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Judiciary committee senators introduced another antitrust bill, the second so far this year, and this time it focuses on concentrating market power in app stores. It’s heavily backed by app developers, but tech giants and industry groups say it could lead to security issues.
Meanwhile, members of the House Aviation Subcommittee questioned federal agencies about the difficult 5G rollout.
Let’s get to the news.
Senate proposes bill targeting Apple and Google
A bill to curb the market power of Apple’s and Google’s App Store advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday with the support of all panel members except the senator. John CornyJohn CornynCapito eyes Senate GOP leadership bid Graham signals he’s likely ‘no’ to Biden’s pick SCOTUS Balance/Sustainability – Biden pushes ahead, bans energy imports MORE (R-Texas).
Cyber concerns: Other Republicans on the committee, as well as two California Democrats, expressed concerns similar to Cornyn’s about potential cybersecurity issues, though they still voted to move the bill forward, known as a bill. ‘Open App Marks Act.
It is the second major antitrust bill the committee has advanced so far this year, following the affirmative vote on the American Choice and Online Innovation Act last month. Although the Open App Marks Act moved forward Thursday with even broader committee support, lingering concerns could pose hurdles for the bill if it goes to a full vote in the Senate.
Hold it: Supporters of the bill, which is co-sponsored by a group of bipartisan senators, say it would provide guardrails to tech giants they say act as gatekeepers and stifle competition through restrictive rules on app stores.
“It’s important that our legislative agenda keeps up with the times, and technology has so far outpaced legislation that tougher measures are now needed to rein in big tech. I’m not here to break up companies, but I’m here to put leaders and boards on notice. We’re not going to let you pressure them out of this,” the senator said. Marsha Blackburn
Marsha BlackburnGOP calls for postponement of vote on spending and aid to Ukraine (R-Tenn.) said.
The bill would prevent the owners of major app stores, such as Apple and Google, from requiring users of their devices to use only their app store, blocking the ability for developers to use app store systems. alternative payments and receive commissions of up to 30%. The developers criticized the practices and argued that they were anti-competitive.
Learn more here.
A MESSAGE FROM CISCO
How has privacy become essential for organizations around the world? Find out how organizations view privacy and privacy laws in Cisco 2022 Data Privacy Benchmark Study
Lawmakers blast agencies over 5G rollout
Legislators went after federal agencies Thursday on the tumultuous rollout of 5G technology earlier this year, accusing officials of creating a crisis by not communicating about aviation safety issues.
Members of the House Aviation Subcommittee questioned the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as airline and wireless executives about preparations for the 5G standoff, which has delayed rollout technology in January.
representing Pierre DeFazio
Peter Anthony DeFazioLawmakers Urge Biden to Ask Congress Before Sending Military to Ukraine Hillicon Valley – Featured by Cisco – App Store Market Electricity Bill Authorizes Committee (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, criticized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approving the sale of C-band spectrum to telecommunications last year without considering input from officials in the FAA who warned of potential disruptions as early as 2015.
“It’s a tendency to ignore the consequences beyond the consequences on the profitability of the telecom industry, that’s their sole focus,” DeFazio said of the FCC, whose chairman Jessica Rosenworcel
Jessica RosenworcelAlarm Industry Raises False Alarm on 3G Hillicon Valley – Featured by Cisco – App Store Market Power Bill Approved by Committee was invited to the hearing but did not attend, citing a scheduling conflict.
“Having a dropped call is far less serious than having an airline dropped out of the sky,” DeFazio added.
Committee members and airline officials said the situation remains unresolved and urged regulators to develop a permanent solution that allows 5G to be widely instituted without risking passenger safety.
Learn more here.
TESLA RECALLS 800,000 VEHICLES
You’re here will recall more than 800,000 vehicles due to a problem with the seat belt reminder feature.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed on Thursday security report that 817,143 Tesla vehicles should be recalled because the seat belt reminder may not activate when a new drive cycle begins, which could result in the driver driving the vehicle without a seat belt.
The recall includes 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3 and 2020-2022 Model Y. Tesla, however, is not aware of any injuries or deaths resulting from the issue as of January 31, according to NHTSA.
“If the seat belt reminder chime does not activate at the start of a new drive cycle and the driver does not notice the accompanying seat belt warning light, the driver may not receive reminder to fasten their seat belt and may begin driving the vehicle in an unfastened state, which could increase the risk of injury,” NHTSA wrote in its report.
Learn more here.
PARTS
A chewable editorial: The ‘metaverse’: A chance for Biden to reset internet safety
Lighter click: Back to pre-Wordle days
Notable Web Links:
People are sell their own NFTs themselves to drive up prices, report finds (NBC News/Kevin Collier)
Aptitude influencers use secret steroids, trainers say (Insider/Lindsay Dodgson and Rachel Hosie)
google Defeated a rival in Prague. Recovery could hurt. (The New York Times/Adam Satariano)
Facebook’s Login Dream the whole world is dead (The Washington Post / Will Oremus and Elizabeth Dwoskin)
A MESSAGE FROM CISCO
How has privacy become essential for organizations around the world? Find out how organizations view privacy and privacy laws in Cisco 2022 Data Privacy Benchmark Study
One last thing: break the bridge for Bezos
A historic steel bridge in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, will be partly demolished so that the founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos
Jeffrey (Jeff) Preston BezosThe Unexpected Way Investors Are Capitalizing On The JOBS Act (And How You Can Too) Don’t Wait For Billionaire Philanthropy To Fix America The Hill’s Morning Report – Russia Expands War; Biden speaks tonight MORE can sail his new megayacht on the Meuse, also known as the Meuse, France Media Agency reports.
The Koningshavenbrug, which locals call De Hef, was first built on the river in 1927 and played a historic role, particularly when it was damaged in the bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940.
The bridge had already been dismantled in 2017 for renovations. The Rotterdam council promised that year that the bridge would never be dismantled again, Dutch News reported, but Bezos’ new yacht appears to be an exception to that promise.
The new megayacht built for Bezos will be too tall to pass below deck when its three tall masts are at full height. The boat is built by the Oceano shipyard in Alblasserdam and is expected to be the largest sailing ship in the world at 127 meters in length.
Learn more here.
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