The FBI Calls Phone Encryption a ‘Major Public Safety Issue’
Last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray rekindled a dialogue to convince tech companies to give law enforcement backdoor access to encrypted smartphones. Privacy is a top concern among technology users. Many in the industry are opposed to this ability being handed over to agencies like the FBI. But Wray hints that a lack of access could […]
Tech Execs Lean Left, But Can’t Stand Regulations
Over the past several months, we have written a lot about the tech industry’s disdain for right wing politics in the era of Trump. Whether its the Muslim ban, the FCC’s rollback of net neutrality protections, the exit from the Paris Accord, or the moral equivocating about the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, tech leaders have not […]
Tech Leaders Recruited to Modernize Federal Agencies
With all the scrutiny he faces for his sketchy run-ins with the Russians, it’s easy to forget that Jared Kushner has an actual job that he’s supposed to be doing — several jobs, actually. Among other things, President Trump’s son-in-law and trusted adviser is head of the Office of American Innovation. MedTech app developers may […]
Tech Leaders Talk Big Changes at the Start of Tech Week
President Trump’s “tech week” kicked off Monday with an unusual scene: leaders of the tech community, usually ambivalent or downright outspoken on the president, saying nice things about his tech policies. This buttering-up unfolded in front of cameras, but the real work was accomplished in private sessions where tech leaders such as Apple CEO Tim […]
Drone Sales Soar Dramatically Since Last Year
Just a few short years ago, drones only seemed to come up in conversations about the ethics of modern warfare. That era must seem far away to internet of things app developers witnessing the current drone boom. At this point, drones are popping up everywhere and doing a little bit of everything. Amazon’s much-hyped PrimeAir […]
Senate Dismantles Obama-Era Internet Privacy Protections
For app developers concerned with privacy, yesterday was a dark day. Senate Republicans passed a bill eliminating privacy regulations imposed on broadband providers by the FCC during the final months of the Obama presidency. Those protections would have required ISPs to get consent from the consumer before selling off personal information to a third party. […]
SpaceX Pursues Elon Musk’s “Space Internet” Ambitions
The big dreams of Elon Musk fascinate app developers worldwide, who admire the scope of his ambitions — and his ability to pull off so many of them. Fresh off the successful landing of the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket last month, the company is now moving forward with another one of Musk’s […]
EU Cracks Down on Consumer Rights Violations on Social Media
In this era of “fake news,” hateful trolling, and increasing privacy concerns, the negative aspects of social networking have never been more clear. While social media app developers scramble to address these issues, governments around the world are becoming more involved with proposed laws and regulations designed to turn up the heat on the major […]
Mobile Banking Sector Experiencing Exponential Growth
The Federal Reserve Board recently released the results of its fourth annual study of consumers’ online banking behaviors, which revealed a strong continued trend of upward growth. Key findings include sustained increases in the number of smartphone users who have full access to online banking services, and in the number of people who do some […]