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Trump FCC Pick Promises Crackdown on Social Media ‘Censorship Cartel’
Brendan Carr, President-elect Trump’s pick to chair the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), vowed Monday to break up the “censorship cartel” of social media platforms. “I think Americans have been seeing an unprecedented surge in censorship, particularly over the last couple of years,” Carr said on NewsNation’s “CUOMO,” adding, “It’s going to be one of my top priorities, is trying to smash this censorship cartel.”
Carr, a current FCC commissioner, argued that platforms are acting on their own to “censor” speech, as well as facing pressure from government officials and advertising and marketing agencies. He suggested that the FCC could take aim at Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides technology companies with immunity for content posted on their platforms by third parties.
“That’s the provision that a lot of these technology companies have used to silence diversion speech,” Carr said. “I think the FCC can take a look at implementing that in a way that can promote more speech, not less.”
Air Canada Rolling out Facial Recognition at Some Airports
Air Canada is set to introduce facial recognition technology at the gate, but the move is leading to questions about data storage and personal privacy. The carrier is the first airline in Canada to introduce the technology on a volunteer basis, at Maple Leaf lounges in Toronto, Calgary and San Francisco.
The hope is that the new technology will help streamline the boarding process, but questions remain about how the information collected will be stored and used. Local tech blogger Kevin Andrews says the company is offering assurances about who can access the information and how long it’s stored. He says the airline is assuring that the passenger data is encrypted and stored securely, and used exclusively for digital identification purposes only.
The Growing Role of Biometrics in Identity Verification
In an evolving, increasingly digital world, biometric technologies are modernizing identity verification across both public and private sectors. As society becomes more interconnected, the need for secure and efficient methods of verifying identities has never been greater. From facial recognition at airports to authentication for accessing secure areas — both physically and digitally — biometrics are rapidly becoming an integral part of our daily lives.
The shift from static verification methods to “biometrics on the move,” where identity is verified in real-time as individuals move through a space, promises enhanced security and convenience. However, the rise of biometric systems also raises important questions about privacy, data protection, and the ethical implications of using such technologies.
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Biometrics a High Priority for Stadiums and Live Venues in 2025
Stadiums, arenas and other venues for sports and live events are likely to follow airports as places that bring biometrics to the masses. New survey results show almost half of venues (47%) consider biometrics a top initiative for 2025.
The Stadium Connectivity Outlook survey, supported by Verizon and Stadium Tech Report, also shows 37% of respondents already using biometrics for applications that include verification of credentials for staff and media entrances. That makes credentialing and authentication for access control the top category for biometric deployments, indicating increasing trust in face authentication and other biometric credentialing systems. It is followed by ticketing and entry at 14%, premium or VIP seating at 8, and concessions at 7%.
That final category would seem likely to curve steeply upward as technology enables cashless payments for food and merchandise purchases, age verification for alcohol sales, and other innovative biometric integrations that improve fan experience. Indeed, 58% of respondents have cashierless concessions tech on their roadmap for 2025, and a key takeaway is that “cashierless concessions, biometric solutions and walk-through security scanners are tops on venues’ technology deployment lists, while generative AI is also a growing focus.”
Apple Under Fire: Employee Lawsuit Alleges Invasive Surveillance Practices
Apple, the tech giant revered for its groundbreaking innovations and staunch advocacy for consumer privacy, now finds itself in the crosshairs of a legal storm. Amar Bhakta, a digital advertising employee, has filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of imposing invasive surveillance measures on employees. Filed in California, the lawsuit alleges that Apple’s workplace policies grant the company unprecedented access to employees’ personal devices and cloud accounts, blurring the lines between professional oversight and personal privacy.
This case is not just about Apple — it is poised to ignite broader debates around employee rights, workplace surveillance, and corporate accountability in an increasingly digital world.
At the heart of the lawsuit are claims that Apple requires employees to install monitoring software on their personal devices if they wish to use them for work purposes. This software reportedly allows the company to access emails, photos, health data, and other private information stored on these devices or linked iCloud accounts.
