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Technology 28 June 2021

The Week in Internet News: EU Launches Antitrust Investigation of Google

Grant Gross
By Grant GrossGuest AuthorTechnology Reporter

Competing for ads: The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation of Google’s advertising practices, with investigators looking into whether the company favored its own online advertising technology, CNBC reports. The probe will look into whether made it harder for other online advertising services to compete.

Blocking the ads: In a related story, Google has announced it will delay a plan to phase out third-party cookies in the Chrome browser until 2023, about a year later than originally planned, the Verge reports. The delay comes as regulators, including the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority, have raised questions about what technologies would replace third-party cookies for use in advertising.

Hacking the gamers: Some hackers are offering free PC games in forums, but the games have a crypto-mining malware package inserted, noted the BBC. Thousands of gamers in the Philippines, Brazil, India, Poland, and the U.S. have fallen victim, security researchers report. The Crackonosh malware disables Windows Updates and uninstalls all security software. It can slow the victim’s computer, wear out its components through overuse, and increase the victim’s electricity bill.

Addressing hate speech: Tech giants must do a better job of limiting hate speech in Africa, suggested a commentary piece from Ugandan lawyer Rose Namayanja at U.S. News & World Report. ” Everyone must be entitled to express their political views robustly and with liberty, but there is a wide berth between party politics on the one hand, and on the other a descent into conspiracy and hatred with real-world consequences,” she wrote. “Moreover, the unchecked spread of conspiracy has proven particularly dangerous during the pandemic.”

Connected churches: Broadband Breakfast has a story about the Black Churches 4 Broadband coalition, which is focused on informing the African-American community in the U.S. about broadband subsidies from the Federal Communications Commission. Black churches interaction with more Africa-American people than any other organization, noted Bishop Leah Daughtry, co-founder of the Black Church PAC.

Cheating the Internet: In recent weeks, the governments of Syria and Sudan have shut down the Internet while students were taking national exams, The Register reports. The governments say the shutdowns are an effort to prevent cheating. But Internet advocates noted that widespread shutdowns will have negative effects for a range of Internet users, including hospitals and government agencies.
Read more: Another Internet Blackout In Syria During Exams

Disclaimer: Viewpoints expressed in this post are those of the author and may or may not reflect official Internet Society positions.

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