Twitter may introduce a paid membership plan
Twitter is considering introducing a paid membership plan for businesses. According to a Tweet sent to select users, the new paid option has several business-oriented features. The Twitter survey said, “[the] premium tool set will provide valuable viewing, posting, and signaling tools like alerts, trends and activity analysis, advanced analytics, and composing and posting tools all in one customizable dashboard.”
All the upgrade tools will be updated in what is known as Twitter’s Tweetdeck, a social media management application.
Through the introduction of a paid version of Tweetdeck, Twitter may encounter a new stream of revenue that can revitalize its subsiding earnings.
U.S. Senate threatens internet privacy protections
In a 50 to 48 vote mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate took the first step in removing internet privacy protection established during the Obama administration. The House is expected to come to the same ruling next week, leaving the final approval to President Trump.
The privacy rules established last October by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prevented telecommunication companies such as AT&T and Comcast from gathering or distributing data on user’s web browsing, app use, location and other information without the user consent.
Abolishing internet privacy will allow broadband providers the opportunity to collect and sell sensitive information. The Senate vote was a victory for conservative lawmakers and companies.
Telecommunication providers organized a lobbying group called 21st Century Privacy Coalition to eliminate privacy rules.
“These were the strongest online privacy rules to date, and this vote is a huge step backwards in consumer protection writ large,” Dallas Harris said, a policy fellow for the consumer group Public Knowledge.
Uber halts self-driving car program
Uber recently announced it will cease its driverless car pilot program after an accident occurred involving a self-driving Uber vehicle and two other vehicles. There were two backup drivers and no passengers in the autonomous car. There were no serious injuries.
According to Josie Montenegro, a spokeswoman for the Tempe Police Department, the collision caused the self-driving car to flip onto its side.
Uber did not comment on the fault of the accident but said it was investigating the incident.
Amazon drone makes first delivery
Amazon recently made the first public drone delivery of a package to MARS 2017 (Machine learning, home Automation, Robotics and Space exploration), Amazon’s conference in Palm Springs, Calif. This event came after years of development under federal regulations. The package, carried by a drone, contained four pounds of sunscreen.
Amazon, among other large delivery companies, developed drone technology to expedite shipping. The use of drones brings up questions about the safety and effectiveness of such deliveries. The electronic commerce giant already began a pilot program in the U.K. but not yet in the U.S. due to government regulations. In order to obtain permission to fly over public land, drones would require the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to a statement shared with Recode, the demo was completed with the help of the FAA.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.