Every day we wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and get ready for work. Following are a handful of stories from around the tech world condensed to fit into one single cup of coffee. These are the things you need to know before you step foot out of your door (or in front of a webcam) and into the real world this morning.
So sit back, grab a cup, and start your morning off right with a few “Quick Bytes” from Innovation & Tech Today.
Musk Signals Possibility of Mass Twitter Layoffs
Twitter Inc. is considering broad layoffs following Elon Musk’s $44 billion purchase of the company.
The company, which has now been taken private, will likely see significant restructuring under its new leadership.
One of Musk’s first moves as Twitter’s new CEO was to clear house, ousting former CEO Parag Agrawal as well as a number of other executives.
Further layoffs under consideration by Musk are expected to reduce engineering positions as well as affect other areas at the company, according to the WSJ. Twitter has roughly 7,500 employees, according to a disclosure earlier this year.
U.S. Bans Semi-Conductor Sales to China
The Biden administration’s decision to ban Chinese companies from buying advanced chips and chip-making equipment without a license could hamper China in its battle to become the world’s top tech superpower.
On Oct. 8, the administration announced new unilateral restrictions on sales of high-end semiconductors and semiconductor technology to China. According to the New York Times, the shift in the use of export controls has not been seen since the Cold War.
The administration also imposed broad international restrictions that stop China from buying chips for the use of AI or supercomputing if they originated from the U.S.
Supreme Court to Hear Case that Could Obliterate Section 230 Protection
The Supreme Court is preparing for a case that could change the internet economy forever.
The Supreme Court agreed this month to hear a lawsuit against Google in which the plaintiffs contend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 shouldn’t protect platforms that steer people to harmful content, such as terrorist videos.
The question of liability for social media sites has been debated for several years. Tech companies in the space argue reducing the protection they currently enjoy would slow the progress of online forums and open the floodgates for litigation. Opponents believe lack of regulation has resulted in a breeding ground online for hate speech, extremism, and incitement to violence.
“This is going to be the most important [Supreme Court] term ever for the internet,” said Alan Rozenshtein, a former Justice Department cybersecurity official who is now a University of Minnesota law professor. “It’s not even close.”
God of War: Ragnarok Footage Leaks a Week Before Offical Release
God of War: Ragnarok gameplay has leaked over a week before its official release date. Set to be released Nov. 9, the title is one of the most anticipated games of the year.
Over the past 24 hours, video and social media sites have been flooded with clips of people playing their way through the entire game.
Full-game walkthroughs began when a store in the US—with its stock already in-hand—accidentally sold copies early.
Shortly after, the internet was flooded with clips, spoilers, and full-cut scene footage.
“Sorry to everyone that you have to dodge the spoilers if you want to play the game fresh,” director Cory Barlog tweeted following the leaks.
