Phillip Washington, President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, has withdrawn his nomination due to Republican attacks on his service and experience. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation was scheduled to vote on Washington's nomination, but it was cancelled due to lack of support. The White House praised Washington's public service record and qualifications, and is expected to move quickly to find a suitable replacement.
Posts published in “Tech”
A federal judge has ruled in favor of four publishers in a lawsuit against the Internet Archive, a nonprofit organization that offers free access to millions of copyrighted works. The Archive was found to be producing derivative works without permission of the copyright holder, and the Association of American Publishers welcomed the decision as a victory for authors, publishers, and readers. The case is expected to have implications for other digital libraries and archives that offer free access to copyrighted works.
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel and pioneer in the semiconductor industry, has passed away at the age of 94. He is best known for his 1965 prediction, now known as “Moore’s Law”, which predicted a steady rise in computing power for decades. His prediction was proven true, and Intel’s processors are now found in most of the world’s personal computers. Moore’s legacy will live on in the form of his prediction, which will continue to benefit Intel and the semiconductor industry.
The FTC has proposed a rule change that would make it easier for consumers to cancel recurring subscriptions, requiring companies to simplify the cancellation process and providing consumers with annual reminders before automatically renewing them. This rule would affect millions of consumers in virtually every aspect of their lives, and the FTC is seeking public comment before the August 14th deadline.
Ford Motor Co. announced a $3 billion loss for its electric vehicle business, Ford Model e, this year. Despite this, the company is still expecting to hit its profit targets of between $9 billion and $11 billion. Ford is investing in new technologies to become a leader in the electric vehicle market and is confident that its investments will pay off in the long run.
North Carolina lawmaker and TikTok celebrity Jeff Jackson is set to testify at a hearing about the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices, its impact on children, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Despite security concerns, Jackson believes a ban is not inevitable and is expected to make promises to protect US user data, keep teens safe, and remain free from any government influence. FBI Director Christopher Wray has warned of the app's national security risks, and the hearing will be an important moment for the social media platform.
Relativity Space launched the world's first 3D-printed rocket, Terran 1, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday night. The mission was a success until a malfunction in the second stage prevented the rocket from reaching orbit. Despite the setback, the company is determined to investigate the issue and move forward with their plans for the future.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to face a grilling from US lawmakers this Thursday in his first sworn testimony before Congress, with the hearing focusing on data privacy and security. In preparation, Chew has been taking part in near-daily, multi-hour prep sessions with TikTok personnel and the app has organized a gathering of creators in D.C. to show their support. The hearing is expected to be a high-stakes event, with Chew’s performance likely to have a major impact on the future of the app in the US.