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A recent Senate vote may bring relief to billions. The TRACED Act, designed to attack the Robocaller culture , has moved a step closer to being approved. Having already obtained approvals in the senate, its next and final destination is the President’s review. Formally known as the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence act, named after the robocall prevention efforts of Democratic and Republican senators Frank Pallone and John Thune, TRACED is truly a bipartisan effort . Given today’s volatile political climate, it represents a step forward for bilateral collaboration. The TRACED Act shifts the responsibility of handling nuisance calls from recipients to carriers. It requires carriers to find effective ways of blocking robocalls , and it prevents them from offloading call-block charges onto customers. It also increases the scope of authority that the FCC has over carriers, and levies steeper fines on those who violate established communication...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. One of the main goals of the Trump administration has been to remove Washington’s “elites” from office. Now that billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency agency have instituted mass layoffs, some supporters have buyer’s remorse. With midterm elections coming up, it’s possible that DOGE cuts could hurt the GOP and Trump administration as long as they continue. In town halls across the country, from Georgia to Idaho to Missouri, Republican lawmakers are facing backlash from their constituents for aligning with Musk’s influence in government and continuing to spew Donald Trump’s lies. They’ve assured constituents that rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, along with implementing mass deportations, are effective policies that serve the American people. But it’s clear from the round of boos seen in videos on social media that their voters aren’t buying it....
Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, is at the center of one of the most debated tech platforms in the world. Born and raised in Singapore, Chew’s career spans finance and tech leadership, bringing a mix of expertise and experience to the table as TikTok faces significant global challenges. From Singapore to Global Business According to Business Insider, Chew earned a degree in economics from University College London and later completed his MBA at Harvard Business School — he also interned at Facebook his first year at Harvard. He began his career at Goldman Sachs in investment banking before transitioning to DST Global, where he worked on major investments, including one in ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Chew later served as chief financial officer of Xiaomi, a Chinese electronics company known for its affordable smartphone devices. During his tenure, Xiaomi expanded its global footprint and went public in 2018. His experience in managing high-growth companies positioned him for...
The Supreme Court upholds the U.S. bill that would essentially ban TikTok. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the Court demonstrated that it was “likely” to rule in favor of banning the application owned by ByteDance. A ban would result in the app no longer being available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and over time U.S. users who have already downloaded the app would no longer be able to make system updates. TikTok has said the app would be wiped from phones if the ban is enforced. The Supreme Court’s stance supports a bipartisan bill that had been signed in April 2024 by President Joe Biden requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S.-based company or face a ban of the app, according to NPR. There were national security concerns by the president and Congress surrounding China’s data access and the spreading of misinformation. TikTok is not in favor of the ban that would go into effect Sunday, Jan. 19, as its owners believe a ban restricts free speech. “The Supreme...
The Supreme Court convened at 10 a.m. EST on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, to hear arguments regarding a law that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States. According to NBC News., lawyers for TikTok, some of its users, and the Biden administration are presenting their oral arguments before the conservative-majority court’s nine justices. A preliminary decision may be reached within days, if not hours, after the oral arguments conclude. Chinese Internet entrepreneur Zhang Yiming co-founded TikTok in 2012 as part of technology company ByteDance, per its website. The social media platform’s algorithm provides users with short-form video content tailored to their interests. NBC reported that Yiming launched TikTok in the U.S. in 2018. It has since become increasingly popular, boasting 170 million American users. Following concerns that the app was a national security threat, the U.S. government, with broad bipartisan support, passed a law requiring ByteDance to divest from the company...
Business owners are watching a back-and-forth battle that’s become tougher than playing tennis against Coco Gauff , and neither side is backing down. The two opponents? Business owners (specifically a Texas gun shop, the National Small Business Association and the state of Alabama) versus the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (USDOT). What are they debating about? Nationwide business owners being required to file the Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR) before January 1, 2025 in order to avoid a $591 fine, criminal penalties of up to two years in prison and repeat offenses that could lead to them owing $10K. What Is The Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR)? Effective January 1, 2024, many companies in the United States must report information about their beneficial owners (the people who own or control their companies) to FinCEN , a bureau of USDOT. Filing is free and a onetime occurrence in order to...
With the 2024 presidential election right around the corner, we are going to take a look at how the two candidates take drastically different stances on tech. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have supported policies that would impact how the tech industry can or cannot do business for years to come. Kamala Harris’ Impact On The Tech Industry During her time as vice president of the United States, Harris backed three key pieces of legislation that have impacted the tech industry. They are the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act. All of these acts were meant to spur different forms of economic growth here in the United States and bolster our own productivity vs. relying on foreign powers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in 2021 invested money into two categories of interest to founders and investors: energy and climate. In energy, some of the more notable companies would be the larger...
A security breach has put many social security numbers at risk. Bloomberg reports that background check company Jerico Pictures Inc., doing business as National Public Data, revealed sensitive information for nearly 3 billion people in April 2024. Hacking group USDoD reportedly stole and released that data on the dark web under “National Public Data.” This was brought forward in a class-action lawsuit filed in April 2024 in the U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, FL, which also mentioned the information had been up for grabs for $3.5 million, according to Bloomberg. Per the complaint, this data includes sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, complete names, family information, and addresses that date back several decades . According to U.S. Public Information Research Group Consumer Watchdog Director Teresa Murray, the compromise could now leave many at risk of crimes such as identity theft and fraud, The Los Angeles Times reports. “If this, in fact, is pretty...
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has taken the creative industry by storm, but a new bill has been introduced to protect creators’ rights. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) introduced the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act of 2024, or the NO FAKES Act, on July 31. According to a press release shared by Coons, the bill was created “to protect the voice and visual likenesses of creators and individuals from the proliferation of digital replicas created without their consent.” “The NO FAKES Act would hold individuals or companies liable for damages for producing, hosting, or sharing a digital replica of an individual performing in an audiovisual work, image, or sound recording that the individual never actually appeared in or otherwise approved – including digital replicas created by generative artificial intelligence (AI),” per the release. “Everyone...
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has announced its support of an initiative focused on students in Philadelphia, PA. The full-service entertainment company is backing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) in its goal to provide scholarships, according to Fox-29. The educational campaign is said to offer students from low-income households and underperforming schools access to private schools. “PASS — which is also known as Senate Bill 757 — is legislation aimed at increasing education opportunities for underprivileged youth attending the state’s lowest performing public schools,” a press release detailed, per Fox-29. The outlet notes that Roc Nation has spearheaded “Dine and Learn,” an event series to educate students and parents in Philadelphia about PASS. “We have enjoyed such a special connection with Philadelphians, so we’ve made it our mission to invest in the long-term success of the city’s changemakers,” Dania Diaz, managing director of philanthropy at Roc Nation, said. Amid...
In recent years, musicians have been pushing for regulations around artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, in February 2024, artists such as Mary J. Blige, Cardi B, 21 Savage, and more signed an open letter in support of the bipartisan bill No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas and Unauthorized Duplications Act (or No AI Fraud Act), which aims to regulate AI deepfakes and AI cloning of both voice and likeness. While the movement against AI deepfakes continues, one artist is using the controversial technology to her advantage. BBC reports that FKA Twigs went before the U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee to say that artists should have ownership over how AI uses their voice and overall likeness in addition to how there is music online that she didn’t create yet it emulates her voice. The British singer revealed that she had created her own deepfake, AI twigs, with the purpose of allowing her to focus on her artistry. “These and...
A ban on TikTok may be imminent in the United States. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, a 12-page bill was proposed by the House of Representatives to eliminate its use and access in the United States if its China-based parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell the platform. This would cause great disruption to many as more than 150 million individuals in the United States are TikTok users, according to the social platform’s website. The bill, which was introduced as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , serves to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications,” per CBS News. If the bill is green lit by the Senate and President Joe Biden and signed into law, ByteDance will be required to sell the platform within 180 days — or it will be banned from distributing the app and any others through its subsidiaries or firms “controlled by a foreign adversary.” On March 13, 2024, the...
Chris Bennett’s childcare management platform Wonderschool is ready to tackle the national childcare crisis. According to a press release, $25 million was raised in a Series B round led by Goldman Sachs for Wonderschool. Citi Impact Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Uncork Capital, Unusual Ventures, Imaginable Futures, and Gaingels also participated in the round. The funds will help Wonderschool’s childcare program provide flexible and top-of-the-line care for children and families with the help of its childcare entrepreneurs. “Child care is, perhaps, our most important public investment. And yet, we have historically relied on a fragmented, outdated system to make good on its promise,” said Bennett , co-founder and CEO, of Wonderschool in a press release. “Policymakers have precious little data to understand where public funds are having an impact. Empowering providers to serve families and children and providing state leaders with better data to understand what’s happening are two sides...
Maryland-area Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have just scored a win. According to our sister site, Blavity, Gov. Larry Hogan has finally signed a bill into law that would award $600 million to the state’s HBCUs. The signing of this bill comes after a protracted legal battle between the HBCUs and the Maryland state legislature. Gov. Hogan agreed to guarantee $577 million in additional funding for Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore over the course of ten years. The money will be distributed in payments of $57.7 million in extra funding each year for 10 years to each of the state’s four historically Black universities. The money will be used to create and enhance academic programs, bolster its online class offerings, supplement financial aid, build faculty training initiatives, and other academic functions. “I’m pleased to see this fight has finally come to an end,” said Morgan State President David...