USDA
FTC Sues Meta, USDA Awards $401M for Broadband, Ookla Acquires CellRebel
‘Meta in recent years has set its sights on building, and ultimately controlling, a VR ‘metaverse.’
Americans Should Look to Filtration Software to Block Harmful Content from View, Event Hears
One professor said it is the only way to solve the harmful content problem without encroaching on free speech rights.
AI
Facebook Leads Use in U.S., AT&T Bringing More Fiber to Indiana Cities, USDLA Holds Conference
78% of the US population still uses Facebook regularly
FCC
TikTok Data Practices, FCC’s Mandate on Wireless Outages, AT&T First Responder Network
Lawmakers are calling on the FTC to investigate data claims by China-based social media app TikTok.
Athena
GAO on Broadband Subsidy Strategy, Facebook Departure, Advocacy Groups’ Tech Antitrust Push
The federal agency says Congress must develop a new national strategy on broadband programs.
Eleventh Circuit
Court Strikes Social Media Law, Industry Likes Cyber Initiative, Meta Data Transparency Project
Key provisions in the social media law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis was found unconstitutional by an appeals court.
Infrastructure
D.C. Attorney General Sues Zuckerberg, Carr Criticizes Infrastructure Bill Details, Vermont to Expand Fiber Builds
The lawsuit comes years after Facebook was found to have been used to harvest personal data for political purposes.
Justice
Senate Bill Would Alter Google Advertising, DOJ Cybersecurity Policy Reversal, Comcast on Hybrid Fiber-Coax
Senate introduces bill breaking up Google’s digital advertising business
Expert Opinion
Rahul Sen Sharma: The Metaverse is Not Web 3.0
The Metaverse is at the forefront of developments in seamless payments and richer information flows.
Big Tech
U.S. Tech Platforms Falling Behind Non-U.S. Tech Platforms on Data Transparency, Event Hears
New America said in a report that non-U.S. platforms are ahead of U.S. platforms in their data accountability and transparency.
X (Twitter)
EU Passes Digital Services Act, Twitter Agrees to Sell to Musk, World IP Day
The EU law would require certain large tech companies to better regulate disinformation and misinformation.
Alphabet
Musk Offers to Buy Twitter, Information Quality in Ukraine, Google Invests $9.5B for Offices, Data Centers
Elon Musk proposes to take Twitter private.
Benton
Russian Disinformation, Canadian Big Tech, WideOpenWest Sale, Broadband Emerging Leaders
Facebook has found Russian espionage and disinformation campaigns on its platform.
Abigail Spanberger
Facebook Campaign Against TikTok, House Passes Cyber Bill, CTA Brings CES to the Hill
TikTok faces more pressure, this time from competitor Facebook.
Amy Klobuchar
Progressives’ Anti-Merger Bill, New Facebook Parental Controls, Verizon Helps Defense Department
A bill from progressives to ease merger break-ups may face a treacherous path in Congress.
Alexander Lukashenko
Broadband in the Omnibus, Facebook on Hate Speech, Advocacy for Keeping Russians Online
The Senate has passed an omnibus spending bill that furthers broadband funding and will now head to Biden’s desk.
