News
WirelessEd brings you regular updates with headline news, press releases and Facebook/Twitter feeds. Check back often to read the latest news.
- Headlines | California can enforce its internet equal access law. A federal judge ruled that California can for the first time enforce its tough net neutrality law, clearing the way for the state to ban internet providers from slowing down or blocking access to websites…
- Headlines | Civil rights groups ask Biden to oppose facial recognition. The American Civil Liberties Union and more than 40 other groups urged President Biden in a letter to freeze federal use of facial recognition and block federal funds from being used by state and local…
- Headlines | How the GameStop frenzy sabotaged a bid to ‘democratize’ finance. The episode with Robinhood Financial has unearthed a growing sentiment on the left: “Fintech” is just a fancy word for everything they already hate about finance.
- Headlines | Lacking a Lifeline: How help to pay low-income Americans’ phone bills failed. The coronavirus has reinforced the Internet as the fabric of modern American life, a luxury-turned-necessity for a generation now forced to work, learn and communicate primarily through the Web. But it also has laid bare…
- Headlines | Tips on how to master the vaccine-appointment website. Starting this week, there will be even more places you need to look for appointments online. Pharmacy chains including CVS and Walgreens are beginning to distribute vaccine supply they’re getting directly from the federal government.…
- Headlines | Consumer protection agency investigating Venmo. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau is investigating money transfer app Venmo over the way it handles collections, a new regulatory filing shows. First reported by The Wall Street Journal, the filing shows Venmo owner PayPal…
- Headlines | Apple’s new privacy ‘nutrition labels.’ Many were false.. You go to your iPhone’s App Store to download a game. Under a new “App Privacy” label added last month, there’s a blue check mark, signaling that the app won’t share a lick of your…
- Headlines | Pressure builds to revive net neutrality rules. For more than two decades, Democrats and Republicans have warred over net neutrality, the idea that Internet providers should treat all Web traffic equally. At a time when the pandemic has forced Americans to learn…
- Press Releases | New debt collection rule is a mixed bag for consumer rights. Bad news: New debt collection rule permits unlimited electronic access to consumers. Good news: It may eliminate "debt parking" by forcing debt collectors to reach consumers before posting debts on their credit reports. Due to…
- Headlines | Black Americans suffered the most under Trump-era CFPB, study finds. The paper, from two Boston College researchers, tracked consumer complaints, and the follow-ups recorded by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Their findings show that in January 2017 — even before President Trump made any changes…
- Headlines | Consumer bureau director resigns at Biden’s request. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger resigned at the request of the newly sworn-in President Biden, clearing the way for his nominee to lead the powerful regulatory agency. Kraninger’s resignation gives Biden the…
- Headlines | Biden choices for CFPB, SEC pivot to robust enforcement. President-elect Joe Biden is set to nominate Rohit Chopra, the former student loan ombudsman for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to lead the consumer finance agency. Biden will tap Gary Gensler, the former chairman of…
- Headlines | Millions flock to Telegram and Signal apps. Over the past week, tens of millions of people have downloaded Signal and Telegram, making them the two hottest apps in the world. Signal allows messages to be sent with “end-to-end encryption,” meaning no one…
- Headlines | Ford is researching tech for bikes, e-scooters to ‘talk’ to cars. If bicycles and e-scooters could “talk” to cars on the road, riders would be safer — at least in theory. That’s the idea behind a consortium of bike and scooter manufacturers coming together to develop…
- Headlines | Supreme Court limits abortion pill access (during a pandemic). The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a Trump administration request to reinstate restrictions for patients seeking to obtain a drug used to terminate early pregnancies. The decision, issued over a dissent from the court's…
- Headlines | Citing ‘censorship,’ internet provider blocks Facebook, Twitter. A North Idaho internet provider, Your T1 WIFI, confirmed it is blocking Facebook and Twitter from its WIFI service for some customers due to censorship claims.
- Headlines | Millions to get Internet access rebates under new stimulus plan. A massive coronavirus aid package approved by Congress late Monday sets aside $7 billion to help Americans connect to high-speed Internet and pay their monthly bills, marking one of the most substantial one-time broadband investments in U.S.…
- Headlines | How will the Biden administration treat FinTech companies?. Regulation and governance have not kept up with the FinTech explosion domestically or globally. The challenges for US regulators are well chronicled. How will the Biden administration establish a "new normal" for FinTechs, that both…
- Headlines | Zoom to lift time limit on free calls during Christmas holiday. Zoom has a gift for families this holiday season. The video conferencing platform will drop its 40-minute time limit on calls from free accounts starting on Wednesday.
- Headlines | Should you upgrade to a 5G phone?. In the ads, 5G means blazing fast speeds—download a movie in mere seconds!—and more reliable service. The wireless carriers all have maps showing how many cities already have 5G, but that can be misleading. The…
- Headlines | State, federal authorities to file antitrust lawsuits against Facebook. The filings from more than 40 attorneys general and the U.S. government will allege the tech giant engaged in unlawful tactics to buy or kill off its rivals and solidify its dominance in social networking.
- Headlines | Fix bad WiFi without spending a dime. Our five-step guide will help you speed up your Internet connection and eliminate wireless ‘dead zones’ while you’re stuck at home.
- Headlines | Biden has the power to make the CFPB more aggressive thanks to Trump. Analysts expect the CFPB under Biden to follow a similar model to what the agency pursued under Obama and Cordray in terms of calling out predatory practices and assessing hefty penalties. Here are some issues…
- Headlines | Four online safety myths that parents should know. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, children are spending more time online than ever before, chatting on gaming platforms, posting selfies on Instagram and making TikTok videos for friends (and the rest of the world) to see. But…
- Headlines | How private Is my pay app?. Virtual peer-to-peer payments are the currency of the pandemic. Pay apps say they need access to certain personal information, including names, Social Security, and bank account numbers. They also collect information about activity in the…
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In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, TracFone Wireless is extending the service renewal deadlines for more than… http://t.co/aBJbEr9a
Ken McEldowney of Consumer Action speaks about the organization’s Digital Dollars campaign to train and educate… http://t.co/t0v5u4Ra
Finally found someone in #education finding meaningful ways to use @reflectionapp Any others? http://t.co/gQwPyaow#edtech#wirelessed#ipad
Please sign this petition! http://t.co/fSrWKDNL
Thanks to all our wonderful supporters - you helped us celebrate a grand ole 41 years with a record fundraising goal! Your are the best!
RT @pewresearch: RT @pewresearch: A quarter of all Americans say they have ever downloaded a news app to their cell phone, tablet, or other mobile device …
New blog post! http://t.co/95KlFdAL
Hey PLN! looking for expert level #iPad tips & tricks for a #PD pres! Pls RT & share! #edchat#edtech#education#1to1techat#wirelessed
New Blog Post: http://t.co/FLLBpePk
RT @pewinternet: In case you missed it - a demographic portrait of users of various social networking sites: http://t.co/qFeRpv6u
Watch documentary about effects of texting behind wheel http://t.co/YwgE6IDz#itcanwait Sign the pledge http://t.co/jJoNSjUF
New blog post. http://t.co/omu2gjo6
RT @PracticalMoney: Visa & @consumeraction are teaming up to train community organizers in Chicago & Philly on the ins and outs …
New fact sheet on how you can control your wireless data use! http://t.co/2cm4pq9y
New blog post: Pew phone poll finds that many users are concerned enough about how mobile apps use their personal… http://t.co/TYcoBh1o