theverge--2020-06-10--TikTok is having a monster 2020

TikTok is having a monster 2020

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Today felt like an unusual lull in the intersection of our many unfolding national and global crises , and so I thought I ’ d take the opportunity to write about something different — a subject that , despite all my best efforts , I keep getting crushingly wrong .
That subject is TikTok , the ByteDance-owned app whose fading into irrelevance I have been predicting for more than a year now , and which — to say that absolute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How well is TikTok doing these days ?
Let ’ s check in with Sarah Perez , writing last week at TechCrunch : So basically , before TikTok , kids used social apps a certain amount .
And then by 2019 they started using TikTok and that amount doubled , and then by this year it had tripled .
If you are working on a social app , this is a good sign that you are doing something right .
And so it pains me — like , in an excruciating way — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading The Interface for the past couple years , all this may have come as a surprise .
Since ByteDance bought Musical.ly in 2018 and fused it with another app to create the sensation known as TikTok , I have been impatiently awaiting its demise .
Last August I wrote about how competition , regulation , and user retention problems could thwart TikTok ’ s ambitions .
In November I wrote about how Congress and the Council for Foreign Investment in the United States were putting the squeeze on ByteDance — and about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Chinese government had created a credibility gap with US regulators .
In December I was warning about looming competition again , and by January I said ByteDance might be getting ready to sell TikTok off .
Looking back , I don ’ t believe that any of those predictions were irrational , exactly .
All were based on things that were actually happening .
Competitors were launching ; regulators were starting to ask questions ; and users were churning .
But it ’ s clear that I ’ ve underestimated TikTok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the appeal of the core product , which is way more powerful than I ever gave it credit for ; and two , ByteDance ’ s nimbleness in responding to these challenges .
And I overestimated the competition , which has so far been weak ; and the regulators , who have mostly stuck to angrily shaking their fists at the sky in the American tradition .
One , ByteDance is printing money , and money is power .
TikTok itself generates significant revenue through advertising and in-app purchases , and ByteDance ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a war chest it can use to reinvest in TikTok ’ s success .
Here are Katie Roof and Zheping Huang in Bloomberg : Two , TikTok keeps finding new users .
My old view was that once ByteDance stopped buying new installs on Facebook , TikTok ’ s growth would level off .
Instead , the pandemic hit , American teens were locked indoors for weeks on end , and TikTok became the most downloaded app in the world — installed 315 million times in the first quarter , according to third-party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion cumulative downloads in the current quarter .
Three , ByteDance has rapidly leveled up its lobbying game .
It hired its first American lobbyists a year ago , and in November hired a former congressman in anticipation of more regulatory pressure .
Last month it hired the prominent executive Kevin Mayer away from Disney to be TikTok ’ s CEO , giving ByteDance a face of the American business establishment to go before Congress and ask questions about how the Communist Party of China might plan to use TikTok as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last point , PingWest reported this week that ByteDance will begin restricting the access Chinese engineers have to TikTok ’ s code base .
There are good reasons to be skeptical about the data issue , as Ben Thompson laid out this week at Stratechery .
“ There are two problems here , ” he wrote .
“ First , who is going to verify this , and second , the more concerning possibility to my mind is not so much user-data but rather the sort of algorithmic control that could very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technically , is not ‘ sensitive data ’ , it just happens to be very powerful data.
” I don ’ t know what ByteDance could do to convince us that it will never , ever share American user data with the Chinese government or allow state agents to manipulate its algorithms .
At the same time , in recent weeks I have felt like TikTok is working to build trust where it can .
After a recent issue in which view counts were improperly displayed for videos related to Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which content from minority communities has seemed to get lower distribution — TikTok established a creator diversity council and donated $ 3 million to nonprofits supporting the black community .
What impressed me so much weren ’ t the moves themselves so much as the speed with which TikTok made them : you can ’ t move that quickly unless you ’ re attuned to your user base , and that bodes well for the company as future crises inevitably arise .
The question is how long TikTok will be able to serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s larger interests materializes .
For ByteDance , this is not a theoretical question , as Alex Heath , Yunan Zhang and Jessica E. Lessin wrote in The Information : But at this point , the mere existence of a threat to ByteDance no longer persuades me that the company won ’ t find some way to crush it .
Skepticism is a reporter ’ s most valuable tool , but it ceases to be useful the moment it blinds you to the facts .
TikTok isn ’ t just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a durable one .
Whatever problems lie down the road , and I ’ m sure there will be plenty , the least I can do is to stop underestimating it .
Got some great feedback on yesterday ’ s column about how content moderation systems can replicate offline injustices .
One reader shared a story of submitting printable Black Lives Matter posters to the Design subreddit and had his post removed for violating a ban on “ politics.
” Two others — one a moderator , one a researcher , wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of moderators .
If you ’ re a white person , is it even ethical to recruit people of color to come do the hard labor of moderation for you — for free ?
And if you ’ re a person of color running a community , how do you attract white moderators to use their privilege on behalf of the community ?
Tough questions , but ones platforms can play a role in answering .
Also : more than 650 subreddits have now signed on to this open letter to Reddit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other things , enact a site-wide policy against racism and hate speech .
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms .
Trending up : Both Twitter and Square are making Juneteenth a permanent company holiday .
Trending up : Apple and Google have trained their AI voice assistants to respond to questions on the Black Lives Matter movement , and to rebut the negative sentiment behind “ all lives matter.
” Trending up : Google is adding new COVID-19 alerts to Google Maps as cities begin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public transit agencies on mandatory precautions users need to take , such as like wearing a mask .
( Chris Welch / The Verge ) Trending up : IBM is shutting down its general-purpose facial recognition business .
In a letter to Congress , the company said it opposes the use of such technology for mass surveillance and racial profiling .
Still , some questions remain about how committed IBM is to this decision .
( Ina Fried / Axios ) We introduced this section to better capture how the United States is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s now become clear that the virus is everywhere — and will continue to spread for the foreseeable future .
With that in mind , we want to know : do you want us to keep tracking the total number of cases , deaths , and tests ?
Or should we retire this section altogether ?
Is there another configuration that would be more helpful ?
Let us know !
( We also asked this yesterday but haven ’ t gotten much feedback yet . )
Total cases in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US : At least 112,100 Data from The New York Times .
⭐ Four Republican senators in the United States are urging the Federal Communications Commission to act on Trump ’ s executive order on social media companies .
The order would remove Section 230 protections for tech companies like Facebook and Twitter .
Here ’ s David Shepardson at Reuters : President Trump tweeted a conspiracy theory about a 75-year-old man who was seriously injured by police in Buffalo , saying he may be an “ antifa provocateur.
” The theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Ben Collins / NBC ) Employees at Microsoft wrote a letter to executives asking the company to cancel contracts with the Seattle Police Department .
Over 250 employees supported the letter , which said , “ Every one of us in the CC line are either firsthand witnesses or direct victims to the inhumane responses of SPD to peaceful protesting.
” ( Dave Gershgorn / OneZero ) Black Lives Matter protesters are demanding that Facebook stop funding local police in Menlo Park .
Since 2017 , Facebook has had a special “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area surrounding the company ’ s billion-dollar headquarters .
( Sarah Emerson / OneZero ) In a new indictment of Facebook ’ s content moderation strategy , a new study from NYU says the company ’ s decision to outsource such work is a key reason its efforts are failing .
The report calls on Facebook to bring all content moderation in-house so it receives the resources and attention it deserves .
( Chris O ’ Brien / Venture Beat ) A Twitter account impersonating @ Breaking911 is spreading misinformation about the George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is based has also been known to spread falsehoods , illustrating how news aggregators and “ parody ” accounts are used to quickly spread hoaxes .
( Peter Slattery / OneZero ) Twitter users misidentified the person responsible for hitting children posting fliers in support of George Floyd .
The man had biked along the route where the assault took place , and his fitness app shared the information .
Once the falsehood was out , it was nearly impossible to correct .
( Olivia Nuzzi / New York Magazine ) Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely link 5G cellular networks with the novel coronavirus .
“ Get the facts about COVID-19 , ” reads the label , which links to news articles , official sources , and tweets debunking the conspiracy theory .
( Shona Ghosh / Business Insider ) Alt-right trolls organizing on 4chan are trying to sabotage Black Lives Matter channels on Telegram .
They ’ re encouraging people to post disinformation in the groups , find “ incriminating ” information that they can pass to law enforcement , and find as much personal identifying information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mother Jones ) Courts are moving to Zoom during the pandemic , which could create harsher outcomes for defendants .
Studies have shown that people are more likely to be deported in immigration hearings if they appear on video than in person , and people applying for asylum are less likely to be granted it over video too .
( Lauren Kirchner / The Markup ) ⭐ While corporations have recently begun pouring money into anti-discrimination efforts and condemning racism online , they ’ ve also contributed to systematic inequality .
Many have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and services , and failed to hire , promote and fairly compensate black men and women .
David Gelles at The New York Times explains : Google outlined its plans to have employees return to the office , a process that will begin slowly starting in July .
Changes involve staggering arrival times , administering temperature checks upon arrival , offering lunch boxes instead of buffets , and taking away sleep pods and massages .
Sounds fun !
( Hugh Langley / Business Insider ) Apple updated its COVID-19 iOS app and website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymously share symptoms and health information .
The aggregated data will be used to help inform the Centers for Disease Control and improve the organization ’ s COVID-19 screening protocol .
( Darrell Etherington / TechCrunch ) Three start-up veterans created an online directory of coronavirus testing sites .
They ’ re among a wave of volunteers contributing to the virus fight .
( Daisuke Wakabayashi / The New York Times ) Amazon is suing Brian Hall , the former vice president of marketing at AWS , for taking a job at Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new role violates the terms of his non-compete agreement and risks exposing valuable competitive information to one of its biggest rivals .
More importantly , this all led to one of the best “ personal news ” tweets of all time .
( Todd Bishop / GeekWire ) Instagram hired Melissa Waters as its new global vice president of marketing .
Waters previously worked at pharmaceutical startup Hims and Hers , and Lyft before that .
( Rob Price / Business Insider ) Twitter is developing a new in-app system for requesting verification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong .
The discovery involves an added “ Request Verification ” option that appears in a redesigned account settings screen .
( Sarah Perez / TechCrunch ) Twitter is bringing Fleets , its version of Stories , to India .
The company says it is still testing the feature , which is also available to users in Brazil and Italy .
( Manish Singh / TechCrunch ) Signal now lets users transfer account data and messaging history to a new iPhone or iPad from their existing iOS device .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ really picked up lately .
( Jon Porter / The Verge ) Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine .
Watch 13th .
Netflix is streaming the entirety of Ava DuVernay ’ s Oscar-nominated film about mass incarceration for free on YouTube .
Organize a happy hour on Mixaba .
It ’ s a video chat app that will periodically break you into smaller groups at random to replicate the feel of an in-person happy hour .
Listen to Run the Jewels 4 .
As Craig Jenkins says in this review , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear right now .
Send us tips , comments , questions , and bad predictions : casey @ theverge.com and zoe @ theverge.com .

Today felt like an unusual lull in the intersection of our many unfolding national and global crises, and so I thought I’d take the opportunity to write about something different — a subject that, despite all my best efforts, I keep getting crushingly wrong. That subject is TikTok, the ByteDance-owned app whose fading into irrelevance I have been predicting for more than a year now, and which — to say that absolute least — has yet to arrive.
How well is TikTok doing these days? Let’s check in with Sarah Perez, writing last week at TechCrunch:
A new study on kids’ app usage and habits indicates a major threat to YouTube’s dominance, as kids now split their time between Google’s online video platform and other apps, like TikTok, Netflix and mobile games like Roblox. Kids ages four to 15 now spend an average of 85 minutes per day watching YouTube videos, compared with 80 minutes per day spent on TikTok. The latter app also drove growth in kids’ social app use by 100% in 2019 and 200% in 2020, the report found.
So basically, before TikTok, kids used social apps a certain amount. And then by 2019 they started using TikTok and that amount doubled, and then by this year it had tripled. If you are working on a social app, this is a good sign that you are doing something right.
And so it pains me — like, in an excruciating way — to say that if you have been reading The Interface for the past couple years, all this may have come as a surprise. Since ByteDance bought Musical.ly in 2018 and fused it with another app to create the sensation known as TikTok, I have been impatiently awaiting its demise.
Looking back, I don’t believe that any of those predictions were irrational, exactly. All were based on things that were actually happening. Competitors were launching; regulators were starting to ask questions; and users were churning. But it’s clear that I’ve underestimated TikTok in two important ways: one, the appeal of the core product, which is way more powerful than I ever gave it credit for; and two, ByteDance’s nimbleness in responding to these challenges. And I overestimated the competition, which has so far been weak; and the regulators, who have mostly stuck to angrily shaking their fists at the sky in the American tradition.
So what’s working?
One, ByteDance is printing money, and money is power. TikTok itself generates significant revenue through advertising and in-app purchases, and ByteDance’s growing portfolio of apps has created a war chest it can use to reinvest in TikTok’s success. Here are Katie Roof and Zheping Huang in Bloomberg:
The company owes much of its success to TikTok, now the online repository of choice for lip-synching and dance videos by American teens. The ambitious company is also pushing aggressively into a plethora of new arenas from gaming and search to music. ByteDance could fetch a valuation of between $150 billion and $180 billion in an initial public offering, a premium relative to sales of as much as 20% to social media giant Tencent thanks to a larger global footprint and burgeoning games business, estimated Ke Yan, Singapore-based analyst with DZT Research. “None of the Chinese tech companies has achieved this level of success in the global market before ByteDance,” he said, adding neither social media company harbors much debt. “The fact that ByteDance is making profit, if true, and sitting on a $6 billion cash pile means that it is not in a rush at all to come to market to raise capital
Two, TikTok keeps finding new users. My old view was that once ByteDance stopped buying new installs on Facebook, TikTok’s growth would level off. Instead, the pandemic hit, American teens were locked indoors for weeks on end, and TikTok became the most downloaded app in the world — installed 315 million times in the first quarter, according to third-party data, and reaching more than 2 billion cumulative downloads in the current quarter.
Three, ByteDance has rapidly leveled up its lobbying game. It hired its first American lobbyists a year ago, and in November hired a former congressman in anticipation of more regulatory pressure. Last month it hired the prominent executive Kevin Mayer away from Disney to be TikTok’s CEO, giving ByteDance a face of the American business establishment to go before Congress and ask questions about how the Communist Party of China might plan to use TikTok as part of an influence campaign. And to that last point, PingWest reported this week that ByteDance will begin restricting the access Chinese engineers have to TikTok’s code base.
There are good reasons to be skeptical about the data issue, as Ben Thompson laid out this week at Stratechery. “There are two problems here,” he wrote. “First, who is going to verify this, and second, the more concerning possibility to my mind is not so much user-data but rather the sort of algorithmic control that could very much sway hearts and minds. That, technically, is not ‘sensitive data’, it just happens to be very powerful data.”
I don’t know what ByteDance could do to convince us that it will never, ever share American user data with the Chinese government or allow state agents to manipulate its algorithms. At the same time, in recent weeks I have felt like TikTok is working to build trust where it can. After a recent issue in which view counts were improperly displayed for videos related to Black Lives Matter protests — part of a pattern in which content from minority communities has seemed to get lower distribution — TikTok established a creator diversity council and donated $3 million to nonprofits supporting the black community.
What impressed me so much weren’t the moves themselves so much as the speed with which TikTok made them: you can’t move that quickly unless you’re attuned to your user base, and that bodes well for the company as future crises inevitably arise.
The question is how long TikTok will be able to serve that user base before some conflict with China’s larger interests materializes. For ByteDance, this is not a theoretical question, as Alex Heath, Yunan Zhang and Jessica E. Lessin wrote in The Information:
The government sees the media as an essential instrument of domestic control and increasingly as a tool for projecting its views on the international stage. For example, in early 2018, after the government shut down Toutiao for 24 hours for posting what it called “pornographic and vulgar content,” ByteDance hired 2,000 content moderators, giving preference to Communist Party members in its recruitment.
But at this point, the mere existence of a threat to ByteDance no longer persuades me that the company won’t find some way to crush it. Skepticism is a reporter’s most valuable tool, but it ceases to be useful the moment it blinds you to the facts. TikTok isn’t just a fluke smash hit — it’s a durable one. Whatever problems lie down the road, and I’m sure there will be plenty, the least I can do is to stop underestimating it.
Pushback
Got some great feedback on yesterday’s column about how content moderation systems can replicate offline injustices. One reader shared a story of submitting printable Black Lives Matter posters to the Design subreddit and had his post removed for violating a ban on “politics.” Two others — one a moderator, one a researcher, wrote in about the difficulty of recruiting a diverse group of moderators. If you’re a white person, is it even ethical to recruit people of color to come do the hard labor of moderation for you — for free? And if you’re a person of color running a community, how do you attract white moderators to use their privilege on behalf of the community? Tough questions, but ones platforms can play a role in answering.
Also: more than 650 subreddits have now signed on to this open letter to Reddit calling for the company to, among other things, enact a site-wide policy against racism and hate speech.
The Ratio
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
🔼 Trending up: Both Twitter and Square are making Juneteenth a permanent company holiday.
🔼 Trending up: Google is adding new COVID-19 alerts to Google Maps as cities begin to reopen. The updates include alerts from public transit agencies on mandatory precautions users need to take, such as like wearing a mask. (Chris Welch / The Verge)
🔼 Trending up: IBM is shutting down its general-purpose facial recognition business. In a letter to Congress, the company said it opposes the use of such technology for mass surveillance and racial profiling. Still, some questions remain about how committed IBM is to this decision. (Ina Fried / Axios)
Virus tracker
We introduced this section to better capture how the United States is doing in the fight against COVID-19. It’s now become clear that the virus is everywhere — and will continue to spread for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, we want to know: do you want us to keep tracking the total number of cases, deaths, and tests? Or should we retire this section altogether? Is there another configuration that would be more helpful? Let us know! (We also asked this yesterday but haven’t gotten much feedback yet.)
Total cases in the US: More than 1,987,800
Total deaths in the US: At least 112,100
Governing
⭐ Four Republican senators in the United States are urging the Federal Communications Commission to act on Trump’s executive order on social media companies. The order would remove Section 230 protections for tech companies like Facebook and Twitter. Here’s David Shepardson at Reuters:
“Social media companies have become involved in a range of editorial and promotional activity; like publishers, they monetize, edit, and otherwise editorialize user content. It is time to take a fresh look at Section 230 and to interpret the vague standard of ‘good faith’ with specific guidelines and direction,” the senators wrote. [...] Trump’s order seeks to curtail their legal protections after Twitter Inc added a notice that one of his tweets violated its rules for “glorifying violence,” shortly after it slapped a fact-check label on another of his tweets opposing voting by mail. It was the first time Twitter had challenged his posts.
President Trump tweeted a conspiracy theory about a 75-year-old man who was seriously injured by police in Buffalo, saying he may be an “antifa provocateur.” The theory originated on an anonymous conservative blog. (Ben Collins / NBC)
Employees at Microsoft wrote a letter to executives asking the company to cancel contracts with the Seattle Police Department. Over 250 employees supported the letter, which said, “Every one of us in the CC line are either firsthand witnesses or direct victims to the inhumane responses of SPD to peaceful protesting.” (Dave Gershgorn / OneZero)
Black Lives Matter protesters are demanding that Facebook stop funding local police in Menlo Park. Since 2017, Facebook has had a special “Facebook Unit,” which patrols the area surrounding the company’s billion-dollar headquarters. (Sarah Emerson / OneZero)
In a new indictment of Facebook’s content moderation strategy, a new study from NYU says the company’s decision to outsource such work is a key reason its efforts are failing. The report calls on Facebook to bring all content moderation in-house so it receives the resources and attention it deserves. (Chris O’Brien / Venture Beat)
A Twitter account impersonating @Breaking911 is spreading misinformation about the George Floyd protests. The account on which it is based has also been known to spread falsehoods, illustrating how news aggregators and “parody” accounts are used to quickly spread hoaxes. (Peter Slattery / OneZero)
Twitter users misidentified the person responsible for hitting children posting fliers in support of George Floyd. The man had biked along the route where the assault took place, and his fitness app shared the information. Once the falsehood was out, it was nearly impossible to correct. (Olivia Nuzzi / New York Magazine)
Twitter started adding fact-checking labels to tweets that falsely link 5G cellular networks with the novel coronavirus. “Get the facts about COVID-19,” reads the label, which links to news articles, official sources, and tweets debunking the conspiracy theory. (Shona Ghosh / Business Insider)
Alt-right trolls organizing on 4chan are trying to sabotage Black Lives Matter channels on Telegram. They’re encouraging people to post disinformation in the groups, find “incriminating” information that they can pass to law enforcement, and find as much personal identifying information as possible. (Ali Breland / Mother Jones)
Courts are moving to Zoom during the pandemic, which could create harsher outcomes for defendants. Studies have shown that people are more likely to be deported in immigration hearings if they appear on video than in person, and people applying for asylum are less likely to be granted it over video too. (Lauren Kirchner / The Markup)
Industry
⭐ While corporations have recently begun pouring money into anti-discrimination efforts and condemning racism online, they’ve also contributed to systematic inequality. Many have targeted the black community with unhealthy products and services, and failed to hire, promote and fairly compensate black men and women. David Gelles at The New York Times explains:
Mr. Moore said he was fed up with being one of just a relatively small number of black executives in the top tier of American business. “The list starts getting very thin very quickly,” he said. “There aren’t enough good examples. We’ve been satisfied with exceptions and exceptionalism.” “We’ve been satisfied by putting John Rogers on every board,” he added, referring to the black investor who has been a director at Exelon, McDonald’s, Nike and The New York Times Company. “But we haven’t been deliberate about building bench and pipeline.”
Google outlined its plans to have employees return to the office, a process that will begin slowly starting in July. Changes involve staggering arrival times, administering temperature checks upon arrival, offering lunch boxes instead of buffets, and taking away sleep pods and massages. Sounds fun! (Hugh Langley / Business Insider)
Apple updated its COVID-19 iOS app and website with new features to allow users to anonymously share symptoms and health information. The aggregated data will be used to help inform the Centers for Disease Control and improve the organization’s COVID-19 screening protocol. (Darrell Etherington / TechCrunch)
Three start-up veterans created an online directory of coronavirus testing sites. They’re among a wave of volunteers contributing to the virus fight. (Daisuke Wakabayashi / The New York Times)
Instagram hired Melissa Waters as its new global vice president of marketing. Waters previously worked at pharmaceutical startup Hims and Hers, and Lyft before that. (Rob Price / Business Insider)
Twitter is developing a new in-app system for requesting verification, according to a recent finding from reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong. The discovery involves an added “Request Verification” option that appears in a redesigned account settings screen. (Sarah Perez / TechCrunch)
Twitter is bringing Fleets, its version of Stories, to India. The company says it is still testing the feature, which is also available to users in Brazil and Italy. (Manish Singh / TechCrunch)
Signal now lets users transfer account data and messaging history to a new iPhone or iPad from their existing iOS device. The pace of iteration at Signal has really picked up lately. (Jon Porter / The Verge)
Things to do
Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine.
Watch 13th. Netflix is streaming the entirety of Ava DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated film about mass incarceration for free on YouTube.
Organize a happy hour on Mixaba. It’s a video chat app that will periodically break you into smaller groups at random to replicate the feel of an in-person happy hour.
Listen to Run the Jewels 4. As Craig Jenkins says in this review, it’s exactly what America needs to hear right now.
Those good tweets ...
Talk to us


theverge--2020-06-10--AMC wants to reopen cinemas in July but it’s not clear audiences are ready

AMC has reiterated its hope to reopen the company ’ s cinemas in July after posting a staggering financial loss , The Wall Street Journal reports .
On an earnings call yesterday , the company ’ s CEO Adam Aron said that he expects 97 percent of the company ’ s US locations to reopen by next month , after AMC was forced to close theaters in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
AMC operates over 1,000 theaters , and more than 11,000 screens , globally .
Recent surveys , however , suggest that movie-goers aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
ACM relies entirely on public gatherings to make its money , posting a $ 2.2 billion net loss in the first quarter of the year .
It made “ virtually no revenue ” in the last two weeks of March , according to The Wall Street Journal .
“ We believe there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back into the world ” AMC has high hopes for July when it plans to reopen cinemas , thanks to the release of highly anticipated films like Chistopher Nolan ’ s Tenet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remake .
“ We believe there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back into the world , ” Aron said .
His optimism , however , is tempered by a recent 8-K filing that warned of “ substantial doubt ” for continued operation should AMC theaters not successfully reopen within the company ’ s expected timeframe .
Recent surveys have cast doubt on how much of this “ pent-up demand ” there actually is .
A survey of 2,200 US adults from Morning Consult , a data intelligence firm , reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just 22 percent of people said they ’ d be comfortable going to the movies .
33 percent said it would be six months or more before they ’ d feel comfortable going to the cinema , while just 14 percent said they ’ d be happy to make a visit next month .
Epidemiologists , perhaps unsurprisingly , appear even more cautious .
A survey of 511 of the professionals conducted by The New York Times revealed that a majority ( 64 percent ) don ’ t expect to attend large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or plays , for at least a year .
There are at least some signs that audiences could be ready to return to cinemas .
AMC ’ s CEO said that attendance had been strong at the three theaters the company has re-opened in Norway recently .
These have had to operate at 25 percent capacity to allow for social distancing , but the company sold 83 percent of its available seats over the weekend .
“ Taking all things into consideration , ” the CEO said , “ these three theaters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this weekend this year as they did for the same weekend last year.
” Going forward , the CEO said that the company would show popular films across more screens to make up for the lack of seats .
“ We ’ ll double or triple or quadruple the number of auditoriums showing Tenet or Mulan to make up for the reduced-capacity limitations , ” Aron said , “ So we have a lot of arrows [ in ] our quiver to make sure that the seat capacity limitations don ’ t hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from local lawmakers .
The Wall Street Journal notes that although some states allowed theaters to open last month , key markets including Los Angeles and New York are being more cautious .
New York ’ s cinemas will only be allowed to open in the fourth phase of its reopening plan , but New York City is still in its first phase as of this week .

AMC has reiterated its hope to reopen the company’s cinemas in July after posting a staggering financial loss, The Wall Street Journal reports. On an earnings call yesterday, the company’s CEO Adam Aron said that he expects 97 percent of the company’s US locations to reopen by next month, after AMC was forced to close theaters in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. AMC operates over 1,000 theaters, and more than 11,000 screens, globally. Recent surveys, however, suggest that movie-goers aren’t ready to return in substantial numbers.
ACM relies entirely on public gatherings to make its money, posting a $2.2 billion net loss in the first quarter of the year. It made “virtually no revenue” in the last two weeks of March, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“We believe there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back into the world”
AMC has high hopes for July when it plans to reopen cinemas, thanks to the release of highly anticipated films like Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and Disney’s live-action Mulan remake. “We believe there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back into the world,” Aron said. His optimism, however, is tempered by a recent 8-K filing that warned of “substantial doubt” for continued operation should AMC theaters not successfully reopen within the company’s expected timeframe.
Recent surveys have cast doubt on how much of this “pent-up demand” there actually is. A survey of 2,200 US adults from Morning Consult, a data intelligence firm, reports that as of the beginning of June, just 22 percent of people said they’d be comfortable going to the movies. 33 percent said it would be six months or more before they’d feel comfortable going to the cinema, while just 14 percent said they’d be happy to make a visit next month.
Epidemiologists, perhaps unsurprisingly, appear even more cautious. A survey of 511 of the professionals conducted by The New York Times revealed that a majority (64 percent) don’t expect to attend large public gatherings like sporting events, concerts, or plays, for at least a year.
There are at least some signs that audiences could be ready to return to cinemas. AMC’s CEO said that attendance had been strong at the three theaters the company has re-opened in Norway recently. These have had to operate at 25 percent capacity to allow for social distancing, but the company sold 83 percent of its available seats over the weekend. “Taking all things into consideration,” the CEO said, “these three theaters wound up doing about the same business this weekend this year as they did for the same weekend last year.”
Going forward, the CEO said that the company would show popular films across more screens to make up for the lack of seats. “We’ll double or triple or quadruple the number of auditoriums showing Tenet or Mulan to make up for the reduced-capacity limitations,” Aron said, “So we have a lot of arrows [in] our quiver to make sure that the seat capacity limitations don’t hurt us.”


theverge--2020-06-10--Reddit names Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel as Alexis Ohanian’s replacement

Reddit has named Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel to its board of directors .
In addition to running the well-known accelerator , Seibel also co-founded the live streaming company Justin.tv before it transformed into Twitch .
Justin.tv was an early recipient of Y Combinator seed money through the accelerator ’ s startup fund , as was Reddit .
( Seibel also co-founded Socialcam and sold it to Autodesk in 2012 . )
Seibel is replacing co-founder and board member Alexis Ohanian , who stepped down from the company ’ s board of directors last week and asked to be replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Y Combinator ’ s first black partner prior to becoming CEO , and he has supported a number of initiatives to increase diversity in the tech industry , including BlackTech4BlackLives and Black Tech Weekend .
“ I want to thank Steve , Alexis , and the entire Reddit board for this opportunity .
I ’ ve known Steve and Alexis since 2007 and have been a Reddit user ever since , ” Seibel said in a statement .
“ Over this period of time I ’ ve watched Reddit become part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m excited to help provide advice and guidance as Reddit continues to grow and tackle the challenges of bringing community and belonging to a broader audience.
” Reddit is taking steps to address racism and hate speech on its platform Ohanian resigned from Reddit , where he was a board member but not involved in day-to-day operations , amid a broader conversation about the platform ’ s stance on racism and hate speech and ways to advance diversity and combat racial injustice in the tech industry .
The conversation began following Reddit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing protests against police brutality and racism , in which the chief executive said the Reddit community does “ not tolerate hate , racism , and violence.
” The note sparked criticism from former CEO Ellen Pao , who characterized Huffman ’ s words as hypocritical .
“ So much of what is happening now lies at your feet , ” Pao said of Huffman ’ s failure to ban hate speech and moderate or remove its more toxic communities .
“ You don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and monetizes white supremacy and hate all day long.
” Numerous subreddits went dark earlier in the week to honor Floyd and to further protest Reddit ’ s handling of racism .
Many moderators of prominent subreddits echoed Pao ’ s comments and called out Huffman for failing to take action against hateful communities like the pro-Trump subreddit r/The_Donald and others .
“ Reddit has harbored racists as policy for years , ” read a note posted by the moderators of r/NFL .
( For a deeper look at Reddit ’ s controversial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated column about it in The Verge ’ s Interface here . )
Ohanian didn ’ t comment on his co-founder ’ s tenure upon departing from the board .
But he did say that leaving the board “ is long overdue to do the right thing.
” He went on to say he would use his future gains on Reddit stock “ to serve the black community , chiefly to curb racial hate , ” and that he was donating $ 1 million to former NFL player and activist Colin Kaepernick ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Huffman acknowledged the criticism late last week in a separate note announcing Ohanian ’ s decision to step down .
“ Earlier this week , I wrote an email to our company addressing this crisis and a few ways Reddit will respond .
When we shared it , many of the responses said something like , ‘ How can a company that has faced racism from users on its own platform over the years credibly take such a position ?
’ Huffman said .
“ These questions , which I know are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and which I take to heart , are really a statement : There is an unacceptable gap between our beliefs as people and a company , and what you see in our content policy.
” Huffman said at the time that in addition to honoring Ohanian ’ s wishes to be replaced by a black candidate , the company would also update its content policy to “ include a vision for Reddit and its communities to aspire to , a statement on hate , the context for the rules , and a principle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used as a weapon.
” Reddit plans to do so in the coming months after gathering moderator feedback .

Reddit has named Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel to its board of directors. In addition to running the well-known accelerator, Seibel also co-founded the live streaming company Justin.tv before it transformed into Twitch. Justin.tv was an early recipient of Y Combinator seed money through the accelerator’s startup fund, as was Reddit. (Seibel also co-founded Socialcam and sold it to Autodesk in 2012.)
“I want to thank Steve, Alexis, and the entire Reddit board for this opportunity. I’ve known Steve and Alexis since 2007 and have been a Reddit user ever since,” Seibel said in a statement. “Over this period of time I’ve watched Reddit become part of the core fabric of the internet and I’m excited to help provide advice and guidance as Reddit continues to grow and tackle the challenges of bringing community and belonging to a broader audience.”
Reddit is taking steps to address racism and hate speech on its platform
Ohanian resigned from Reddit, where he was a board member but not involved in day-to-day operations, amid a broader conversation about the platform’s stance on racism and hate speech and ways to advance diversity and combat racial injustice in the tech industry. The conversation began following Reddit CEO Steve Huffman’s post addressing the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing protests against police brutality and racism, in which the chief executive said the Reddit community does “not tolerate hate, racism, and violence.”
The note sparked criticism from former CEO Ellen Pao, who characterized Huffman’s words as hypocritical. “So much of what is happening now lies at your feet,” Pao said of Huffman’s failure to ban hate speech and moderate or remove its more toxic communities. “You don’t get to say BLM when reddit nurtures and monetizes white supremacy and hate all day long.”
Numerous subreddits went dark earlier in the week to honor Floyd and to further protest Reddit’s handling of racism. Many moderators of prominent subreddits echoed Pao’s comments and called out Huffman for failing to take action against hateful communities like the pro-Trump subreddit r/The_Donald and others. “Reddit has harbored racists as policy for years,” read a note posted by the moderators of r/NFL. (For a deeper look at Reddit’s controversial history of volunteer-based moderation, read the dedicated column about it in The Verge’s Interface here.)
Ohanian didn’t comment on his co-founder’s tenure upon departing from the board. But he did say it is “long overdue to do the right thing,” referencing his decision to step down. He went on to say he would use his future gains on Reddit stock “to serve the black community, chiefly to curb racial hate,” and that he was donating $1 million to former NFL player and activist Colin Kaepernick’s education organization, Know Your Rights Camp.
Huffman acknowledged the criticism late last week in a separate note announcing Ohanian’s decision to step down. “Earlier this week, I wrote an email to our company addressing this crisis and a few ways Reddit will respond. When we shared it, many of the responses said something like, ‘How can a company that has faced racism from users on its own platform over the years credibly take such a position?’ Huffman said. “These questions, which I know are coming from a place of real pain and which I take to heart, are really a statement: There is an unacceptable gap between our beliefs as people and a company, and what you see in our content policy.”


theverge--2020-06-10--Twitter’s version of Stories rolls out in India

“ Fleets , ” Twitter ’ s take on Snapchat/Instagram-style stories , just became available in India .
The feature is gradually rolling out around the world ; after initially launching in Brazil , fleets came to Italy last month .
“ India is important for Twitter since it is one of our largest and fastest-growing audience markets globally , ” Twitter ’ s India managing director Manish Maheshwari said in a statement .
“ We are excited to bring the Fleets experiment to India and make it one of the first three countries in the world to experience this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in India , we ’ ll learn how adding a new mode of conversation changes the way Indians engage on Twitter .
It ’ ll also be interesting to see if it further amplifies the diversity of usage by allowing people to share what they ’ re thinking in a way that is light-touch and light-hearted.
” It ’ s not clear when Twitter will give fleets a worldwide release .
The stories format is ubiquitous in social media apps these days , having been attempted by services as disparate as YouTube , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is arguably a more natural fit for Twitter , but the company has been slow to adopt it .

“Fleets,” Twitter’s take on Snapchat/Instagram-style stories, just became available in India. The feature is gradually rolling out around the world; after initially launching in Brazil, fleets came to Italy last month.
“India is important for Twitter since it is one of our largest and fastest-growing audience markets globally,” Twitter’s India managing director Manish Maheshwari said in a statement. “We are excited to bring the Fleets experiment to India and make it one of the first three countries in the world to experience this new product.”
“From the test in India, we’ll learn how adding a new mode of conversation changes the way Indians engage on Twitter. It’ll also be interesting to see if it further amplifies the diversity of usage by allowing people to share what they’re thinking in a way that is light-touch and light-hearted.”


theverge--2020-06-10--Amazon launches two new Kindle Paperwhite colors

Amazon ’ s Kindle Paperwhite now comes in two new colors , plum and and sage ( via The Digital @ @ @ @ @ the Paperwhite is now available in four different colors — when Amazon revised the Paperwhite @ @ @ @ @ could only get it in black , and Amazon introduced “ twilight blue ” last @ @ @ @ @ for a non-black Paperwhite , you should know that only the back of the device @ @ @ @ @ .
The front bezels will be black no matter which color option you pick .
@ @ @ @ @ to the Paperwhite brought some nice new additions , including waterproofing and support for Audible @ @ @ @ @ been exclusive to the Amazon ’ s top-end Kindle Oasis .
But it would have @ @ @ @ @ make more changes to the Paperwhite in addition to launching the new colors .
The @ @ @ @ @ are available to order now from Amazon .
They start at at $ 129.99 for @ @ @ @ @ 159.99 for 32GB of storage .

Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite now comes in two new colors, plum and and sage (via The Digital Reader). That means the Paperwhite is now available in four different colors — when Amazon revised the Paperwhite in November 2018, you could only get it in black, and Amazon introduced “twilight blue” last July.
If you opt for a non-black Paperwhite, you should know that only the back of the device will be your chosen color. The front bezels will be black no matter which color option you pick.
Amazon’s 2018 revision to the Paperwhite brought some nice new additions, including waterproofing and support for Audible audiobooks, which had previously been exclusive to the Amazon’s top-end Kindle Oasis. But it would have been nice to see Amazon make more changes to the Paperwhite in addition to launching the new colors.


theverge--2020-06-10--Grubhub spurns Uber and will merge with Europe’s Just Eat Takeaway

After nearly a month of back-and-forth , Grubhub has walked away from a potential acquisition from Uber and will instead merge with European company Just Eat Takeaway .
The all-stock deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021 .
Uber was looking to buy Grubhub because the combined food ordering and delivery service would have rivaled , or maybe even surpassed , market leader DoorDash .
An acquisition of Grubhub — which owns Eat24 , Seamless , and MenuPages — would have been so significant that it was already drawing regulatory heat .
Shortly after talks between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , a handful of US Senators alerted the country ’ s top antitrust officials asking for the potential deal to be scrutinized .
Possible antitrust trouble was one reason Uber reportedly balked in recent days .
Grubhub ’ s unsavory business practices — like using misleading websites and phone numbers in order to charge burdensome , even predatory fees , or setting up websites for restaurants that aren ’ t even on its platform — was another .
That said , Uber still apparently believes that its food delivery business needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profit .
“ Like ridesharing , the food delivery industry will need consolidation in order to reach its full potential for consumers and restaurants , ” an Uber spokesperson told CNBC .
“ That doesn ’ t mean we are interested in doing any deal , at any price , with any player.
” Grubhub was also reportedly spooked by the mounting pressure from US lawmakers .
The deal with Just Eat Takeaway will still likely draw some scrutiny , just not as much .
Just Eat Takeaway is itself the result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eat and Dutch company Takeaway.com .
“ Combining the companies that started it all will mean that two trailblazing start-ups have become a clear global leader , ” Matt Maloney , Grubhub ’ s CEO , said in a statement .
“ We share a focus on a hybrid model that places extra value on volume at independent restaurants , driving profitable growth.
” “ Both of us have a firm belief that only businesses with high-quality and profitable growth will sustain in our sector , ” Just Eat Takeaway CEO Jitse Groen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am excited that we can create the world ’ s largest food delivery business outside China .
We look forward to welcoming Matt and his team to our company and working with them in the future .
”

After nearly a month of back-and-forth, Grubhub has walked away from a potential acquisition from Uber and will instead merge with European company Just Eat Takeaway. The all-stock deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.
Uber was looking to buy Grubhub because the combined food ordering and delivery service would have rivaled, or maybe even surpassed, market leader DoorDash. An acquisition of Grubhub — which owns Eat24, Seamless, and MenuPages — would have been so significant that it was already drawing regulatory heat. Shortly after talks between the two companies were made public in May, a handful of US Senators alerted the country’s top antitrust officials asking for the potential deal to be scrutinized.
That said, Uber still apparently believes that its food delivery business needs to get bigger in order to turn a profit. “Like ridesharing, the food delivery industry will need consolidation in order to reach its full potential for consumers and restaurants,” an Uber spokesperson told CNBC. “That doesn’t mean we are interested in doing any deal, at any price, with any player.”
Grubhub was also reportedly spooked by the mounting pressure from US lawmakers. The deal with Just Eat Takeaway will still likely draw some scrutiny, just not as much. Just Eat Takeaway is itself the result of a recent merger between British service Just Eat and Dutch company Takeaway.com.
“Combining the companies that started it all will mean that two trailblazing start-ups have become a clear global leader,” Matt Maloney, Grubhub’s CEO, said in a statement. “We share a focus on a hybrid model that places extra value on volume at independent restaurants, driving profitable growth.”


theverge--2020-06-10--Amazon bans police from using its facial recognition technology for the next year

Amazon is announcing a one-year moratorium on allowing law enforcement to use its controversial Rekognition facial recognition platform , the e-commerce giant said on Wednesday .
The news comes just two days after IBM said it would no longer offer , develop , or research facial recognition technology , citing potential human rights and privacy abuses and research indicating facial recognition tech , despite the advances provided by artificial intelligence , remains biased along lines of age , gender , race , and ethnicity .
Much of the foundational work showing the flaws of modern facial recognition tech with regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buolamwini , a researcher at the MIT Media Lab , and Timnit Gebru , a member at Microsoft Research .
Buolamwini and Gebry co-authored a widely cited 2018 paper that found error rates for facial recognition systems from major tech companies , including IBM and Microsoft , for identifying darker-skinned individuals were dozens of percentage points higher than when identifying white-skinned individuals .
The issues lie in part with the data sets used to train the systems , which can be overwhelmingly male and white , according to a report from The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules.
” In a separate 2019 study , Buolamwini and co-author Deborah Raji analyzed Rekognition and found that Amazon ’ s system too had significant issues identifying the gender of darker-skinned individuals , as well as mistaking darker-skinned women for men .
The system worked with a near-zero error rate when analyzing images of lighter-skinned people , the study found .
Amazon tried to undermine the findings , but Buolamwini posted a lengthy and detailed response to Medium , in which she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far has been one of denial , deflection , and delay .
We can not rely on Amazon to police itself or provide unregulated and unproven technology to police or government agencies.
” Her and Raji ’ s findings were later backed up by a group of dozens of AI researchers who penned an open letter saying Rekognition was flawed and should not be in the hands of law enforcement .
Amazon did not give a concrete reason for the decision beyond calling for federal regulation of the tech , although the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rights organizations dedicated to missing and exploited children and combating human trafficking .
The unspoken context here of course is the death of George Floyd , a black man killed by former Minnesota police officers , and ongoing protests around the US and the globe against racism and systemic police brutality .
It seems as if Amazon decided police can not be trusted to use the technology responsibly , although the company has never disclosed just how many police departments do actually use the tech .
As of last summer , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon and one in Florida — were actively using Rekognition , and Orlando has since stopped .
A much more widely used facial recognition system is that of Clearview AI , a secretive company now facing down a number of privacy lawsuits after scraping social media sites for photos and building a more than 3 billion-photo database it sells to law enforcement .
In a statement given to The Verge , Clearview AI CEO Hoan Ton-That doubled down on the technology as an effective law enforcement tool .
“ While Amazon , Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the marketplace , Clearview AI believes in the mission of responsibly used facial recognition to protect children , victims of financial fraud and other crimes that afflict our communities , ” he said .
Ton-That says Clearview ’ s technology “ actually works , ” but that facial recognition is “ not intended to be used as a surveillance tool relating to protests or under any other circumstances.
” Beyond studies calling into question its effectiveness , Amazon has faced constant criticism over the years for selling access to Rekognition to police department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ACLU , and lawmakers , all of which have cited concerns about the lack of oversight into how the tech is used in investigations and potential built-in bias that makes it unreliable and ripe for discrimination and other abuses .
Even after employees voiced concern about the tech in 2018 , Amazon ’ s cloud chief Andrew Jassy said the company would continue to sell it to police .
Only through media reports and activists , as well as the work of researchers like Buolamwini , highlighting the pitfalls of police use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments begun discontinuing contracts with Amazon .
We ’ re implementing a one-year moratorium on police use of Amazon ’ s facial recognition technology .
We will continue to allow organizations like Thorn , the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children , and Marinus Analytics to use Amazon Rekognition to help rescue human trafficking victims and reunite missing children with their families .
We ’ ve advocated that governments should put in place stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of facial recognition technology , and in recent days , Congress appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We hope this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules , and we stand ready to help if requested .
Update June 10th , 7:17PM ET : Added additional information around studies finding evidence of racial bias in Amazon Rekognition and other facial recognition systems .

Amazon is announcing a one-year moratorium on allowing law enforcement to use its controversial Rekognition facial recognition platform, the e-commerce giant said on Wednesday.
The news comes just two days after IBM said it would no longer offer, develop, or research facial recognition technology, citing potential human rights and privacy abuses and research indicating facial recognition tech, despite the advances provided by artificial intelligence, remains biased along lines of age, gender, race, and ethnicity.
Much of the foundational work showing the flaws of modern facial recognition tech with regard to racial bias is thanks to Joy Buolamwini, a researcher at the MIT Media Lab, and Timnit Gebru, a member at Microsoft Research. Buolamwini and Gebry co-authored a widely cited 2018 paper that found error rates for facial recognition systems from major tech companies, including IBM and Microsoft, for identifying darker-skinned individuals were dozens of percentage points higher than when identifying white-skinned individuals. The issues lie in part with the data sets used to train the systems, which can be overwhelmingly male and white, according to a report from The New York Times.
“We hope this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules.”
In a separate 2019 study, Buolamwini and co-author Deborah Raji analyzed Rekognition and found that Amazon’s system too had significant issues identifying the gender of darker-skinned individuals, as well as mistaking darker-skinned women for men. The system worked with a near-zero error rate when analyzing images of lighter-skinned people, the study found.
Amazon tried to undermine the findings, but Buolamwini posted a lengthy and detailed response to Medium, in which she says, “Amazon’s approach thus far has been one of denial, deflection, and delay. We cannot rely on Amazon to police itself or provide unregulated and unproven technology to police or government agencies.” Her and Raji’s findings were later backed up by a group of dozens of AI researchers who penned an open letter saying Rekognition was flawed and should not be in the hands of law enforcement.
Amazon did not give a concrete reason for the decision beyond calling for federal regulation of the tech, although the company says it will continue providing the software to rights organizations dedicated to missing and exploited children and combating human trafficking. The unspoken context here of course is the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by former Minnesota police officers, and ongoing protests around the US and the globe against racism and systemic police brutality.
It seems as if Amazon decided police cannot be trusted to use the technology responsibly, although the company has never disclosed just how many police departments do actually use the tech. As of last summer, it appeared like only two departments— one in Oregon and one in Florida — were actively using Rekognition, and Orlando has since stopped. A much more widely used facial recognition system is that of Clearview AI, a secretive company now facing down a number of privacy lawsuits after scraping social media sites for photos and building a more than 3 billion-photo database it sells to law enforcement.
In a statement given to The Verge, Clearview AI CEO Hoan Ton-That doubled down on the technology as an effective law enforcement tool. “While Amazon, Google, and IBM have decided to exit the marketplace, Clearview AI believes in the mission of responsibly used facial recognition to protect children, victims of financial fraud and other crimes that afflict our communities,” he said. Ton-That says Clearview’s technology “actually works,” but that facial recognition is “not intended to be used as a surveillance tool relating to protests or under any other circumstances.”
Beyond studies calling into question its effectiveness, Amazon has faced constant criticism over the years for selling access to Rekognition to police department from activists, civil rights organizations like the ACLU, and lawmakers, all of which have cited concerns about the lack of oversight into how the tech is used in investigations and potential built-in bias that makes it unreliable and ripe for discrimination and other abuses.
Even after employees voiced concern about the tech in 2018, Amazon’s cloud chief Andrew Jassy said the company would continue to sell it to police. Only through media reports and activists, as well as the work of researchers like Buolamwini, highlighting the pitfalls of police use of facial recognition tech like Rekognition have departments begun discontinuing contracts with Amazon.
Here’s Amazon’s full note on the one-year ban:
We’re implementing a one-year moratorium on police use of Amazon’s facial recognition technology. We will continue to allow organizations like Thorn, the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Marinus Analytics to use Amazon Rekognition to help rescue human trafficking victims and reunite missing children with their families. We’ve advocated that governments should put in place stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of facial recognition technology, and in recent days, Congress appears ready to take on this challenge. We hope this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules, and we stand ready to help if requested.
Update June 10th, 7:17PM ET: Added additional information around studies finding evidence of racial bias in Amazon Rekognition and other facial recognition systems.


theverge--2020-06-10--Tesla becomes most valuable automaker as more workers contract COVID-19

Tesla ’ s stock price hit $ 1,000 for the first time on Wednesday , meaning the Silicon Valley company has now passed Toyota in market capitalization and is the most valuable automaker in the world by that metric .
This comes as at least six Tesla employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in California since CEO Elon Musk reopened the company ’ s facilities there last month — initially in violation of stay-home orders , and then with the blessing of local officials — according to new reports from The Washington Post and Electrek .
An employee at Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel factory also tested positive for COVID-19 after that facility reopened , as The Verge previously reported .
Tesla employed 48,000 people worldwide at the end of 2019 .
It ’ s unclear how many have tested positive for COVID-19 since the outbreak began .
The company has not shared that information , and — like other automakers — is not actively testing its employees in the US as part of the return-to-work guidelines it published last month .
Instead , Tesla is putting the onus on its workers to get tested if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve come in contact with someone who has COVID-19 .
At least four workers at the company ’ s US facilities ( including one Panasonic worker ) tested positive before they shut down in March , according to previous reports .
Tesla and other automakers aren ’ t testing their employees Other automakers are dealing with new COVID-19 cases , too .
And as the country appears to be facing an earlier-than-expected “ second wave ” of the pandemic thanks to relaxed restrictions , it ’ s a problem that is likely only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
In the case of those other automakers , the employees are represented by a union that can at least exert some pressure on the companies to disclose a rash of positive cases .
Tesla ’ s workforce is not unionized , and so it ’ s really just up to the company or local officials in Alameda County to inform the public if there ’ s any spread that can be connected to the workforce .
But the relationship between Tesla and the county is frayed .
Musk and Tesla fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factory open in March , arguing to local officials that the company was considered part of the “ national critical infrastructure ” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security .
The company had just started deliveries of its fifth vehicle , the Model Y SUV , which is expected to become as popular as or more popular than the Model 3 sedan .
But Tesla ultimately acquiesced and shut down the Fremont , California factory one week after the local stay-home order went into place .
At the same time , Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowest point for the year so far .
Tesla ’ s stock had hit an all-time high early in the year when it crossed $ 900 in February , buoyed by record sales in 2019 and optimism about the early results of its new vehicle factory in China .
But the price fell all the way to the mid- $ 300 mark in March , roughly tracking with the overall stock market ’ s reaction to the novel coronavirus ’ s rapid spread throughout the United States .
Elon Musk is good at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals Musk spent the next month and a half spreading misinformation about the virus , downplaying the threat it presents , and called the stay-home orders unconstitutional and “ fascist.
” The company furloughed thousands of workers during the shutdowns at Tesla ’ s three US factories .
And then , as the first few cities and states around the country started to loosen restrictions in early May , Musk had Tesla sue Alameda County over its stay-home order and start making cars again in violation of that order .
The company brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those workers , and the lawsuit was ultimately dropped after local officials approved of Tesla ’ s reopening .
The company ’ s stock price has rallied in a big way since that March low point .
In a sense , that ’ s no surprise , since the overall stock market is booming again to the disbelief of many .
But Tesla ’ s own recent boom — across this last week , especially — may have more to do with a big uptick in new car sales in China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Semi will finally go into production , and hype about the company ’ s upcoming battery breakthrough .
It ’ s also not out of the question that the stock price has been bolstered by the milestone that Musk ’ s other company , SpaceX , just accomplished when it sent humans into space for the first time .
Tesla also benefits by being more than just an automaker — a paradigm shift to which other automakers have struggled to adapt .
One of Musk ’ s greatest accomplishments is that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus their attention away from any perceived short-term turbulence and onto his long-term goals for the company .
This means that news like Tesla losing a key executive who made the factory in China possible , or contradictions like how the company said just a few weeks ago that the Semi was delayed to 2021 , are less likely to become millstones weighing on the stock .
It also means that Tesla ’ s stock price run probably won ’ t be stopped by the novel coronavirus creeping further into its workforce .

Tesla’s stock price hit $1,000 for the first time on Wednesday, meaning the Silicon Valley company has now passed Toyota in market capitalization and is the most valuable automaker in the world by that metric.
This comes as at least six Tesla employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in California since CEO Elon Musk reopened the company’s facilities there last month — initially in violation of stay-home orders, and then with the blessing of local officials — according to new reports from The Washington Post and Electrek. An employee at Tesla’s Buffalo, New York solar panel factory also tested positive for COVID-19 after that facility reopened, as The Verge previously reported.
Tesla employed 48,000 people worldwide at the end of 2019. It’s unclear how many have tested positive for COVID-19 since the outbreak began. The company has not shared that information, and — like other automakers — is not actively testing its employees in the US as part of the return-to-work guidelines it published last month. Instead, Tesla is putting the onus on its workers to get tested if they feel symptomatic or believe they’ve come in contact with someone who has COVID-19. At least four workers at the company’s US facilities (including one Panasonic worker) tested positive before they shut down in March, according to previous reports.
Tesla and other automakers aren’t testing their employees
Other automakers are dealing with new COVID-19 cases, too. And as the country appears to be facing an earlier-than-expected “second wave” of the pandemic thanks to relaxed restrictions, it’s a problem that is likely only going to get worse for all of them. In the case of those other automakers, the employees are represented by a union that can at least exert some pressure on the companies to disclose a rash of positive cases. Tesla’s workforce is not unionized, and so it’s really just up to the company or local officials in Alameda County to inform the public if there’s any spread that can be connected to the workforce. But the relationship between Tesla and the county is frayed.
Musk and Tesla fought to keep the company’s California factory open in March, arguing to local officials that the company was considered part of the “national critical infrastructure” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security. The company had just started deliveries of its fifth vehicle, the Model Y SUV, which is expected to become as popular as or more popular than the Model 3 sedan. But Tesla ultimately acquiesced and shut down the Fremont, California factory one week after the local stay-home order went into place.
At the same time, Tesla’s stock price was at its lowest point for the year so far. Tesla’s stock had hit an all-time high early in the year when it crossed $900 in February, buoyed by record sales in 2019 and optimism about the early results of its new vehicle factory in China. But the price fell all the way to the mid-$300 mark in March, roughly tracking with the overall stock market’s reaction to the novel coronavirus’s rapid spread throughout the United States.
Elon Musk is good at keeping Tesla investors focused on his long-term goals
The company’s stock price has rallied in a big way since that March low point. In a sense, that’s no surprise, since the overall stock market is booming again to the disbelief of many. But Tesla’s own recent boom — across this last week, especially — may have more to do with a big uptick in new car sales in China, Musk’s teasing that the Tesla Semi will finally go into production, and hype about the company’s upcoming battery breakthrough. It’s also not out of the question that the stock price has been bolstered by the milestone that Musk’s other company, SpaceX, just accomplished when it sent humans into space for the first time. Tesla also benefits by being more than just an automaker — a paradigm shift to which other automakers have struggled to adapt.


theverge--2020-06-10--Android 11 beta: all the announcements

Android 11 beta: all the announcements

Android 11 is on the way , bringing a bunch of new changes and features for phones and tablets .
@ @ @ @ @ the beta during a reveal event on June 3rd , but the company delayed and @ @ @ @ @ favor of a quieter announcement .
The public beta was released a week later , @ @ @ @ @ was launched in February .
The 11th major Android update includes some big features , @ @ @ @ @ for text messages , better 5G support , and improved privacy features .
The update @ @ @ @ @ foldable smartphones , optimizing for the growing device category , and a new power button @ @ @ @ @ payment options and smart home controls .

Android 11 is on the way, bringing a bunch of new changes and features for phones and tablets. Google originally planned to release the beta during a reveal event on June 3rd, but the company delayed and ultimately canceled the event in favor of a quieter announcement. The public beta was released a week later, following a developer preview that was launched in February.


theverge--2020-06-10--Twitter would like you to actually read stories before you retweet them

On Wednesday , Twitter announced that it will begin testing a new feature that will prompt users to think before they tweet articles they haven ’ t read .
This test is currently limited to Android users in English .
If a user decides to retweet an article before reading it , Twitter may prompt them to open it before they do so .
Twitter did not say when it plans to bring the feature to additional operating systems .
“ Sharing an article can spark conversation , so you may want to read it before you Tweet it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote informed discussion , we ’ re testing a new prompt on Android — when you Retweet an article that you haven ’ t opened on Twitter , we may ask if you ’ d like to open it first.
” This test is just the latest from Twitter in an effort to curb misinformation and encourage meaningful discussions on the platform .
Last month , Twitter launched a test that allows users to limit who can reply to their tweets on Android , iOS , and the company ’ s web app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users are able to restrict replies to everyone , people they follow , or people they mention .
In recent months , Twitter has rolled out additional features like the ability to hide specific replies to tweets .
It is also testing a cleaner interface for threaded conversations on the platform .

On Wednesday, Twitter announced that it will begin testing a new feature that will prompt users to think before they tweet articles they haven’t read.
This test is currently limited to Android users in English. If a user decides to retweet an article before reading it, Twitter may prompt them to open it before they do so. Twitter did not say when it plans to bring the feature to additional operating systems.
“Sharing an article can spark conversation, so you may want to read it before you Tweet it,” Twitter said. “To help promote informed discussion, we’re testing a new prompt on Android — when you Retweet an article that you haven’t opened on Twitter, we may ask if you’d like to open it first.”


theverge--2020-06-10--Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S20 has mmWave 5G but less RAM

Samsung released a new model of the Galaxy S20 with support for Verizon ’ s Ultra Wideband millimeter-wave 5G network last week , but it turns out the device includes some compromises over the standard model .
As spotted by Digital Trends , the Galaxy S20 5G UW has 8GB of RAM , which is 4GB less than the standard Galaxy S20 .
The Verizon model also does not include a microSD card slot , which allows owners to expand the phone ’ s storage capacity .
“ We had to make certain design and hardware decisions to provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point as other S20 models , ” a Samsung spokesperson told Digital Trends .
The Galaxy S20 5G UW costs $ 999.99 , the same price as the Galaxy S20 .
The Samsung Galaxy S20 line launched in March , and it was the first line of mainstream 5G smartphones .
Though the standard S20 includes 5G support , only the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra included support for faster mmWave connections , on which Verizon ’ s 5G network is based .
That meant the entry-level S20 model couldn ’ t access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verizon later worked with Samsung to develop this new model , which includes mmWave support but at the expense of other features .
The standard Galaxy S20 can still be used on Verizon ’ s network , but it only supports LTE .
My colleague Dieter Bohn pointed out in his review that while the Samsung Galaxy S20 had good battery life and a high refresh rate screen , the inclusion of 5G did not justify the hefty price tags for the S20 line .

Samsung released a new model of the Galaxy S20 with support for Verizon’s Ultra Wideband millimeter-wave 5G network last week, but it turns out the device includes some compromises over the standard model.
As spotted by Digital Trends, the Galaxy S20 5G UW has 8GB of RAM, which is 4GB less than the standard Galaxy S20. The Verizon model also does not include a microSD card slot, which allows owners to expand the phone’s storage capacity. “We had to make certain design and hardware decisions to provide a device with the form factor and price point as other S20 models,” a Samsung spokesperson told Digital Trends. The Galaxy S20 5G UW costs $999.99, the same price as the Galaxy S20.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 line launched in March, and it was the first line of mainstream 5G smartphones. Though the standard S20 includes 5G support, only the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra included support for faster mmWave connections, on which Verizon’s 5G network is based. That meant the entry-level S20 model couldn’t access 5G on Verizon’s network. Verizon later worked with Samsung to develop this new model, which includes mmWave support but at the expense of other features. The standard Galaxy S20 can still be used on Verizon’s network, but it only supports LTE.


theverge--2020-06-10--Where is Google’s Pixel 4A?

Where is Google’s Pixel 4A?

Under normal circumstances , Google would have introduced its Pixel 4A smartphone by now .
Last year ’ s Pixel 3A and 3A XL upended what consumers could expect from a $ 400 phone — especially in terms of camera performance .
The company aggressively advertised that strength by comparing its midrange device to Apple ’ s pricey iPhones , which ( at the time ) couldn ’ t compare to Pixels when it came to low-light photography .
Selling a great camera with Google ’ s excellent software at a price under $ 500 turned out to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed that the Pixel 3A and 3A XL are among the more successful Google-branded phones to date .
They were a bright spot between sluggish sales of the Pixel 3 and more recently the Pixel 4 .
( Last month , The Information published a report that said Google hardware boss Rick Osterloh wasn ’ t altogether pleased with how the company ’ s latest flagship smartphone turned out . )
So there ’ s a lot riding on the Pixel 4A to carry forward that reputation and success .
With Google I/O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Google was left without the obvious , opportune moment to announce it .
A month later , today ’ s Android 11 announcements from Google came and went without any mention of the Pixel 4A .
Recent rumors have pegged a release for sometime in July , which would be just three months ahead of Google ’ s traditional October hardware event .
We ’ re not living in ordinary times at the moment , so who knows how Google will approach the fall cycle ?
But other companies have continued shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple with its second-generation iPhone SE .
That , and other midrange devices like Samsung ’ s Galaxy A51 , are the most daunting challengers that the Pixel 4A faces — and it ’ s not even in the mix yet .
The 4A has strong points aside from its camera ; the all-screen design looks a lot more modern than the iPhone SE ’ s display , though it ’ s less of a standout in the Android world .
What we know about the Pixel 4A As always , Google has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Pixel 4A ahead of announcement .
Full specifications , renders , images of prototype Pixel 4A devices , and camera samples have all leaked out over the last several months .
Even the phone ’ s new wallpapers are already available .
In April , 9to5Google published a detailed rundown on the hardware : • Same video recording capabilities as Pixel 4 ( max of 4K at 30fps ) No real surprises there , but it ’ s worth nothing that Google has apparently switched to Universal Flash Storage instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside the Pixel 3A and 3A XL .
And it ’ s nice to see the Pixel 4A receiving the same 6GB of RAM as the Pixel 4 to avoid any multitasking frustrations .
What about the Pixel 4A XL ?
There ’ ve been rumors that Google has either outright canceled or significantly postponed the larger Pixel 4A XL .
It sounds like the phone is a goner .
Aside from the larger , higher-res screen , it would have differed from the regular model by including a larger battery and adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this would ’ ve been a telephoto lens like the Pixel 4 , even though myself and many others wish Google had opted for an ultrawide camera instead .
Hopefully the Pixel 5 gets that right .
How much will the Pixel 4A cost ?
Google is expected to at least match the $ 399 starting point of last year ’ s Pixel 3A .
But 9to5Google ’ s Stephen Hall has said the company might go even lower — down to $ 349 — so it can get that pricing advantage over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the first step is actually announcing the thing .

Under normal circumstances, Google would have introduced its Pixel 4A smartphone by now. Last year’s Pixel 3A and 3A XL upended what consumers could expect from a $400 phone — especially in terms of camera performance. The company aggressively advertised that strength by comparing its midrange device to Apple’s pricey iPhones, which (at the time) couldn’t compare to Pixels when it came to low-light photography.
Selling a great camera with Google’s excellent software at a price under $500 turned out to be a smart recipe. It’s generally believed that the Pixel 3A and 3A XL are among the more successful Google-branded phones to date. They were a bright spot between sluggish sales of the Pixel 3 and more recently the Pixel 4. (Last month, The Information published a report that said Google hardware boss Rick Osterloh wasn’t altogether pleased with how the company’s latest flagship smartphone turned out.)
So there’s a lot riding on the Pixel 4A to carry forward that reputation and success. With Google I/O 2020 canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Google was left without the obvious, opportune moment to announce it. A month later, today’s Android 11 announcements from Google came and went without any mention of the Pixel 4A.
Recent rumors have pegged a release for sometime in July, which would be just three months ahead of Google’s traditional October hardware event. We’re not living in ordinary times at the moment, so who knows how Google will approach the fall cycle? But other companies have continued shipping new products in recent months, including Apple with its second-generation iPhone SE. That, and other midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A51, are the most daunting challengers that the Pixel 4A faces — and it’s not even in the mix yet. The 4A has strong points aside from its camera; the all-screen design looks a lot more modern than the iPhone SE’s display, though it’s less of a standout in the Android world.
What we know about the Pixel 4A
As always, Google has done a terrible job keeping a lid on the Pixel 4A ahead of announcement. Full specifications, renders, images of prototype Pixel 4A devices, and camera samples have all leaked out over the last several months. Even the phone’s new wallpapers are already available. In April, 9to5Google published a detailed rundown on the hardware:
5.81-inch display (2340 x 1080 resolution)
Snapdragon 730
64GB or 128GB storage
6GB RAM
3,080mAh battery
12.2-megapixel rear camera
Same video recording capabilities as Pixel 4 (max of 4K at 30fps)
8-megapixel front-facing camera (hole-punch cutout)
Headphone jack
Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
No real surprises there, but it’s worth nothing that Google has apparently switched to Universal Flash Storage instead of the slower eMMC flash storage it put inside the Pixel 3A and 3A XL. And it’s nice to see the Pixel 4A receiving the same 6GB of RAM as the Pixel 4 to avoid any multitasking frustrations.
What about the Pixel 4A XL?
There’ve been rumors that Google has either outright canceled or significantly postponed the larger Pixel 4A XL. It sounds like the phone is a goner. Aside from the larger, higher-res screen, it would have differed from the regular model by including a larger battery and adding a secondary rear camera. Odds are this would’ve been a telephoto lens like the Pixel 4, even though myself and many others wish Google had opted for an ultrawide camera instead. Hopefully the Pixel 5 gets that right.
Image: Pigtou
How much will the Pixel 4A cost?
Google is expected to at least match the $399 starting point of last year’s Pixel 3A. But 9to5Google’s Stephen Hall has said the company might go even lower — down to $349 — so it can get that pricing advantage over the iPhone SE and other competitors.


theverge--2020-06-10--Facebook lifts ad ban on non-medical face masks

Facebook is partially lifting its advertising ban on face masks and will now allow third-party businesses to advertise cloth masks and other non-medical face coverings like bandanas , the company announced on Wednesday .
The company first instituted a site-wide ban on ads for all forms of face masks , including medical and respiratory masks , in March due to national shortages and concern for medical staff and other frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The ban was also designed to protect against scams , misleading marketing , and other abuses , as Facebook could not reasonably vet every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online marketplaces in early March .
As the spread of the novel coronavirus began accelerating throughout the US earlier this year , a surge in demand for cleaning products , face masks , and other household goods created a unique predicament for online ad markets and e-commerce companies .
Merchants have been found price gouging , making false health claims , and failing to deliver purchased goods , leading Amazon , Facebook , Google , and other companies to institute a number of bans and other measures to cut down on exploitative behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks , but not medical ones In April , the US Centers for Disease Control adjusted its face mask guidance — people are now advised to wear masks outdoors and in places where social distancing is difficult , like grocery stores .
As a result , Facebook is lifting the ban to make it easier for people to find and purchase cloth masks .
The ban remains in effect for medical and respiratory masks like the 3M-made N95 mask .
Just yesterday , 3M sued an Amazon Marketplace seller for selling fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ongoing issues plaguing medical face mask sales , which are now being tightly controlled by Federal Emergency Management Agency .
“ Many health authorities now advise wearing non-medical masks — and in some places masks are required for activities like taking public transportation or visiting a store — and we ’ ve seen people and businesses of all sizes working to fill this need , ” Facebook ’ s Rob Leathern , its director of product management , wrote in a blog post .
Facebook is still imposing some restrictions .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have accumulated at least a four-month history of advertising on Facebook to be approved to market masks .
It ’ s also restricting sellers in countries “ where we have seen high percentages of policy-violating ads promoting medical supplies during the temporary ban ” to selling only non-medical masks within the country the seller is located , Leathern explains .
The company is also maintaining its ban on any ads that make medical claims or any product marketed with health or COVID-19-related wording .
Primarily , that means the products that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other forms of face coverings made out of fabrics or reusable material .

Facebook is partially lifting its advertising ban on face masks and will now allow third-party businesses to advertise cloth masks and other non-medical face coverings like bandanas, the company announced on Wednesday.
The company first instituted a site-wide ban on ads for all forms of face masks, including medical and respiratory masks, in March due to national shortages and concern for medical staff and other frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban was also designed to protect against scams, misleading marketing, and other abuses, as Facebook could not reasonably vet every ad promoting face masks that began flooding online marketplaces in early March.
As the spread of the novel coronavirus began accelerating throughout the US earlier this year, a surge in demand for cleaning products, face masks, and other household goods created a unique predicament for online ad markets and e-commerce companies. Merchants have been found price gouging, making false health claims, and failing to deliver purchased goods, leading Amazon, Facebook, Google, and other companies to institute a number of bans and other measures to cut down on exploitative behavior.
Facebook says you can advertise cloth face masks, but not medical ones
In April, the US Centers for Disease Control adjusted its face mask guidance — people are now advised to wear masks outdoors and in places where social distancing is difficult, like grocery stores. As a result, Facebook is lifting the ban to make it easier for people to find and purchase cloth masks. The ban remains in effect for medical and respiratory masks like the 3M-made N95 mask. Just yesterday, 3M sued an Amazon Marketplace seller for selling fake N95 masks at inflated prices, illustrating the ongoing issues plaguing medical face mask sales, which are now being tightly controlled by Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“Many health authorities now advise wearing non-medical masks — and in some places masks are required for activities like taking public transportation or visiting a store — and we’ve seen people and businesses of all sizes working to fill this need,” Facebook’s Rob Leathern, its director of product management, wrote in a blog post.
Facebook is still imposing some restrictions. It says companies or independent merchants will need to have accumulated at least a four-month history of advertising on Facebook to be approved to market masks. It’s also restricting sellers in countries “where we have seen high percentages of policy-violating ads promoting medical supplies during the temporary ban” to selling only non-medical masks within the country the seller is located, Leathern explains.


theverge--2020-06-11--Of course Grado’s Hemp headphones cost $420

Grado is no stranger to building headphones out of weird and wonderful materials .
Alongside its regular excellent-sounding pairs , it ’ s made limited editions out of whiskey barrels ( with design help from Elijah Wood no less ) , wood from a yoghurt mill , and even the pistons of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle .
Now , it ’ s turning its attention to hemp , using it to produce a pair of Hemp Headphone Limited Edition cans costing , wait for it , $ 420 .
Puns are like farts : funny to make , potentially tragic to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Grado says , the headphones were a “ joint effort.
” “ Fine rolled , ” they ’ re a “ slow burn ” that you appreciate more as you listen .
To anyone who came across my own pun-laden take on a recent Animal Crossing update — I am sorry .
Anyway , according to Grado there are good reasons to build headphones out of hemp .
The highly compressed wood apparently contributes to a fuller sound , and the company says it ’ s specifically tuned its drivers to match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some more traditional maple in there as well , which Grado says balances out the sound signature .
Otherwise the limited edition headphones have a very similar design to the rest of Grado ’ s lineup .
The wired headphones are open-back , which means they should offer a more open sound ( at the expense of leaking audio into your surroundings ) .
And they ’ re handmade in Brooklyn , like the rest of the company ’ s lineup .
Grado isn ’ t the first company to have used hemp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which attempts to use responsibly-sourced materials in its products , uses reclaimed hemp in the fabric used across its products , including its headphones .
Grado ’ s limited edition Hemp Headphone is available to pre-order from its site now .

Grado is no stranger to building headphones out of weird and wonderful materials. Alongside its regular excellent-sounding pairs, it’s made limited editions out of whiskey barrels (with design help from Elijah Wood no less), wood from a yoghurt mill, and even the pistons of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Now, it’s turning its attention to hemp, using it to produce a pair of Hemp Headphone Limited Edition cans costing, wait for it, $420.
Puns are like farts: funny to make, potentially tragic to receive. “To be blunt,” Grado says, the headphones were a “joint effort.” “Fine rolled,” they’re a “slow burn” that you appreciate more as you listen. To anyone who came across my own pun-laden take on a recent Animal Crossing update — I am sorry.
“A slow burn,” according to Grado. Image: Grado
Anyway, according to Grado there are good reasons to build headphones out of hemp. The highly compressed wood apparently contributes to a fuller sound, and the company says it’s specifically tuned its drivers to match the material. There’s also some more traditional maple in there as well, which Grado says balances out the sound signature.
Otherwise the limited edition headphones have a very similar design to the rest of Grado’s lineup. The wired headphones are open-back, which means they should offer a more open sound (at the expense of leaking audio into your surroundings). And they’re handmade in Brooklyn, like the rest of the company’s lineup.
Grado isn’t the first company to have used hemp in its headphones. House of Marley, which attempts to use responsibly-sourced materials in its products, uses reclaimed hemp in the fabric used across its products, including its headphones.