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Reddit communities are going offline as a form of protest against the recent alterations.
As a result of dissatisfaction with Reddit’s management, thousands of Reddit communities have gone offline in protest. The platform recently implemented controversial fees for developers of third-party apps, which are commonly used to browse Reddit. In response, moderators of major subreddits have made their communities private for a 48-hour period. This move has resulted in the shutdown of over 7,000 subreddits, causing a significant impact on the site’s functionality.
Reddit heavily relies on community moderation, and the site employs tens of thousands of unpaid moderators, known as mods, to ensure smooth operation. However, Reddit does not charge hosting fees for users who wish to establish their own communities based on their interests. The recent changes, aimed at making Reddit a self-sustaining business, led to discontent among moderators and users.
In a statement, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman acknowledged the blackout and expressed the need for an open and accessible platform while addressing the site’s financial sustainability. The CEO also confirmed that explicit content would still be allowed but with restrictions on how it can be accessed through third-party apps.
The protest involves a total of 3,489 subreddits, including some of the site’s most popular communities, such as r/gaming, r/aww, r/Music, r/todayilearned, and r/pics. These communities have memberships exceeding 30 million users each. The blackout aims to demonstrate the strength of unity among users and moderators, making it more challenging for Reddit to intervene or ignore their concerns.
Moderators emphasize that their voluntary role is vital to Reddit’s functioning, and they feel compelled to send a message by affecting Reddit’s traffic. They want the Reddit administrators to acknowledge the reliance on moderators and consider the overwhelming opposition from both moderators and users to the changes.
The introduction of charges specifically affects third-party apps that utilize Reddit’s API, which enables them to access and display Reddit’s content. Consequently, popular third-party apps like Apollo, Reddit is Fun, Sync, and ReddPlanet have announced their closure due to Reddit’s new API pricing structure.
Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of Twitter, provides initial indications of a forthcoming restructuring strategy.
The newly appointed CEO of Twitter, Linda Yaccarino, has unveiled her vision for “Twitter 2.0.” following her takeover from Elon Musk one week ago.
Yaccarino has expressed her ambition for the company to become the most reliable real-time source of information worldwide.
Under Musk’s ownership, Twitter faced criticism for its handling of disinformation, prompting recent departures from key positions and its withdrawal from the EU’s disinformation code.
In a series of tweets and an internal email to employees, Yaccarino echoed Musk’s objective of transforming Twitter into a “global town square.”
She emphasized the platform’s potential to advance society through unrestricted information exchange and open discussions on subjects that hold the utmost importance to individuals.
Ray Wang, CEO of Silicon Valley-based research firm Constellation, emphasized that “Users need assurance that the town square remains unbiased.”
Elon Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has voiced his disapproval of Twitter’s content moderation policies, arguing for the platform to maintain its authenticity as a forum for free speech.
However, Musk’s actions to reinstate right-wing accounts, aligning with his own views, and loosen content moderation have resulted in the departure of advertisers. Reports indicate that revenue dropped by 40% in December compared to the previous year.
Mr. Wang emphasized that in order for advertisers to return, they need clarity on user-generated content and engagement expectations.
He further expressed confidence in Linda Yaccarino’s ability to provide a counterbalance to Elon Musk and engage in meaningful discussions, as Musk holds her in high regard.
Following his purchase of Twitter for $44 billion (Β£35 billion) last year, Musk was under pressure to find a successor to lead the company, allowing him to focus on his other ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX.
On May 12, Musk, who recently regained the title of the world’s richest person, announced that Ms. Yaccarino would assume the role of Twitter’s CEO in six weeks’ time.
However, she began her role earlier than anticipated, shortly after the resignation of the firm’s head of trust and safety.
Yaccarino is credited with successfully navigating media giant NBCUniversal through industry disruptions caused by evolving technology.
In her previous position, she spearheaded the transformation of the company’s advertising sales business and played a key role in the launch of its ad-supported streaming platform, Peacock, in 2020.
Currently, Yaccarino oversees Twitter’s business operations, aiming to address its financial challenges, while Musk continues in his roles as executive chairman and chief technology officer.
Daniel Ives from Wedbush Securities expressed confidence in Yaccarino’s vision for Twitter, stating, “We believe Linda has a solid vision for Twitter with a lot of wood to chop that can be turned around.”
He added, “This is a great first step, and she understands the task ahead to monetize the platform, which remains the golden goose.”
Insider Union Members Stage Indefinite ULP Strike, Demanding Fair Treatment
As of June 2, 2023, Insider, a prominent company known for its media and news platform, finds itself embroiled in a labor dispute with over 250 members of the Insider Union who have taken the bold step of initiating an indefinite Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. The catalyst for this action stems from the management’s illegal changes to healthcare coverage in late 2022, without engaging in meaningful negotiations with the union. Despite the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) finding merit in the charges filed by the union, Insider has refused to address the issue, leaving the workers with no choice but to take a stand.
Late in 2022, Insider management unilaterally modified the healthcare coverage for its employees, disregarding the obligation to bargain with the Insider Union, the recognized representative of the workers. This action directly violates the principles of fair labor practices and undermines the rights of employees to have a say in decisions that affect their livelihoods.
In response to this infringement, the Insider Union filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge, alleging that the management’s actions were illegal. The NLRB, an independent federal agency responsible for enforcing labor law, reviewed the charge and deemed it to have merit, validating the concerns raised by the union. However, despite this finding, Insider management has shown a complete lack of willingness to rectify the situation.
Additionally, the workers’ demands for fair wages have been met with deliberate stalling tactics from management. Rather than engaging in good-faith negotiations and addressing the legitimate concerns of the employees, Insider has chosen to allocate resources towards extensive legal battles, escalating tensions between the parties involved.
On May 30, 2023, the Insider Union issued an ultimatum to the management, demanding that they rectify the ULP charge and settle the contract, which includes fair wage adjustments. However, to the disappointment of the workers, Insider management refused to comply with these demands, leaving the union with no alternative but to initiate an indefinite strike.
The decision to go on strike was not taken lightly by the union members. It represents a collective display of solidarity and an assertion of their rights in the face of management’s obstinacy. By withholding their labor, the workers aim to demonstrate the significance of their contributions to Insider’s operations while emphasizing the urgent need for fair treatment and a resolution to their grievances.
The indefinite ULP strike by over 250 Insider Union members will undoubtedly have repercussions on the company’s operations and reputation. The absence of these skilled and dedicated employees is likely to disrupt production, tarnish the brand’s image, and potentially lead to financial repercussions for the company. Moreover, the public perception of Insider could be significantly impacted if it is seen as an organization that disregards the rights and well-being of its workforce.
In order to find a path forward, it is crucial for Insider management to acknowledge the concerns of the union and engage in meaningful dialogue. By working together with the Insider Union, management can address the ULP charge, rectify the healthcare coverage issue, and negotiate a fair and equitable contract that considers the demands of the workers.
The President of the European Union (EU) states that discrimination is a more pressing concern arising from artificial intelligence (AI) than the potential extinction of humans.
According to Margrethe Vestager, the EU chief, the issue of discrimination arising from the progress of artificial intelligence is a more urgent concern than the potential extinction of humanity. Vestager emphasized the need for “guardrails” to prevent the materialization of the technology’s greatest risks. She particularly highlighted the importance of implementing safeguards when AI is employed in decision-making processes that can impact individuals’ livelihoods, such as determining their eligibility for a mortgage.
The European Parliament is set to vote on proposed AI regulations, known as the AI Act, on Wednesday. Policymakers are taking these steps amid concerns of rapid development in AI, which enables computers to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence. While some experts have expressed fears of AI leading to human extinction, Vestager believes that the more immediate risk lies in AI’s potential to amplify bias and discrimination present in the vast amounts of data used to train AI models and tools.
Vestager stated, “The risk of extinction probably exists, but I think the likelihood is quite small. I believe that AI risks are more focused on discrimination, where people may not be seen for who they truly are.” She gave examples of banks using AI to assess mortgage applications or social services making decisions based on someone’s postal code, emphasizing the need to ensure that discrimination based on gender, race, or location does not occur.
On another note, the Irish data protection authority has suspended the planned EU rollout of Google’s AI chatbot Bard, expressing concerns about data protection risks. Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle stated that the authority is urgently seeking information from Google regarding the identification and mitigation of these risks.
Vestager, as the executive vice president of the European Commission, called for global collaboration on AI regulation, suggesting a UN approach. However, she emphasized the need to prioritize consensus among “like-minded” countries before expanding the involvement of other jurisdictions, such as China.
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The $69 billion deal between Microsoft and Activision has been temporarily halted in the United States.
A temporary block has been granted by a judge in response to regulators’ request to halt Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in the United States. The court has issued a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo while the complaint is being reviewed. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expressed concerns that the deal could result in a significant reduction in competition within the industry. A two-day hearing is scheduled to take place from June 22nd. This acquisition, involving the purchase of the renowned video game publisher Call of Duty, would be the largest in the history of the gaming industry.
Notably, the UK has already blocked the deal due to concerns over potential negative impacts on competition, while the European Union has approved it. The proposed takeover of Activision by Microsoft has divided regulators globally, requiring approval from regulatory bodies in the UK, EU, and US for the deal to proceed. The European Commission’s approval was based on Microsoft’s commitment to providing 10-year free licensing deals, ensuring fair competition by granting European consumers access to Activision’s PC and console games through cloud game streaming services.
However, in April, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) rejected the deal, citing worries that it would lead to reduced innovation and limited choices for gamers. Both Microsoft and Activision have expressed their disagreement with the decision and their intention to appeal. Microsoft’s President, Brad Smith, referred to it as the company’s “darkest day” in their four decades of operations in the country.
As Meta tests news impeding in Canada, here are the primary targets
Some French-language media associations and more modest nearby news sources say they are being designated by Meta after the advanced goliath limited admittance to their substance on Facebook and Instagram as a feature of its battle against the Liberal government’s online-news bill.
Top state leader Justin Trudeau said the move was “unsatisfactory” and he won’t tolerate Facebook’s harassing or what he says is an assault on Canada’s vote based system.
Chris Dell, news proofreader of ChrisD.ca, a Winnipeg-based computerized news outfit, said a few perusers informed him Monday that they are presently not ready to get to content the power source had posted on Facebook.
“It seems Meta is hindering a portion of our substance, yet not every last bit of it,” Dell said in an explanation on Tuesday.
He said it’s sad that these actions are being taken in light of the proposed web-based news regulation, which would require tech monsters to pay distributers for connecting to or in any case reusing news content on the web.
“As a little neighborhood media source, most of our traffic comes from Facebook and Google. My expectation is that a neighborly arrangement can be reached between Silicon Valley and Ottawa that doesn’t leave distributers trapped in the center,” Dell said.
Sebastien Menard, supervisor in-head of Le Diary de Quebec, said news is additionally being hindered from perusers view its accounts on Facebook. That likewise applies to news shared by individual Quebecor-ownedproperties Le Diary de Montreal and TVA Nouvelles.
“We sent off ourselves a mission welcoming our perusers to come straightforwardly to our site as opposed to trusting that news will come to them through Facebook,” Menard shared with The Canadian Press on Tuesday.
“At the point when your interpersonal organizations let you down with respect to data, come on our news site.”
Meta is running a test for most of the month that will briefly obstruct news content for up to five percent of its Canadian userson Facebook and Instagram. It said the test started last week, however distributers started to pay heed on Monday.
Precious books lost in forest fires? IRCC will replace them free of charge
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on Monday that it will replace documents such as passports, permanent resident cards and citizenship certificates lost in the wildfires for free.
IRCC added in its statement that international students, temporary foreign workers and visitors whose status will expire from September 1. 30 and those affected by forest fires will be able to request an extension and restoration for free.
Foreign workers who have applied for an extension of their work permit will continue to remain eligible to work in Canada under their original visa status while their application is being processed. “Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will provide free replacement documents for Canadians, permanent residents and temporary residents directly affected by the wildfires,” the statement said.
βThese include permanent resident cards, Canadian citizenship cards, Canadian passports and other travel documents that have been lost, damaged, destroyed or inaccessible as a result of the fire.
These measures will be available until September. 30.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said that as the fire continues, the government wants to ensure there is an easy way to replace any lost documents.
The companyΒ behind Instant Pot, founded in Canada,Β is filingΒ for bankruptcy
The company behind the Instant Pot is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as demand for its cooking contraption appears to have collapsed.
In a press release Monday, Instant Brands announced the filing in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The company, which was founded in Ottawa and is now based outside of Chicago, also owns the Pyrex cookware brand and has at least $500 million in assets and liabilities, according to the filing.
Instant Pot was founded in 2009 and became a Canadian success story as its flagship product, the Instant Pot, gained traction in kitchens around the world. Fast Food has combined a pressure cooker and a pressure cooker in one appliance to offer variety in food preparation.
However, the popularity of the stovetop faded as other kitchen appliances, such as the air fryer, gained momentum. Sales of “electronic cookers”, most of which are instant pots, reached US$ 758 million in 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but fell 50% last year, to US$ 344 million . Meanwhile, unit sales fell 20% last year in the period to April, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Instant Brands CEO Ben Gadbois said in a statement that the company is facing “global macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges.” Specifically, he pointed to raising interest rates and tightening credit conditions that made his capital structure less “sustainable” and took out his money.
“As we move forward in this process, we are focused on serving and connecting our customers around the world, and we appreciate their trust in us and our products. We are determined to find something good,” he said.
The company says it has received a commitment of $132.5 million in new debt financing from its lenders. Last week, S&P Global downgraded Instant Brand and warned that the rating could fall further if it seeks bankruptcy protection.
S&P analysts said in a statement that the company has seen seven straight sets of sales contracts year over year.
The employees of Freemans event partners are subjected to treatment akin to slavery.
The shocking revelations surrounding the treatment of staff at this year’s Boomtown Fair, allegedly perpetuated by the event’s food brand in partnership with Freemans events, have exposed a distressing reality of exploitation and inhumane conditions. Numerous reports have emerged, painting a bleak picture of employees being subjected to conditions resembling modern-day slavery.
Staff members at the fair were allegedly treated as mere commodities, being herded like cattle into cramped, caged areas when they were off duty. The degrading practice of confiscating their identification documents until the end of the weekend further stripped them of their autonomy and dignity.
What is even more troubling is the mistreatment inflicted upon staff members with pre-existing medical conditions. Shocking accounts have emerged, revealing instances where these individuals were reportedly denied access to necessary medical treatment. Such callous disregard for the well-being of employees not only violates their basic rights but also displays a complete lack of empathy and compassion.
The gravity of these allegations is exacerbated by the fact that this is not an isolated incident. Similar complaints were lodged during the previous Boomtown Fair in 2019, indicating a concerning pattern of mistreatment and exploitation that has gone unaddressed.
As news of these appalling conditions spread, public outrage has intensified, demanding immediate action and accountability. Labor unions, human rights organizations, and concerned individuals have called for a thorough investigation into the allegations, seeking justice for the affected staff members and reassurances that such practices will not be tolerated in the future.
The responsibility lies not only with the event organizers but also with Freemans events, their partner in this venture. It is imperative that both entities take full ownership of the situation, conducting a transparent and impartial inquiry into the allegations and implementing substantial changes to prevent the recurrence of such deplorable conditions.
In response to the public outcry, Boomtown Fair and Freemans events have released statements acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations. They have vowed to launch internal investigations and have committed to collaborating with external organizations to ensure a thorough and independent review.
The findings of these investigations will be closely scrutinized by the public, industry professionals, and advocacy groups to assess the sincerity and effectiveness of the proposed measures. It is vital that any shortcomings in organizational policies and practices are identified and rectified to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all staff members involved in organizing and running the event.
The unfolding events at Boomtown Fair serve as a stark reminder that the treatment of employees in any industry should never be compromised. The festival community, alongside regulatory bodies, must come together to establish stringent labor regulations, enforce ethical standards, and institute safeguards to protect the rights and well-being of workers.
The story of Boomtown Fair must not end with a mere acknowledgment of wrongdoing. It must be a catalyst for change, spurring a collective effort to ensure that every staff member is treated with the dignity, respect, and fairness they deserve. Only through a united front can the festival industry progress toward a future where the well-being and rights of all employees are upheld as non-negotiable principles.