In this week’s episode there are some serious stories impacting tech.  The Section 230 executive order is stopped by the FCC in the same week that Twitter bans President Trump from the platform.  The big four tech companies team up to temporarily destroy the new social media app Parler.  Facial recognition tools get some expanded use following the riots at the Capitol building.  We also discuss some video game news, robots, and space.

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• Epic buys a mall
  • https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-01-04-epic-games-buys-shopping-mall-to-convert-into-new-headquarters
• Star Wars games to be branded under Lucas Film Games
  • https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-games-to-be-branded-under-new-lucasfilm-games-banner 
• CNBC: Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world, passing Jeff Bezos.
  • https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/07/elon-musk-is-now-the-richest-person-in-the-world-passing-jeff-bezos-.html 
• PCMag: Elon Musk Tells Followers to Use Signal Messaging App Amid WhatsApp Privacy Update.
  • https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musk-tells-followers-to-use-signal-messaging-app-amid-whatsapp-privacy 
• Whatsapp forces users to provide Facebook with data
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/whatsapp-forcing-users-to-share-personal-data-facebook-elon-musk-2021-1 
• BGR: Visualized: The terrifying amount of data Facebook Messenger collects compared to Signal, iMessage, and WhatsApp.
  • https://bgr.com/2021/01/05/app-privacy-labels-facebook-messenger-vs-imessge-signal-whatsapp
• Pai drops executive order to end section 230
  • https://thehill.com/policy/technology/533341-pai-drops-trump-executive-order-to-amend-section-230?amp 
• App stores ban Parler
  • https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/apple-google-ban-social-media-app-parler-1112276/ 
• Ars Technica: Amazon cuts off Parler’s web hosting following Apple, Google bans.
  • https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/01/amazon-cuts-off-parlers-web-hosting-following-apple-google-bans/ 
• WIRED: The Capitol Attack Doesn’t Justify Expanding Surveillance.
  • https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-the-capitol-attack-doesnt-justify-expanding-surveillance 
• WAVY.com: Some truck drivers concerned as Port of Virginia gets $2M grant to prepare for autonomous trucks.
  • https://www.wavy.com/news/business/some-truck-drivers-concerned-as-port-of-virginia-gets-2m-grant-to-prepare-for-autonomous-trucks/ 
• Japan to eliminate gas powered cars
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-green-growth-plan-carbon-free-2050/ 
• Freethink: Man Moves Robot Arms With Brain Computer Interface.
  • https://www.freethink.com/articles/brain-computer-interface
• CNN: US intelligence agencies have 180 days to share what they know about UFOs, thanks to the Covid-19 relief and spending bill.
  • https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/10/us/ufo-report-emergency-relief-bill-trnd/index.html 
• FM radio signal found coming from Jupiter 
  • https://wgntv.com/news/space-discovery-fm-radio-signal-found-coming-from-jupiter-moon/ 
• Atomic clock scientist recommends taking a second from each minute
  • https://nypost.com/2021/01/05/atomic-clock-scientists-suggest-subtracting-a-second-from-minute/