Post Tech: May 16, 2010 - May 22, 2010
Updated: Want to leave your AT&T iPhone contract? That just became more expensive.
AT&T has raised the penalty it charges users for leaving iPhone and other smart phone contracts early, amid greater concern by regulators and lawmakers that such fees burden users and hinder competition. One lawmaker immediately responded with a letter criticizing...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 21, 2010; 4:30 PM ET |
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Early Termination Fees
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FTC approves Google merger with AdMob thanks to Apple competition
The Federal Trade Commission said Friday it has approved Google’s acquisition of AdMob, a mobile advertising platform, after a six-month review of the $750 million deal. The search giant can thank Apple for the approval, as the agency cited the...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 21, 2010; 12:35 PM ET |
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Antitrust
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Apple
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Google
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Facebook moves to fix privacy loophole after WSJ review
Social networking site Facebook said Thursday that it is fixing a privacy loophole that allowed advertisers to access user identification and potentially other information. The privacy lapse comes amid growing concern from lawmakers and regulators over how social networking sites...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 21, 2010; 8:16 AM ET |
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Facebook
| Tags: facebook
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FCC wireless report shows less market competition, spurs debate over FCC response
The Federal Communications Commission said that the wireless industry has become more concentrated and that consumers are sharply increasing their use of text messaging and Internet data services on cellphones. Those trends had commissioners calling for greater scrutiny over competition...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 20, 2010; 11:58 AM ET |
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Categories:
Broadband
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FCC
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Growing anger over Google Street View privacy breach
Anger is growing over Google's Street View privacy breach, with local government leaders adding to the chorus calling for scrutiny of the search giant. On Wednesday, D.C. Council Member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) joined U.S. lawmakers and European government...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 20, 2010; 8:00 AM ET |
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Google
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Privacy
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FCC appoints Flynn to oversee Comcast-NBCU merger
The Federal Communications Commission appointed John Flynn, general counsel of ICO Global Communications to head the review of Comcast's proposed merger with NBC Universal. Because the merger spans so many areas of regulation -- media, broadband services, and cable --...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 19, 2010; 4:37 PM ET |
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Antitrust
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Comcast
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FCC
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Lawmakers press FTC on Google Street View privacy lapse
Key lawmakers sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, asking if it is investigating a privacy lapse by Google in its collection of private data through its Street View application. Reps. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), co-chairmen...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 19, 2010; 3:19 PM ET |
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FTC
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Google
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The Markey Alumni Network
Update: Wow, you guys are good at getting back to me. I've got more on the list below. Image via Wikipedia The training ground of a remarkable crew in Washington's tech policy circles was the office of Rep. Ed Markey...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 19, 2010; 10:13 AM ET |
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White House reprimands deputy CTO for e-mails with former Google colleagues
The nation's deputy chief technology officer, Andrew McLaughlin, was reprimanded by the White House for improperly corresponding with former Google colleagues. McLaughlin, the former head of global policy for Google, joined the Obama administration as a technology adviser and deputy...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 19, 2010; 8:00 AM ET |
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Google
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FTC probes privacy concerns with digital copiers
The Federal Trade Commission said it is reviewing concerns that digital copy machines were retaining sensitive information and is reaching out to retailers and government agencies to safeguard users’ private data. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a letter (pdf)...
By
Cecilia Kang
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May 18, 2010; 11:45 AM ET |
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Categories:
FTC
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Privacy
| Tags: Federal Trade Commission, Identity theft
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FCC adviser Sherrese Smith discusses media, consumer protection
Sherrese Smith, a legal adviser to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, explains how bill shock for wireless customers, early termination fees and truth in billing have taken high priority at the agency. Yes, the FCC is in...
By
Cecilia Kang
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May 18, 2010; 9:30 AM ET |
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Categories:
Consumers
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FCC
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Media
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Google deletes private data in Ireland; a complaint filed in U.S.
Google said Monday afternoon that upon the request of Ireland's Data Protection Authority, it has deleted private data it collected as part of its Street View application. In a blog post, the company said that it deleted that information over...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 18, 2010; 8:00 AM ET |
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FTC
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Google
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Privacy
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U.K. social media subscribers are limiting their networks: Ofcom
British subscribers to social networking sites such as Facebook are limiting to friends and family the people who can see their online profiles, according to a report released Monday by U.K. communications regulator, Ofcom. In 2009, 80 percent of adults...
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Cecilia Kang
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May 17, 2010; 4:23 PM ET |
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German official rebukes Google for collecting private data with Street Views
Over the weekend, Germany's consumer protection minister rebuked Google for collecting snippets of user data off of Wi-Fi networks around the world since 2006. The activity, which Google admitted to late Friday afternoon, was done as it expanded its Street...
By
Cecilia Kang
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May 17, 2010; 8:00 AM ET |
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Google
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Privacy
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Cellphone cancer study inconclusive; researcher urges more study
A large international study into the link between cellphone use and two kinds of brain cancer produced inconclusive results, according to a report to be released Tuesday in Geneva. But researchers of the report noted flaws in the methodology of...
By
Cecilia Kang
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May 16, 2010; 3:41 PM ET |
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