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The most interesting latest news on the topic: Twitter |
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Twitter is fighting to shield a Wall Street Occupier from demands for his network data, as the company campaigns to protect user privacy despite increasing government opposition.
The social media company seeks to overturn a subpoena demanding account records for Malcolm Harris, a Twitter user arrested during last fall's Occupy protests. Police nabbed Harris for allegedly blocking the Brooklyn Bridge, though he maintains they first directed him to occupy the roadway. District Attorney prosecutors, however, say the defendant's Twitter records will prove he was "well aware of the police instructions and acted with the intent of obstructing traffic on the bridge." Furthermore, the prosecution maintains Harris has no right to challenge its subpoena, leaving Twitter as his only champion in the legal field. "If the Order stands, Twitter will be put in the untenable position of either providing user communications and account information in response to all subpoenas or attempting to vindicate its users' rights by moving to quash these subpoenas itself," the company explained, hinting at future difficulties. Twitter also argues the subpoena violates its Terms of Service in requesting user records across state lines without a warrant. This isn't the first time Twitter has been ensnared in legal matters on users' behalf and likely won't be the last. But although the company continues to advocate for account privacy, it faces increasing government opposition to its efforts. The San Francisco-based social media company tried its best to shield the account information of key WikiLeaks suspects, moving to suspend subpoenas against them, but ultimately failed in its attempt. U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady in January ordered Twitter to hand over records, saying, "Petitioners knew or should have known that their IP information was subject to examination by Twitter." The Department of Homeland Security appears to agree with Judge O'Grady, as it continues to monitor Twitter for signs of illegal activities. The DHS "Social Networking/Media Capability" program worries civil liberties organizations, who say it may help the government target political dissidents. Amid such increasing scrutiny and under pressure from Boston police, the company recently disclosed the user information of a suspected hacker, prompting backlash from the ACLU. Twitter is also preparing to censor tweets that foreign governments may find offensive, as in Germany and France where pro-Nazi content is prohibited. The company argues it would rather eliminate a handful of comments than find itself banned altogether in such countries. The young social media company has a difficult road ahead as it seeks to protect user privacy while complying with law enforcement demands. Still, Twitter insists that while it must sometimes bow to government pressure, its mission remains unchanged. "Yesterday we filed a motion in NYC to defend a user's voice," Twitter's legal counsel, Benjamin Lee, said in a Tweet on Tuesday. He added: "#corevalues," suggesting however the specific case is settled, the core issues will remain open for debate. |
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The trial of Anders Behring Breivik, accused of killing 77 people in Norway, is raising questions about the increasing use of Twitter in courtrooms. |
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Twitter, the small start-up that could, celebrated its sixth birthday today, pondering the next move for social networking domination. With more than 500 million users, Twitter is the largest personal-to-open communication platform on the web. The site, started in 2006, grew from a quiet start-up to a phenomenon, making hashtags a part everyday life and becoming the prime venue for celebrities to communicate with the world. Twitter began slowly, drawing 1.3 million in its first year. Major news events like the Mumbai hotel siege in 2008, Hudson River plane landing in 2009, and news of Osama Bin Laden's death in 2011 all contributed to Twitter's reputation as the place to go for breaking news, giving citizens the opportunity to post photos and reports before media journalists arrived on scene. In 2009, Twitter gained 100 million users and passed the "billionth Tweet" mark, and the site is still a hot spot where users flock to discuss major "water cooler" events like the Super Bowl and the Oscars. The 2012 presidential election is also likely to draw millions more users to the site. News traveling at lightning speeds can also cause problems, however. False rumors of celebrity deaths frustrate fans and negatively impact the site's credibility, but there seems to be no stopping the rumors once they start to spread. Tweets are also making their way to the courtroom as evidence, fueling the online privacy debate. The prosecution in the Rutgers bullying case used defendant Dharun Ravi's tweets and other digital posts to form a portrait of his intent and mindset when secretly spying on his roommate Tyler Clementi, and the jury found him guilty on all charges. Twitter's continued growth naturally leads to speculation about whether it will follow Facebook by offering an IPO. Twitter's $45 million ad revenue in 2010 lagged behind Facebook's $1 billion, but according to eMarketer, Twitter's advertising profits will likely triple by 2014. And while Facebook's $100 billion estimated value trounces Twitter's projected $8.4 billion, its numbers are skyrocketing. Twitter is steadily expanding into more languages and gaining users on a daily basis, showing no signs of slowing down. The smaller site might be learning from some of Facebook's missteps, quietly taking note of the social network's struggles with its privacy policy and users' negative reaction to the new formats like Timeline. Twitter's interface has largely stayed the same, which users seem to like, and while the site might do well to imitate Facebook's wider integration of apps and games, Twitter is proving that slow and steady will likely keep it in the race for a long time to come. And so, we wish the folks at Twitter lots of #birthdaycake and #manyhappyretweets as they celebrate the site's landmark sixth birthday. |
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Twitter, the small start-up that could, celebrated its sixth birthday today, pondering the next move for social networking domination. With more than 500 million users, Twitter is the largest personal-to-open communication platform on the web. The site, started in 2006, grew from a quiet start-up to a phenomenon, making hashtags a part everyday life and becoming the prime venue for celebrities to communicate with the world. Twitter began slowly, drawing 1.3 million in its first year. Major news events like the Mumbai hotel siege in 2008, Hudson River plane landing in 2009, and news of Osama Bin Laden's death in 2011 all contributed to Twitter's reputation as the place to go for breaking news, giving citizens the opportunity to post photos and reports before media journalists arrived on scene. In 2009, Twitter gained 100 million users and passed the "billionth Tweet" mark, and the site is still a hot spot where users flock to discuss major "water cooler" events like the Super Bowl and the Oscars. The 2012 presidential election is also likely to draw millions more users to the site. News traveling at lightning speeds can also cause problems, however. False rumors of celebrity deaths frustrate fans and negatively impact the site's credibility, but there seems to be no stopping the rumors once they start to spread. Tweets are also making their way to the courtroom as evidence, fueling the online privacy debate. The prosecution in the Rutgers bullying case used defendant Dharun Ravi's tweets and other digital posts to form a portrait of his intent and mindset when secretly spying on his roommate Tyler Clementi, and the jury found him guilty on all charges. Twitter's continued growth naturally leads to speculation about whether it will follow Facebook by offering an IPO. Twitter's $45 million ad revenue in 2010 lagged behind Facebook's $1 billion, but according to eMarketer, Twitter's advertising profits will likely triple by 2014. And while Facebook's $100 billion estimated value trounces Twitter's projected $8.4 billion, its numbers are skyrocketing. Twitter is steadily expanding into more languages and gaining users on a daily basis, showing no signs of slowing down. The smaller site might be learning from some of Facebook's missteps, quietly taking note of the social network's struggles with its privacy policy and users' negative reaction to the new formats like Timeline. Twitter's interface has largely stayed the same, which users seem to like, and while the site might do well to imitate Facebook's wider integration of apps and games, Twitter is proving that slow and steady will likely keep it in the race for a long time to come. And so, we wish the folks at Twitter lots of #birthdaycake and #manyhappyretweets as they celebrate the site's landmark sixth birthday. |
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Job seekers are routinely asked to give up their Facebook passwords to potential employers, as the fight for online privacy escalates in the workplace. Even employers asking candidates to volunteer the information puts job hunters in the uncomfortable place of sacrificing either a much-needed job or their privacy, reports the Associated Press. "If you need to put food on the table for your three kids, you can't afford to stand up for your belief," one job applicant said. Some employers, such as police departments or other public agencies, routinely ask to check social media profiles of prospective applicants. Some companies are taking it one step further and bypassing permission to unearth sensitive Facebook information by using third-party applications meant to dig up social media history. Social media use is exploding, and employers and colleges see this tactic as a useful vetting method. The coerced access actually violates Facebook's terms of service, which is then considered a federal crime by the Department of Justice. The DoJ, however, does not plan to prosecute offenders, leaving job seekers vulnerable to employer abuses. Lawmakers in Maryland and Illinois are introducing bills to prohibit this kind of activity, while other government departments, like the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, use these hiring practices. This issue underscores the shifting online privacy landscape, with users struggling to keep their social media networks private and institutions itching to get access to as much information as possible. Law enforcement officials are tapping social networks to uncover damning evidence about suspects, point to the sites' abilities to reveal wrongdoing. Social networks generally comply with law enforcement requests for information, but this scenario is considerably different, as potential employers have no probable cause or legal jurisdiction to scour their candidates' personal information. Candidates are not legally obligated to give out password information, as Facebook's terms of service make it clear that these requests are out-of-bounds. Most candidates are aware of this, but give in to demands for fear of losing an employment opportunity. This problem especially irks younger generations of Facebook users, as schools are also increasingly insisting on access to private profiles. One 12-year-old girl, assisted by the ACLU, is suing her school for demanding access to her Facebook profile. Potential employers asking job seekers for their social networking passwords are technically breaking U.S. law. However, until prosecution or more legislation occurs, this trend is likely to continue, unless potential employees refuse to comply, which is doubtful in this economic climate. |
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Job seekers are routinely asked to give up their Facebook passwords to potential employers, as the fight for online privacy escalates in the workplace. Even employers asking candidates to volunteer the information puts job hunters in the uncomfortable place of sacrificing either a much-needed job or their privacy, reports the Associated Press. "If you need to put food on the table for your three kids, you can't afford to stand up for your belief," one job applicant said. Some employers, such as police departments or other public agencies, routinely ask to check social media profiles of prospective applicants. Some companies are taking it one step further and bypassing permission to unearth sensitive Facebook information by using third-party applications meant to dig up social media history. Social media use is exploding, and employers and colleges see this tactic as a useful vetting method. The coerced access actually violates Facebook's terms of service, which is then considered a federal crime by the Department of Justice. The DoJ, however, does not plan to prosecute offenders, leaving job seekers vulnerable to employer abuses. Lawmakers in Maryland and Illinois are introducing bills to prohibit this kind of activity, while other government departments, like the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, use these hiring practices. This issue underscores the shifting online privacy landscape, with users struggling to keep their social media networks private and institutions itching to get access to as much information as possible. Law enforcement officials are tapping social networks to uncover damning evidence about suspects, point to the sites' abilities to reveal wrongdoing. Social networks generally comply with law enforcement requests for information, but this scenario is considerably different, as potential employers have no probable cause or legal jurisdiction to scour their candidates' personal information. Candidates are not legally obligated to give out password information, as Facebook's terms of service make it clear that these requests are out-of-bounds. Most candidates are aware of this, but give in to demands for fear of losing an employment opportunity. This problem especially irks younger generations of Facebook users, as schools are also increasingly insisting on access to private profiles. One 12-year-old girl, assisted by the ACLU, is suing her school for demanding access to her Facebook profile. Potential employers asking job seekers for their social networking passwords are technically breaking U.S. law. However, until prosecution or more legislation occurs, this trend is likely to continue, unless potential employees refuse to comply, which is doubtful in this economic climate. |
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Jurors in the infamous Rutgers bullying trial relied heavily on digital evidence to convict the defendant, highlighting the permanence and public nature of digital communications. Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi was found guilty of all charges, including invasion of privacy and bias intimidation, for filming his roommate, Tyler Clementi, having intimate relations with another man. Ravi then posted about it on Twitter and invited others to spy on the unsuspecting couple. Clementi committed suicide two days later, in part as a result of Ravi's actions. The case marks the first time Twitter, Facebook, text messaging, e-mails, surveillance cameras, and swiped University I.D. cards combined to play such a major part in a conviction, and could set precedent for other upcoming cases in an increasingly digital age. The public nature of social networking sites is increasingly making headlines. Recently, job applicants, high school students, and college sports players were asked to hand over their Facebook and Twitter passwords for review, fueling the debate over whether any information posted online is truly private. "There's a perception, and I think it's a misperception, that posting a tweet is just like talking," says Professor Greg Lastowka of the Rutgers School of Law. "I don't think the younger generation realizes that they are creating a permanent data trail." The confusion extends beyond youth, however. In Connecticut, a woman's Facebook posts were used as evidence against her in a child custody case, further evidence that electronic evidence is a growing trend. Digital records are unique, providing time-stamped records of users' whereabouts and permanent records of their opinions. The nearly indisputable evidence those records provide allow lawyers to present an effectual history of their client's mindset, something difficult to prove, which played a major factor in Ravi's conviction. Ravi was not prosecuted directly for Clementi's death, but was also found guilty of lying to investigators, trying to influence a witness and tampering with evidence, and could face penalties of up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on May 21. Ravi, originally from India, surrendered his passport and could be deported. Ravi's tweeting created an incriminating trail of evidence for prosecutors. One tweet stated he saw Clementi "making out with a dude," and ended with the word "Yay." Another tweet let his followers know a dorm neighbor was coming over so they could use video chat and webcam to watch Clementi. Other messages indicated an alleged cover-up attempt by Ravi, helping to create a case for the state prosecutors. Courts and lawmakers will continue to struggle with what is admissible, but as the growing number of cases using digital evidence show, anything posted online is increasingly fair game in a court of law. Eric Nemecek, co-chairman of the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Cybercrime Committee, said, "It demonstrates that there are consequences for somebody's use of technology. This should be a cautionary tale for a lot of people. You often don't think what you're doing could lead to criminal prosecution." |
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AT&T is expanding its LTE service, and Tim Cook sold off more of his stock in Apple. Meanwhile, Verizon had some sporadic outages, Apple denies Proview's claims on its iPad name and Twitter snapped up Posterous, a blogging platform. AT&T Expands LTE to Prepare for New IPadAT&T is expanding 4G LTE service to 12 new markets just in time for the March 16 new iPad launch. LTE service will expand to Staten Island, NY: Naples, Fla.,; St. Louis; New Orleans; Bryan/College Station, Texas; Baton Rouge, La.; Cleveland, Akron and Canton in Ohio and Bloomington, Lafayette and Muncie in Indiana. The 12 added areas join the 28 markets where AT&T 4G LTE has already arrived. However, AT&T still lags behind Verizon's head start on the next-generation wireless service.
Apple: Don't Listen to Proview's ClaimsApple says Proview Electronics' claim to own the mainland iPad trademark in China is misleading and unfair. Proview insisted on the terms of the 2009 purchase of the iPad brand name, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said, with the understanding that the Chinese-registered trademarks were included in the worldwide rights to use the name. Financially ailing Proview and Apple are sparring in courts in China and the U.S. over the issue, while the Chinese maker of computer screens and LED lights is seeking to have iPad sales and exports blocked.
Twitter Snaps Up PosterousTwitter has purchased Posterous, a blogging platform known for its digital media-sharing abilities. Twitter said Posterus' staff "has built an innovative product that makes sharing across the Web and mobile devices simple -- a goal we share." Posterous was founded in 2008, and is one of the better-known companies emerging from the tech incubator Y Combinator. The deal's value wasn't announced, but Posterous' capabilities could boost Twitter users' ability to tweet and share content in a variety of platforms.
Tim Cook Earns $11.1 Million Selling StockApple CEO Tim Cook sold off most of his shares in the company Monday, clearing $11.1 million after taxes, according to a form filed with the Securities and Exhanges Commission. After exercising options on about 37,000 shares of stock, Cook sold 20,178 shares at an average price of just under $550, netting the $11.1 million payday. The rest of the stock went for $545.17, slightly lower, across two days. After Cook became CEO following the death of Steve Jobs, the company's stock has continue to climb, making Apple the most-valuable publicly-traded company in the world. The value will likely keep growing because of massive demand for the iPad and iPhone and climbing demand for Mac products. Cook still has 13,817 shares in Apple and will get another 500,000 units on his fifth anniversary as CEO, which rolls around in 2016, an incentive for the executive to stay with the company.
Verizon's LTE Service Marks OutagesVerizon experienced some sporadic outages in its LTE network today, adding to the reports of serious interruptions throughout December and another one on February 22. The outages weren't being reported nationwide and Verizon said it was aware of the issue and was diagnosing the problem. However, the outages could deal a blow to the nation's number-one carrier as the weekend -- and the new iPad -- approach. |
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Twitter released user data to the Boston Police Department during a criminal investigation, fueling the online privacy rights debate. Boston authorities requested one user's information after a series of cyber attacks on the Boston Police force and a police union, sources say. Rumors linked the attempted hacks to a member of the Occupy Boston movement, but have not been confirmed. Twitter's legal help sparked outrage among critics like the American Civil Liberties Union, who say profiles on social networking sites are a user's private domain, and governments shouldn't have access to them. But regulatory agencies and law enforcement argue personal information could help save lives, locating victims and dangerous suspects when a crime occurs and improving public safety. The ACLU fought the police department's request on the grounds of free speech violation, but lost in Superior Court last week. The organization's lead attorney, Peter Krupp, said the ACLU believes its client "has a constitutional right to speak, and to speak anonymously," and that accessing his personal information "infringed our client's rights under the First Amendment." Across the nation, debates are raging over the state of privacy, both in social media and online. A Connecticut court admitted a woman's Facebook profile as legal evidence against her in a divorce case. A case about law enforcement's right to track suspects using GPS recently reached the Supreme Court, and major corporations like Amazon and Google face increasing scrutiny over how they collect, analyze, and store user data gathered via their services. The government cites concerns over cyber-hacking as another reason to maintain the right to infiltrate private, stored information, naming cyber-terrorism as a growing danger. But moves to increase government access and track data generally make users feel violated, like "Big Brother" is watching their every move. The Boston District Attorney's Office attempted to quell mounting public concerns, saying his office "requested and received only that information. This is a focused investigation, not a fishing expedition," and reminded the public the inquiry's focus was to examine "a specific criminal act," and not to launch a political investigation. But Twitter's cooperation in this case could serve as a precedent in other cases, which has free speech advocates worried about the privacy of users' online information, and how it could be used against them. As more personal information moves into cyber-space via wireless technology, how best to protect that information becomes an increasingly important question, and the debate over who can gain access to vast amounts of data is likely to rage on. |
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Kenyan villagers are using Twitter to prevent crime, as more Africans leverage mobile services to foster peace, handle life issues and access medical advice. The crime rate is down in the village of Lanet Umoja, thanks to administrative chief Francis Kariuki's tweets about robberies, missing children and stolen farm animals. Chief Kariuki has 300 official Twitter followers, plus thousands of local residents without smartphones who access his tweets via third-party mobile apps. Most tweets deal with petty theft, broadcasting news like, "There is a brown and white sheep which has gone missing with a nylon rope around its neck and it belongs to Mwangi's father." Others, however, have prevented serious injury. At 4 a.m. one day, Kariuki received a call that thugs were breaking into a schoolteacher's home. He immediately raised the alarm via Twitter, prompting village residents to gather outside the house and drive off the robbers. "My wife and I were terrified," said teacher Michael Kimotho. "But the alarm raised by the chief helped." The chief's Twitter campaign may soon widen to promote countrywide peace during upcoming elections in Kenya, where one thousand people died in postelection violence four years ago. As mobile phone use continues to rise in Africa, more people are using their handsets to tackle daily concerns from starvation to banking and medical care. In a continent with undeveloped infrastructure, people often access basic services through mobile devices, bringing everyday conveniences to even the most economically challenged regions. In October, Somalis received donations from humanitarian aid organizations via a mobile money transfer system. This system bypassed the region's al Shabaab insurgent rulers, who control much of the countryside and have banned outside food assistance. Mobile finance is thriving across Africa, helping countries like Ghana boost their economies through the MTN banking system. MTN lets mobile phone owners conduct banking transactions for $0.65 per month, freeing Ghanaians from often unmanageable checking account fees. And health care is improving in Kenya, where medical researchers texted local health care workers for six months about how to detect and treat malaria symptoms. As mobile adoption continues to grow in Africa, the continent stands to benefit from programs like these that promote health, commerce and ward off crime and starvation. |
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