Uber cleared in self-driving car death investigation
Uber has been deemed not criminally liable for the death of a pedestrian that was hit by a self-driving car in Arizona last year. Elaine Herzberg was fatally struck by the Volvo XC-90 SUV whilst pushing a bicycle across the road at night. “After a very thorough review of all evidence presented, this office has determined that there is no basis for criminal liability for the Uber corporation,” wrote Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Sullivan Polk in a letter. There was no explanation as to why Uber was not criminally liable. Although the vehicle was in autonomous mode there was a safety driver at the wheel, who could still face criminal charges. Police investigations found that the safety driver, Elaine Herzberg, had been streaming The Voice on her phone at the time of the crash.
World Wide Web turns 30
The World Wide Web celebrated its 30th birthday this week, but inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee believes it still has a long way to go. “While the web has created opportunity, given marginalised groups a voice, and made our daily lives easier, it has also created opportunity for scammers, given a voice to those who spread hatred, and made all kinds of crime easier to commit,” he said. He also pointed to issues regarding inequality that come with the digital divide. To address such misuses and problems, Berners-Lee and the Web Foundation are working on a new Contract for the Web, which will establish norms, laws and standards around web use. For more information on the contract click here.
US Presidential hopeful wants to break up tech giants
US Democrat Elizabeth Warren – who recently announced her run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 – has proposed a regulatory plan that could see the demerger of major tech companies. Claiming she is “sick of freeloading billionaires”, Warren has proposed that the government’s anti-monopoly powers be applied to tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon. She claims that these companies have come to power by using mergers to limit competition and that there has been “weak antitrust enforcement” in preventing it. Under her proposal, regulators would “unwind anti-competitive tech mergers” such as Facebook’s merger with Instagram and Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods.
Crypto exchanges shut down amid organised crime concerns
Digital currency exchanges AUSCOIN ATM and MK Buy & Sell have been suspended by AUSTRAC for alleged links to an organised crime syndicate. Following the arrest of a 27-year-old man in Melbourne on drug trafficking offences last week, police shut down the two exchanges, alleging the man arrested was a key member. The suspension means the two businesses can no longer lawfully operate.
