The stillborn AirPower wireless charging system hung over Apple’s head for almost years, but the newer and arguably better MagSafe is slowly erasing it from people’s consciousness. As if to remind people again that it was almost a thing, an engineering prototype of what would have been the AirPower charging mat suddenly appears on the Internet. And more than just … Continue reading
Earlier this week, Facebook followed through on its threats to cut a group of New York University researchers off from its platform. The researchers were part of a project called the Ad Observatory, which recruited volunteers to study how Facebook targets political ads on its platform.
In it decision to ban the researchers, Facebook repeatedly referred to its obligations to the FTC saying it was acting against the researchers “in line with our privacy program under the FTC Order” — a reference to the company’s 2019 settlement with the agency over lax privacy practices. But the social network’s actions were roundly criticized by the research community and free speech advocates, who said the company was preventing legitimate research under the guise of “scraping.” As Wired pointed out, the company’s agreement with the FTC doesn’t even prohibit what the researchers were actually doing.
Now, the FTC has weighed in, calling the company’s explanation of its actions was “misleading” and “inaccurate.” In a sharply worded letter addressed to Mark Zuckerberg, Acting Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection Samuel Levine, said that he was “disappointed by how your company has conducted itself in this matter.”
“The FTC is committed to protecting the privacy of people, and efforts to shield targeted advertising practices from scrutiny run counter to that mission,” Levine wrote. “Had you honored your commitment to contact us in advance, we would have pointed out that the consent decree does not bar Facebook from creating exceptions for good-faith research in the public interest. Indeed, the FTC supports efforts to shed light on opaque business practices, especially around surveillance-based advertising. While it is not our role to resolve individual disputes between Facebook and third parties, we hope that the company is not invoking privacy – much less the FTC consent order – as a pretext to advance other aims.”
Facebook didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Twitter introduced Spaces in 2020 as a live audio platform for people to hold conversations. The feature arrived with a limited group of users, but soon expanded in May so that any account with at least 600 followers could host a session. In the latest update to the platform, Twitter is now making it easier to manage these audio sessions … Continue reading
There has been a lot of attention lavished on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro (not XL), and perhaps rightly so. Google is long overdue a premium contender, and the Android market has long deserved a “pure” Android flagship. Not everyone, however, might be a fan of the Pixel 6’s design or its rumored price tag. For these people, … Continue reading
Who wants their next vacation to be on an island filled with large, carnivorous reptiles? Raise of hands? Anybody? Well, hand-raisers, whoever you are, have I got the opportunity for you.
The Internet has made it possible for talented individuals around the world to showcase their skills and unique creations to a global audience. We’ve seen many interesting works of art as a result, including some made from materials you wouldn’t typically expect. The latest among them is the Millennium Falcon carved from sand. A video of the creation process was … Continue reading
Apple is facing questions about its handling of sexism in the workplace after it placed a female employee on leave following tweets about her experiences at the company. Ashley Gjøvik, a senior engineering program manager with Apple, says she has spent months speaking with Apple about unsafe working conditions, sexism and a hostile work environment.
Her comments were first reported by The Verge, which notes the company closed a previous investigation into Gjøvik’s claims — apparently without taking any action. Gjøvik said Apple initially responded to her complaints of sexism by suggesting she request “disability accommodations.”
On Wednesday, she was placed on “indefinite paid administrative leave” while Apple conducts a new investigation. In a statement to The Verge, she said the company “implied they did not want me on Slack where I had been vocal about my concerns with certain policies at the company.”
So, following raising concerns to #Apple about #sexism, #hostileworkenvironment, & #unsafeworkconditions, I’m now on indefinite paid administrative leave per #Apple employee relations, while they investigate my concerns. This seems to include me not using Apple’s internal Slack.
— Ashley M. Gjøvik (@ashleygjovik) August 4, 2021
In a series of tweets, Gjøvik provided several examples of interactions she brought to the attention of Apple’s employee relations, who allegedly told her the behavior was “ok.” In one exchange, a manager referred to her “tone” in presentations, and said “I didn’t hear you going up an octave at the end of your statements.” She added that comments about her tone were also included in a mid-year review at one point.
Y’all, I’m a senior engineering program manager with decades of professional experience & it was even in my mid-year review one year…
Someone needs to give me a Purple Heart. pic.twitter.com/UCRqyTUtSR
— Ashley M. Gjøvik (@ashleygjovik) August 3, 2021
She also said that Apple employee relations told her it was “okay” after she received complaints that a diversity training she led was “too hard on the white man.” In another exchange, she said a “heartfelt email” asking leadership to show “support of women and condemn sexism and sexual assault” in 2018 was brushed off — an interaction the company’s employee relations also allegedly said was okay.
“We are and have always been deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement. “We take all concerns seriously and we thoroughly investigate whenever a concern is raised and, out of respect for the privacy of any individuals involved, we do not discuss specific employee matters.”
Now that a Dem is in the W.H., GOP raises alarms about deficits after years of looking the other way under Trump.
Salesforce.com later denounced the violent attack on the Capitol.
The nation’s highest congressional honor will be given to the Capitol Police and D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department.
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