Privacy

Uber’s Driverless Truck Unit Is Under Government Investigation Following Unapproved Tests

May 26, 2017 · Mark Reback

California regulators are preparing to conduct a site inspection of the San Francisco headquarters of Uber’s autonomous truck unit, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattdrange/2017/05/25/otto-changes-name-uber-trademark-infringe/#6b7455455992" target="_self" rel="noopener">formerly known as Otto</a>, to determine whether the company broke state law when it tested driverless trucks on public highways without permission.

Will Google and Big Tech End Child Sex Trafficking Or Keep Fighting for Their Legal Shield?

May 25, 2017 · Jamie Court

In the documentary “I am Jane Doe,” which hits Netflix this weekend, a mother Nacole S. talks about how her daughter was turned into a child prostitute...

A Movie About Online Sex-Trafficking Might Actually Get Laws Changed

May 19, 2017 · Mark Reback

It’s tough getting a consensus on anything these days, but child sex abuse and human trafficking are generally considered indefensible crimes. So who’s defending them? According to “I Am Jane Doe,” that would be Google. And Microsoft. And Facebook. And Yahoo.

Google Targeted Over Child Sex-Trafficking Claims

May 19, 2017 · Mark Reback

Imagine taking shelter from a downpour under a large umbrella, when an unkempt gentleman in a trench coat and no pants joins you to avail himself of the same protection. That’s the situation Google finds itself in with respect to a law that shields companies running websites from liability over material posted by others. For the Mountain View tech giant and many other Silicon Valley companies operating sites that host third-party content, the protection from Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) is vital to their business interests.

Report Shows How Google Funded Defense of Child Sex Trafficking Hub

May 17, 2017 · Jamie Court

SANTA MONICA, CA – A coalition of anti-child sex trafficking and public interest groups, and the mother of a trafficking victim, today released a report...

How Google’s Backing of Backpage Protects Child Sex Trafficking

May 17, 2017 · John M. Simpson

For years, one company—Backpage.com—has dominated online trafficking in minors for sex. The advertising giant’s reach is vast, with sites catering to 437 locations in the U.S. and 506 overseas. So is its impact: By one count, 73% of all suspected child1 trafficking…

Google-Backed Groups Claim Backpage’s Child Sex Ads Are Free Speech

May 17, 2017 · Evan Thomas King

<h2 class="dek">'Their proposed fix might undermine all speech platforms online'</h2>

Bernie Sanders Wants California To Lead On Health Care

May 6, 2017 · Mark Reback

Los Angeles, CA -- Sen. Bernie Sanders, assailing Republicans in Washington for their health care bill, delivered a message Saturday to the Democratic-controlled California Legislature: “Please lead the country and pass the single-payer bill.”

Bernie Sanders Returns To California This Weekend

May 5, 2017 · Mark Reback

Bernie Sanders returns to California for an awards ceremony Saturday that will gather nearly 700 trial lawyers, labor union officials, activists and others from Sanders’ left wing of the Democratic Party. Rage for Justice, the signature gala for the Santa Monica nonprofit Consumer Watchdog, honors “fellow travelers in the fight to hold corporations and politicians accountable for their abuses,” according to Jamie Court, the organization’s president.

Amid Uncertain Future, State’s Stem Cell Agency Loses Transformative Leader

May 4, 2017 · Mark Reback

California’s stem cell agency is on the hunt for a new president and CEO after <a href="https://www.cirm.ca.gov/about-cirm/newsroom/press-releases/05022017/cirm-announces-leadership-transition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the surprise announcement this week</a> that C. Randal Mills will be departing the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He will leave at the end of June.

Uber Tracking Controversy Catches Congress’s Eye

April 28, 2017 · Mark Reback

Uber’s public relations problems have been piling up over the past few months. But the ride-hailing firm’s latest controversy may have crossed a line that could create headaches for the company in Washington. A recent report that claims Uber was tracking customers even after users deleted the app is catching the eye of Congress and federal regulators because of the serious privacy implications.

Investigate Uber For Phone Tracking, Consumer Group Tells FTC