Happy Tuesday. Here’s your Tuesday Tech Drop, the past week’s top stories from the intersection of technology and politics.
### Trump’s Tepid Token Launch Amid Rising Profits
Donald Trump and his family’s foray into cryptocurrency has raised eyebrows as it showcases seemingly corrupt practices during his second presidential term. The recent launch of their meme coin, the World Liberty token, has been met with a lackluster response, reminiscent of the failed Trump Vodka and Trump Steaks ventures. Despite this, an arrangement ensures the Trump family will still profit from the token’s performance. On its first day of trading, World Liberty Financial experienced initial excitement but quickly lost most of its gains. This unusual insider deal has allowed the Trump family to secure significant earnings, even as their crypto activities challenge conventional business ethics typically observed by families in power. This scenario unfolds while Trump continues to undermine federal programs and impose financial strain on American consumers through his trade policies, all while engaging in a questionable profit-making venture linked to a low-value meme coin.
### Meta Adjusts AI Chatbots to Safeguard Teens
Meta is set to implement temporary adjustments to its AI chatbots to restrict conversations with teenagers on sensitive subjects such as self-harm, suicide, disordered eating, and inappropriate romantic interactions. This decision follows a recent investigation by Reuters that revealed some chatbots had engaged minors in discussions about these critical issues in ways that the company had previously considered acceptable.
### FTC Chair Challenges Gmail’s Spam Filter Changes
Andrew Ferguson, the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission appointed by Trump, has issued a warning to Google’s parent company regarding potential changes to Gmail’s spam filters that may affect political emails. This issue has been ongoing, with Republican figures alleging that Gmail’s filters are biased against them, claiming these filters obstruct campaign emails intended for donors. In his letter, Ferguson argues that if Gmail’s filters hinder Americans from receiving expected communications or supporting candidates, it could violate the FTC Act’s rules against unfair trade practices. A spokesperson from Google responded by stating that Gmail’s spam filters rely on a range of objective criteria, applied consistently across all senders, irrespective of political stance, and that the firm is currently reviewing Ferguson’s letter.
### Legal Action Over Defamation in MAGA Podcast
Alexis Wilkins, who is in a relationship with FBI Director Kash Patel, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against right-wing podcaster Kyle Seraphin. Wilkins claims that Seraphin accused her of being an Israeli spy who devised a “honeypot” scheme targeting the FBI director. CNBC has reported that Seraphin discussed the lawsuit on his show, noting that similar allegations about Wilkins have circulated on social media and garnered far more attention than his comments.
### Whistleblower Controversy at Social Security Administration
In a revealing piece, my colleague Steve Benen detailed the forced resignation of Charles Borges, a whistleblower and former data chief at the Social Security Administration. Borges was pressured to leave his position after he raised concerns that associates within the misleadingly named Department of Government Efficiency had uploaded sensitive personal data of Americans onto an unsecured cloud platform, which posed significant security risks.
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