As we’ve noted for a very long time, sometimes “dumb” tech is often the smarter option. In the rush to connect every conceivable technology and device to the internet (while seeing ever-improving revenues), “smart technology” companies routinely cut corners. And the first sacrifice usually made (behind customer service) tends to be consumer privacy and device […]
It might not be the smartest idea to have Walter Isaacson trailing you and taking notes on your everyday moves when one of those moves is trying to breach the contract the top execs of the social media company you just overpaid for on a whim. In his book on Musk, Isaacson talked about how […]
The gracious leeway of the Terry stop — as set down by the Supreme Court’s 1968 decision — gave a lot a law enforcement agencies a permission slip for suspicionless stops of pedestrians. Random people got braced, patted down, aggressively questioned, and otherwise hassled. Very few arrests followed. Very little contraband was discovered. But it […]
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It’s no secret that I’m often skeptical of antitrust actions, many of which feel like bureaucrats doing a “general punishment” for disliking a successful company, rather than an actual response to abusive, anti-competitive behavior by a large company. However, that does not mean that there is no place for antitrust enforcement. It’s just that it […]
The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), part of the 2021 infrastructure bill, currently provides 23+ million low-income Americans a $30 broadband discount every month. While it didn’t get much hype, that’s a big deal in a country where broadband affordability is a massive obstacle to adoption due to muted competition and high service prices. But […]
Usually when we discuss trademark disputes, we tend to highlight examples and stories where the dispute is initiated by a party where we really, really don’t think they have much of a leg to stand on. This story is different in that respect. In India, an eBike company called Yulu has sued a company called […]
Amazon’s home surveillance tech acquisition, Ring, wanted to be all things to everyone. But mostly, it wanted to be BFFs with law enforcement. Providing homeowners with an easy way to surveil their own doorsteps and driveways was enough for Ring for a little while. Then, following its acquisition by Amazon, it began to portray itself […]
Anyone who follows Techdirt knows we’re very interested in the progress of Bluesky, the decentralized social network that embraces our concept of protocols over platforms. Bluesky recently ended its invite-only beta and opened its doors to the public, so it seems like a great time for a check-in, and who better to check in with […]
A few weeks ago, Prof. James Grimmelmann and (former Techdirt) journalist Tim Lee wrote a piece for Ars Technica, stating why the NY Times might win its copyright lawsuit against OpenAI. It’s no secret that I’m skeptical of the underpinnings of the lawsuit and think the NY Times is being silly in filing it, but […]
Like highway patrol officers bitching about the fact they couldn’t talk a driver into a voluntary search, a British censorship board is complaining about the fact they can’t get US companies to comply with takedown requests they’re under no legal obligation to comply with. That’s the gist of this article, as reported by Laurie Clarke […]
The Apple Watch Wireless Charger Keychain is the perfect accessory for Apple Watch users on-the-go. With a built-in 950mAh lithium-ion battery, it can charge all series of Apple Watch. The technology allows it to be used as a base for a bedside table or table for convenient charging. Its portable, pocket-size design makes it easy […]
It appears that Meta is serious about no longer bribing news orgs to keep corrupt politicians from forcing them to engage in sketchy wealth transfer schemes to news orgs. While it caved in the past in Australia and paid off news orgs there, the company is informing news orgs that they won’t be renewing the […]
We’ve noted repeatedly how early attempts to integrate “AI” into journalism have proven to be a comical mess, resulting in no shortage of shoddy product, dangerous falsehoods, and plagiarism. It’s thanks in large part to the incompetent executives at many large media companies, who see AI primarily as a way to cut corners, assault unionized labor, and […]
While I’m mildly surprised by this, at least it’s a pleasant surprise. Almost exactly a year ago rapper Eminem opposed the trademark for the “Reasonably Shady” podcast, which is itself a product of Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon, both of whom were on Real Houswives of Potomac. The opposition itself is quite silly, with Em’s […]
The leader in gunshot detection tech rebranded recently. Following several months of sustained negative press, ShotSpotter decided it wanted to be called something else: SoundThinking. But a raffelesia by any other name smells the same. ShotSpotter had experienced a bit of quick uptake by law enforcement agencies, but in recent years, it was more well-known […]
Republican state Rep. Jamie Gragg of Ozark is a freshman lawmaker with no discernible accomplishments on his record. However, it isn’t to say that the man doesn’t break from the party line when it comes to the Republican Party’s fascistic campaign against transgender rights. Gragg introduced House Bill (HB) 2885. It makes it a sex […]
Do you remember Irell & Manella? Of course you do. It’s the formerly well-respected law firm that once brought a lawsuit on behalf of PETA claiming (incorrectly) to represent a monkey, which it claimed (incorrectly) could hold a copyright. As we noted at the time, the whole reason that a respected firm like Irell would […]
Courtesy of Solar Opposites (imho the funniest show on streaming TV), here’s what happens when you teach a cop how to read: To quote the relevant part for those who can’t view the video or would just prefer me to put my cop-hating in plain text, here it is. Yumyulack, an alien, is trying to […]
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