James Farrell
Latest from James Farrell
Trump signs executive order aimed at limiting social media firms’ protections
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at preventing social media companies from limiting content on their platforms, drawing immediate criticism and even ridicule for its shaky legal grounds. In a press release issues by the White House, it was said the power social media companies have to censor information is “un-American and ...
For the first time Twitter adds a fact-check notification to a Trump tweet
In an unprecedented move today, Twitter Inc. asked readers to fact-check two of President Donald Trump’s tweets. Twitter made good on the promise it made earlier this month to label disputed or misleading posts, although this is the first time that company has come down hard on Trump – a leader whose Twitter posts have caused ...
Wikipedia creates new policy to prevent bullying and toxic behavior
The Wikimedia Foundation Inc., the nonprofit organization that runs the website Wikipedia, says it’s about to introduce new codes of conduct to reduce harassment and toxic behavior by some of its volunteers. The new standards, which will fall under a “Community Culture Statement” written by volunteers, will be finalized by the end of the year. ...
Facebook plans partial office reopening, and other big tech firms will soon follow
Facebook is set to start reopening its offices all over the world come July 6, according to an article published by Bloomberg today. The reopening at first will mean only 25% of Facebook’s workforce will be allowed to return, and will include staff working in areas where remote work is difficult. That will mean only ...
Google will longer build AI tools for oil and gas extraction
Google LLC no longer will build custom artificial intelligence tools to speed up the extraction of oil and gas, a decision applauded by environmentalists. Although Google had already mentioned its avoidance of providing AI and machine learning services for upstream extraction several weeks ago in an interview with SiliconANGLE (below), the decision came to wider ...
FBI, DOJ slam Apple after opening iPhone of Pensacola gunman, and Apple fires back
The FBI and the Department of Justice have slammed Apple Inc. for wasting them time in not assisting in the opening of iPhones found after the deadly shootings at a Pensacola Naval Air Station in December 2019. Attorney General William P. Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray said Monday in a press release that there have ...
Uber announces new rules during COVID-19 pandemic
Uber Technologies Inc. said today that new measures will be put in place for drivers and passengers as the world tackles the coronavirus pandemic. The company said that during the lockdown, it has been creating new products in line with the “new normal” when people are once again going to work and going about their ...
Facebook to pay $52M to content moderators who developed PTSD
Facebook Inc. today agreed to pay $52 million to moderators who suffered mental health issues while on the job. Moderators will receive a minimum of $1,000 each from Facebook, although if those staff have been diagnosed with mental health conditions, such as PTSD, there could be additional compensation. The company also agreed to provide counseling ...
Twitter will now add labels to disputed or misleading coronavirus information
Twitter Inc. announced today that it will start adding labels and warning messages to COVID-19-related content that’s either disputed or could be misleading. The company said in a blog post that the labels might now offer additional information to posts that might not be deemed harmful, but perhaps don’t provide sufficient context. Those posts might ...
Clearview AI will stop selling its facial recognition technology to private companies
The controversial facial recognition firm Clearview AI Inc. has stopped selling its technology to private companies, it was reported today. According to Buzzfeed News, the company is “is cancelling the accounts of every customer who was not either associated with law enforcement or some other federal, state, or local government department, office, or agency.” Clearview ...