Articles by Quandary Peak Research • Software Expert Witness and Source Code Review

January 27, 2020 • by Quandary Peak Research

Political Ad Policies at Facebook, Twitter, and Google

The biggest and most widely-used technology platforms and services are being scrutinized ahead of the 2020 US presidential election. The central issue pins truth against freedom of speech, and whether user content or advertisers should be fact-checked by platforms that host and profit from said content. For Facebook, Twitter, and Google, that…

U.S. Department of Justice Mandates Changes to eSim Technology

The Justice Department (DOJ) has concluded an investigation into collusion between two wireless carriers and a related trade association regarding embedded SIM card (eSIM) technology. AT&T, Verizon, and the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (or GSMA) were the subjects of the DOJ investigation that will yield changes to how eSIM standards…

What Does DNA Use for Facial Mapping Mean?

In the latest prominent, science fiction-imitating example of the symbiotic relationship between the science and technology, the New York Times reports that China is leveraging new technology in an attempt to use DNA samples to construct an image of a person’s face. The process, known as DNA phenotyping (or DNA facial mapping),…

TikTok Chinese Ownership Raising National Security Concerns

China’s growing sphere of influence in the global technology sector is an especially fraught area of concern for US lawmakers. Early development of nascent or popular technologies means prominent, profitable footholds for patent holders while paving a path for future growth, and accusations of espionage are not unusual. A trade war between…

A Closer Look at the Antitrust Debate in the Technology Sector

The biggest and most influential technology companies – Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon – were once the darlings of Wall Street, the media, and consumers. But the tone has decisively shifted in recent months. Most news reporting focuses on data impropriety, privacy issues, and, increasingly, the pure size and scope of the…

EU Court of Justice Rules on Facebook Content Removal

The European Union has not shied away from addressing issues with Big Tech. Regulatory efforts undertaken in Europe have influenced other countries around the world, and EU courts have played a leading role in clarifying the extent and scope of regulations. Now, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled “that individual…

Ring, Law Enforcement, and Data Sharing Partnerships

Ring, the home security and smart home company best known for video doorbells and security cameras, has developed a series of data sharing partnerships with law enforcement around the United States. The relationships have raised concerns about privacy and potential civil liberties violations, as well as questions about the intersection of data,…

Practice Fusion Reaches Agreement with U.S. Department of Justice

Practice Fusion – a subsidiary of leading healthcare IT provider Allscripts – has reached a $145 million agreement with the United States Department of Justice. The settlement is due to resolve potential criminal and civil liability facing Allscripts, as a result of Practice Fusion violations that allegedly occurred – and were initially…

Domino’s Pizza Takes Matter of ADA Website Compliance to Supreme Court

When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed into law in 1990, very few people could have anticipated how the internet would ultimately transform society and business. The landmark civil rights legislation, which was amended in 2008, is divided into five sections, each handling a different area. These sections “[guarantee] equal opportunity…

Data’s Role in Big Tech’s Antitrust Fight

The era of minimal oversight for the biggest technology companies appears to be ending. The Justice Department and FTC will split oversight of Google and Amazon, and the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead to a long-simmering antitrust suit against Apple. Taken together, it is becoming clear that lawmakers are poised to take…