Fri. 01/10 – The Controversies Continue · Tech Brew Ride Home summary

Key takeaways

Meta's moderation policy changes have sparked outrage, indicating a significant disconnect in communication regarding hate speech definitions.
Automattic's response to legal pressure indicates a shift in how companies may engage with open-source projects like WordPress.
The future of TikTok remains uncertain as Supreme Court arguments unfold, with new ownership proposals emerging.
The financial sustainability of AAA gaming is questioned due to exorbitant production costs.
The breach of privacy by popular apps raises significant ethical concerns about how user data is collected and used.
Trends show a marked increase in societal isolation, suggesting broader implications for community engagement and mental health.

Summary

Meta Moderation Controversy

The podcast discusses the ongoing controversies surrounding Meta's recent policy changes regarding moderation on Facebook and Instagram. Moderators are now permitted to allow certain derogatory remarks, causing confusion and anger amongst employees and the public over what constitutes hate speech.

WordPress Brouhaha

Brian updates listeners on the heated situation surrounding WordPress, where Automattic announced a reduction in its contributions to the WordPress core project amid legal disputes with WP Engine. This decision came in response to criticisms of how the contributions and community engagement were managed.

TikTok Supreme Court Arguments

As the Supreme Court examines the potential ban on TikTok, a new proposal emerged from billionaire Frank McCourt to acquire TikTok's US assets. This proposal aims to keep the app alive without relying on its current algorithm, amid increasing scrutiny and the uncertainty surrounding its future in the US.

AAA Gaming Development Costs

The podcast reveals shocking statistics on the skyrocketing production costs of AAA video games, specifically highlighting that several 'Call of Duty' titles in recent years had budgets exceeding $700 million, prompting discussions about the sustainability of the AAA gaming model.

Privacy Concerns with Mobile Apps

A data breach at Gravy Analytics highlighted alarming practices among popular apps such as Candy Crush and Tinder that compromise user location data. The podcast underscores growing concerns about how apps may be unintentionally harvesting user data through advertising mechanisms, without the knowledge of developers or users.

Societal Isolation Trends

The podcast references a thought-provoking piece discussing the decline of social interactions among Americans, which has led to an increase in solo activities such as dining out alone. This shift signifies deeper changes in society's leisure habits and overall interpersonal connections.

Show notes

All the controversies continue. I’ll update you on the Meta moderation controversy. The latest twist in the WordPress brouhaha. The TikTok thing is coming to a head right now as we speak, in the form of Supreme Court arguments. Asking again if the business model of Triple A gaming development is broken. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions.
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Links:

Mark Zuckerberg gave Meta’s Llama team the OK to train on copyrighted works, filing claims (TechCrunch)

Automattic says it will reduce its contribution to WordPress core project to match WP Engine (TechCrunch)

Billionaire Frank McCourt's Project Liberty proposes bid for TikTok's US assets (Reuters)

Candy Crush, Tinder, MyFitnessPal: See the Thousands of Apps Hijacked to Spy on Your Location (Wired)

Call of Duty's massive development budgets revealed: $700 million for Black Ops Cold War (Game File)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

The New $30,000 Side Hustle: Making Job Referrals for Strangers (Bloomberg)

The smart glasses era is here — I got a first look (The Verge)

The Anti-Social Century (The Atlantic)