US Social Media Firms Step Up Help on Security Efforts, Intelligence Leaders Say

Leaders of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies said Tuesday the U.S. private sector has been helpful in efforts to keep the country safe.

While the leaders did not name companies, industry sectors or what specific help has been provided, they did discuss the challenges of monitoring social media.

The comments may reflect a shift in what law enforcement has seen as the technology industry’s adversarial approach when it comes to fighting crimes and addressing national security issues.

The most notable example of this tension was support by tech industry groups for Apple’s battle with law enforcement over breaking the encryption of an iPhone used by the man who killed 14 people in the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California.

‘Forward-leaning engagement’

At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, Dan Coats, director of National Intelligence, said the U.S. government has received more support from those in the private sector “who are beginning to recognize ever more the issues that are faced with the material that comes through their processes.”

Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, referred to the help from the private sector as a “more forward-leaning engagement.”

“So, it’s teamwork within the intelligence community and then partnership with the private sector, which is, I think, the other big change I’ve noticed — is a lot more forward-leaning engagement with the private sector in terms of trying to share information and raise awareness on their end,” said Wray, also speaking at the hearing.

“Because at the end of the day, we can’t fully police social media, so we have to work with them so that they can police themselves a little bit better as well,” Wray added.

Gates: Be careful of arrogance

Separately, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, said in an interview that tech firms need to be careful of being too arrogant when working in realms outside their businesses or they’ll face the kind of government intervention his firm experienced in its antitrust dispute.

“The tech companies have to be careful that they’re not trying to think their view is more important than the government’s view, or than the government being able to function in some key areas,” said Gates in an interview with Axios.

Gates cited Apple’s iPhone battle with the government, criticizing “their view that even a clear mass-murdering criminal’s communication should never be available to the government.”

“There’s no question of ability,” he said about unlocking the iPhone. “It’s the question of willingness.”

He also cited companies’ “enthusiasm about making financial transactions anonymous and invisible.”

Microsoft’s consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department came to an end in 2011, a result of the government’s settlement with the software giant in its antitrust case.

Remarks on Trump administration

On Tuesday, Gates and his wife, Melinda, issued their foundation’s annual letter.

In terms of the Trump administration, Gates wrote that while “we disagree with this administration more than the others we’ve met with, we believe it’s still important to work together whenever possible. We keep talking to them because if the U.S. cuts back on its investments abroad, people in other countries will die, and Americans will be worse off.”

Melinda Gates wrote that the president is a role model of “American values in the world.” She continued, “I wish our president would treat people, and especially women, with more respect when he speaks and tweets.”

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Romania: Court nixes law that could politicize state firms

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s constitutional court has ruled that a new law which could lead to major state companies coming under political control is unconstitutional.

The court ruled Tuesday that an amendment to a law that would eliminate corporate governance in big state concerns was not permissible.

Romania’s parliament, which is dominated by a leftist ruling coalition, in December approved legislation to exempt 100 state companies from corporate governance. The companies that lawmakers could have brought under political control included major electricity, nuclear, natural gas and transportation companies.

Investors and other critics said that would lead to political interference to the detriment of professional competence and good management.

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Romania: Court nixes law that could politicize state firms

Romania’s constitutional court has ruled that a new law which could lead to major state companies coming under political control is unconstitutional.

The court ruled Tuesday that an amendment to a law that would eliminate corporate governance in big state concerns was not permissible.

Romania’s parliament, which is dominated by a leftist ruling coalition, in December approved legislation to exempt 100 state companies from corporate governance. The companies that lawmakers could have brought under political control included major electricity, nuclear, natural gas and transportation companies.

Investors and other critics said that would lead to political interference to the detriment of professional competence and good management.

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Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action against Quantum Corporation and Certain Officers – QTM

Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action against Quantum Corporation and Certain Officers – QTM – World News Report – EIN News

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Airbnb Accuses Rival Firms of Failing to Deal With ‘Hotels by the Back Door’ in Row over 90-Day Letting Rules – Evening Standard

Excerpt from Evening Standard

A row has broken out between Airbnb and rival online letting agencies over rules that are supposed to stop hosts letting out their homes for more than 90 days a year.

The Californian company says that one year on from its introduction of an automatic block that kicks in once a host has notched up 90 days of lettings, no other online agency has followed suit.

Hosts are required by law to seek planning permission if they want to go beyond the 90-day limit. This is intended to prevent disturbances from unofficial and unregulated hotels. 

Airbnb, which has more than 75,000 London properties on its website, said it has commissioned research showing a spike in listings on other platforms after it announced its intention to introduce the cap.

According to the analysis by data company Transparent, Airbnb’s biggest rivals, Booking.com, Home-Away, TripAdvisor and Casamundo, have a combined 40,000 listings — none limited by an automatic 90-day cap.

James McClure, northern Europe general manager at Airbnb, said it was “the only platform that works with London to promote the rules and limit how often hosts can share their homes. We are proud to help Londoners share their homes responsibly and are disappointed others are failing to take similar steps to help make London stronger”.

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Romania: Court nixes law that could politicize state firms

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s constitutional court has ruled that a new law which could lead to major state companies coming under political control is unconstitutional.

The court ruled Tuesday that an amendment to a law that would eliminate corporate governance in big state concerns was not permissible.

Romania’s parliament, which is dominated by a leftist ruling coalition, in December approved legislation to exempt 100 state companies from corporate governance. The companies that lawmakers could have brought under political control included major electricity, nuclear, natural gas and transportation companies.

Investors and other critics said that would lead to political interference to the detriment of professional competence and good management.

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Court nixes law that could politicize state firms


Updated 8:38 am, Tuesday, February 13, 2018




BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s constitutional court has ruled that a new law which could lead to major state companies coming under political control is unconstitutional.

The court ruled Tuesday that an amendment to a law that would eliminate corporate governance in big state concerns was not permissible.

Romania’s parliament, which is dominated by a leftist ruling coalition, in December approved legislation to exempt 100 state companies from corporate governance. The companies that lawmakers could have brought under political control included major electricity, nuclear, natural gas and transportation companies.

Investors and other critics said that would lead to political interference to the detriment of professional competence and good management.

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Romania: Court nixes law that could politicize state firms

Bill and Melinda Gates, the world’s foremost philanthropists, are rethinking their work in America as they confront their unsatisfactory track record, the country’s growing inequity and a president they disagree with

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Bill and Melinda Gates, the world’s foremost philanthropists, are rethinking their work in America as they confront their unsatisfactory track record, the country’s growing inequity and a president they disagree with

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Romania: Court nixes law that could politicize state firms


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    Energy firms could get benefits details

    Details of people on state benefits could be handed to energy firms so they can give them special rates.

    The plan, under consideration by the government, is intended as a new approach to help people who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

    It would allow power companies to transfer customers to a special tariff set by the regulator, Ofgem.

    Energy Secretary Greg Clark said the proposal would help vulnerable consumers.

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    The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said data-sharing would take place under strictly controlled conditions and only with customers’ consent.

    Safeguard tariff

    BEIS said it would open consultation on the proposals on Monday, as it would require a change in the law to allow the necessary data-sharing.

    The tariff in question is known as the safeguard tariff cap and was introduced in April last year. It already covers five million people, mainly those on pre-payment meters.

    Under the plans, customers receiving specific state benefits would be identified and automatically moved to the safeguard tariff.

    Mr Clark said: “The effects of energy price rises are often felt most by those on the lowest incomes, as they are usually on the highest standard variable tariffs.

    “These people are at risk of being plunged further into fuel poverty if they are left at the mercy of a broken energy market.

    “Enabling energy suppliers to establish who should be on Ofgem’s safeguard tariff cap will help these vulnerable consumers.”

    Last week, Ofgem said the savings for people on the safeguard tariff would be reduced from April, but added that it was not designed to be the cheapest tariff on the market.

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