Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

Palestinian activists and Microsoft employees demand company cut ties with AnyVision, citing civil rights violations

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 28, 2020January 28, 2020 at 4:37 pm1 Comment

Activists are planning a demonstration at Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash., campus Wednesday to protest the company’s relationship with Israeli security firm AnyVision. The protestors plan to deliver 75,000 petitions demanding Microsoft… Read More

Washington state considers legislation that would protect gaming apps from gambling lawsuits

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 28, 2020January 28, 2020 at 12:26 pmComment

Washington lawmakers are debating legislation that would shield many of the state’s smartphone game companies from class-action gambling lawsuits. Several Washington companies that develop so-called “social games” are fielding lawsuits… Read More

Melinda Gates’ nonprofit launches $50M initiative to increase representation of women in tech hubs

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 28, 2020January 27, 2020 at 4:37 pm1 Comment

Melinda Gates is launching another initiative to turn the tide for women in tech. Pivotal Ventures, a Seattle-based philanthropic group founded by Gates, announced a $50 million project Tuesday designed… Read More

Supreme Court lifts ban on Trump’s ‘public charge’ policy, making it harder for immigrants to qualify for green cards

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 27, 2020January 27, 2020 at 2:16 pm 3 Comments

The Trump administration is allowed to implement a rule that makes it difficult for immigrants who use public benefits to gain legal status in the U.S., thanks to a 5-4… Read More

Hundreds of Amazon employees protest company PR policy by speaking out about climate change

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 26, 2020January 27, 2020 at 11:02 am 16 Comments

Amazon employees are responding to threats of termination for their climate advocacy by intentionally violating the company’s corporate communications policy. More than 350 workers criticized Amazon’s contribution to climate change… Read More

‘Think more, share less’: Fake news researchers offer tips to avoid online manipulation

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 25, 2020January 25, 2020 at 8:17 am 2 Comments

There has been a robust debate over disinformation online since the 2016 U.S. presidential election showed the world how social media can be weaponized to push a political agenda. But… Read More

Washington state wants to regulate artificial intelligence, as Microsoft lobbies for new rules

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 24, 2020January 27, 2020 at 7:57 amComment

Washington state could become a pioneer in regulating artificial intelligence if lawmakers and Microsoft get their way. A series of bills introduced this legislative session seek to blaze a trail… Read More

Amazon asks judge to block Microsoft from working on JEDI cloud contract while court considers bias question

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 23, 2020January 23, 2020 at 9:28 am1 Comment

Amazon’s crusade to overturn the Department of Defense’s award of a lucrative cloud contract to rival Microsoft inched forward this week with a new court filing. What’s new: Amazon filed a… Read More

Senator probes Jeff Bezos on alleged hack by Saudi crown prince

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 at 3:16 pm 2 Comments

A U.S. Senator is asking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for more information about an alleged hack, citing a “growing trend” of illicit surveillance by the Saudi government. Sen. Ron Wyden,… Read More

Mobile voting will be available to 1.2M Seattle area voters in upcoming King County election

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 at 9:00 am 5 Comments

Mobile voting is coming to the Seattle region, thanks in part to two homegrown companies. A partnership of local government officials, nonprofits, and tech companies will enable 1.2 million registered… Read More

News Brief

Microsoft President Brad Smith calls for AI regulation at Davos

States claim Trump’s new firearm rules will allow spread of 3D printed gun blueprints online

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 20, 2020January 20, 2020 at 10:56 am 3 Comments

Washington state plans to sue the federal government over a proposed change that Attorney General Bob Ferguson warns will lead to the proliferation of blueprints for 3D printed guns online.… Read More

Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter, others urge federal court to block Trump’s ‘public charge’ immigration rule

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 16, 2020January 16, 2020 at 2:14 pm 13 Comments

Companies across the country are trying to convince a federal judge that a new change to the U.S. immigration system would hurt innovation and the economy. Leading the effort is… Read More

Washington state AG accuses feds of trying to ‘undermine’ states in T-Mobile-Sprint lawsuit

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 15, 2020January 16, 2020 at 10:14 am1 Comment

The attorney general of T-Mobile’s home state, Washington, is taking aim at the federal government as a multi-state lawsuit challenging the wireless carrier’s blockbuster merger with Sprint draws to a… Read More

Microsoft adds $250 million to Seattle housing pledge, bringing total commitment to $750M

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 15, 2020January 14, 2020 at 4:51 pm 2 Comments

Microsoft is increasing its spending on affordable housing and homelessness philanthropy in the Seattle area by 50 percent. The company announced it will spend an additional $250 million on the… Read More

Does Amazon pay enough in taxes? Source says local tax bill was $297M last year

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 10, 2020January 11, 2020 at 7:47 am 4 Comments

Amazon paid nearly $300 million in state and local taxes in 2018, according to a source inside the company with knowledge of the matter. The disclosure comes amid a larger… Read More

Emboldened by election day victory, new Seattle City Council launches next challenge to Amazon

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 10, 2020January 13, 2020 at 3:53 pm 6 Comments

Just two weeks into 2020, the new Seattle City Council is already making good on its promise to take on Amazon, following an election battle between the tech giant and… Read More

News Brief

Amazon confirms Ring fired employees for attempting to access customer video data

Microsoft rolls out tool to scan chat apps for sexual predators seeking to exploit children

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 9, 2020January 9, 2020 at 9:28 am1 Comment

Microsoft released a new tool Thursday that scans online chats for people seeking to sexually exploit children. It’s part of a broader push by the technology industry to crack down… Read More

Amazon devices chief on Sonos accusations: ‘We have tried to be a great partner to them’

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 8, 2020January 8, 2020 at 2:00 pmComment

Amazon’s head of devices is maintaining an amicable tone toward Sonos despite accusations of stolen technology and bullying from the speaker company. In an interview with GeekWire at the Consumer… Read More

Bernie Sanders enlists Amazon employee activists in climate change campaign

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 8, 2020January 8, 2020 at 11:31 amComment

Sen. Bernie Sanders and employee activists have been thorns in Amazon’s side over the past year as they repeatedly call out the company on climate change and other issues. Now… Read More

Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff on ‘productizing’ privacy and staying the course amid controversy

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 8, 2020January 8, 2020 at 10:21 am1 Comment

Jamie Siminoff won’t be deterred. The Ring CEO told GeekWire as much at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Siminoff said he is determined to “stay the… Read More

Legalpad raises $10M to scale work visa automation platform

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 8, 2020January 9, 2020 at 7:24 amComment

A Seattle startup that helps companies apply for visas on behalf of international talent announced a $10 million investment round Wednesday. Legalpad says it will use the funding to continue… Read More

Privacy is front and center at CES as execs from Apple, Facebook, others debate key tech issues

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 at 5:00 pmComment

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is viewed by many as the pulse of the technology industry. The issues explored by speaker sessions, and the newest gadgets unveiled… Read More

FTC chair aims to resolve Big Tech antitrust probes this year, ending investigations or taking action

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 at 1:49 pmComment

The last major antitrust case that the federal government brought against a technology company lasted many years, entrenching Microsoft in a lengthy legal dispute. But the inquiries launched by the… Read More

Ring customers with cameras breached by hackers sue Amazon in proposed class action lawsuit

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 7, 2020January 9, 2020 at 11:58 amComment

An 8-year-old in Mississippi, a Georgia woman lying in bed, a Michigan family watching TV, and dozens of other Ring users were harassed by hackers via their home security cameras… Read More

Trump administration’s new AI principles seek to limit regulatory ‘overreach’ to promote innovation

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 6, 2020January 7, 2020 at 3:52 amComment

The Trump administration is proposing a new set of principles for federal agencies to follow when creating regulations for artificial intelligence technologies used in the private sector. Goals of the… Read More

Video

Why Amazon got smacked by Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes jab at Apple over labor practices

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 6, 2020January 6, 2020 at 12:38 pm 4 Comments

With Apple CEO Tim Cook in the audience and a recent report on labor violations in the news, it’s no surprise that Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais took a swing… Read More

News Brief

Starbucks offers Headspace subscriptions to improve employee mental health

A new era for data privacy: How California’s law is impacting companies in Seattle and beyond

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 3, 2020January 3, 2020 at 11:13 am 2 Comments

California’s new data privacy law took effect Jan. 1, marking the first time many American tech companies must provide users with new rights to their information, including the ability to… Read More

Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

Top Stories from Monica Nickelsburg

Hundreds of Amazon employees protest company PR policy by speaking out about climate change

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

Palestinian activists and Microsoft employees demand company cut ties with AnyVision, citing civil rights violations

Washington state considers legislation that would protect gaming apps from gambling lawsuits

Melinda Gates’ nonprofit launches $50M initiative to increase representation of women in tech hubs

Supreme Court lifts ban on Trump’s ‘public charge’ policy, making it harder for immigrants to qualify for green cards

Hundreds of Amazon employees protest company PR policy by speaking out about climate change

Washington state wants to regulate artificial intelligence, as Microsoft lobbies for new rules

Senator probes Jeff Bezos on alleged hack by Saudi crown prince

Mobile voting will be available to 1.2M Seattle area voters in upcoming King County election

Microsoft President Brad Smith calls for AI regulation at Davos

States claim Trump’s new firearm rules will allow spread of 3D printed gun blueprints online

Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter, others urge federal court to block Trump’s ‘public charge’ immigration rule

Washington state AG accuses feds of trying to ‘undermine’ states in T-Mobile-Sprint lawsuit

Microsoft adds $250 million to Seattle housing pledge, bringing total commitment to $750M

Does Amazon pay enough in taxes? Source says local tax bill was $297M last year

Emboldened by election day victory, new Seattle City Council launches next challenge to Amazon

Amazon confirms Ring fired employees for attempting to access customer video data

Microsoft rolls out tool to scan chat apps for sexual predators seeking to exploit children

Amazon devices chief on Sonos accusations: ‘We have tried to be a great partner to them’

Bernie Sanders enlists Amazon employee activists in climate change campaign

Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff on ‘productizing’ privacy and staying the course amid controversy

Legalpad raises $10M to scale work visa automation platform

Privacy is front and center at CES as execs from Apple, Facebook, others debate key tech issues

FTC chair aims to resolve Big Tech antitrust probes this year, ending investigations or taking action

Ring customers with cameras breached by hackers sue Amazon in proposed class action lawsuit

Trump administration’s new AI principles seek to limit regulatory ‘overreach’ to promote innovation

Why Amazon got smacked by Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes jab at Apple over labor practices

Starbucks offers Headspace subscriptions to improve employee mental health

A new era for data privacy: How California’s law is impacting companies in Seattle and beyond

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