News Mash-up: Big Tech

レアジョブ英会話 Daily News Article Podcast

Merkel concerned about Trump Twitter ban German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reservations about the way U.S. President Donald Trump’s Twitter account was suspended, her spokesman said, adding that legislators, not private companies, should decide on any necessary curbs to free expression. Berlin is one of many European governments concerned about the power of giant social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to shape public discourse. Twitter permanently banned Trump after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, unleashing hours of chaos. (Reuters) Microsoft looks to replace Google in Australia Software giant Microsoft Corp. is confident its search product Bing can fill the gap in Australia if Google pulls its search over required payments to media outlets, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Feb. 1. Australia has introduced laws that would force internet giant Google and social media heavyweight Facebook Inc. to negotiate payments to domestic media outlets whose content links drive traffic to their platforms. However, the firms have called the laws unworkable and said last month they would withdraw key services from Australia if the regulations went ahead. (Reuters) These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.