 Technology |
Technology |
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The FTC's robocall crackdown |
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a settlement with XCast Labs over allegations the company facilitated hundreds of millions of illegal robocalls. |
As part of the settlement, XCast Labs — aVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider — agreed not to violate the Telemarking Sales Rule in the future, to implement a screening process and to end its relationship with firms that are not complying with telemarketing-related laws, according to the FTC. The order also includes a $10 million civil penalty that was suspended based on the company's "inability to pay." That penalty will "immediately become due" if the company is "found to have misrepresented its financial condition," according to the FTC. "XCast was warned several times that illegal robocallers were using its services and did nothing," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Companies that turn a blind eye to illegal robocalling should expect to hear from the FTC," Levine added. In a statement to Reuters, the company said the FTC announcement violated the spirit of the settlement "which was that XCAST LABS did not admit to any violations, but agreed to not do what it was already not doing to avoid a costly and protracted defense." The Hill reached out to XCast Labs for comment. Read more in a full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter, we're Rebecca Klar and Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. |
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How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: |
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The popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT had a diagnostic error rate of more than 80 percent in a new study looking at the use of artificial intelligence in pediatric case diagnosis. For the study published in JAMA Pediatrics this week, texts from 100 case challenges found in JAMA and the New England Journal of Medicine were entered into ChatGPT version 3.5. The chatbot was then given the prompt: “List … |
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| Starbucks fans who want to be a bit more environmentally friendly in 2024 can rejoice. The coffee giant has decided it will be the first national coffee chain to accommodate reusable cups for customers’ drive-thru and mobile orders. “Starting January 3, 2024, customers will be able to use their own clean, personal cup for every visit at all company-operated stores and participating licensed stores in the U.S. and … |
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Ford will be recalling more than 112,000 pickup trucks over roll away concerns, according to a Tuesday letter by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The letter, which is addressed to Ford's assistant director, Tom Single, acknowledges the auto giant’s upcoming recall of its staple pickup truck, the F-150, model years 2021-2023 “equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch … |
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News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: |
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Microsoft launches iOS, Android versions of Copilot |
Microsoft quietly launched iOS and Android versions of its artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat, over the holidays, Mashable reported. |
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X removes headlines again after brief return |
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, removed headlines from link previews once again, just hours after they reappeared on the site, TechCrunch reported. |
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Branch out with other reads on The Hill: |
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Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using 'incognito mode' |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google has agreed to settle a $5 billion privacy lawsuit alleging that it spied on people who used the "incognito" mode in its Chrome browser — along with similar "private" modes in other browsers — to track their internet use. The class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 said Google … |
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie said he would not issue a pardon for former President Trump if he were elected president in 2024 and if Trump … Read more |
| ESPN host and commentator Pat McAfee issued an apology Wednesday for allowing Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets quarterback, to make a claim about comedian … Read more |
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Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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