Technology

Environment

Environmental Concerns Arise Over Energy Needed To Mine Bitcoin

7:03am May 07, 2021

by Vaughn Golden

In one upstate New York community, a Bitcoin mining operation is drawing criticism from people who say the natural gas burned to make the cryptocurrency is causing too much pollution.

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In a year where loss, grief, technology and identity have been at the forefront of the national conversation, the budding trend of email opt-outs are for many both a welcome change and a sign of what may lie ahead.

National

In A Grief-Filled Year, Brands From Etsy To Pandora Let You Skip Mother's Day Emails

7:00am May 07, 2021

by Rachel Treisman

The small but growing trend is seen as a welcome acknowledgement of people who are grieving, as well as a sign that email marketing is becoming increasingly personalized and socially conscious.

Oversight Board Says Facebook Must Revisit 'Arbitrary' Indefinite Trump Ban

4:43pm May 06, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Thomas Hughes, director of the Oversight Board Administration, which ruled that Facebook was justified in banning then-President Trump from the social media platform.

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Twitter on Wednesday announced it's released a feature that detects "mean" replies on its service before a user presses send.

National

Want To Send A Mean Tweet? Twitter's New Feature Wants You To Think Again

11:04am May 06, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

Twitter released a new feature that detects potentially offensive replies on its service and asks users to review a message before sending.

Google is also offering four weeks per year where employees can work from anywhere they want.

National

Google Adapts To Long-Term Telework, Offers Employees Hybrid Workweek

10:12am May 06, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

More than a year into telework, the tech giant has said about 60% of its employees will work remotely two days a week. Twenty percent will work from home permanently.

A statement from former President Donald Trump is seen in front of his Facebook page background. Facebook was justified in its decision to suspend Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection, the company's Oversight Board said Wednesday.

Politics & Government

Why Facebook's Decision On Trump Could Be 'Make Or Break' For His Political Future

8:11am May 06, 2021

by Domenico Montanaro

Facebook's Oversight Board sent the decision of whether to let the former president back on the platform back to the company itself, and it's a critical one for Trump's political future.

Politics & Government

Facebook Oversight Board Upholds Ban On Donald Trump

4:35am May 06, 2021

by Shannon Bond

Facebook's oversight board has upheld its ban of the former president, which was put in place after a mob of Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

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Vice President Harris Takes On The Effort For Internet Equity

4:29pm May 05, 2021

by Ayesha Rascoe

Vice President Harris is in now charge of a push to get better internet across the U.S. Getting this right could have big stakes for her political future.

Facebook indefinitely suspended then-President Donald Trump's accounts in January after a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Politics & Government

Facebook Ban On Donald Trump Will Hold, Social Network's Oversight Board Rules

4:29pm May 05, 2021

by Shannon Bond

While the panel upheld Facebook's suspension of the former president, it said the company's indefinite ban was wrong and gave Facebook six months to either ban Trump permanently or reinstate him.

A mobile phone customer in Los Angeles looks at an earthquake warning application on an iPhone. An earthquake early warning system operated by the U.S. Geological Survey has been activated in Oregon, California and now Washington.

National

Entire U.S. West Coast Now Covered By Earthquake Early Warning System

8:00am May 05, 2021

Cellphone users from the U.S. border with Canada south to the border with Mexico should receive a mobile alert from the early warning system when an earthquake is detected.