WSJ Tech News Briefing
Episodes
New Deepfake Detection Technique Developed
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A team of researchers from Facebook and Michigan State University say that even the sophisticated artificial-intelligence technology used to build dee...
Lina Khan, Critic of Big Tech, to Lead FTC
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
President Biden is tapping Columbia University professor Lina Khan to lead the Federal Trade Commission. Ms. Khan has been a vocal critic of Big Tech ...
New U.S. Strategy to Shut Out Chinese 5G Gear: More Carrot, Less Stick
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As next-generation 5G networks are rolled out, the U.S. government is ramping up restrictions on Chinese-made telecom equipment, which it sees as pote...
How the FBI Got Colonial Pipeline's Ransom Back
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, law enforcement said it had retrieved 64 of the 75 bitcoin Colonial Pipeline paid to hackers after a ransomware attack. The announcement ch...
Finding the Next Health Tech Unicorn
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the WSJ's recent virtual Tech Health event, SoftBank Senior Managing Partner Deep Nishar and former Apple CEO John Sculley spoke with reporter Rolf...
Google Health VP on the Company's Ventures in Healthcare
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the WSJ's virtual Tech Health event Wednesday, Google Health VP David Feinberg joined business editor Jamie Heller to discuss how Google has direct...
Apple's Privacy Moves Make Advertisers Anxious
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At WWDC this week, Apple introduced several features it said were meant to help protect users' privacy as they use their devices. But advertisers are ...
At WWDC, Apple Doubles Down on Privacy
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday, Apple kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, where it announced big updates to many of its core apps, many of which focused...
Facebook Suspends Trump for at Least Two Years
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After a decision from its Oversight Board last month, Facebook said it would suspend former President Donald Trump for two years, and that it would be...
Cyber Attacks Prompt Government Response
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Government officials are looking at ways to address the uptick in cyber attacks over the past year. Cybersecurity reporter David Uberti joins host Ama...
Dogecoin to Begin Trading on Coinbase Pro Today
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dogecoin has been on a tear this year, egged on by retail investors and tweets from influential advocates like Elon Musk. Now doge is set to begin tra...
Elon Musk's Starlink Could Get a Boost From German Subsidies
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Germany could become the first large nation to subsidize the use of consumer satellite internet services like those offered by Elon Musk's Starlink. G...
5G Rollout in the U.S. Has Been Anything But Fast. Why?
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Next-generation 5G networks are supposed to bring superfast download speeds, and possibly even enable the next wave of tech innovation. But in8he U.S....
Down With Constant Video Calls. Long Live Audio-Only Calls.
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Not every meeting in the remote-work era needs to be a video call. In fact, there's evidence that plain-old voice calls can be just as productive, if ...
Amazon to Buy MGM, Heating Up the Streaming Wars
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon reached a deal to buy the fabled Hollywood studio MGM for nearly $8.5 billion, including debt. The deal will give Amazon access to MGM's librar...
Germany Weighs Using New Powers to Target Google
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Germany's competition regulator is considering a move that would enable the regulator to order Google to make changes to business practices that are d...
Ransomware Negotiators Step In When Companies Are Hacked
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ransomware attacks that lock up a victim's systems have become more common. So have people who negotiate with the hackers on behalf of the victims. Ku...
Google AI Unit DeepMind Tried and Failed to Gain More Autonomy
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For years, senior managers at Google's DeepMind artificial-intelligence unit sought to negotiate more independence from the parent company. Now we rep...
Apple CEO Tim Cook Set to Testify in Epic Games Trial
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the end of the third week of the Epic Games trial, Apple's CEO Tim Cook is expected to be called to testify in his company's defense. WSJ's Apple r...
Tesla Drivers Test Bounds of Assisted-Driving Features
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has championed his vehicles' driver-assistance system, and he has forecasted that self-driving cars are the future. But some Tesla...
Google Sets Sights on Commercial-Grade Quantum Computer
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Google says it is devoting billions of dollars to developing a commercial-grade quantum computer by 2029. The company is exploring use cases ranging f...
Parler Returns to the App Store
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Several big tech companies blocked access to the social-media app Parler in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, saying it hadn't done enough to ...
Ethereum's Boom Highlights Challenges for the Network's Future
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The second-largest cryptocurrency network, Ethereum, has been booming on the back of interest in NFTs and "DeFi," or decentralized finance. But our cr...
How Roblox Plans to Expand Beyond Gaming
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week The Wall Street Journal is sitting down with industry movers and shakers for our Future of Everything Festival. Today we hear from Roblox fo...
SEC Commissioner 'CryptoMom' on Crypto's Next Chapter
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week The Wall Street Journal is sitting down with industry movers and shakers for our Future of Everything Festival. SEC Commissioner Hester Peir...
Google's Marian Croak on Making AI Fair and Transparent
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week The Wall Street Journal is sitting down with industry movers and shakers for our Future of Everything Festival. Senior Personal Tech Columni...
Pipeline Ransomware Attack Exposes Vulnerabilities in Energy Sector
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hackers took aim at the East Coast's main fuel pipeline, forcing operators to shut it down over the weekend. Cybersecurity reporter David Uberti joins...
Elon Musk Makes His 'SNL' Debut
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hosted "Saturday Night Live" this past weekend. Tesla reporter Rebecca Elliott joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss wh...
Investigation Finds Millions of Fake Comments on FCC Proposal
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A new report from the New York attorney general found that nearly 18 million fake comments were filed regarding the Federal Communications Commission'...
Facebook Oversight Board Upholds Trump Ban, With an Asterisk
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a long-anticipated ruling, Facebook's oversight board upheld the company's decision to block former President Donald Trump from its platforms. But ...
Decision on Trump's Facebook Ban Is Coming Today
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Former President Donald Trump has been banned from Facebook and Instagram since January, after a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol. Today, Faceb...
Basecamp's Push to Curb Political Talk at Work Sparks Debate in Tech
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Leaders at the startup Basecamp said last week it would curb political conversations at work. The announcement sparked an immediate backlash. But it's...
Epic vs. Apple Court Battle Begins Today
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The high-profile trial between the maker of 'Fortnite' and Apple begins today. Epic alleges that Apple's developer fees-the 30% commission it takes on...
What We Learned From This Week's Tech Earnings Reports
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week's quarterly earnings reports from some of the biggest tech companies in the world give us a first look at how the sector is faring as the wo...
Elon Musk's War on Regulators
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While most CEOs steer clear of regulators, the entrepreneur Elon Musk often goes head-to-head with agencies that oversee financial markets and space f...
Google's Univision Cloud Deal Highlights Debate Over Bundling Services
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Google secured one of its largest-ever cloud computing deals with the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision by bundling its cloud computing services ...
Joanna Stern and Apple's Software Chief Talk App Tracking Transparency
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you updated to iOS 14.5, you might have noticed the apps on your iPhone asking for permission to track you. That is due to a new feature called app...
What's Driving Tech Startups' Deal Frenzy
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. startups raised $69 billion from investors in the first quarter, according to PitchBook Data, and the average valuation at all stages reached a n...
Tesla Crashes Raise Safety Concerns in Congress
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Some lawmakers are raising concerns about the safety of Tesla vehicles after a series of fatal crashes, most recently one in Texas last weekend. Tesla...
EU Proposal Seeks to Limit AI, Facial Recognition
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The executive branch of the European Union has put forward one of the first proposed laws globally to regulate artificial intelligence and facial-reco...
Roblox Works to Reign In Sexual Content on its Platform
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many parents have leaned on online games to keep young children entertained and connected during the pandemic. But in one popular platform, Roblox, th...
Rivals Raise Concerns About SpaceX's Starlink Project
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Elon Musk's internet satellite venture, Starlink, is authorized to send 12,000 satellites into orbit to expand internet access, and it is seeking perm...
How the Pandemic Turbo-Charged Payments Processor Stripe
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic threatened to clobber Stripe. Instead, the payments processor became one of the most lucrative businesses in Silicon Valley. Fintech repo...
Small Businesses Shift Ad Strategies Ahead of Apple iOS Update
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Apple is set to roll out a feature that would require apps to ask users' permission before tracking them. Facebook has been among the most vocal oppon...
Now That Coinbase Is Public, Could a Bitcoin ETF Be Next?
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are making their way into the mainstream. Some recent developments, including the public listing of the cryptocurre...
Why Big Tech is Setting Its Sights on Healthcare
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft's $16 billion acquisition of the speech-recognition company Nuance Communications is yet another sign that big tech is furthering its push i...
White House, Tech Executives Meet to Address Chip Shortage
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
White House officials met with tech executives yesterday to discuss how to address a chip shortage that has hobbled the auto industry and squeezed oth...
Amazon Workers Vote Against Unionization
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
About 71% of Amazon workers at a warehouse in Bessemer, Ala., voted against forming what would have been the company's first U.S. union. Tech editor B...
Chatbots Could Manage Your Money One Day
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The chatbots on your bank's website could someday help you manage your money in real time. WSJ Personal Finance Reporter Julia Carpenter joins host Am...
NASA's Ingenuity Set to Begin Test Flights on Mars
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When NASA's Perseverance rover landed on the red planet in late February, it was carrying a stowaway: a small helicopter called Ingenuity. In the comi...
Fidelity, Square, Coinbase Launch Bitcoin Trade Group
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cryptocurrencies have gained traction in the mainstream in recent months, with some companies and even governments making serious investments in bitco...
Why Facebook Is Giving Users More Control Over Their Feeds
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook is rolling out new controls that would make it easier for users to determine what is in their feeds. Senior Personal Tech Columnist Joanna St...
Should You Buy a Sleep Tracker?
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An influx of new gadgets aim to help you sleep better by collecting data about your heart rate, time in bed, and sleep cycles. But are they worth it? ...
Biden Aims for Universal High-Speed Internet Access
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Biden administration this week unveiled a $2.3 trillion plan to update the nation's infrastructure, including $100 billion to expand internet acce...
When Should Companies Be Required to Disclose Hacks?
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When FireEye raised the alarm about the massive SolarWinds breach in December, it did so of its own volition: There were no laws that required the com...
Apple's Coming Privacy Update Sparks New Digital-Ad Strategies
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Apple is set to roll out a new privacy feature that will make it harder for third parties to track users. Advertisers pushed back when the change was ...
Restaurants Develop Virtual Brands for Food-Delivery Apps
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Between the pandemic and the rise of food-delivery apps, restaurants are relying more heavily on take-away to survive. Now they are developing virtual...
Voting Wrapping Up in Amazon Unionization Effort
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Ala., are voting on whether to unionize. It would be the first union for Amazon workers in th...
Children's Books Get the Algorithm Treatment
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Traditionally, children's book publishers have relied heavily on creative give and take between authors and editors, sometimes using focus groups and ...
Tech CEOs Set to Return to Capitol Hill
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The heads of Facebook, Twitter and Google's parent Alphabet are expected to make their first appearance before the new Congress today, where they are ...
NFT Craze Reaches the Music Industry
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Non-fungible tokens are exploding in popularity, and the music industry is the latest to pick up on the trend. Music-industry reporter Anne Steele joi...
GameStop to Release First Earnings Report Since Trading Frenzy
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fueled by Reddit and other online forums, retail investors drove shares of GameStop to new heights earlier this year. Even now, at nearly $200, the pr...
Tech Companies Help Set Standards for Vaccine Verification
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As Covid-19 vaccines roll out, a new challenge is emerging: How do you figure out who can safely enter public spaces? A group called the Vaccine Crede...
Streaming Services Top 1 Billion Subscribers in the Pandemic
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New data shows that while box-office revenue has plunged during the pandemic, subscriptions to streaming services have soared. Hollywood reporter R.T....
Why Social-Media Companies Are Giving Users Tools to Make Money
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook is the latest social-media company to say it would roll out tools to help users monetize their audiences. Reporter Sarah Needleman joins host...
Signal Is Latest Encrypted Messaging App Apparently Blocked in China
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The messaging app Signal has become unusable for many people in mainland China, with users concluding it has apparently been blocked by authorities. S...
How Telegram Plans to Build a Real Business Around Messaging
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With more than 500 million active monthly users, Telegram is one of the few significant social-media challengers to Facebook. But until now the messag...
Hybrid Work Is Coming; Here's What to Expect
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As office employees start returning after a year of working from home, many will encounter a different kind of environment: hybrid work. Senior Person...
Congress Considers Major Changes to Antitrust Laws Governing Big Tech
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Both sides of the political aisle have discussed the need to strengthen U.S. antitrust law. Congressional hearings this week could be a first test of ...
How Discord Could Disrupt Social Media
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The chat startup Discord has doubled its user base and nearly tripled its revenue during the pandemic, as consumer demand for at-home entertainment ha...
European Union Pushes for 'Digital Sovereignty'
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The European Union's massive Covid-19 economic-relief package includes a more than $150 billion pledge to bolster its technological independence by 20...
NFTs Are All the Rage. But What Are They?
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Non-fungible tokens have blown up in recent days, with collectors using them to verify the authenticity of everything from LeBron James highlights to ...
Why Some Startups Are Skipping Venture-Capital Funding
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, tech startups have relied on rounds of venture capital to fuel early-stage growth before eventually going public. But recently more are t...
Cyberattacks Cost Hospitals Millions in the Pandemic
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hospitals have increasingly been hit with ransomware attacks during the pandemic, making it even harder to deliver critical care to Covid-19 patients....
Google to Stop Selling Ads Based on Your Web Browsing
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alphabet's Google says it will stop using tracking technologies that uniquely identify internet users based on their browser history. Tech reporter Sa...
As Vaccines Roll Out, Tech Firms Work to Find Alternatives to Needles
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Since the 19th century, syringes have been the go-to way to administer vaccines. Over the years, some technologists have tried, without much success, ...
'Back to Normal' Might Not Mean 'Back to the Office' for Tech Startups
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As tech companies begin to plan for life on the other side of the pandemic, many startups are betting on a future without traditional office spaces. T...
Tech Companies Face New Rules in India
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For many tech companies, India is key to continued growth. There are hundreds of millions of users in the country who have yet to start using email, o...
Lawmakers Push Amazon for Public Disclosure on SolarWinds Hack
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Representatives from the public and private sectors have been collaborating to respond to the massive SolarWinds hack, which compromised at least 9 fe...
Restaurants Look for Ways Around Food-Delivery Apps
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For many restaurants, food-delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub have been a critical way to serve customers in the pandemic. But some say the commi...
Why Facebook Is Restoring News Content in Australia
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, Facebook instituted a news blackout in Australia, over a proposal there that would require internet companies to pay publishers for news co...
IBM's Watson Illustrates Why Applying A.I. to Healthcare Is So Hard
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the course of the last decade or so, IBM has poured billions of dollars into developing Watson Health, an artificial-intelligence system aimed at...
Big Tech's Employees Were Big Contributors to Democrats
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New campaign finance data shows that employees of big tech companies were a key source of funding for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. Reporter Brod...
Media and Big Tech Draw Lines in Debate Over News Content
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For years, tech companies have been locked in a debate with publishers over whether they should have to pay for news content. This week, that debate h...
Joanna Stern on Clubhouse and the Rise of Social Audio
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The age of audio-first social media is upon us. The buzziest player is Clubhouse, an invite-only app now in beta testing. Twitter is working on its ow...
Why Corporations Are Upping Their Venture-Capital Investing
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In times of uncertainty, corporations usually spend less, not more, on risky venture-capital investments. But new data shows that in the pandemic, the...
While the U.S. Deadlocks on Privacy, Other Countries Set Standards
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. is home to many of the world's largest tech companies, but the European Union has led the charge when it comes to setting global corporate-pr...
Online Stores Use Tech to Reduce Returns
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
E-commerce is exploding during the pandemic, but for customers, it can be hard to find the right fit without the luxury of a physical dressing room. T...
Biden Administration Signals Potential Return to Net Neutrality
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic has made it so that the internet plays an even greater role in how we live, work and learn. Recent actions from the Biden administration ...
U.A.E. Probe Enters Mars Orbit; Other Nations Soon to Follow
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The first interplanetary probe from an Arab nation entered Mars orbit yesterday, and other countries are set to follow soon. Science writer Robert Lee...
Why Tesla Bought $1.5 Billion in Bitcoin
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has often advocated for cryptocurrencies, and now his company is following suit. In a filing Monday, the company revealed that it ...
How a Union Vote Could Change Amazon's Relationship With Workers
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon's business has benefited from strong demand from consumers during the pandemic. But moving into 2021, the e-commerce giant faces a potential he...
A Chip Shortage Is Hurting Car Makers. Other Industries Could Be Next.
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Some of the world's biggest automakers are cutting production, as a shortage of semiconductors squeezes their industry. Reporter Asa Fitch joins host ...
Pentagon, NASA Remove Barriers to Collaboration on Space Projects
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. government and aerospace-industry officials are removing decades-old barriers between civilian and military space projects in response to escalat...
Amazon Is Getting a New CEO
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Along with its earnings report yesterday, Amazon included a surprise announcement: Founder Jeff Bezos is stepping down as CEO and transitioning into a...
Why Facebook Plans to Overhaul Groups
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2019, Facebook redesigned its flagship product to center on Groups, a feature that created forums for like-minded users interested in certain topic...
Google Bets on A.I., But Management Issues Present Challenges
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has bet big on artificial intelligence, expecting the technology to be central to Google's future. But outside of the techn...
Apple, Facebook Spar Over Privacy
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Apple is moving ahead with plans to introduce a new privacy feature that would give users more control over who has access to their data. While some a...
Apple, Facebook, Tesla Earnings: What We Learned
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's the biggest week for corporate earnings this quarter. On Wednesday, we heard from Apple, Facebook and Tesla. Heard on the Street columnist Dan Ga...
What's Driving GameStop Shares' Wild Ride
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Shares of the videogame retailer GameStop are up more than 600% in the past two weeks, driven by individual investors encouraging each other to buy in...