ftc

Buzz Out Loud 1503: FTC needs to put that probe somewhere else (Podcast)

Today on Buzz Out Loud, we preview tomorrow's "awesome" Facebook announcement -- and we hope it's not just Skype integration. Microsoft is getting in bed with Baidu in China, but Cisco is getting in a much dirtier bed with China's government, helping build a massive surveillance system that we're sure will just be used to hand out traffic tickets. Plus, is #antisec officially in a world of hurt? We'll see.

FTC investigating Twitter?

The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing Twitter and its interaction with at least one app developer, according to published reports.

The agency, which is responsible for reviewing companies suspected of engaging in anticompetitive behavior, has requested information about UberMedia, a potential Twitter competitor that owns a portfolio of Twitter clients and related applications, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter. The FTC's interest in Twitter's activities was originally reported by the Business Insider.

Twitter and FTC representatives could not be reached for comment, and UberMedia did not immediately respond to a request … Read more

Watchdog: Facebook Credits violate antitrust law

A public interest group called Consumer Watchdog has filed an antitrust complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about Facebook Credits, arguing that the virtual currency used for purchases such as assets in online games is anticompetitive.

Specifically, the group objects to new terms for using the credits that go into effect Friday. The group argues in the 28-page complaint (PDF), "The new Facebook Credits terms will enable Facebook to maintain and extend its monopoly power over the market for virtual goods purchased in social games."

In addition, the complaint argues, the new terms prohibit game developers from charging … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1497: Lytro is the camera of the future (Podcast)

Lytro's Founder and CEO Ren Ng Ph.D. stopped by the BOL studio today to discuss his new product the Lytro Light Field Camera which allows you to focus different depths of field within one photograph. We picked his brain about how the technology works and how it will evolve into the art of photography and beyond. We also discuss the FTC's probe into Google's business practices as well as the upcoming possible overhaul of the United States Patent office rules and regulations. Lulzsec continues to make news and publish the identity of its victims while a rival hacker group calling themselves TeaMp0ison has vowed to out the members of Lulzsec by publishing Lulzsec's identities and personal information in retaliation. All this and more on today's Buzz Out Loud with special guest host from Android Atlas Antuan Goodwin who has a deep fear of Zombies.

This Day in Tech: Tesla says bye to Roadster; Google antitrust probes stepped up

Too busy to keep up with the tech news? Here are some of the more interesting stories from CNET for Thursday, June 23.

Tesla bids farewell to Roadster Tesla will stop taking orders for its electric Roadster sports car later this year as it shifts its focus to the Model S electric sedan. More

FTC, Senate rachet up Google antitrust probes Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Senate appear to step up their antitrust investigations of Google, a development that follows formal investigations already under way in Europe. More

Microsoft chasing Apple's app lead Trailing badly in the number … Read more

FTC, Senate rachet up Google antitrust probes

The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Senate appear to be stepping up their antitrust investigations of Google, a development that could prove perilous for the Mountain View, Calif.-based company, which is already fending off a formal investigation in Europe.

The FTC is planning to serve Google with civil subpoenas as part of an examination of market power in Google's search advertising business, according to a report this morning in The Wall Street Journal.

A Google representative declined to comment on any discussions with the FTC or the possibility of a broad antitrust investigation.

Google has shed market share to Microsoft … Read more

FCC, FTC to hold mobile location privacy forum

Government inquiries into what companies are doing with location information from mobile devices enter yet another round next month.

The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission are holding a public forum on June 28 to discuss the topic, the AP reports. On the invite list are both Apple and Google, companies that have been called to testify in front of Senate subcommittees on the issue twice this month.

Representatives from Apple and Google are slated to appear in Washington, D.C., this Thursday to answer questions about mobile privacy and protection from U.S. lawmakers in a hearing … Read more

DOJ wants wireless providers to store user info

The U.S. Department of Justice today called for new laws requiring mobile providers to collect and store information about their customers, a proposal that pits it against privacy advocates and even other federal agencies.

Jason Weinstein, the deputy assistant attorney general for the criminal division, picked an odd place to describe the department's proposal: a U.S. Senate hearing that arose out of revelations about iPhones recording information about owners' locations, and, in some cases, transmitting those data to Apple without consent.

Nevertheless, Weinstein said, "when this information is not stored, it may be impossible for law … Read more

Senate iPhone hearing preview: Don't single out only apps

New privacy laws should not single out only mobile app developers, a trade association representing small software companies is planning to tell a Senate committee tomorrow.

Jonathan Zuck, president of the Association for Competitive Technology, said in an interview with CNET this afternoon that any legislation arising out of the recent controversy over Apple iPhones and location tracking should be broad, not narrow. (See a list of related stories.)

"If you're going to put some privacy legislation in place, it shouldn't be some piecemeal regulation of some small portion of the technology industry because it's new … Read more

Study: Mature-rated games hard for kids to buy

When it comes to buying different types of mature entertainment content, it's most difficult for children to get their hands on mature-rated video games, the Federal Trade Commission has found.

In an "undercover shopper survey," the FTC found that 13 percent of underage teenagers were able to buy mature-rated games between November 2010 and January 2011, down from the 20 percent of kids who could do the same in 2009. It was easiest for kids to get their hands on music CDs featuring explicit content, the FTC discovered, with 64 percent of attempts being successful. That figure … Read more