EU considers yet another record fine for Google, this time over Android’s anti-competitive terms

The EU and Google continue to battle over antitrust allegations.

Google may be facing yet another decision in an antitrust investigation in the EU, according to a new report by Reuters, including a fine that could exceed $2.7 billion. The news comes just a few days after the EU finalized a record-setting $2.7 billion fine over Google’s practices involving shopping ads in search. It serves to reason, then, that a fine for something as large as terms of licensing Android would surely be larger than one for a certain part of search results.

The EU is reportedly forming a special panel of experts to further investigate Google’s practices around licensing the Android operating system to manufacturers, which it claims is anti-competitive in nature. If this discussion sounds familiar, it’s because it actually stems from an investigation into the matter back in April 2016. Discussions about Google abusing its market dominance have been around much longer that that.

The ongoing fight over Android licensing in the EU may finally lead to financial damages.

EU regulators claim that Google’s terms for licensing Android, which require a specific set of Google apps to be loaded on the phone and prevent manufacturers from making Android devices without Google’s services, are anti-competitive and ultimately hurt companies. Google’s argument, naturally, is that those manufacturers are free to make phones using the open-source build of Android and their own services if they choose to do so. In contrast with other antitrust regulations, like those here in the U.S., the EU doesn’t necessarily need to show an abuse of monopoly power in order to levy a fine — as it has shown in prior cases.

Reports claim that the European Commission could reach a decision on the matter by the end of the year. Aside from yet another massive fine, it could also potentially force Google to change the terms of licensing Android in order to fall within the EU’s demands for competition in the mobile space. Given recent decisions against Google, the possibility of another such decision doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore.

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Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’ will be biggest 70mm release in years

Christopher Nolan’s WWII flick Dunkirk is getting the 70mm treatment and reportedly, it will have the widest release of any recent film using the format. According to Deadline, 125 theaters will show the film in 70mm, more locations than both Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and Nolan’s Interstellar, which also had 70mm viewings.

In 2015, The Hateful Eight played in approximately 100 70mm-equipped theaters before its wide release. In order to show the film in that format, Tarantino and the Weinstein Company resurrected the cast-aside 70mm projection equipment, which is much more involved and challenging to work with compared to digital projection systems commonly used today. Nolan’s Interstellar also played on 50 70mm-enabled IMAX theaters in 2014. Directors like Tarantino and Nolan like the 70mm format because of the different quality it gives to images on screen.

Warner Brothers bought the Hateful Eight 70mm projectors from the Weinstein Company for the Dunkirk viewings, tickets for which go on sale today. The film, which stars Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Harry Styles, opens July 21st and tickets for the regular viewings will be available on July 7th.

Source: Deadline

‘Rocket League’ packs tons of freebies in its ‘Anniversary’ update

No, cross-console multiplayer isn’t in today’s Anniversary update for Rocket League. But thankfully there’s enough (free!) stuff on offer here to take some of the sting off of Sony’s sustained stubbornness. We’re talking Rick and Morty customization options — including a Mr. Poopy Butthole topper — new music, fresh cars and the ability to change your ride’s engine audio. Oh, there’s a new stadium to tool around in as well. The update will start rolling out later today, at 6pm Eastern.

If you’re a fan of those new songs, developer Psyonix has teamed with iam8Bit to put those EDM clips to wax. Unlike today’s patch, however, that record collection isn’t free — the 3-LP, 180 gram set will run you the same price as a new retail game, $60.

Source: Psyonix

Tesla’s diversity panel uncovers more tales of Silicon Valley sexism

When former Tesla employee AJ Vandermeyden sued the company for ignoring complaints of discrimination and “pervasive harassment,” the self-driving vehicle maker downplayed her claims. Tesla told The Guardian at the time that it believes in “fostering an inclusive workplace” and that there is “more we can do to promote diversity.” The company also said that there would always be a “small number” of people who make these kinds of claims. It turns out, however, that more women have had similar experiences at Tesla, according to a new report in The Guardian.

On International Women’s Day, Tesla invited female staff to an essential oils “lunch and learn,” but then changed the meeting to one on diversity after employees expressed some criticism. The diversity panel included six male employees and one female, according to The Guardian‘s sources. When it came time for attendee comment, more than 20 women used the opportunity to share stories of sexual harassment, mistreatment and unfair promotion decisions. Vandermeyden was at the meeting, yet was fired shortly thereafter. “They just want to absolutely crush anyone who speaks up,” Vandermeyden told The Guardian. “I spoke up, and I was made a sacrificial lamb for it. It’s a scary precedent.”

Technology companies have been under fire lately for a string of high-profile sexual discrimination lawsuits lately, including Uber, Magic Leap, Konami and Tinder. Uber has since investigated the problem, firing more than 20 employees for harassment, while Magic Leap settled its own case. Tesla has since denied Vandermeyden’s claims, saying that they “have not been substantiated.” As more women in the company speak up, however, it will likely be harder for Tesla to maintain this stance. We’ve reached out to Tesla for an official response to this story and will update it as necessary.

Via: The Verge

Source: The Guardian

Snapchat warps reality with backdrops and mask-free voice filters

Snapchat users today have three more tools designed to make their lives look (and sound) magical — backdrops, a discrete voice-filter option, and paperclip, a way to add links to images and videos.

Backdrops allow Snapchatters to place images “behind” people or objects in photo messages. To add a background to a Snap, tap the scissors icon in the vertical toolkit and then select the new Backdrop icon (a diagonally striped square). Trace over whatever you want to be in the foreground, choose a Backdrop image and watch the magic happen. There will be a selection of images to choose from, with new backgrounds rotated in daily.

Voice filters aren’t new for Snapchat, but today’s update breaks the tool out of Lenses for anyone to use at any time, no doggy ears required. After recording a video Snap, tap the speaker icon to see a range of voices, including a cute little chipmunk, a beastly bear and a robot.

Paperclip lets users attach websites to their Snaps. Take a Snap, tap the paperclip icon in the vertical toolkit and add in your link: Viewers will be able to swipe up to view the link within Snapchat itself.

In its February IPO filing, Snapchat announced it had 158 million users. That’s nothing to sneeze at, though competition is fierce in the disappearing-message space: Instagram Stories, which has a history of cloning Snapchat’s best ideas, has more than 200 million users and it’s not yet one year old.

CNN will expose Reddit user if he ever trolls again

Over the weekend, Trump tweeted out a gif (that his staff found on Reddit) depicting an archive clip of him wrestling with WWE CEO Vince McMahon, whose face was overlaid with the CNN logo. The stunt quickly drew condemnation from both sides of the aisle and also instigated CNN to track down the person who initially posted the gif that Trump lifted without attribution, one HanAssholeSolo (or HAS). While the reasoning behind why he didn’t call himself “HanAssholo” and save a syllable remain unresolved, we now know exactly why he’s not going to be doing anymore trolling: it’s because, if he does, CNN will tell the world exactly who he is.

The original gif, which did not include sound, was posted to Reddit by HAS last Wednesday, CNN reports. After digging through HAS’ post history, CNN discovered a trove of anti-semitic and xenophobic content. Once CNN mentioned the HAS’ username on air, he proceeded to scribe a lengthy apology letter before deleting the remainder of his posts. This did not stop CNN reporter, Andrew Kaczynski, from figuring out HAS’ identity through a Facebook search and some basic cross-referencing of details HAS posted online.

Those details are going to remain under wraps for the time being. CNN announced on Wednesday that it will not reveal the name of the middle-age man (who was posing as a 15-year-old) behind the HanAssholeSolo account. The news network cited his online apology and promise to reform in its decision. However, CNN did threaten to disclose this information should Han not keep his nose clean:

CNN is not publishing “HanA**holeSolo’s” name because he is a private citizen who has issued an extensive statement of apology, showed his remorse by saying he has taken down all his offending posts, and because he said he is not going to repeat this ugly behavior on social media again. In addition, he said his statement could serve as an example to others not to do the same.
CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change.

This statement instigated a backlash from conservative media, with Donald Trump Jr leading the charge. Within hours of CNN’s announcement, the #CNNBlackmail hashtag had begun to trend on Twitter. Though, both Han and CNN have stated that he wrote and posted his apology before ever actually speaking with CNN. But, you know, the internet will never miss a chance to express outrage at whatever you put in front of it — even if it isn’t based in reality (see: Pizzagate). Kaczynski rebutted the charges in a subsequent tweet, arguing that “this line is being misinterpreted. It was intended only to mean we made no agreement [with] the man about his identity.”

CNN statement on the HanAssholeSolo story pic.twitter.com/mf2tilu9UB

— Steven Perlberg (@perlberg) July 5, 2017

Despite Kaczynski’s reasoning, the optics are not in CNN’s favor. It sure looks like one of the nation’s biggest news organization is holding the threat of public humiliation and ridicule over Han as a means of ensuring that he stops publishing opinions critical of the organization.

Via: CNN

Source: The Intercept

Facebook’s original TV lineup includes LaVar Ball and Mike Rowe

Facebook has greenlit two more shows for its expanding original programming lineup. They join a reality competition series as well as a cancelled MTV comedy series that the company picked up last month.

One of the new shows, Returning the Favor, features Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe. In the series, he’ll highlight people across the country who do exceptional work in their communities. The second show isn’t named yet but is a reality series starring LaVar Ball and his family. Ball is the father of Lonzo Ball — a basketball player with the LA Lakers — and soon to be UCLA players LiAngelo and LaMelo.

Facebook’s desire for original TV programming has been no secret and to help lead the push the company hired CollegeHumor co-founder Ricky Van Veen in 2016 and former MTV executive Mina Lefevre earlier this year. In May, it was reported that Facebook could launch up to two dozen original shows this summer and according to the Wall Street Journal, the company has offered up to $3 million per episode.

The number of episodes and premiere dates of the new shows haven’t yet been announced.

Via: ESPN

Source: Deadline

US exempts Emirates and Turkish Airlines from laptop ban

As of today, Emirates Airline and Turkish Airlines no longer have to abide by the “laptop ban” that prevented passengers from carrying on devices larger than smartphones on flights from Middle East airports to the US. The ban, which was originally enacted in March, still applies to six other airlines.

Days ago, the US government lifted the ban on passengers flying Etihad Airways out of Abu Dhabi airport after verifying that it implemented “enhanced security measures.” Presumably, Emirates and Turkish Airlines are now following these elevated screening protocols. But the ban is still in place for US-bound flights from Qatar Airways, Egypt Air and four other carriers operating out of seven other airports in the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia’s airline, Saudia, claimed it has been working to implement the protocols and aims to be exempted by July 19th, according to CNN.

The ban was introduced back in March to protect passengers flying to the US from unspecified threats and the possibility of sabotage via tablet and laptop devices. While the DHS has yet to expand it to other inbound flights, they did expand security measures at the end of June, giving airlines from 280 airports outside the US 21 days to improve their explosive screening protocols or face a device ban.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: CNN

Privacy watchdog sues Trump’s election committee over voter data

When the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity sent a letter to all 50 states seeking personal, identifying information on all voters in the US, at least 44 states refused in some part. Trump signed an executive order last May to create this commission while claiming that millions of people had voted illegally. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has taken issue with this request, as well, and has filed a lawsuit accusing the Commission of violating the privacy of American voters. EPIC also asserts that the original request asks states to send the data to a non-secure website, making the data vulnerable to identity theft and financial fraud. Not to mention political agendas. EPIC is also seeking information about “the failure to conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment,” and has filed for a temporary restraining order “to block the Commission’s efforts.”

Partial, publicly-accessible voter data is already available, though the specifics vary by state. Many lawmakers who have received the Commission’s request have responded in the negative. “The President’s Commission has quickly politicized its work by asking states for an incredible amount of voter data that I have, time and time again, refused to release,” said Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler in a statement that was reported by Ars Technica. “My response to the Commission is, you’re not going to play politics with Louisiana’s voter data, and if you are, then you can purchase the limited public information available by law to any candidate running for office. That’s it.”

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann had a more colorful response, as reported in Ars. “They can go jump in the Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi is a great state to launch from,” he said in a statement. Trump’s own response to the state refusal headed to Twitter, of course. “Numerous states are refusing to give information to the very distinguished VOTER FRAUD PANEL. What are they trying to hide?” tweeted the President of the United States.

Via: ArsTechnica

Source: EPIC