Amazon
Amazon cuts off service to Iran, preventing citizens from using proxies and VPNs, citing US Sanctions
Since much of Iran’s internet is locked down, citizens were relying on US tech companies to run VPNs and proxies to open the free and open internet.
Luxembourg’s privacy watchdog is quizzing Amazon over storing user recordings
The Commission hasn’t yet made the investigation formal.
35% surge in warrant requests of Alexa recordings and other Amazon data
As Amazon collects more data, government requests also increase.
Just 4% of big tech employee 2020 candidate donations go to Donald Trump
An analysis of the twelve 2020 presidential candidates who received the most donations from big tech employees between January and June showed that over 50% of these donations went to Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, and Kamala Harris.
Amazon’s Ring home security company has reportedly partnered with at least 200 law enforcement agencies
This follows wider concerns around how Ring is creating a corporate surveillance network and the plans Amazon has for this growing network.
Amazon and Microsoft now control half of the entire cloud infrastructure market
The illusion of choice is getting weaker.
US Department of Justice opens broad antitrust review into the practices of big tech companies
This comes after months of scrutiny into the alleged anti-competitive practices of many leading big tech firms.
Facebook and Amazon lobbying reach new heights amidst big tech criticism
Facebook is being criticized for Libra and Amazon wants to with a big government cloud project.
Orlando police end controversial Amazon face recognition program
The city says there are no plans to continue any facial recognition programs.
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens was a supporter of the early internet and online free speech
Much of the rulings that caused the early internet to thrive were supported by Stevens, who died yesterday, aged 99.
Amazon and Google don’t like you calling their smart speakers “surveillance devices”
The companies are trying to battle the negative perception of their smart speakers.
Amazon is on the brink of EU antitrust investigation
Amazon will face investigation within days.