Policy – SiliconANGLE

Elon Musk to receive $1T Tesla pay package if ambitious targets are met

James Farrell — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 02:37:18 +0000

Tesla Inc. shareholders today approved a $1 trillion compensation plan for Chief Executive Elon Musk, which would considerably increase the wealth of the world’s richest person if he meets shareholders’ expectations. During Tesla’s annual general meeting today, when it was announced that 75% of investors had given the thumbs up to the future paycheck for […]

The post Elon Musk to receive $1T Tesla pay package if ambitious targets are met appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Google to make major changes to its app store to settle Epic Games lawsuit

James Farrell — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:26:31 +0000

“Fortnite” video game maker Epic Games Inc. has reached a “comprehensive settlement” with Google LLC that ends a five-year-old legal battle and will lead to reforms to Android and the Google Play Store. In 2020, Epic filed lawsuits against both Google and Apple Inc., claiming that the 15% to 30% commission fee to download apps […]

The post Google to make major changes to its app store to settle Epic Games lawsuit appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

China to ease rare earth element restrictions, greenlight TikTok deal following Trump-Xi meeting

Maria Deutscher — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:56:45 +0000

China will reportedly ease its restrictions on the export of certain rare earth elements following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit, which took place today in South Korea, also covered other areas. U.S. officials told reporters that Trump discussed TikTok and the sale of Nvidia Corp.’s graphics […]

The post China to ease rare earth element restrictions, greenlight TikTok deal following Trump-Xi meeting appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Australian regulator sues Microsoft over Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing notifications

Maria Deutscher — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:14:40 +0000

Australia’s competition watchdog has sued Microsoft Corp. over the way the company rolled out artificial intelligence features to its productivity suite. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, or ACCC, filed the complaint today. The lawsuit focuses on the Personal and Family editions of Microsoft 365. The two plans include the Office application bundle and certain […]

The post Australian regulator sues Microsoft over Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing notifications appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Trump calls off National Guard operation in San Francisco after speaking with mayor and tech CEOs

James Farrell — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:23:10 +0000

President Donald Trump today announced that he no longer plans to deploy federal troops to San Francisco after having spoken to the mayor and two major tech figures. “The Federal Government was preparing to ‘surge’ San Francisco, California, on Saturday, but friends of mine who live in the area called last night to ask me […]

The post Trump calls off National Guard operation in San Francisco after speaking with mayor and tech CEOs appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Open AI to crack down on deepfakes after backlash in Hollywood

James Farrell — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 01:56:49 +0000

OpenAI said today that it has released new policies around its artificial intelligence tool Sora 2, following concerns from Hollywood studios and actors’ unions that the talent is being generated without consent. OpenAI’s new generative video model lets users to create videos with a prompt. With little effort, famous figures, living or deceased, can do […]

The post Open AI to crack down on deepfakes after backlash in Hollywood appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Ron Conway exits Salesforce Foundation board over CEO Marc Benioff’s call to deploy National Guard to SF

James Farrell — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 01:27:23 +0000

Silicon Valley venture capitalist Ron Conway today resigned from the board of the Salesforce Foundation following comments made by Salesforce Inc. Chief Executive Marc Benioff urging President Trump to send the National Guard to San Francisco to police streets. A day earlier, Trump spoke at a press conference, calling the city “a mess” and expressing […]

The post Ron Conway exits Salesforce Foundation board over CEO Marc Benioff’s call to deploy National Guard to SF appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

California introduces new child safety law aimed at AI chatbots

Mike Wheatley — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:43:51 +0000

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a new bill that regulates artificial intelligence chatbots in an effort to protect children from harm, despite facing opposition from some technology industry and child protection groups. Senate Bill 243 mandates that chatbot operators such as OpenAI, Anthropic PBC and Meta Platforms Inc. implement safeguards to try […]

The post California introduces new child safety law aimed at AI chatbots appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

UK gives Google ‘strategic market status’ in search and search advertising

Maria Deutscher — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 19:44:54 +0000

The U.K.’s competition watchdog has given Google LLC a new regulatory designation that could expose it to additional antitrust scrutiny. The Competition and Markets Authority, or CMA, gave the company strategic market status in a notice published today. The designation applies to Google’s general search and search advertising businesses. Today’s decision traces back to an […]

The post UK gives Google ‘strategic market status’ in search and search advertising appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Apple comes under criticism for removing apps related to ICE arrests

James Farrell — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 02:18:50 +0000

Apple Inc. is currently taking flak for its decision to remove two apps from the App Store that tracked the activity of people being arrested by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Last week, ICEBlock became the first ICE-related app removed from the App Store after pressure from the Trump administration. The app was […]

The post Apple comes under criticism for removing apps related to ICE arrests appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Satya Nadella reshuffles Microsoft’s executive team so he has more time to focus on AI

Mike Wheatley — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:36:28 +0000

Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Satya Nadella is delegating some of his more mundane responsibilities to one of his top lieutenants so he has more time personally to focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. In a memo to employees today, Nadella (pictured) said he’s promoting Judson Althoff (pictured below), a 12-year veteran at the company, […]

The post Satya Nadella reshuffles Microsoft’s executive team so he has more time to focus on AI appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

TikTok will stay: Trump signs executive order to keep app in the US

James Farrell — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 03:08:34 +0000

President Donald Trump signed an executive order today, sealing the deal that will keep the app in the U.S. Though there will still be some regulatory hurdles to jump, it appears that Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Trump are both on board to separate the app from its Chinese owner, ByteDance Ltd. As reported earlier […]

The post TikTok will stay: Trump signs executive order to keep app in the US appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Microsoft blocks Israeli military’s access to some cloud services to prevent mass surveillance

Mike Wheatley — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 23:41:58 +0000

Microsoft Corp. said today it has stopped a unit in Israel’s Defense Ministry from accessing some of its cloud services following an investigation into claims that it was using the company’s Azure cloud platform to enable the mass surveillance of Palestinians. Microsoft President Brad Smith revealed the decision in a blog post, where he stated […]

The post Microsoft blocks Israeli military’s access to some cloud services to prevent mass surveillance appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Apple calls on EU lawmakers to repeal DMA tech regulation

Maria Deutscher — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 23:09:16 +0000

Apple Inc. has called on European Union lawmakers to scrap a piece of tech industry legislation known as the Digital Markets Act. “The DMA should be repealed while a more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument is put in place,” Apple stated in a filing submitted late Wednesday to the European Commission. The DMA is […]

The post Apple calls on EU lawmakers to repeal DMA tech regulation appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Trump to sign off on TikTok deal Thursday

James Farrell — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 01:57:31 +0000

The Trump administration says it has brokered a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S., which the president is expected to sign Thursday, a White House official said. As reported earlier this week, Oracle Corp. will serve as the app’s data and security provider, which, together with private-equity firm Silver Lake, will own a […]

The post Trump to sign off on TikTok deal Thursday appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Oracle to oversee TikTok algorithm in Trump-backed deal

James Farrell — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 02:50:12 +0000

After months of negotiations between the U.S. and China, a preliminary agreement apparently has been reached over the fate of TikTok, with Oracle Corp. set to oversee the app’s algorithm. The White House today explained that under the terms of a proposed deal, Oracle will audit the algorithm, while a newly formed joint venture — […]

The post Oracle to oversee TikTok algorithm in Trump-backed deal appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Trump administration imposes $100K annual fee on H-1B visas, sparking criticism and panic

Mike Wheatley — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 23:56:09 +0000

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday mandating a $100,000 application fee for “highly-skilled” foreign workers entering the country on HB-1 visas, causing panic and confusion as companies urged traveling employees to race back to the U.S. before the ruling goes into effect. The H-1B work visa is typically used by technology companies […]

The post Trump administration imposes $100K annual fee on H-1B visas, sparking criticism and panic appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

China says Nvidia breached antitrust rules with Mellanox acquisition, but TikTok deal looms

Maria Deutscher — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:32:24 +0000

China’s antitrust regulator today said that Nvidia Corp. has breached local competition laws. Officials reached that conclusion following a preliminary investigation into the chipmaker’s acquisition of Mellanox Technologies Ltd. According to The Register, the antitrust regulator has referred the matter to a “formal probe.” It’s believed the formal probe could lead to fines or restrictions […]

The post China says Nvidia breached antitrust rules with Mellanox acquisition, but TikTok deal looms appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Microsoft avoids EU fine by agreeing to unbundle Teams from Microsoft 365

Maria Deutscher — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:50:45 +0000

Microsoft Corp. will change its business practices in the productivity software market to address antitrust concerns raised by the European Union. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, announced the development today. Regulators could have potentially fined Microsoft over the business practices that it’s revising. The changes made by the company will enable it to […]

The post Microsoft avoids EU fine by agreeing to unbundle Teams from Microsoft 365 appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Meta whistleblowers claim company buried information on child safety

James Farrell — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 01:35:04 +0000

Meta Platforms Inc. reportedly suppressed internal research into safety concerns on its virtual reality platforms, including findings that a child under the age of 10 had been sexually propositioned in-app. “Meta knew that underage children were using its products, but figured, ‘Hey, kids drive engagement,’ and it was making them cash,” Jason Sattizahn, one of […]

The post Meta whistleblowers claim company buried information on child safety appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

EU fines Google $3.5B over advertising technology practices

Maria Deutscher — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 21:28:44 +0000

The European Union today fined Google €2.95 billion, or about $3.5 billion, over its practices in the advertising technology market. The penalty is connected to an antitrust probe that EU officials launched four years ago. The investigation focused on a set of cloud applications that Google provides for website operators and marketers. Website operators use […]

The post EU fines Google $3.5B over advertising technology practices appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Disney agrees to pay FTC $10 million over YouTube videos for children

James Farrell — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 01:19:25 +0000

The Federal Trade Commission announced today that the Walt Disney Co. has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations that the entertainment company had engaged in the “unlawful collection” of children’s personal data on the YouTube platform. Regulators at the FTC said the company failed to flag certain videos on its platform as “Made […]

The post Disney agrees to pay FTC $10 million over YouTube videos for children appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

In major antitrust ruling, Google gets to keep Chrome and Android but still faces lesser penalties

Mike Wheatley — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 23:45:54 +0000

A U.S. court has decided that Google LLC won’t be forced to sell off its Chrome browser or divest its Android operating system after being found guilty of operating an illegal online search monopoly in a landmark antitrust case last year. The ruling is seen as a significant win for Google, which avoided the most […]

The post In major antitrust ruling, Google gets to keep Chrome and Android but still faces lesser penalties appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

US limits TSMC’s ability to send chipmaking equipment to its fabs in China

Maria Deutscher — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 23:10:15 +0000

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has lost a license that allowed it to export American chipmaking equipment to its fabs in China. TSMC announced the development today. In 2022, the Biden administration rolled out regulations that limited exports of American chipmaking equipment to China. Making such shipments required companies to obtain a license under the so-called […]

The post US limits TSMC’s ability to send chipmaking equipment to its fabs in China appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

US makes it harder for chipmakers to run fabs in China amid new Alibaba processor reports

Maria Deutscher — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:46:05 +0000

The U.S. Commerce Department is making it more difficult for chipmakers to operate their fabs in China, Reuters reported today. The move affects Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and SK hynix Inc., the world’s two largest memory suppliers. The latter company makes much of the HBM memory in Nvidia Corp.’s graphics cards. Samsung, in turn, sells not […]

The post US makes it harder for chipmakers to run fabs in China amid new Alibaba processor reports appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Intel warns of potential business risks related to US government’s investment

Maria Deutscher — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:41:12 +0000

The U.S. government’s plan to take a stake in Intel Corp. could have “adverse consequences,” the chipmaker warned today. The company detailed the potential business risks in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, Intel won more than $7.8 billion in federal funding under the CHIPS Act. It also secured $3.2 […]

The post Intel warns of potential business risks related to US government’s investment appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

US spy chief says UK has dropped backdoor order for Apple

James Farrell — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 02:15:14 +0000

The U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said earlier today that the U.K.’s controversial order to mandate Apple Inc. to open a backdoor to user data has been dropped. Gabbard wrote on X that after working with U.K. authorities to “ensure Americans’ private data remains private” and “constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected,” […]

The post US spy chief says UK has dropped backdoor order for Apple appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

AI chatbot scrutiny intensifies: Texas AG launches probe of Meta and Character.AI over misleading mental health claims

James Farrell — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 02:41:39 +0000

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced plans to launch a probe into Meta Platforms Inc. and Character.AI over the companies’ chatbots being used by young people as mental health tools. Paxton (pictured) believes that the AI tools could be utilized by vulnerable children who may believe the bots represent professional care. In a press […]

The post AI chatbot scrutiny intensifies: Texas AG launches probe of Meta and Character.AI over misleading mental health claims appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

US government reportedly could take 10% stake in Intel

Maria Deutscher — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 21:33:10 +0000

The U.S. government may take a 10% stake in Intel Corp., multiple publications reported today. Word of the potential investment first emerged late last week. At the time, it wasn’t clear how big a stake the Trump administration may seek or under what terms. It was reported that Intel might use some of the proceeds […]

The post US government reportedly could take 10% stake in Intel appeared first on SiliconANGLE.

Intel shares jump on report that US government could buy stake

Maria Deutscher — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 23:03:26 +0000

The U.S. government is holding talks with Intel Corp. about buying a stake in the chipmaker, Bloomberg reported today. Shares of the company jumped more than 7% on the news. Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Intel Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan to resign over his investments in Chinese chip companies. On Monday, […]

The post Intel shares jump on report that US government could buy stake appeared first on SiliconANGLE.