New legislation from Sen. Mark Warner would make changes to Section 230, which shields social media companies from liability for content published by users of their platforms. Loosened legal immunities could expose the companies to more lawsuits over what’s posted on their sites. Virginia Democrat Warner introduced to the Senate on Friday his Safe Tech …
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Piracy and controversial copyright laws tucked inside COVID relief bill
The new, $2.3 trillion spending bill just passed by Congress that includes $900 billion of coronavirus relief also contains a new law that’ll punish piracy services that illegally stream large amounts of copyrighted content. This new law, along with two others dealing with copyright and trademark, are awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature. The piracy law says violators could be prosecuted …
Read More »EU Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts: Europe’s big tech regulation overhaul begins
The European Commission unveiled two major pieces of legislation on Tuesday that could dictate how tech companies are regulated in Europe in the coming years. The Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, which were originally expected at the beginning of December, were unveiled by Commissioners Thierry Breton and Margrethe Vestager during a press conference in Brussels. Together the pair …
Read More »FCC gets tough on China amid security concerns
The US Federal Communications Commission on Thursday ordered broadband and wireless companies in the states to remove all equipment from Chinese manufacturers, such as Huawei and ZTE, that could pose national security risks. It also affirmed the agency’s designation of Huawei as a national security threat. And the agency began a process to revoke China Telecom’s authorization to operate in …
Read More »Europe’s contact
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. All across Europe, governments are planning the next phase of their response to the coronavirus pandemic. Common to their various strategies is asking their citizens to download an app to allow for easier contact tracing. Contact tracing, which typically involves a health worker …
Read More »Trump signs 5G and broadband mapping legislation into law
President Trump on Monday signed into law a pair of bills designed to boost wireless and broadband networks: the Secure 5G and Beyond Act and the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act. The first requires the president to develop a strategy to secure and protect 5G technology, while the second is meant to improve the accuracy of maps detailing …
Read More »Trump signs law barring rural carriers from using Huawei gear
US President Donald Trump signed legislation on Thursday that stops telecom carriers from using government funds to buy network equipment from Huawei and ZTE. Initially, the Chinese technology company’s equipment was deemed a threat to national security under a draft of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) then decided in November 2019 to bar the …
Read More »Nokia and Ericsson pitch themselves as Huawei 5G alternative
European telecom equipment makers were on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to reassure lawmakers that their 5G gear is a safe and secure alternative to equipment from Chinese giant Huawei. Their testimony comes as new legislation, allocating $1 billion in subsidies to rip and replace Huawei gear in rural wireless networks, awaits the signature of President Donald Trump. The Senate Commerce …
Read More »Bill to improve FCC’s broadband mapping passes House again
The House passed a new version of a bill Tuesday meant to improve the accuracy of maps detailing where broadband is and isn’t available in the US. The legislation is now on a fast track to the Senate, where it’s expected to pass before going to President Donald Trump for signing. The bipartisan Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) …
Read More »Senate passes bill banning government purchases of Huawei gear
The US Senate unanimously approved legislation on Thursday that would prohibit government agencies from using federal funds to purchase telecommunications equipment from companies considered to be a threat to national security, The Hill reported Thursday. The Secure and Trusted Telecommunications Networks Act would make it illegal to purchase gear from Huawei and ZTE. The bipartisan bill, which passed the House …
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