Respond to prefers-color-scheme dark in app web views

Follow section front redirects in Spectrum

Enable NLP source in PCS for load testing

Switch off the News Alerts Survey Widget when we have enough responses

Poll to determine if new LUF updates are available

Allows the winning A/B test variant to be turned on without Spectrum deployment

Show infinite scrolling sections in Assembler MultiView

Show option for NLP article summaries in Action Bar

Show NLP summaries collection recirc on article pages

A general feature flag for Recipe Features that aren't yet released

Feature flag for media team features that aren't yet released

Use new Orca video player for preroll plugin in Spectrum

Show the snow tracker (instead of the heat tracker) on Spectrum

Why everyone’s mad at Apple’s new iPad ad

A college professor wants to use Section 230 against Big Tech

Commerce Department revokes more export licenses to China’s Huawei

RFK Jr’s ‘history lesson’ on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine flunks the fact test

The Trump-Biden battle over the 2017 tax cut

That time football legend, rig-driving eligible bachelor Biden was arrested

Israel mulls options for Rafah after Biden threatens to withhold arms

Middle East conflict live updates: Israeli officials criticize Biden’s threat to halt weapons over Rafah

Protesters descend on Eurovision, object to Israel’s participation

Cruise worker accused of stabbing 3 with scissors arrested in Alaska

France tries to shed its rude reputation ahead of the Olympics

Don’t be a jerk at the airport: A guide for headphones

Dog hit by car loses leg, is adopted by firefighter who helped her

Postal worker finds WWII-era letters, drives 5 hours to deliver them

Strangers help Sesame Street puppeteer after heirloom necklace was stolen

In the campaign against Donald Trump, do the ends justify the means?

The next global crisis could come from the sun. We should prepare now.

The FTC’s noncompete clause rule goes too far

In Arizona, election workers trained with deepfakes to prepare for 2024

How Trump’s allies amplify his Truth Social messages to the wider world

Indy Star bars columnist from Caitlin Clark’s games after awkward exchange

What Trump promised oil CEOs as he asked them to steer $1 billion to his campaign

Judge keeps tying Trump to possible intimidation

Election 2024 latest news: Biden heading west on fundraising swing; Trump back in court

Nationals finally run out of answers and fall to Orioles in 12 innings

The 30 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

These Nationals are pretty fun. They would be more fun with James Wood.

In Photos: Russians mark 79th Victory Day with military parade

Think you want a dog? Take our quiz to find out if you’re ready.

White House: Gaza border crossings 'need to reopen'

Carolyn Hax: Was it wrong to approach late wife’s pal for no-commitment sex?

Miss Manners: My roommate and I have opposite sleep schedules

Ask Sahaj: My husband wants me to forget all about his emotional affair

Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears at court in New York

Big Tech news and how to take control of your data and devices

See more coverage in your recommendations

Technology

Tips delivered to your inbox twice weekly

The Tech Friend newsletter

Business and Tech alerts

Al Drago

For more than six months, the Federal Trade Commission has been investigating Twitter’s security practices, following an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2022/twitter-whistleblower-sec-spam/" target=_blank>explosive whistleblower complaint</a> accusing the company of violating a 2011 settlement that required it implement privacy safeguards.

That investigation expanded in the wake of Elon Musk’s takeover, as<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/10/twitter-security-resignations/" target=_blank> former employees warned</a> that broad staff departures of key employees could leave the company unable to comply with the agreements it made with the FTC to protect data privacy.

Now, the inquiry has earned the ire of House Republicans, who argue that the agency is using its privacy probe to thwart Musk’s absolutist vision of free speech on Twitter — a startling example, they say, of liberal overreach.

Republicans fanned these allegations at a combative Thursday hearing on Capitol Hill led by House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), releasing an 18-page report including excerpts of letters from the FTC to Twitter and accusing the FTC of “orchestrating an aggressive campaign to harass Twitter” and deluging the company with demands. The report asserts that the investigation is the result of “partisan pressure to target Twitter and silence Musk.”

The political salvo is a challenge to more than a decade of efforts at the FTC to improve privacy and security standards at Twitter, which entered under a consent order with the agency following a pair of 2009 security incidents. Republicans and Democrats have largely been united in their concerns about Twitter’s handling of data security and privacy, but Thursday’s hearing sets up the probe as political lightning rod.

Twitter whistleblower exposes limits of FTC’s power

The contentious, more than two-hour hearing was peppered with arguments between Jordan and Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett, the top Democrat on the House subcommittee on the weaponization of the federal government. The pair frequently interrupted each other as the hearing meandered from topics that included the intelligence community’s use of social media, covid misinformation and the rapper Ye’s inflammatory tweets.

Plaskett said in her opening statement that Republicans were promoting a false narrative and parroting Musk’s talking points. She said the FTC’s broad outreach to Twitter shows that the agency has “extraordinarily serious concerns” about the company’s handling of consumers’ data.

“There is something going on between Congressional Republicans and Elon Musk,” she said. “Mr. Chairman, Americans can see through this. Musk is helping you out politically, and you’re going out of your way to promote and protect him, and to praise him for his work.”

Plaskett’s criticism comes as the GOP embraces Elon Musk, celebrating his efforts to unwind years of work on content moderation at the social media company. At another<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/08/house-republicans-twitter-files-collusion/" target=_blank> Twitter hearing last month</a>, multiple Republicans praised God for Musk’s leadership of the company, as he bolsters conservative accusations that the company’s former leaders suppressed their political views. Shortly after taking over Twitter, Musk instructed his millions of followers to vote for Republicans in the midterm elections. He also recently met with Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.

Musk’s coziness with Republicans and leadership of the social network has been met with backlash from Democrats. Some Democratic lawmakers last year called the FTC to investigate whether Musk was in violation of the company’s FTC order.

Jordan responded by calling Plaskett’s statements “ridiculous.” Jordan and Plaskett argued over the access that House Republicans granted Democrats to the full copies of the FTC letters. Plaskett said that Jordan’s staff did not give her staff a chance to review them until 8 p.m. the night before the hearing.

The partisan attacks could be just the beginning of new challenges for the Democratic Federal Trade Commission chair, Lina Khan, whose ambitious agenda to regulate the tech industry is expected to face greater scrutiny and oversight now that Republicans control the House of Representatives.

FTC spokesman Douglas Farrar declined to comment on how the agency planned to navigate greater scrutiny from a Republican Congress. In <a href="https://twitter.com/DouglasLFarrar/status/1633530606045782018" target=_blank>a Twitter thread</a> Wednesday, he said FTC investigations “are straightforward and nonpolitical.”

“The consent order the FTC has with Twitter isn’t about Musk’s acquisition of the company or their content moderation policies,” he tweeted. “This isn’t about free speech, it’s about the FTC doing its job to protect Americans’ privacy.”

The attack against the FTC is the latest development in <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/08/house-republicans-twitter-files-collusion/" target=_blank>a broader GOP effort</a> to show that Democrats are improperly pressuring social media companies to advance their political aims. Jordan argued repeatedly that his political opponents ignored the First Amendment and protections for journalists, in service of a smear campaign against Musk.

Former FTC officials argue the Republicans’ report lacks substance or context about the agency’s work on Twitter, which has largely been bipartisan.

“This is just bullsh--,” said David Vladeck, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC when Twitter was first put under order.

House Republicans did not release full copies of the letters from the FTC to Twitter. The letters were not provided by the agency, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Russell Dye, a spokesman for Jordan, said they were provided by a “concerned party.”

The Republicans’ report highlighted an FTC demand that Twitter “identify all journalists and other members of the media to whom You have granted any type of access to the Company’s internal communications.” The agency sent the request after the release of the Twitter Files, internal company communications that have fueled accusations that Twitter’s former leaders suppressed conservative views. Two of the writers that the FTC demanded details about — Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger — appeared at Thursday’s hearing as witnesses.

Jordan zeroed in on these demands in during line of questioning, asking the writers if they found it “scary” that the federal government was asking about the company’s communications with them.

“It’s none of the government’s business which journalists a private company talks to and why,” Taibbi said in response.

Plaskett argued the Twitter Files writers cherry picked examples from a vast trove of internal company emails, noting that Taibbi published roughly 300 emails from a vast trove of close to 100,000.

The FTC cited reports that said the Twitter Files writers had “broad and expanding access to Twitter’s files” and “extensive unfiltered access to Twitter’s internal communication and systems,” according to a screenshot of the letter in the Republicans’ report. Musk instructed subordinates to give former New York Times columnist Bari Weiss “full access to everything at Twitter” without any limits, according to a Signal message viewed by The Post and reported in December. The request prompted concerns among Twitter staffers, who warned it might violate the FTC settlement.

During questioning, Taibbi confirmed he had unfiltered access to Twitter’s internal communications and systems, but clarified that the writers “did not have access to personal information of any kind.”

Twitter brings Elon Musk’s genius reputation crashing down to earth

Democrats at times blundered in their quest to illuminate whether the writers had agreed to improper conditions to access Twitter internal documents. When Rep. Sylvia Rodriguez Garcia (D-Texas) cited a post Taibbi had shared on the email newsletter platform Substack, she said she was confused about what Substack was and questioned whether it was a web page.

The hearing signals increasing divisions between Democrats and Republicans over the future of regulating social media. Democrats continue to warn about the proliferation of disinformation on social media, while Republicans are using their new power in Congress to criticize any government efforts to interact with major tech companies.

In contentious remarks, Plaskett accused the Twitter Files writers of endangering the safety of former Twitter employees, citing the wave of harassment and attacks directed at former employees online. She played a video of former Twitter Trust and Safety chief Yoel Roth’s recent Capitol Hill testimony, where he said he had to sell his home in the wake of threats and media reports that exposed his address.

“This is a new Republican playbook apparently, risk Americans’ safety and security to score political points,” she said.

Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report.

Northwestern University, BS in journalism

Cat Zakrzewski is a national technology policy reporter, tracking global efforts to regulate the tech industry. She focuses on AI policy and the battles over free speech online.

Cat Zakrzewski

washpost

House Republicans defend Elon Musk from FTC’s 'harassment campaign'

the-washington-post

Tesla CEO Elon Musk Testifies In SolarCity Trial

Bloomberg

Help Desk

Artificial Intelligence

Internet Culture

Space

Tech Policy

Tech

iptc-media/politics/election

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice

iptc-media/economy_business_and_finance/business_information

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/crime/computer_crime

iptc-media/arts_culture_entertainment_and_media/mass_media

iptc-media/society/values

iptc-media/economy_business_and_finance/economic_sector/computing_and_information_technology

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/law/civil_law

iptc-media/arts_culture_entertainment_and_media

iptc-media/economy_business_and_finance

iptc-media/arts_culture_entertainment_and_media/mass_media/online_media

iptc-media/politics/government

iptc-media/society

iptc-media/economy_business_and_finance/economic_sector/media

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/crime

iptc-media/economy_business_and_finance/economic_sector/computing_and_information_technology/computer_security

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/law

iptc-media/politics/political_process

iptc-media/politics

iptc-media/society/values/ethics

client-blocklists/Client List: Becton Dickinson KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CLIENT LIST: Nomura KWs 2021 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Tito's KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Johnson & Johnson KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Bed Bath & Beyond KWs - INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: USAA KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: T. Rowe Price KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/Siemens pt 3

client-blocklists/Google PG KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Discover Card KWs – EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/T. Rowe Price KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Microsoft KWs 2 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/P+ The Offer KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Ford/Lincoln KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/B2_Apple Content_legacyaux_wxg

client-blocklists/HBO KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Kyndryl KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/Amazon Custom 2.7.22 (BDM + EDM Content)

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs 2 - EXCLUDES ALL - 12.23.20

client-blocklists/Louis Vuitton KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/United Airlines KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Diageo - Johnnie Walker KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/ Client List: Mercedes EQS KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/FlexForm KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Apple Marcom KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Boeing KWs 2021- INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Morgan Stanley KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Organon KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Verizon KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Facebook KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/Gen Z & Social Media & Internet

client-blocklists/CLIENT LIST: GOLDMAN SACHS SEC KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/WaPo: Combined Disaster Keyword List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/P+ Halo KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Hulu KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Beto for Texas KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/LV Queen 2022 Neg KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T KWs 2022 - INCLUDES ANY - NEW

client-blocklists/Synchrony Financial KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/WaPo: Natural Disaster Keyword List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: PMI KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Ukraine-Russia (Apple News) KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/Blackrock - Finance and Investing Content

client-blocklists/Client List: Hermes KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: AstraZeneca KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Showtime KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/Hybrid Work

client-blocklists/Client List: ExxonMobil KWs - INCLUDES ANY Q4 2022

client-blocklists/Client List: Apple TV+ KW – INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Business_legacyaux_hws

client-blocklists/Client Neg KW List: Omega KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Ronald McDonald House KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Safeway KW List Commanders Q4 2022 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/PMI KWs 2021 - EXCLUDE ALL

client-blocklists/Marcus Goldman Sachs Neg KW List - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Companies_legacyaux_ieb

client-blocklists/GEICO KWs - INCLUDES ANY_4.26.21

client-blocklists/Client List: Morgan Stanley KWs - INCLUDES ANY Q4 2022

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs Q4 2022 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/UVA KW List Q4 2022 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Blockist: Capitol Building Mob

client-blocklists/Client List: Eli Lily KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Corporate Responsibility_legacyaux_FTM

advertising/B2_Data Center Buyer_legacyaux_80A

advertising/B2_Departments and Agencies_legacyaux_1nn

client-blocklists/Client List: Citibank KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Amazon KWs 2022 - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Entrepreneurship_legacyaux_sqb

client-blocklists/Citibank KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Purina KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/SAP KW List - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/Fortune 500 Content

advertising/Citrix Mindfulness

client-blocklists/Client List: Fidelity Investments KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: GM Energy KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/CME KW List 2022 - EXCLUDES ALL 

client-blocklists/Client List: Turbo Tax KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Government & Policy_legacyaux_mza

client-blocklists/Client List: EY KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Bank of America KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

prism://prism.query/site,/technology/tech-policy&limit=20

prism://prism.query/two-sites,/technology,/politics/powerpost/the-technology-202?limit=20