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| Welcome to the latest Inside Tech! Here are today's top stories: - Trump trial in Georgia will be live-streamed on YouTube.
- Meta is exploring paid ad-free options for Facebook and Instagram in the EU.
- Tech layoffs decreased in August.
- Google has canceled Pixel Pass.
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p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Former President Trump's election interference trial in Fulton County, Georgia, will be live-streamed on YouTube, a judge has ruled. The move sets apart the Georgia case from Trump's other legal cases in Manhattan, Washington, D.C., and Florida, where cameras are generally prohibited inside the courtroom. More: - All the proceedings, including hearings and trials, will be live-streamed on the Fulton County Court YouTube channel, according to Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the case.
- In addition, laptops, cameras, and press pool coverage will be allowed in the courtroom.
- Scheduled for Oct. 23, the trial involves Trump and co-defendants facing charges in a wide-ranging racketeering case tied to attempts to overturn Georgia's 2020 presidential election results.
- On Thursday, Trump pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges and waived his right to appear at his arraignment.
Zoom out: - Although Trump also faces two federal indictments, which involve mishandling classified information and election interference, federal courtrooms generally prohibit cameras.
- If a defendant succeeds in transferring their case to federal court, McAfee's ruling won't apply.
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| 2 | | Meta is exploring the idea of offering ad-free paid options for Facebook and Instagram users in the European Union, according to The New York Times. The potential move is described as a reaction to regulatory scrutiny in the EU. More: - In the potential scenario, users could pay for ad-free subscriptions on the platforms, sources told The Times.
- Free versions with ads would still be offered in the EU.
- The paid subscriptions highlight how tech companies may offer different services in the EU than elsewhere due to new data privacy rules and other regulations.
- Recent rulings and fines targeting tech giants like Meta, including one that bars the company from combining data without user consent, are the result of Europe's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which took effect in 2018.
Zoom out: - A week ago, the EU's latest tech giant regulations took effect, designed to improve online safety.
- Known as the Digital Services Act, the rules ban data-driven targeted ads in certain areas and prohibit "dark patterns," along with other restrictions.
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| 3 | | Tech layoffs in August fell to a new low not seen since September 2022, according to the most recent Layoffs.fyi data. 
What the numbers show: Nearly 70 tech companies laid off close to 7,550 employees in August 2023, down from roughly 10,600 employees let go in July and the peak of nearly 90,000 in January. According to Layoffs.fyi, nearly 1,000 tech firms have collectively laid off over 232,000 employees in 2023, a notable increase from the 165,000 tech workers laid off during all of 2022. The bigger picture: Major tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo, Meta, and Zoom laid off thousands of workers this year, citing the broader economic landscape and other issues. However, tech giants are now scaling back their widespread layoffs amid a cooling job market. Lightcast Senior Economist Layla O'Kane confirmed that the tech and media layoff surge appears to be subsiding and never spread to the broader economy, which could be reassuring for those concerned about a potential recession triggered by the tech layoffs. "I think that the big wave is over and people are starting to rehire some of those employees after adjusting," she said. Q: Do you think the decline in tech layoffs points toward a more positive economic outlook? Join the conversation here. | | | |
| 4 | | Google announced it is canceling the Pixel Pass subscription service, which bundled a Pixel phone with YouTube Premium and other services. According to a Google support page, Pixel Pass is no longer available for new Pixel purchases or for renewal. More: - Google launched Pixel Pass with the Pixel 6 series in 2021, spreading out the phone and services costs over two years.
- At launch, the subscription service cost $45 per month, bundling YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, Preferred Care protection, and Google One cloud storage.
- The Pixel Pass was also offered for the Pixel 7, but not the Pixel 7a or the Pixel Fold.
- According to Google, current subscribers can still maintain their subscription for the remaining two years from their sign-up date.
- Beyond that, they can upgrade their Pixel device, but the option to renew Pixel Pass will no longer be available.
Zoom out: - The subscription will now end for early customers before the October Made by Google event, where Google is set to launch the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
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| 5 | | New York's public transportation agency has turned off a feature in its OMNY subway pass system that allowed credit card users to view their trip histories. The feature, which allowed tracking of a passenger's movements using credit card info, was criticized for its security risks. More: - Tapping a bank card for subway rides triggered the "trip history" on the OMNY website, revealing a passenger's recent trips, entry times, and stations to anyone with the card details.
- While meant for user convenience, the feature also became "a gift for abusers," according to Eva Galperin, cybersecurity director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
- The potential for tracking by malicious actors or stalkers raised concerns, prompting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to deactivate the feature and explore alternative solutions to better serve its customers.
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| 6 | | Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, has reversed its decision to experiment with an AI sports writing tool. The company paused use of the LedeAI tool to write recaps of high school sports games after readers complained that they were poorly written. More: - Some of the AI articles were mocked online for being robotic, repetitive, and using too many cliches.
- One story published in the Gannett-owned Columbus Dispatch described a game as a "close encounter of the athletic kind."
- LedeAI CEO Jay Allred said he regrets that the AI articles had errors and awkward phrasing, adding that Gannett quickly addressed the issues.
- They still believe content automation "is part of the future of local newsrooms," he added.
Zoom out: - In December, Gannett laid off 6% of its news division.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is the curator and writer of the AI and Tech newsletters at Inside. With a career in journalism and editing that began in 2007, she has written for publications including USA Today, The Arizona Republic, Arizona Business Gazette, and more. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by NO ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH THE EDITOR | |
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