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Greetings, Insiders! Here are the latest Tech headlines for today: - X removes hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts.
- IRS says Microsoft owes nearly $29B in back taxes.
- California governor signs right to repair bill into law.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | X, formerly Twitter, has removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and labeled or taken down tens of thousands of content pieces since the attack on Israel, according to CEO Linda Yaccarino. Yaccarino provided the details in a response to EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, who gave X a 24-hour deadline to address concerns about illegal content and disinformation related to the conflict. More: - To address the situation, X has reallocated resources, refocused teams, and established a leadership group shortly after the attack, according to Yaccarino's letter.
- The platform has responded to over 80 EU takedown requests so far. It has not received any notices from Europol about illegal content, she noted.
- "There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real-time, including proactive efforts," Yaccarino wrote
- Breton said his team still needs to assess Yaccarino's reply and decide on next steps.
Zoom out: - The conflict is a major test for the EU's new Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires large online platforms such as X and Meta to ramp up their efforts to remove illegal content.
- Breton has sent similar letters to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and more recently, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.
Q: Do you think social media platforms like X are doing enough to remove fake or illicit content related to the Israel conflict? Join the discussion here. |     | |
| 2 | | The IRS has informed Microsoft that it owes $28.9B in back taxes, penalties, and interest for the tax years 2004 through 2013, according to an SEC filing. Microsoft disputes the figure, which stems from a lengthy IRS investigation into the company's allocated profits across countries during those years. More: - The IRS audit focused on "transfer pricing," a practice allowing companies to allocate profits and expenses across regions, with Microsoft sharing development costs among subsidiaries.
- Critics argue it's used to allow companies to reduce their tax burden by reporting lower profits in high-tax countries and higher profits in low-tax countries.
- Microsoft argues that the IRS's proposed adjustments do not account for up to $10B in taxes already paid by the company.
- It plans to challenge the IRS adjustments through an administrative appeal, which is expected to take years, and could resort to court proceedings if necessary.
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| 3 | | On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the state's right to repair consumer protection law, giving Californians more access to tools and parts to repair their own electronics, or seek third-party repairs. 
Details: The new law requires local manufacturers to provide consumers and independent repair shops with tools, parts, and information for electronic and appliance repairs. The replacement parts and tools would need to be available for three years for products costing between $50 and $99.99, and for seven years for products over $99.99. Where to see the impact: The movement is gaining momentum in the U.S. California has joined Minnesota, Colorado, and New York in implementing rules, albeit with some compromises in New York's version. So far this year, similar legislation covering a broad range of products beyond consumer electronics has been introduced in at least 29 states, as reported by PIRG. Brands that care: Apple, previously a vocal opponent of Right to Repair, gave its full support to California's Right to Repair Act. Apple has gradually embraced the concept, launching its own Self Service Repair program for iPhones and Macs starting in 2021. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, called Apple's support for Right to Repair a "watershed moment" for consumer rights, adding that the "Berlin Wall of tech repair monopolies is starting to crumble, brick by brick." | | | |
| 4 | | SpaceX's Starlink is launching a Direct to Cell satellite phone service next year. SpaceX's goal, as stated on its new website, is to eliminate signal dead spots in remote areas. More: - The service will be compatible with existing LTE phones and initially offer text messaging.
- SpaceX plans to add voice and data capabilities starting in 2025.
- Internet of Things (IoT) support is also expected to arrive in 2025.
- Last year, Elon Musk's space company announced its service plans in collaboration with U.S. partner T-Mobile.
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| 5 | | YouTube has now surpassed Netflix as the preferred video-watching platform among teenagers, according to Piper Sandler research. The bank's survey of 9,000 American teens revealed that 29.1% of their daily video consumption was on YouTube, surpassing Netflix's 28.7%. More: - According to the survey, Hulu secured the third spot with a 7% share.
- The poll also revealed that teens said they spent an average of 4.5 hours daily on social media, an increase from previous surveys.
- 38% of teens favored TikTok as their top social media platform, though Instagram led in reported monthly usage.
- The iPhone remains dominant, with 87% of teenagers owning one.
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| 6 | | The U.S. Space Force has temporarily banned the use of web-based generative AI tools and large language models, citing data security concerns. In a recent memo, Space Force members were told they couldn't use GenAI tools like ChatGPT on government systems without explicit approval. More: - The "strategic pause" is meant to safeguard personnel and Space Force data while the branch determines how to integrate generative AI.
- In the memo, Space Force CTO Lisa Costa expressed optimism about GenAI's transformation in the workforce but stressed concerns about cybersecurity, data handling, and responsible adoption.
- Costa planned to release updated guidance on the issue within a month.
Zoom out: - The move has already affected over 500 Space Force members who were using Ask Sage, an AI platform that works with different large language models.
- Nicolas Chaillan, the company's founder, said over 10,000 customers in the rest of the Defense Department, including 6,500 in the Air Force, are still using the software.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is an editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters, with a career spanning journalism since 2007. She has written for publications including The Arizona Republic and USA Today and authored a book on the solar industry in 2016. Reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Eduardo Garcia | |
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