News & Commentary • Software Patents, Smartphones, and Litigation

June 5, 2020 • by Quandary Peak Research

The Growing Potential for an Antitrust Case Against Google

A long-simmering potential antitrust case against online search and advertising behemoth, Google, appears close to becoming a reality. The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Justice Department will soon file antitrust charges against Google – a time frame that the New York Times indicated on May 15 could be “as early…

How Serious Are Zoom’s Data Security Issues?

COVID-19 has fundamentally altered even the most basic facets of daily life, from business to social interactions. With varying degrees of distancing measures in effect, video conferencing has surged for work, education, and simple social interactions. Services like Zoom have experienced a boom, with its service notching 300 million daily users April.…

Preparing for a Litigation Surge in the Post-Pandemic World

The global coronavirus pandemic is a disruptive economic and public health event unlike any in recent memory. Few sectors remain untouched: 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment, non-essential businesses around the world have shuttered in response to shelter-in-place orders, and supply chains in every corner of the world are compromised. Even…

Healthcare Data-Sharing System May Create Privacy Risks

In a world where data is currency, the healthcare sector presents a distinct exception. Strict privacy rules have long governed who has access to what information, with important legislation protecting personal medical records from outsiders – while promoting accessibility for individuals. What was designed to be accessible, however, has often been anything…

An Unlikely Tool for Fighting Pandemics: Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are here – real, viable technologies used to glean insights from reams of data at a speed and efficiency impossible for humans to match. AI can be deployed wherever there is data, including in the medical sector. Today, for the first time in history, AI is…

The State of Play for 5G in 2020

5G is now a reality. AT&T and Verizon began offering service in limited cities in 2019, officially ushering-in the latest era of wireless network technology. While 5G is in the process of finding its commercial footing, the next generation of devices are here and ready for consumers to purchase. With the dawn…

On Our Radar: The Algorithmic Accountability Act

A growing number of corporations are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automate processes and crunch information with speed and efficiency far exceeding human capabilities. But for all its revolutionary properties, AI has not escaped criticism. The underlying algorithms that govern AI behavior have been accused of bias, including in high-profile cases involving…

Court Rules Facial Recognition Lawsuit Against Facebook Can Proceed

On August 8, 2019, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled in a unanimous decision that a class action lawsuit against Facebook can proceed in court. Patel et al v. Facebook Inc. potentially exposes the technology giant to billions of dollars in lawsuits should a court rule in…

A Closer Look at California’s Data Privacy Law

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ‘drew first blood’ as it relates to regulating technology companies relying on consumer data to generate revenue. The state of California soon followed suit, passing the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in June 2018. The CCPA took effect on January 1, 2020, ushering in…

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…