Topic: corporate influence
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Europe's top tech CEOs launch lobby group targeting von der Leyen
Seven major European tech firms, including ASML and Airbus, formed the "European Tech Creators" coalition to directly lobby EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for deregulation, easier merger approvals, and a unified single market, arguing Europe's regulatory environment is harming its c...
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Democrats preview Ticketmaster settlement attacks if they retake power
Democratic lawmakers held an unofficial "shadow hearing" to criticize the DOJ's $280 million settlement with Live Nation-Ticketmaster as trivial and corrupt, signaling their intent to challenge Trump administration antitrust deals if they regain Congress. The settlement, reached after a jury unan...
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Trump Bans Federal Use of Anthropic AI
The U.S. government has banned all federal use of Anthropic's AI products, citing a dispute over operational control and national security concerns. The order mandates a phased removal from critical agencies, viewing the company's terms of service as an unacceptable overreach that threatens milit...
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Google in Talks with Trump Lawyers Over Deplatforming Lawsuit
Google faces significant antitrust litigation, with recent court decisions favoring the Justice Department and potential remedies that may require operational changes or divestiture of Chrome. Internal issues at the DOJ's Antitrust Division have sparked concerns about the agency's vulnerability t...
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Von der Leyen Calls for AI Slowdown in State of the Union
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen announced a strategic shift to slow the development of frontier AI models, aligning regulatory policy with direct warnings from leading tech CEOs about the risks of self-recursive systems. This initiative prioritizes AI security over industrial p...
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UK Politicians Warn Palantir Contracts Are ‘Unacceptable Weakness’
A UK parliamentary committee warns that the nation's reliance on Palantir creates an "unacceptable point of weakness," potentially leading to expensive, poor-quality services and a worst-case scenario where the company could threaten to halt public services to enforce demands. The report cites a ...
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Tom Steyer Wants to Save California from Billionaires - Without Driving Them Away
Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund founder turned climate activist, is running for California governor, spending over $130 million of his own money and supporting policies like the Billionaire Tax Act while positioning himself as immune to corporate influence. Steyer faces a challenging balanci...
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EU AI envoy pick sparks conflict-of-interest row after Siemens role
The European Commission appointed Siemens chairman Jim Hagemann Snabe as special envoy for industrial AI, drawing backlash due to his potential conflict of interest weeks after Siemens helped weaken the EU's AI Act. Critics argue Snabe's dual role allows corporate interests to influence policy, a...
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GTA Creator's New Novel: An AI That Hijacks Your Mind
Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, has released his debut dystopian novel, *A Better Paradise*, which explores a world where a runaway AI challenges human reality and thought. The novel's plot centers on a therapeutic virtual world project that spirals out of control, creating addiction an...
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Anduril Targets $60 Billion Valuation in New Funding
Anduril is in advanced talks for a funding round that would double its valuation to $60 billion, led by major venture capital firms like Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. The funding, potentially reaching $8 billion, aims to accelerate its autonomous defense systems and comes amid sector sc...
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Tim Cook's Lobbying Threatens Kids Online Safety Vote
A congressional committee is advancing a package of internet safety bills for children, but critics argue **Big Tech lobbying has already weakened the legislation**, leaving core problems unaddressed and creating strategic divisions. The legislative package includes modified versions of key bills...
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Alex Bores AI proxy battle ends in $27M draw
Alex Bores, a New York state Assemblyman and coauthor of the AI safety RAISE Act, narrowly lost the Democratic primary for Congress after a $27 million proxy war between pro-AI and pro-regulation forces. The race became a referendum on AI regulation, with the pro-industry super PAC Leading the Fu...
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Apple's Switch to Google Gemini Boosts Siri's Success Odds: Analyst
Apple's strategic partnership with Google's Gemini AI is seen as a major boost for Siri's future, increasing the likelihood of a successful next-generation Apple Intelligence assistant. The deal has drawn criticism from figures like Elon Musk over concerns of consolidating too much power with Goo...
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