11.13.2019
Good to Know: We’re back after being out earlier this week to observe the holiday … Just in time for #WorldKindnessDay.
THE SKINNY
When It Might Have Been an Untruth … Remember when Google told us not to worry about its FitBit acquisition? Not to worry they said. Your health data is safe they said. We won’t use it they said. Turns out that definitely maybe could be true – legally speaking at least. That’s being called into question because Google’s working on a new project called Project Nightingale. The Wall Street Journal’s got the details.
When You Want to Know More … Project Nightingale is the name of Google’s on the low partnership with U.S. second- largest health system called Ascension. Under the U.S. federal health law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), it’s all on the up and up.
When You Want to Know How, Though? Under HIPPA, as long as Google is partners or is a business association with the health care entity, then sharing health care data without people’s permission is totally legit with some limitations. It’s being reported that Google will be “designing a health platform for Ascension that can suggest individualized treatment plans, tests, and procedures.”
When You Still Think Its Fine … Google Cloud’s president of industry products Tariq Shaukat says it’s fine. Why? He says consumer data won’t mix with the company’s health data. Also, it’s not tryna go beyond the scope of its partnership with Ascension.
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
When You’re Thinking of Privacy … Microsoft’s Chief Privacy Officer Julie Brill announced earlier this week that the company’s ready to play ball with California when it comes to privacy. Some liken the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). CCPA calls for increased transparency about how company’s collect data, use it, and provide folks with options to avoid their personal info being sold. Microsoft says it’s gonna extend it beyond the state of California.
When You’re Ready to Fight … The United Kingdom’s general election is coming up next month. UK voters will pick 650 reps for the House of Commons. And, tech companies are ready to put up a fight against misinformation campaigns. This will be the first election since Twitter banned political ads on its platform.
THE STREETS ARE TALKIN’
Disney+ went live this week. Zoom, zoom, zoom (if you know, you know)! It had a rough launch on account of technical issues. But, here’s how we’re feeling about all the streaming services available or coming soon.
SpaceX wants to make sure the entire world has access to high-speed internet. It launched 60 more mini-satellites to help with that goal. SpaceX is starting with northern US and Canada next year.
Twitter’s @jack took a trip with his team to Lagos Nigeria to check out to local talent. They hired Nigerian dev @dara_tobi (creator of the quoted replies bot) … on the spot.
Instagram testing out removing likes this week. Reality star Kim K is here for it. She says it’d be “good for mental health.”
Amazon is opening grocery stores in 2020. Not to be confused with Whole Foods.