More evidence that Apple and Google are dictating terms to governments; then, it is possible that Facebook’s approach to discovering outbreaks has the most promise.
Capability and Policy Revisited; Isolation and Surveillance; Netflix’s Earnings
Once tech companies have the capability to do what government’s tell them to, they are increasingly willing to comply; that is not a good sign for increased surveillance. Then, Netflix is cautious about its huge earnings.
Facebook Invests in Jio Platforms, The Building of Jio, Understanding the Deal
Jio showed how the best way to serve the poor is to create a market for them, not simply give them charity like Facebook tried to do with Free Basics. That is why it makes sense for them to work together.
An Interview with Ethan Sherwood Strauss About Writing Online, Social Media and the NBA, and The Victory Machine
An interview with Ethan Sherwood Strauss about being a writer on the Internet, the problem with social media and the NBA, and his new book The Victory Machine
An Interview with Zeynep Tufekci About Masks, Media, and Information Ecology
Zoom made the exact sort of post they needed to; then, an interview with Zeynep Tufekci about masks, media, and information ecology, and what it means if the techlash is over.
Unmasking Twitter
Twitter has a new policy to listen to experts about what content to limit; what happens, though, when experts are wrong?
Compaq and Coronavirus
Compaq’s descent from a company of action to a brand is a frightening parable for the the West’s focus on talk over action.
Tech Companies Versus Misinformation, Tech Tracking, Capability Versus Policy
Tech companies unite to fight misinformation, and potentially are working on tracking COVID-19. What tradeoffs might that entail, and is it worth building capability and trusting in policy?
Defining Information
In a follow-up to Zero Trust Information, exploring the four types of information and how their value changes with time.
America Wakes Up?, An Interview with Matt Mullenweg About Working From Home
Yesterday may have been a turning point in the American response to COVID-19. Then, an interview with Matt Mullenweg of Automattic about working from home and what is next for his company.