September 15, 2022

Photo: Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Good morning! Senators grilled social media companies yesterday over security concerns and concluded that the platforms don’t optimize for user safety. But there might be at least one way to help.
Social media platforms took center stage on Capitol Hill yesterday. And one of lawmakers’ key conclusions was that companies are optimizing for attention while turning a blind eye to safety issues.
The first session was with former Twitter and Meta execs, and focused on platforms being more transparent about how their algorithms work.
Then TikTok was put in the hot seat. In a second session, the committee pressed executives from YouTube, Meta, Twitter and TikTok on security concerns with their platforms, including topics like immigration and content that’s harmful to children — but it was the final company in the list that had the hardest time.
— Sarah Roach and Nat Rubio-Licht
Google can’t seem to steer clear of antitrust complaints. They’re in the U.S. and abroad, and no matter how hard the company’s trying to push back, regulators are moving forward.
The biggest of them all is the EU’s $4 billion fine, which Google had appealed.
Meanwhile, here in the U.S. one of many massive antitrust lawsuits got a green light to move forward.
And the antitrust suits don’t stop coming. Cases in the U.K. and the Netherlands are reportedly next to come Google's way.
It’s not all antitrust, though. Regulators in South Korea say Google’s breaking privacy laws, too!
— Kate Cox
Combining the power of cutting-edge tech, effective governance principles and a civic movement, Project Liberty is transforming how the internet works and who it works for. Join us at Unfinished Live, September 21-24, to learn more and to get involved.
Gusto has gone through a growth spurt since its early days as a provider of payroll management software for small and medium-sized businesses. In the decade since it was founded, it exploded into a $10 billion business with 200,000 customers. With that growth, co-founder Edward Kim decided it was time to make deals.
Last year, the company started an acquisition spree. Rather than creating competing products, it acquired tax credit research company Ardius in June 2021, tax software provider Symmetry a month later and remote hiring company RemoteTeam in October 2021.
The pandemic may have been the catalyst for the acquisitions, but they have since provided major benefits to Gusto’s client base. “We just have to keep listening to our customers and see ways that we can help,” Kim said.
Read more about how Edward Kim decided the time was right for making deals.Mark Bergen said YouTube is always trying to “have its cake and eat it, too”:
Bob Chapek hinted at a platform that combines all of Disney's offerings:
Envoy acquihired Worksphere, a workplace management tool, for an undisclosed amount.
Maarten Van Horenbeeck and Nubiaa Shabaka joined Adobe as CSO and chief privacy officer, respectively. Van Horenbeeck comes from Zendesk, and Shabaka’s from AIG.
Brad Olson is the new CEO of Sollis Health. Olson is Peloton’s former chief business officer.
Scott Levine is Brightcove’s new SVP, head of product. Levine was most recently in a similar role at TelevisaUnivision.
Daniel Brennan is Dataiku’s first legal chief. Brennan was previously Twitter’s deputy general counsel.
Gary Gensler is testifying before the Senate Banking Committee today. He's expected to stand by his views on crypto oversight and new rules on climate-related disclosures.
Walmart's introducing virtual fitting rooms, allowing users to see what clothes would look like on their own bodies when they're shopping online.
The Merge has arrived. In other words, Ethereum shifted to a "proof of stake" system that's expected to reduce energy consumption (but there are still big climate concerns).
Google’s Area 120 unit seems to be crumbling. Some employees of the in-house incubator were reportedly told to find a new job at Google or leave, and many projects within the division have been canceled, Bloomberg reported.
Employees are reportedly struggling with Tesla's back-to-office plans. There aren't enough chairs and parking spots to accommodate everyone, and it's hurting morale.
Period-tracking app Flo introduced an anonymous mode,which lets people use the app without their name, email address and other identifiers being tied to their health data.
Twilio laid off about 11% of staff. CEO Jeff Lawson said the company grew too fast and “without enough focus on our most important company priorities.”
The California attorney general sued Amazon for anticompetitive practices, claiming the company punished third-party merchants for offering lower prices on other marketplaces.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Yes, the season of Adobe’s Emoji Trend Report. Here are some highlights from this year’s report:
Combining the power of cutting-edge tech, effective governance principles and a civic movement, Project Liberty is transforming how the internet works and who it works for. Join us at Unfinished Live, September 21-24, to learn more and to get involved.
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