The Block BEARD Site-Blocking Act, recently introduced to address foreign piracy in the United States, did not emerge from a vacuum. It is the result of a multi-year effort that began with a non-public proposal in 2022. This initial version became stranded when stakeholders were unable to reach an agreement, but remnants of the early proposal remain visible today.

Behind the Curtain: The Three-Year Journey to the Block BEARD Site Blocking Act * TorrentFreak

The recently introduced Block BEARD Site-Blocking Act did not emerge from a vacuum. Its origins lie in a 2022 non-public anti-piracy proposal.

^{Ernesto Van der Sar (TF Publishing)}

This past June, I put together a write-up about two major approaches to backfilling conversations. The ability to properly backfill conversations means we will be able to make major inroads toward solving the feeling that the fediverse is quiet.

I, alongside several other members of the SWICG Forums and Threaded Discussions Task Force (ForumWG) have been working toward building implementor support for Conversational Contexts — the ability to explicitly classify a set of objects as belonging to a conversation, whether that be a topic, reply tree, or similar.

I am happy to report that we have made some wonderful inroads this past few months!

• jesseplusplus@mastodon.social has been working closely with the Mastodon team to allow software to backfill from Mastodon — this pull request has now been approved! :white_check_mark:
• I have been working with both nutomic@lemmy.ml and rimu@piefed.social to allow software to backfill from Lemmy and Piefed, respectively. (Lemmy PR, Piefed issue) :white_check_mark:

This marks a major milestone in the adoption of conversational contexts. With Mastodon on board backfill will be possible with the majority of the microblogiverse. With Lemmy and Piefed on board, backfill will be possible with the majority of the threadiverse.

Remember that pfefferle@mastodon.social was an early adopter of conversational contexts, and we have been able to backfill from WordPress blogs for quite awhile now (so that's the blogiverse too) :blush:

I for one, am eagerly awaiting the next version of all of these softwares!!

Implement FEP 7888: Part 1 - publish conversation context by jesseplusplus · Pull Request #35959 · mastodon/mastodon

I would like to upstream my fork's implementation of FEP-7888, which groups conversations or threads together. I have decided to split the implementation into two parts: adding the context prop...

^GitHub

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics once ran an offensive Twitter account that posted misogynistic and homophobic abuse and entertained conspiracy theories, according to a report.

EJ Antoni, 37 – an economist with the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think-tank behind the Project 2025 agenda for Trump’s second term – ran the account from 2015 to 2020 but it has since been deleted, CNN reported.

The network said the account – which existed under multiple names at different times, beginning with his own – was used to make degrading and sexist remarks about female Democratic politicians, including Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar.

Trump’s nominee to lead BLS accused of trolling top Democrats with offensive Twitter account

EJ Antoni, a Heritage Foundation economist, allegedly used social media platform to dish out abuse and entertain conspiracy theories

^{Joe Sommerlad (The Independent)}

The Texas Senate voted against delaying a controversial East Texas groundwater export project on the same day the company behind it hired one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top advisors as a lobbyist.

Conservation Equity Management, a company affiliated with Dallas investor Kyle Bass, hired Allen Blakemore on Tuesday, the same day the legislation hit the Senate floor, according to lobbying records filed at the Texas Ethics Commission. Blakemore is Patrick’s political consultant and has also worked on the campaigns of several Republican senators.

Company behind East Texas water grab hires Dan Patrick-linked lobbyist

Conservation Equity Management hired Allen Blakemore, a political consultant to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, on the same day the legislation hit the Senate floor.

^{Megan Kimble (Houston Chronicle)}

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36929877

Google abused its power by favouring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of its competitors, online advertisers and publishers.

As a result of Google's illegal practices, advertisers faced higher marketing costs which they likely passed on to European consumers in the form of higher prices for products and services. Google's tactics also reduced revenues for publishers, which may have led to lower service quality and higher subscription costs for consumers.

Google's abusive behaviour therefore had a negative impact on all European citizens in their day-to-day use of the web.

This is illegal under EU competition rules and therefore our decision orders Google to pay a fine of €2.95 billion.

In line with our usual practice, we increased Google's fine since this is the third time Google breaks the rules of the game. But a mere fine in this case is not enough to deliver real and tangible solutions for the market and to protect our consumers.

This is why we have also ordered Google to stop its illegal practices and to put an end to its inherent conflict of interests in the Adtech industry.

Google has 60 days to inform the Commission on how it plans to do so, and if it fails to propose a viable plan, the Commission will not hesitate to impose an appropriate remedy.

At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy, such as selling some part of its Adtech business.

Pro

2025-09-05 16:35:15

[JS] Google Fined 2.95-billion-euro ($3.45 billion) by EU Over Ad-Tech Business

::: spoiler Comments
- Hacker News.
:::

Google abused its power by favouring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of its competitors, online advertisers and publishers.

As a result of Google's illegal practices, advertisers faced higher marketing costs which they likely passed on to European consumers in the form of higher prices for products and services. Google's tactics also reduced revenues for publishers, which may have led to lower service quality and higher subscription costs for consumers.

Google's abusive behaviour therefore had a negative impact on all European citizens in their day-to-day use of the web.

This is illegal under EU competition rules and therefore our decision orders Google to pay a fine of €2.95 billion.

In line with our usual practice, we increased Google's fine since this is the third time Google breaks the rules of the game. But a mere fine in this case is not enough to deliver real and tangible solutions for the market and to protect our consumers.

This is why we have also ordered Google to stop its illegal practices and to put an end to its inherent conflict of interests in the Adtech industry.

Google has 60 days to inform the Commission on how it plans to do so, and if it fails to propose a viable plan, the Commission will not hesitate to impose an appropriate remedy.

At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy, such as selling some part of its Adtech business.

Commission fines Google €2.95 billion over abusive practices in online advertising technology

The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the advertising technology industry (‘adtech\'). It did so by favouring its own onli

^{European Commission - European Commission}

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36929877

Google abused its power by favouring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of its competitors, online advertisers and publishers.

As a result of Google's illegal practices, advertisers faced higher marketing costs which they likely passed on to European consumers in the form of higher prices for products and services. Google's tactics also reduced revenues for publishers, which may have led to lower service quality and higher subscription costs for consumers.

Google's abusive behaviour therefore had a negative impact on all European citizens in their day-to-day use of the web.

This is illegal under EU competition rules and therefore our decision orders Google to pay a fine of €2.95 billion.

In line with our usual practice, we increased Google's fine since this is the third time Google breaks the rules of the game. But a mere fine in this case is not enough to deliver real and tangible solutions for the market and to protect our consumers.

This is why we have also ordered Google to stop its illegal practices and to put an end to its inherent conflict of interests in the Adtech industry.

Google has 60 days to inform the Commission on how it plans to do so, and if it fails to propose a viable plan, the Commission will not hesitate to impose an appropriate remedy.

At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy, such as selling some part of its Adtech business.

Pro

2025-09-05 16:35:15

[JS] Google Fined 2.95-billion-euro ($3.45 billion) by EU Over Ad-Tech Business

::: spoiler Comments
- Hacker News.
:::

Google abused its power by favouring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of its competitors, online advertisers and publishers.

As a result of Google's illegal practices, advertisers faced higher marketing costs which they likely passed on to European consumers in the form of higher prices for products and services. Google's tactics also reduced revenues for publishers, which may have led to lower service quality and higher subscription costs for consumers.

Google's abusive behaviour therefore had a negative impact on all European citizens in their day-to-day use of the web.

This is illegal under EU competition rules and therefore our decision orders Google to pay a fine of €2.95 billion.

In line with our usual practice, we increased Google's fine since this is the third time Google breaks the rules of the game. But a mere fine in this case is not enough to deliver real and tangible solutions for the market and to protect our consumers.

This is why we have also ordered Google to stop its illegal practices and to put an end to its inherent conflict of interests in the Adtech industry.

Google has 60 days to inform the Commission on how it plans to do so, and if it fails to propose a viable plan, the Commission will not hesitate to impose an appropriate remedy.

At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy, such as selling some part of its Adtech business.

Commission fines Google €2.95 billion over abusive practices in online advertising technology

The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the advertising technology industry (‘adtech\'). It did so by favouring its own onli

^{European Commission - European Commission}

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36929877

Pro

2025-09-05 16:35:15

[JS] Google Fined 2.95-billion-euro ($3.45 billion) by EU Over Ad-Tech Business

::: spoiler Comments
- Hacker News.
:::

Google abused its power by favouring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of its competitors, online advertisers and publishers.

As a result of Google's illegal practices, advertisers faced higher marketing costs which they likely passed on to European consumers in the form of higher prices for products and services. Google's tactics also reduced revenues for publishers, which may have led to lower service quality and higher subscription costs for consumers.

Google's abusive behaviour therefore had a negative impact on all European citizens in their day-to-day use of the web.

This is illegal under EU competition rules and therefore our decision orders Google to pay a fine of €2.95 billion.

In line with our usual practice, we increased Google's fine since this is the third time Google breaks the rules of the game. But a mere fine in this case is not enough to deliver real and tangible solutions for the market and to protect our consumers.

This is why we have also ordered Google to stop its illegal practices and to put an end to its inherent conflict of interests in the Adtech industry.

Google has 60 days to inform the Commission on how it plans to do so, and if it fails to propose a viable plan, the Commission will not hesitate to impose an appropriate remedy.

At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy, such as selling some part of its Adtech business.

Commission fines Google €2.95 billion over abusive practices in online advertising technology

The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the advertising technology industry (‘adtech\'). It did so by favouring its own onli

^{European Commission - European Commission}

Labor organizers have been trying to form a union at the parks for years but did not have the necessary support until this year when the Trump administration’s mass firings left the parks service in turmoil, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“Every day you come to work and you have no idea what is going to happen next. It’s like we are all being subjected to psychological warfare,” a staffer said this spring.

Earlier this year at Yosemite, laid-off employees hung a US flag upside down, a symbol of distress, at the park’s El Capitan to bring attention to the cuts.

Beleaguered workers at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon flock to unionize

Amid Trump's onslaught, nearly all voted yes.

^{Mother Jones}

In a 2-1 ruling, the appellate court in Atlanta, Georgia, granted a request from the state of Florida and the US homeland security department to block a lower court injunction while a lawsuit plays out.

"Alligator Alcatraz is in fact, like we've always said, open for business," said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Last month, US District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a halt to the facility's expansion and for its dismantling to begin within 60 days.

'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration centre can stay open, appeals court rules

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis welcomes the ruling and declares the Everglades site "open for business".

^{Jude Sheerin (BBC News)}

"As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company," it said in statement. "We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site."

At a press conference on Friday, an official with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said "there was a majority of Korean nationals from the 475" people detained.

"They are in the custody of ICE enforcement and removal operations," Special Agent Steve Schrank said, adding that they were taken to a processing facility in Folkston, Georgia.

"They will be moved based on the individual circumstances beyond that," he said. "This in fact was the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of homeland security investigations."

South Koreans detained in ICE raid at Hyundai electric vehicle site in Georgia

Most of the 475 arrested were from South Korea, leading the country to call the raid an unjust infringement of people's rights.

^{Robin Levinson King and Kayla Epstein (BBC News)}

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36929877

Google abused its power by favouring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of its competitors, online advertisers and publishers.

As a result of Google's illegal practices, advertisers faced higher marketing costs which they likely passed on to European consumers in the form of higher prices for products and services. Google's tactics also reduced revenues for publishers, which may have led to lower service quality and higher subscription costs for consumers.

Google's abusive behaviour therefore had a negative impact on all European citizens in their day-to-day use of the web.

This is illegal under EU competition rules and therefore our decision orders Google to pay a fine of €2.95 billion.

In line with our usual practice, we increased Google's fine since this is the third time Google breaks the rules of the game. But a mere fine in this case is not enough to deliver real and tangible solutions for the market and to protect our consumers.

This is why we have also ordered Google to stop its illegal practices and to put an end to its inherent conflict of interests in the Adtech industry.

Google has 60 days to inform the Commission on how it plans to do so, and if it fails to propose a viable plan, the Commission will not hesitate to impose an appropriate remedy.

At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy, such as selling some part of its Adtech business.

Pro

2025-09-05 16:35:15

[JS] Google Fined 2.95-billion-euro ($3.45 billion) by EU Over Ad-Tech Business

::: spoiler Comments
- Hacker News.
:::

Google abused its power by favouring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of its competitors, online advertisers and publishers.

As a result of Google's illegal practices, advertisers faced higher marketing costs which they likely passed on to European consumers in the form of higher prices for products and services. Google's tactics also reduced revenues for publishers, which may have led to lower service quality and higher subscription costs for consumers.

Google's abusive behaviour therefore had a negative impact on all European citizens in their day-to-day use of the web.

This is illegal under EU competition rules and therefore our decision orders Google to pay a fine of €2.95 billion.

In line with our usual practice, we increased Google's fine since this is the third time Google breaks the rules of the game. But a mere fine in this case is not enough to deliver real and tangible solutions for the market and to protect our consumers.

This is why we have also ordered Google to stop its illegal practices and to put an end to its inherent conflict of interests in the Adtech industry.

Google has 60 days to inform the Commission on how it plans to do so, and if it fails to propose a viable plan, the Commission will not hesitate to impose an appropriate remedy.

At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy, such as selling some part of its Adtech business.

Commission fines Google €2.95 billion over abusive practices in online advertising technology

The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the advertising technology industry (‘adtech\'). It did so by favouring its own onli

^{European Commission - European Commission}

https://apnews.com/article/nepal-ban-social-media-platform-3b42bbbd07bc9b97acb4df09d42029d5

Mike Cannon-Brookes, the CEO of enterprise software giant Atlassian, was one of the first users of the Arc browser. Over the last several years, he has been a prolific bug reporter and feature requester. Now he’ll own the thing: Atlassian is acquiring The Browser Company, the New York-based startup that makes both Arc and the new AI-focused Dia browser. Atlassian is paying $610 million in cash for The Browser Company, and plans to run it as an independent entity.

The acquisition is mostly about Dia, which launched in June. Dia is a mix of web browser and chatbot, with a built-in way to chat with your tabs but also do things across apps. Open up three spreadsheets in three tabs and Dia can move data between them; log into your Gmail and Dia can tell you what’s next on the calendar. Anything with a URL immediately becomes data available to Dia and its AI models. For a company like Atlassian, which makes a whole suite of work apps — the popular project-tracker Jira, the note-taking app Confluence, plus Trello, Loom, and more — a way to stitch them all together seems obviously compelling.

The Browser Company, maker of Arc and Dia, is being acquired

It’s a big bet on AI for Atlassian, which makes tools like Jira and Confluence, and a work-focused shift for Dia.

^{David Pierce (The Verge)}