Latest news with #FreedomOfThePressFoundation
Forbes
01-08-2025
- Forbes
Google's Chrome Update—Do Not Use This On Your Smartphone
Sometimes better is still not good enough. And so it is with the latest Chrome update to be confirmed by Google. This fixes a glaring security vulnerability, but it's still not recommended. With the mobile threat landscape worsening, here's what you should do. The 'much-needed fix' spotted by Android Authority adds 'biometric authentication before autofilling passwords.' This is already available in apps but not websites. That now changes, 'finally preventing password autofill without user verification.' But the inherent problem with Google's Password Manager is that it's built into its Chrome browser. And whatever password manager you use — and you should use one, it shouldn't be built into any browser, whether Chrome, Edge or something else. If you are using Google's Chrome password manager, TechRadar says 'you should reconsider.' Despite its convenience, 'there are significant downsides you can't ignore.' Above all, it takes a convenience-first rather than a security-first approach. This also means less extensive protections against autofill attacks in general. As I reported last month, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, PC Mag and Android Police all advocate using something else. 'Google has made it easier to move away from its password manager with a new 'Delete all data' option in the settings.' You should do that and move to a password manager fire-gapped from your browser. Per TechRepublic, 'today's online landscape is fraught with many cyber threats, and only a dedicated password manager can offer advanced features like zero-knowledge encryption, cross-platform compatibility, travel mode, and secure password sharing.' Android Authority explains the new update 'prevents thieves who steal your phone from signing into accounts that aren't already logged in. Unfortunately, Google Chrome on Android currently autofills passwords without any form of authentication.' And so, if you are sticking with Google's Password Manager, you should enable this when it releases. But if you want to better protect your passwords and accounts, take this opportunity to select a blue-chip password manager and move to that instead.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Freedom of the Press Foundation Files Disciplinary Complaint Against Brendan Carr, Alleges Ethics Violations
The letter was sent to the District of Columbia Bar and seeks sanctions – including possible disbarment The Freedom of the Press Foundation has filed a disciplinary complaint letter against Brendan Carr, accusing the Federal Communications Commission chair of violating legal ethics rules in what the nonprofit watchdog describes as a politically motivated campaign to pressure news organizations and benefit President Trump. In a letter submitted Monday night to the District of Columbia Bar's disciplinary council and obtained by Oliver Darcy's newsletter Status, the nonpartisan group alleges Carr abused his authority as a licensed attorney and federal official to intimidate media outlets, misrepresent the law, and enable what it called a 'shakedown' of Paramount Global. More from TheWrap Freedom of the Press Foundation Files Disciplinary Complaint Against Brendan Carr, Alleges Ethics Violations 'A Responsé From Beyoncé': Stephen Colbert, 'Late Show' Imagine Clap-Back Track to Trump Prosecution Threat | Video Greg Gutfeld Says Network Late Night Is 'Safe' and 'Suffocating': 'Beholden to Publicists and Celebrities' | Video Washington Post Fact Checker Exits, Says He's 'Not Sure' if Paper Will Replace Role The complaint centers on Carr's role in the FCC's approval of the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, which followed a controversial $16 million settlement paid by Paramount to Trump over the '60 Minutes' lawsuit. Carr had revived an FCC inquiry into that interview months earlier. 'Carr used the FCC as a tool to pressure Paramount into settling a meritless lawsuit with Trump, paving the way for the merger's approval,' the complaint reads. 'This conduct violates core ethical rules governing honesty, misuse of office, and interference with justice.' The filing accuses Carr of violating several professional conduct rules, including those prohibiting dishonesty, prejudicial conduct, and abuse of public office for political gain. It cites Carr's public threats toward MSNBC, revived investigations into ABC and NBC News, and probes into public broadcasting and immigration-related reporting. Carr has previously vowed to push the president's agenda as FCC chair. The foundation argues that Carr's actions have 'turned the FCC into a censoring machine' in service of that agenda. The D.C. bar has not commented on the complaint, and Carr has not publicly responded. If the bar agrees to pursue the matter, it could result in sanctions up to disbarment. The Freedom of the Press Foundation promotes public-interest journalism with a focus on government transparency and press freedom, works to protect journalists and whistleblowers, provides security training for newsrooms and advocates for legal reforms. Its board has included prominent members such as Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras. The post Freedom of the Press Foundation Files Disciplinary Complaint Against Brendan Carr, Alleges Ethics Violations appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Freedom of the Press Foundation Calls BS on Paramount-Trump Settlement After Merger Approval: ‘Shakedown Money'
"[Brendan] Carr can't justify his actions ... because the FCC meddling in broadcasters' content is illegal too," the foundation's director of advocacy says The Freedom of the Press Foundation expressed discontent following the approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger, calling out Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr for 'meddling in broadcasters' content.' The FPF has been vocal about the risk that Paramount's $16 million settlement over the '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris poses to press freedom, criticizing the media titan for cowering to President Donald Trump. In a statement to TheWrap Friday, a spokesperson for the foundation stated that they could hardly fathom that anyone could believe Paramount's seemingly selfless claims over its reasons for the settlement. More from TheWrap Astronomer Enlists Gwyneth Paltrow to Explain What the Company Does After Ex-Husband Chris Martin Sparked CEO Scandal | Video 'Tron: Ares' Brings New Nine Inch Nails Video and Light Cycle Chases to Comic Con Larry Ellison to Hold 35.5% of Family's Voting Rights in New Paramount, National Amusements After Skydance Merger Closes David Letterman Roasts CBS, David Ellison Over Colbert Cancellation: 'Go Buy Dairy Queen or Something' | Video 'I'm not aware of a single person who believed Paramount's claim that this settlement was about lawyer fees and liability risk,' Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, said in a statement. 'And if such people exist, Donald Trump has a real estate degree to sell them.' The foundation previously called Paramount's settlement a 'spineless decision.' After 251 days, the FCC approved Paramount and Skydance Media's $8 billion merger by a vote of 2-1 along party lines Thursday. The approval came after Skydance agreed to bring on an ombudsman at CBS to review complaints of bias and to eliminate all DEI initiatives for Paramount at large. 'If there was ever any doubt, Brendan Carr just extinguished it by approving the merger just days after Trump announce he'd received Paramount's shakedown money,' the statement continued. 'What's worse, Carr can't justify his actions by pointing to Skydance's promise to appoint a bias ombudsman, because the FCC meddling in broadcasters' content is illegal too.' The FCC does not have permission to censor or bar broadcasters from platforming content from any point of view. Engaging in censorship would infringe the media' First Amendment right to freedom of the press. The press freedom advocacy group filed a shareholder information demand back in May and said in early July that it intended to explore further legal action to hold Paramount's board accountable for what it sees as a 'capitulation' to Trump that violates shareholders' interests and the First Amendment. 'Each time a company cowers and surrenders to Trump's demands it only emboldens him to do it again. It will be remembered as one of the most shameful capitulations by the press to a president in history,' Stern said in a statement to TheWrap July 2. The Paramount-Skydance merger approval comes just one week after CBS canceled 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' after he called his network's $16 million settlement a 'big fat bribe.' Under the new merger, Skydance is set to acquire controlling shareholder Shari Redstone's holding company National Amusements, which controls 77.4% of the Paramount Class A common stock outstanding and approximately 9.5% of the overall equity of the company, before merging with the Hollywood studio. The Redstone family will finally relinquish control of the media giant that they have owned since 1994 to the Ellison family and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners. The post Freedom of the Press Foundation Calls BS on Paramount-Trump Settlement After Merger Approval: 'Shakedown Money' appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Freedom of the Press Foundation Calls BS on Paramount-Trump Settlement After Merger Approval: ‘Shakedown Money'
"[Brendan] Carr can't justify his actions ... because the FCC meddling in broadcasters' content is illegal too," the foundation's director of advocacy says The Freedom of the Press Foundation expressed discontent following the approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger, calling out Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr for 'meddling in broadcasters' content.' The FPF has been vocal about the risk that Paramount's $16 million settlement over the '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris poses to press freedom, criticizing the media titan for cowering to President Donald Trump. In a statement to TheWrap Friday, a spokesperson for the foundation stated that they could hardly fathom that anyone could believe Paramount's seemingly selfless claims over its reasons for the settlement. More from TheWrap David Letterman Roasts CBS, David Ellison Over Colbert Cancellation: 'Go Buy Dairy Queen or Something' | Video 'Predator: Badlands' Previews First 15 Minutes at San Diego Comic-Con 'Vanderpump Rules' Season 12 Teaser Pokes Fun at Cast Shake-Up: 'Help Wanted' Freedom of the Press Foundation Calls BS on Paramount-Trump Settlement After Merger Approval: 'Shakedown Money' 'I'm not aware of a single person who believed Paramount's claim that this settlement was about lawyer fees and liability risk,' Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, said in a statement. 'And if such people exist, Donald Trump has a real estate degree to sell them.' The foundation previously called Paramount's settlement a 'spineless decision.' After 251 days, the FCC approved Paramount and Skydance Media's $8 billion merger by a vote of 2-1 along party lines Thursday. The approval came after Skydance agreed to bring on an ombudsman at CBS to review complaints of bias and to eliminate all DEI initiatives for Paramount at large. 'If there was ever any doubt, Brendan Carr just extinguished it by approving the merger just days after Trump announce he'd received Paramount's shakedown money,' the statement continued. 'What's worse, Carr can't justify his actions by pointing to Skydance's promise to appoint a bias ombudsman, because the FCC meddling in broadcasters' content is illegal too.' The FCC does not have permission to censor or bar broadcasters from platforming content from any point of view. Engaging in censorship would infringe the media' First Amendment right to freedom of the press. The press freedom advocacy group filed a shareholder information demand back in May and said in early July that it intended to explore further legal action to hold Paramount's board accountable for what it sees as a 'capitulation' to Trump that violates shareholders' interests and the First Amendment. 'Each time a company cowers and surrenders to Trump's demands it only emboldens him to do it again. It will be remembered as one of the most shameful capitulations by the press to a president in history,' Stern said in a statement to TheWrap July 2. The Paramount-Skydance merger approval comes just one week after CBS canceled 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' after he called his network's $16 million settlement a 'big fat bribe.' Under the new merger, Skydance is set to acquire controlling shareholder Shari Redstone's holding company National Amusements, which controls 77.4% of the Paramount Class A common stock outstanding and approximately 9.5% of the overall equity of the company, before merging with the Hollywood studio. The Redstone family will finally relinquish control of the media giant that they have owned since 1994 to the Ellison family and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners. The post Freedom of the Press Foundation Calls BS on Paramount-Trump Settlement After Merger Approval: 'Shakedown Money' appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Freedom of the Press Foundation Weighing Legal Options Against Paramount Over Trump Settlement
The Freedom of the Press Foundation is weighing its legal options against Paramount Global following its $16 million dollar settlement with President Donald Trump after the nonprofit filed a shareholder information demand asking for a litigation hold. 'Today is a dark day for press freedom. Paramount's spineless decision to settle Trump's baseless and patently unconstitutional lawsuit is an insult to the journalists of '60 Minutes' and an invitation to Trump to continue targeting other news outlets,' Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, said in a statement. 'Each time a company cowers and surrenders to Trump's demands it only emboldens him to do it again. It will be remembered as one of the most shameful capitulations by the press to a president in history.' More from TheWrap Freedom of the Press Foundation Weighing Legal Options Against Paramount Over Trump Settlement Actor Keith David Shares Tearful Reaction to Getting a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: 'Blessed' | Video 50 Cent, Aubrey O'Day, Rosie O'Donnell and More React to Split Diddy Verdict: 'I'm Gonna Vomit' Freevee's Standalone App to Shutter in August FPF, a press freedom advocacy group, already filed a shareholder information demand back in May and said Wednesday it's exploring further legal action to hold Paramount's board accountable for what it sees as a capitulation to Trump that violates shareholders' interests and the First Amendment. The organization itself is a shareholder. The FPF called out the settlement as a conflict of interest and said it was 'intended to clear the way for federal approval' in the sale of Paramount to Skydance Media which would also 'result in a multimillion-dollar payout to Paramount Chair Shari Redstone.' The nonprofit already filed a shareholder information demand to Redstone and announced Wednesday they are sending a second demand to uncover information regarding the decision. Based on the information, the FPF 'will continue to pursue our legal options to stop this affront to Paramount shareholders, CBS journalists and the First Amendment.' The initial filing called the lawsuit 'frivolous' and notified Paramount of its intention to take legal action in the event of a settlement with Trump. Many have called the settlement problematic with three U.S. senators (Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden) launching an investigation into whether paying off Trump through a settlement to obtain approval of the sale would violate federal bribery and other laws. The California Senate opened a similar investigation. 'With Paramount folding to Donald Trump at the same time the company needs his administration's approval for its billion-dollar merger, this could be bribery in plain sight,' Warren said in a Wednesday statement to TheWrap. 'Paramount has refused to provide answers to a congressional inquiry, so I'm calling for a full investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken.'The settlement with Trump covers legal fees and other costs, as well as a donation that will be allocated to a 'future presidential library.' Paramount also said that 'in the future, '60 Minutes' will release transcripts of interviews with eligible U.S. presidential candidates after such interviews have aired, subject to redactions as required for legal or national security concerns.' Notably, the settlement does not include any statement of apology or regret from CBS or '60 Minutes.' Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks addressed the settlement in a shareholder call early Wednesday morning and said the decision allows the company to focus on 'core objectives, rather than being mired in uncertainty and distraction.' Trump initially sued CBS and '60 Minutes' for $20 billion, claiming that an Oct.7 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris was deceptively edited and caused him 'mental anguish.' Trump's legal team called the settlement a 'win for the American people.''With this record settlement, President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit,' a spokesperson for Trump's legal team said in a statement. 'CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle.' Paramount did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment. The post Freedom of the Press Foundation Weighing Legal Options Against Paramount Over Trump Settlement appeared first on TheWrap.
