IT & Technology News
Reporting on information technology, cybersecurity, and tech policy. The Daily Signal includes analysis, commentary, and opinion on technology’s impact.
-
- Opinion
Jim DeMint: Why I Met With Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg
This election season has made many Americans even more cynical about our democratic system of government. There is clearly political upheaval underway in America and around the world. This massive disturbance of the status quo has been fueled in large part by more people getting better, faster information from many sources on the internet. Previously,…Jim DeMint -
- Opinion
China’s Challenge to International Cybersecurity
Chinese activities in cyberspace regularly garner a great deal of attention. Chinese hackers have been accused of stealing millions of records from U.S. government databases, such as the Office of Personnel Management, as well as various corporations. Chinese leadership sees information as inextricably linked to not only the broader national interest, but also to regime…Dean Cheng -
- Opinion
Facebook’s War on Conservative News
Maybe we need to start talking about the consequences of living in Mark Zuckerberg’s America. It’s easy to see Facebook as the new town square. Friends, family, and acquaintances may live far apart, but on the Facebook news feed, the mixture of personal updates and news stories allow conversations and exchanges of viewpoints to continue,…Katrina Trinko -
- Opinion
Why You Can’t Google ‘Panama Papers’ in China
Typing the phrase “Panama Papers” into Baidu (China’s equivalent to Google) will yield the message “The search results may not meet the relevant regulations, and have not been displayed.” The millions of emails leaked last week by a Panamanian law firm revealed information on client investments in the country’s tax-haven investments, including those of high-ranking…William T. Wilson -
- Opinion
University of Michigan Students Call for Police to Censor Classmates’ Political Messages
The University of Michigan is one of our nation’s premier institutions of higher learning. Young people from all over the country move to Ann Arbor every year to obtain an education and to have their ideas challenged by exposure to fellow students from many walks of life. Or maybe not. Last Thursday afternoon, a number of…Andrew Kloster -
- Opinion
Why ISIS Has Threatened the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter
U.S. social media companies are taking steps to curb support for terrorist causes on their websites. According to news reports, both Facebook and Twitter have rooted out thousands of accounts that either advocate or display sympathy for terrorists—and as a result have reduced the groups’ effectiveness on the Internet. In response the Islamic State (also known…Helle Dale -
- Opinion
Is Twitter Censoring Non-Politically Correct Viewpoints?
The folks running Twitter may be too young to have heard of George Orwell, or perhaps they simply do not care that their new advisory council sounds frighteningly Orwellian. Either way, the brand new “Twitter Trust and Safety Council” seems like a board ready to censor comments in deference to political correctness. It doesn’t help…Mike Gonzalez -
- Opinion
Why Cybersecurity Information Sharing Is a Positive Step for Online Security
President Obama signed recently into law a new federal spending bill that includes the latest edition of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA). The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act seeks to incentivize private companies and government agencies to exchange data on cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. The Heritage Foundation has recommended information sharing policies because they represent the…Evan McDermott -
- News
Top 5 Questions Americans Asked Google During State of the Union
Google was keeping tabs on your searches Tuesday night as President Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address. Here were the top five questions Americans asked bout Obama along with other interesting tidbits. Here's what Americans are asking @google about @POTUS since the start of the #SOTU: pic.twitter.com/BIkVbtFDDb — Google Civics (@GoogleCivics)…Rob Bluey -
- News
Eric Metaxas Explains Why a Secular, Liberal Culture Is Bad for America
Bestselling author and talk radio host Eric Metaxas calls religious freedom the core of America’s freedoms. In an interview with The Daily Signal, Metaxas addresses why a secular America is inconsistent with the Founders’ vision and how culture has far-reaching consequences in politics. We also discuss the role of undercover filmmaker David Daleiden and how his…Rob Bluey -
- Opinion
Report: EPA Broke Federal Law With ‘Covert Propaganda’ on Social Media
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broke the law when pushing its controversial water rule, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). As Congress considers whether to include a provision in the omnibus appropriations bill to block funding for the water rule, this should make the issue a no-brainer. As if a rule that attempts to…Daren Bakst -
- Opinion
Congress Must Exercise Oversight of Obama Strategy Against ISIS Social Media Propaganda
Terrorists’ use of social media has turned the Internet into a battlefield unlike any we have seen before. As a tool for terror, propaganda, and recruitment, the Islamic State (ISIS) and other terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda have used the Internet in entirely new dimensions. It turns out we have been woefully ill-prepared for this…Helle Dale -
- Opinion
How to Combat Cyber-Attacks in the 21st Century
The barrage of cyber-attacks against U.S. companies continued in 2015. Some were spectacularly successful, costing the victimized companies—as well as their workers and customers—millions. Americans can expect more of the same in 2016. The bad guys still want to steal commercial secrets, as well as your Social Security numbers, birth dates, home addresses, financial records,…Riley Walters -
- Opinion
Planned Parenthood Turns Tragedy Into Censorship
In the wake of a violent tragedy, Planned Parenthood has redoubled its efforts to silence its critics. The Colorado Springs shooter, who waged the terrible attack, appears to have no connection to society at large, much less to the pro-life movement. But Planned Parenthood is using him as a tool in its new censorship campaign, which…Matt Bowman -
- News
A Google Executive Shares How to Defeat ISIS on the Digital Front
The Islamic State, or ISIS, isn’t as prevalent on the Internet as many believe, an expert on digital media says, and the United States has the technological capacity to destroy the terror group’s online recruiting efforts. Compared to defeating the physical presence of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, he says, the digital counterinsurgency is an…Chelsea Scism -
- News
Poll: Censorship More Popular Among Millennials
Forty percent of millennials believe the U.S. government should be able to censor speech that is considered offensive to minority groups, a new poll from Pew Research Center finds. The Pew poll identified a notable disparity in opinion between millennials—those ages 18 to 34—and those surveyed from three other age groups. The poll found that 27 percent of Generation…Joshua Gill -
- News
‘We Witnessed the Horror’: 15 Comments From Band’s Facebook Post After the Paris Attacks
Fans responded with emotion as Eagles of Death Metal, an American hard rock band, posted the first lengthy statement since the terrorist attack during its Nov. 13 concert at the Bataclan theater in Paris. Mark Backwell, a fan who said he traveled from London to hear the band and escaped with nine friends, some injured, expressed gratitude on…Leah Jessen -
- News
Students for Life Says Hulu Is ‘Censoring’ Ads Aimed at Women
A pro-life group complains that Hulu, an online video streaming service, banned its ads from the website because the ads aren’t pro-choice. Hulu is “censoring content” meant to help women, the group says. In a press release, Students for Life of America said it created the ads in the style of public service announcements to show viewers…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
The Mainstream Media Are Suffering From Freedom Envy
In 2005, when the internet and blogs were new, members of the elite mainstream media were skeptical, even hostile. Who are these unknown , uncredentialed so-called journalists who think they can compete with the big boys? Don't they know they didn't go to Columbia Journalism School? Who allowed them in the game? I defended the…Peggy Noonan -
- Opinion
Cartoon: What The Mainstream Media Are Ignoring This Week
Genevieve Wood wrote about Planned Parenthood and the media in her column earlier this week: In the case of the unfolding scandal involving the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, much of the mainstream media have fallen for the old line, “Nothing to see here.” And now we find out perhaps one reason why is…Paul Runko