From the archive

September 2024

35 posts

#1770 52:52

SpaceX Rocket Malfunctions and Podcast Celebrations

SpaceX is investigating a malfunction in the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage after a Crew-9 mission launch. The rocket’s second-stage engine failed to deorbit correctly, causing it to land outside the planned disposal zone. This marks the third Falcon 9 issue in three months. While SpaceX expects to resume launches soon, delays could affect crucial missions like NASA’s Europa Clipper

Apple No Longer In Talks To Join OpenAI Investment Round

Apple is no longer in talks to participate in an OpenAI funding round expected to raise as much as $6.5 billion, an 11th hour end to what would have been a rare investment by the iPhone maker in another major Silicon Valley company, The Wall Street Journal reported. Apple recently fell out of the talks to join the round, which

Meta Fined $102 Million For Storing Passwords In Plain Text

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has slapped Meta with a $101.5 million (€91 million) fine after wrapping up an investigation into a security breach in 2019, wherein the company mistakingly stored users’ passwords in plain text, Engadget reported. Meta’s original announcement only talked about how it found some user passwords stored in plain text on its servers in January

#1769 1:12:48

WordPress.org Blocks WPEngine in battle of the Titans

WordPress.org escalated its conflict with WPEngine by blocking its servers from accessing vital resources, including plugin updates. Following a dispute over WPEngine’s refusal to pay trademark fees, this move could put user sites at risk by preventing essential updates. WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg argues that WPEngine profits without contributing to WordPress' development, prompting the block. Users and the WordPress community

New California Law Will Force Companies To Admit You Don’t Own Digital Content

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law (AB 2426) to combat “disappearing” purchases of digital games, movies, music and ebooks. The legislation will force digital storefronts to tell customers they're just getting a license to use the digital media, rather than suggesting they actually own it. The Verge reported.

X’s First Transparent Report Since Elon Musk’s Takeover

Today, X released the company’s first transparency report since Elon Musk bought the company, formerly Twitter, in 2022, WIRED reported. Before Musk’s takeover, Twitter would release transparency reports every six months. These largely cover the same grounds the new X report, giving specific numbers for takedowns, government requests for information, and content removals, as well as data about which content

U.S. DOJ Sues Visa, Alleging It Has An Illegal Monopoly

The Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa, alleging that the financial services firm has an illegal monopoly over debit network markets and has attempted to unlawfully crush competitors, including fintech companies like PayPal and Square. The lawsuit, which was first rumored by Bloomberg, follows a multiyear investigation of Visa, which the company disclosed in 2021, The

#1768 57:22

Unveiling the $230 Million Crypto Heist

Two suspects, Malone Lam and Jeandiel Serrano, were arrested for their roles in a $230 million cryptocurrency heist, laundering the funds using exchanges and mixers. They accessed victims' accounts through impersonation tactics and laundered the stolen funds to finance a lavish lifestyle. Despite efforts to cover their tracks using privacy coins and VPNs, mistakes in their operational security led to

US Proposes Banning Chinese Software And Components In Vehicles

The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday proposed banning Chinese software and hardware for vehicles with a built-in internet connection, a move that would in effect ban Chinese vehicles from the US market, Financial Times reported. The rule follows concerns from the Biden administration about Chinese companies collecting data on American drivers and infrastructure as well as the potential for foreign

Brazil Court Asks X For Documents

The Brazilian Supreme Court on Saturday asked Elon Musk-owned social platform X to present documents validating its new legal representation in the country, as the firm’s lawyers now say it will comply with court demands to be allowed to resume operations in Brazil, Reuters reported. X was shut down in Brazil in late August after it did not comply with

Elon Musk Backs Down In Brazil

Elon Musk suddenly appears to be giving up, The New York Times reported. After defying court orders in Brazil for three weeks, Mr. Musk’s social network, X, has capitulated. In a court filing on Friday night, the company’s lawyers said that X had complied with orders from Brazil’s Supreme Court in the hopes that the court would lift a block

US SEC Says It Intends To Seek Sanctions Against Elon Musk

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Friday it intends to seek sanctions against Elon Musk after he failed to appear for court-ordered testimony for the regulator’s probe into his $44 billion takeover of Twitter, Reuters reported. In a filing in San Francisco court, the SEC said the sanctions motion would seek an order to show cause for why

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