Digital Daily Dozen 1/26/17

Google has banned 200 publishers since it passed a new policy against fake news

Google kicked 200 publishers off one of its ad networks in the fourth quarter, partly in response to the proliferation of fake news sites.  The company banned the publishers from its AdSense network, an ad placement service that automatically serves text and display ads on participating sites based on its audience. The ban was part of an update to an existing policy that prohibits sites that mislead users with their content.  –CNBC

 

Congress Tells New FCC Head to Abandon Set-Top Box Reform

Republicans in Congress asked the new head of the Federal Communications Commission Wednesday to abandon a proposal to make cable providers offer content on apps instead of forcing subscribers to rent set-top boxes.  –Inside Sources

 

Monero, the Drug Dealer’s Cryptocurrency of Choice, Is on Fire

FOR THE CRYPTOCURRENCY community, 2016 was a very good year. Bitcoin doubled in price. The far-out Bitcoin alternative Ethereum shot up by a factor of 10. But another, once-obscure cryptocurrency called Monero outpaced all of them, multiplying its value around 27-fold.  –Wired

 

Enjoy Your Visit to Our Country (and Give Us Your Twitter Handle)

At the end of 2016, the U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) implemented a rule to include questions concerning social media accounts of travelers to the United States during the Visa Waiver Program screening process (VWP).  –Pillsbury

 

BROADCASTERS SHORE UP MORE HILL SUPPORT AGAINST ROYALTY

There may not be any bills in Congress proposing radio stations pay a performance royalty, but in a pre-emptive strike, opponents of such a fee have put 115 House members on record opposing the idea.  –Inside Radio

 

ACA to FCC: Keep Local Ownership Caps

The American Cable Association has filed an opposition to broadcasters’ request that the FCC reconsider its decision—in the quadrennial ownership rule review—to retain local ownership limits on broadcast stations, saying they are rehashing arguments that the FCC has already rejected. The deadline for filing was Jan. 24.  –Broadcasting & Cable

 

Warner Bros. Creates New Tech Business Unit

Warner Bros. Entertainment has created a new technology unit, with the goal of better aligning its technologists with its business strategy, covering every studio unit from pre-production to archiving.  –Broadcasting & Cable

 

51% Would Trade Smart Home Device Data For Cost Savings

When it comes to smart home devices, consumers seem to be open to sharing control and data if it means saving money.  –Media Post

 

Verizon Interested In Charter Communications To Build Media/Content Biz

Charter Communications stocked was sharply higher on Thursday, due a reported move by Verizon to explore some “combination” with  the large cable operator.  –Media Post

 

Down with OTT: Magna makes a major buy with Roku

If you use an over-the-top device to stream digital content to your television, there’s a good chance it’s a Roku. The company accounted for 48 percent of all streaming action over OTT devices last month, according to Nielsen.  –Medialife Magazine

 

Americans and Cybersecurity

Many Americans do not trust modern institutions to protect their personal data – even as they frequently neglect cybersecurity best practices in their own personal lives.  –Pew Research Center

 

AI system as good as experts at recognising skin cancers, say researchers

Computers can classify skin cancers as successfully as human experts, according to the latest research attempting to apply artificial intelligence to health.  –The Guardian

_________________________________________________________________

 

The Digital Daily Dozen is distributed weekdays (usually) by Dom Caristi or Heather Vaughn as a service of the BSU Digital Policy Institute. The articles are culled from various e-newsletters. The content is not original – only their compilation in this mailing is.

_________________________________________________________________