Trump Targets Digital Equity Act in Baffling Move

Friday, May 9, 2025, 1:22 pm more...

In a twist that’s both eyebrow-raising and head-scratching, President Trump has scrapped a broadband grants program—deeming the digital equity act “racist” and “unconstitutional.” The cancellation not only roils political pundits but also leaves vulnerable groups in an unexpected lurch.

arstechnica.com / Trump kills broadband grants, calls digital equity program “racist and illegal”

gizmodo.com / ‘The President Has No Idea What He’s Talking About’: Trump Slams The Digital Equity Act as ‘Racist’ and ‘Unconstitutional’

permalink / 2 stories from sources in 14 hours ago #digitaltransformation #techpolicy #trump #broadband +

Senate Ends Free Wi‑Fi Funding for Schools and Libraries

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 3:20 pm more...

The Senate has abruptly ended federal subsidies for free Wi‑Fi in schools and libraries, a move that leaves digital access hanging by a thread. Critics decry the decision as a setback for connectivity, while supporters claim it’s a necessary course correction to eliminate program misuse.

theverge.com / Congress votes to pull funding for free Wi-Fi hotspots at schools and libraries

arstechnica.com / Senate passes “cruel” Republican plan to block Wi-Fi hotspots for schoolkids

permalink / 2 stories from sources in 37 hours ago #techpolicy #government #broadband #education +

Instagram Testifies on Threads Integration in Meta Antitrust Trial

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 2:20 pm more...

In a dramatic turn during Meta’s antitrust trial, an Instagram executive revealed that the popular Threads app was initially conceived as an integrated feature within Instagram. This courtroom testimony highlights Meta’s complex strategy amid mounting scrutiny over its market practices and reinforces the heated debate around tech monopolies.

theverge.com / Instagram CEO testifies about competing with TikTok: ‘You’re either growing, or you’re slowly dying’

theinformation.com / Instagram Head Testifies in Meta Antitrust Case - The Information

theverge.com / Threads was originally going to live inside the Instagram app

permalink / 3 stories from sources in 38 hours ago #techpolicy #meta #antitrust #apps +

Wikimedia Fights UK Online Safety Act Regulations

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 1:20 pm more...

The Wikimedia Foundation is challenging aspects of the UK’s Online Safety Act, arguing that the new categorization rules risk undermining its ability to police harmful content on Wikipedia. The legal battle underscores concerns over potential censorship and the impact on open online collaboration.

engadget.com / Wikipedia's owner challenges categorization rules under UK's Online Safety Act

theverge.com / Wikipedia fights the UK’s ‘flawed’ and ‘burdensome’ online safety rules

permalink / 2 stories from sources in 39 hours ago #techpolicy #uk #law +

US reverses Biden-era AI chip export restrictions

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 11:20 am more...

In an unexpected policy pivot, officials have scrapped the stringent Biden-era AI chip export rules, labelling them “unenforceable.” The new, simplified framework is drawing praise from industry giants like Nvidia and is expected to streamline export negotiations while still keeping a wary eye on competitor markets.

the-decoder.com / Trump administration aims to scrap Biden-era AI chip export rules

reuters.com/business / AI execs say US must increase exports, improve infrastructure to beat China - Reuters

arstechnica.com / Trump admin to roll back Biden’s AI chip restrictions

tomshardware.com / Nvidia celebrates dumping of Biden-era AI chip export rules — simpler new policy promised

permalink / 4 stories from sources in 41 hours ago #ai #semiconductors #techpolicy #chips +

Bill Gates accuses Elon Musk of harming vulnerable children

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 10:20 am more...

In a fiery exchange, Bill Gates has sharply criticized Elon Musk for policies he claims are endangering the world’s poorest children. The accusations tie into broader debates over controversial funding cuts and their humanitarian impact, sparking eyebrow-raising commentary across the tech and philanthropic communities.

gizmodo.com / Bill Gates Accuses Elon Musk of ‘Killing the World’s Poorest Children’ With DOGE Cuts

zerohedge.com / Bill Gates Claims Elon Musk Is 'Killing World's Poorest Children'

theverge.com / Bill Gates tears into Elon Musk for being ‘involved in the deaths of the world’s poorest children’

arstechnica.com / Elon Musk is responsible for “killing the world’s poorest children,” says Bill Gates

reuters.com/business / Bill Gates to give away $200 billion by 2045, accuses Musk of harming world's poor - Reuters

permalink / 6 stories from sources in 42 hours ago #techpolicy #digitalhealth #aiethics #mental-health +

Apple’s Push for AI-Powered Safari Search Stirs Tech Tensions

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 7:20 am more...

Apple is reportedly planning to introduce AI search capabilities into Safari, a move that has sparked a war of words with Google over alleged declines in search traffic. Senior VP Eddy Cue’s remarks—later publicly challenged by Google—signal a new era in browser competition, blending innovation with industry drama.

cnet.com / Not Bought Into Apple Intelligence? Here's What You Can Do

arstechnica.com / Google hits back after Apple exec says AI is hurting search

appleinsider.com / Apple looking to AI for Safari search rumor forces rare & terse Google denial

techspot.com / Apple's Eddy Cue: AI search is coming to Safari, Google queries are falling, and the iPhone may be obsolete in 10 years

macrumors.com / Google Disputes Apple VP's Claim of Safari Search Traffic Decline

permalink / 5 stories from sources in 45 hours ago #ai #techpolicy #apple #browsers +

Trump administration set to ease chip export restrictions

Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 4:20 pm more...

Industry leaders are upbeat as reports suggest the Trump administration will rescind global export curbs on semiconductor technology, easing restrictions that had rattled companies like Nvidia. This potential policy shift could unlock new market opportunities amid escalating international tech tensions.

Reddit: r/centrist, r/AMD_Stock, r/NVDA_Stock

Bluesky: @wittywebhandle.bsky.social

winbuzzer.com / Trump Admin Scraps Biden AI Chip Export Rule

venturebeat.com / Nvidia welcomes Trump’s proposal to rescind global chip restrictions

siliconangle.com / After backlash, US scraps Biden administration’s curb on AI chip exports

reuters.com/business / Trump administration to rescind and replace Biden-era global AI chip export curbs - Reuters

permalink / 8 stories from sources in 2 days ago #semiconductors #techpolicy #chips #trump +

OpenAI Restructuring U-Turn: For-Profit Model Abandoned Under Pressure

Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 6:20 am more...

After persistent external pressure and widespread criticism, OpenAI abruptly reversed its move toward a for-profit structure. The decision has left industry experts amused and somewhat perplexed as the company reaffirms its nonprofit roots while navigating the murky waters of corporate ambitions and market expectations.

Reddit: r/technews

engadget.com / OpenAI’s new for-profit plan leaves many unanswered questions

the-decoder.com / Elon Musk’s lawyer says OpenAI restructuring is a "transparent dodge"

techcrunch.com / What OpenAI’s restructuring plan means for its corporate future

bloomberg.com/technology / OpenAI Can't Have Its Money Both Ways - Bloomberg.com

theinformation.com / What OpenAI’s Governance Reversal Means - The Information

permalink / 10 stories from sources in 3 days ago #techpolicy #openai #business #altman +

US Demands Google Sell Ad Tools to Restore Competition

Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 5:20 am more...

U.S. authorities are ramping up pressure on Google by insisting that the tech giant divest specific advertising products to revive a competitive market. Following a federal judge’s ruling on monopoly practices, the government argues that shedding these assets is essential, though Google claims the move is both unwarranted and technically unfeasible.

Reddit: r/politics

macrumors.com / Google Facing Breakup of Ad Business as DOJ Recommends Divestiture After Antitrust Ruling

theverge.com / DOJ’s proposed Google changes would ‘deeply undermine user trust,’ search chief says

theinformation.com / The Department of Justice Argues for Breakup in Adtech Case - The Information

theverge.com / DOJ asks court to split up Google’s ad tech empire

engadget.com / DOJ pushes for Google to sell its advertising platforms

permalink / 10 stories from sources in 3 days ago #techpolicy #google #antitrust #doj +