5.19.2015
Good to Know: President Obama now officially has his own Twitter account. Tweet him @POTUS. In case you were wondering if he gets to keep the handle after leaving office, check out this exchange! #Jokes
THE SKINNY.
Showing A United Front…
On Tuesday, May 19, a diverse and impressive group of tech companies, trade associations, policy experts, and civil liberties organizations wrote a letter to President Obama and asked that he “reject any proposal” that would prevent “widespread adoption of strong encryption technology.”
In Other Words…
In the name of protecting people’s privacy rights, these groups want the Administration to back away from policies that would give law enforcement increased access to encrypted phone data. FBI Director James Corney basically said that we all care about privacy rights and implied that the U.S. government’s lack of access to this information is a public safety concern.
What Next?
It’s unclear. But, in a post-Snowden world, Congress doesn’t seem to have an appetite for this issue. Some lawmakers and technologist agree that giving government access to phone data isn’t technologically feasible without building a separate “back door.” Advocates for strong encryption say that giving a pass to the U.S. government will only allow for exceptions of foreign governments, ultimately leaving the system vulnerable.
What Else Is Going On This Week?
The Struggle Is Real …
At least for the European Union (EU) when it comes to its digital upgrade. Earlier this month, the EU released its Digital Single Market proposal. The proposal is intended to set out a road map for reforms to unify EU Member States’ approach to policies such as copyright law that are critical in a digital economy. EU policymakers believe this will unleash a number of benefits such as increased competition, jobs, and growth. But policies are one thing, culture is another. According to WSJ, EU Member States like France are not necessarily embracing entrepreneurship and building a startup culture.
The Scene That Launched A Thousand Protests…
This week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals handed YouTube a major victory in a copyright infringement case brought against the online video platform by actress Cindy Lee Garcia. The story is that Garcia acted in a minor role for a film called “Desert Warrior,” which was never released. However, her scene was later used in an anti-Muslim video. In the scene, she’s depicted insulting the prophet Mohammed. The video’s release prompted protests, and Garcia said she started receiving death threats. Though the lower court sided with Garcia on her copyright infringement claims, the 9th Circuit’s special 11-judge panel didn’t buy it. One judge said, “…A weak copyright claim cannot justify censorship in the guise of authorship.” #FreeSpeechFTW
Going Local …
Uber is continuing its global expansion, but its focus on Africa (Kenya specifically) may present some hurdles. The San Francisco based company is facing competition from two Kenyan services – namely Easy Taxi and Maramoja. To outcompete Uber, these services are banking on their local knowledge of knowing how to vet drivers to knowing how Kenyans contact taxi drivers. But, Uber seems determined to make this market work. Already, the company is working with a private security firm for background checks and is developing a mobile payment system with cellphone companies. In other news, Uber’s valuation is up $15 billion in just a week. So, there’s that …
The Streets Are Talkin’
Fighting words! Jay Z is determined to make Tidal, his new music streaming service, a success. In the meantime, he’s not above calling out a few of his rivals. YouTube, Apple, Spotify – your move.