were using the app to track down police.
But this time, the NYPD is playing hardball. The letter goes on:
&#8220;The NYPD will pursue all legal remedies to prevent the continued posting of this irresponsible and dangerous information.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/02/06/app-horrent-google-maps-now-helps-drivers-avoid-speed-cameras/">APP-HORRENT! Google Maps Now Helps Drivers Avoid Speed Cameras</a> [StreetsBlog NYC]
More on Waze: <a href="https://futurism.com/by-2030-youll-be-living-in-a-world-thats-run-by-google">By 2030, You’ll Be Living in a World That’s Run by Google</a>

"The NYPD will pursue all legal remedies to prevent the continued posting of this irresponsible and dangerous information."

NYPD demands that Google stop flagging DWI checkpoints on Waze

Sobering News

After years of Google letting drivers flag police checkpoints on its community-based GPS app, Waze, the NYPD sent a sternly-worded cease and desist letter.

See Me After Class

EU: Facebook, Google, Twitter Failed to Fight Fake News

"They need to live up to the standards we are asking of them."

News

/ Future Society

/ Communications

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/ Fake News

Coasting

Progress Report

Not Mad, Just Disappointed

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