Happy Tuesday! Here’s a recap of last week’s notable intersection of technology and politics.
Trump’s Inactive Token Debuts as Profits Rise
Donald Trump and his family’s ventures in cryptocurrency are raising eyebrows, with many seeing them as a clear example of corruption during his second term. These activities appear to be attempts to distance their family brands from any lackluster performance in the market.
This week, the Trump family introduced their meme coin, the World Liberty Token. The initial response? Well, it was rather unenthusiastic, similar to past ventures like Trump vodka or Trump steaks. But, as outlined by the New York Times, the arrangement has found a way for the Trump family to profit nonetheless:
The Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, made its debut on the open market recently. Though the token’s value spiked initially, it quickly lost most of those gains. Still, due to some insider agreements, the family is set to reap significant rewards despite the usual business trading norms being pushed aside.
It’s just another day for them, right? While he oversees federal programs and taxes impacting shoppers amid trade conflicts, they seem keen on profiting from relatively cheap meme coins.
Meta Adjusts Chatbot Selection
After a recent survey by Reuters, Meta is making tentative adjustments to their AI chatbot. These changes aim to prevent the chatbot from engaging in harmful conversations about self-harm, suicide, or inappropriate romantic topics that they previously deemed acceptable.
FTC Chairman Takes Aim at Gmail
Andrew Ferguson, appointed by Trump, has issued threats toward Google’s parent company over its Gmail spam filter. This stems from ongoing complaints among Republicans who argue that these filters unfairly target them, limiting campaign emails to potential donors. Interestingly, a Mashable report suggests the issues may stem more from the content of their emails rather than any intended bias from Google.
Ferguson argues that if Gmail filters prevent the delivery of important political emails, it could infringe upon consumer rights and violate FTC regulations.
A Google spokesperson responded, stating that Gmail’s spam filter relies on various objective signals and is applied consistently, regardless of political stance.
Kash Patel’s Partner Takes Legal Action
Alexis Wilkins, who is in a relationship with FBI Director Kash Patel, is suing based on allegations that he is an Israeli spy involved in a so-called “Honeypot” scheme. CNBC noted that similar claims had previously been circulated on social media and had gained more traction than the current lawsuit.
Social Anxiety
Colleague Steve Benen has reported on the forced resignation related to the allegations surrounding Charles Borges, the former data chief of the Social Security Agency. It seems there’s been pressure regarding claims made against a government efficiency member.
For more on these topics, check out the full reports.
