Big Story. Tech companies warned about doing business in China. U.S. intelligence officials have reportedly been briefing tech executives about the dangers of conducting business in China, including warning them about the theft of intellectual property and the possibility of cyber attacks. The meetings come as the Trump administration continues to warn companies against doing business with Chinese firms amidst an ongoing trade dispute between the two countries.
A new report out of Europe also found that forced tech transfers are on the rise in China. An annual survey conducted by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China found that 20 percent of the study’s respondents said they felt compelled to transfer technology to local firms in order to maintain market access, up from 10 percent in 2017.
In a separate move, the Commerce Department announced that it would grant temporary exemptions to an export blacklist against Chinese telecoms firm Huawei. U.S. officials issued the blacklist order last week after alleging that Huawei represents a national security threat, and the latest announcement is seen as a potential step towards easing tensions between the U.S. and China.
Policy Roundup:
Tell the Senate to stand up for net neutrality. Over 120 startups joined Engine last month in calling on the House to pass the Save the Internet Act, which would reinstate the FCC’s 2015 net neutrality protections. We're resending our letter to Senate leadership, encouraging them to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. We need your help to make this happen! Join us by voicing you support for strong net neutrality protections, and also please share our letter with your startup networks. You can view the letter here and sign on here.
Judge rules that Qualcomm’s licensing terms are anticompetitive. A federal judge sided with the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust suit against Qualcomm, which alleges that the chipmaker’s patent-licensing business unlawfully limits competition in the wireless chip market.
Ireland’s data privacy watchdog announces Google probe. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission announced that it is launching a probe into whether Google’s processing of data involved in advertising transactions is in violation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
GOP senators remain divided over tech antitrust remedies. Republican lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed concerns about the market power of large tech companies during a hearing on data privacy and competition policy, although senators remained divided over whether the companies should be broken up or required to be more open and transparent about their privacy practices.
In the Bay Area? The Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School is hosting a discussion about net neutrality and its importance for democracy and innovation on Thursday, May 30. The event will feature FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and Stanford Law Professor Barbara van Schewick.
