What becomes of old (popular) Twitch channels, is Walmart getting into the virtual currency game, could 5G mean safer self-driving vehicles, and more … Based on Twitch’s terms of service, what can the company do with Ninja’s old Twitch channel? (Bhernardo Viana, Dot Esports) Facebook creates an AI assistant for…
Internet & Social Media Law Blog
The 5G-Enhanced Potential of Augmented Reality Comes with Interesting Legal Issues
In case you don’t know, William Gibson is the prescient science fiction author who effectively coined the terms “the matrix” and “cyberspace” as we currently use them, way back in the early 1980s. He also predicted augmented reality applications. In his 2007 novel, Spook Country, a character has taken to…
Rulemaking Effort Looks at “Emerging” and “Foundational” Technologies
Since January, Bureau of Industry (BIS) officials have been formulating an analytical framework for establishing controls on emerging technologies (which include biotechnology, artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, quantum information and sensing technology, additive manufacturing, and robotics). Recently on the Global Trade & Sanctions Law blog, colleagues Nancy A. Fischer, Stephan…
CCPA, GDPR and the Future of Cross-Device Tracking
Efforts to regulate cross-device tracking have increased since we last addressed the topic in 2017, following the release of the FTC’s Staff Report. Significant developments include the implementation and enforcement of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), and the fast-approaching implementation deadline for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).…
The “Commander-in-Tweet” Returns: When a Social Media Account Creates a Public Forum, Critics Get to Stay
Two years ago, we wrote about a possible First Amendment challenge involving Donald Trump’s practice of blocking certain Twitter users from his @realDonaldTrump account. While it was unclear at the time of our post whether the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University—an organization that uses strategic litigation to preserve…
News of Note for the Internet-Minded (7/12/19) – Non-Fungible Tokens, VR Aptitude Tests and Alexa Hears You!
Prime phishing day is upon us; Google hangs on to social media aspirations by a Shoelace; the prospects of Apple’s AR glasses get cloudy; and more … A new blockchain-based game that uses non-fungible tokens (NFTs) could shift the nature of ownership in collectible card games. (Mike Orcutt, MIT Technology…
The Three Biggest (Non-IP) Legal Issues Faced by Blockchain-Based Platform Technology Providers
For all the excitement and promise of blockchain-based technology, it’s vital to remember that the very “newness” of a technology can lead to issues of basic legal compatibility. Few if any technologies magically create their own regulatory framework whole cloth, after all. For this reason, technology providers wishing to use…
Be Careful that Bot Doesn’t Come Back to Bite You
Much like humans, bots come in all shapes and sizes. In social media networks, these bots can like what you post and even increase your followers. Companies use bots for all types of things—from booking a ride to giving makeup tutorials. Some bots can even solve your legal problems. Besides…
UK Privacy Regulator Takes Aim at the AdTech Industry
The UK Data Protection Authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has published an update report on privacy issues around real-time bidding (RTB) and programmatic advertising. The report is a progress update on the ICO’s investigation into the AdTech industry, which it says is one of its regulatory priorities. The ICO…
FDA Public Hearing on Regulation of CBD: Are Extract, Processing and Quality Control Technologies Potentially More Important than Ever in the Cannabis Industry?
On May 31, 2019 the FDA held a public hearing about cannabidiol (CBD) products. The day-long hearing saw comments and presentations from stakeholders ranging from nonprofit organizations like ASTM International to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, a food, beverage and consumer product trade association. Corporate entities in the cannabis industry also…