The timing conflicts with memorial for Rep. John Lewis |
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Welcome to Decrypted, Digital Trends' new daily newsletter guiding you through the latest news in the world of tech, with insights from our senior writers. |
Zuckerberg, Bezos, Pichai, and Cook will get a reprieve |
By Mathew Katz, Associate Managing Editor
Few things get the Digital Trends staff as excited as when a major tech CEO has to testify before Congress. When the CEOs of Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook were all set to speak before the House Judiciary Commitee's antitrust subcommittee, we were expecting a 10-hour roller coaster ride like nothing before. I'm not even kidding.
The CEOs were called before Congress to discuss accusations that they are essentially acting as monopolies. These four companies have an incredible amount of control over not just the tech industry, but Americans' everyday lives. With multiple state and federal investigations into Big Tech's potential antitrust violations, the hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, will be the culmination of over a year of pressure on Silicon Valley.
Now the hearings have been delayed. A memorial service for the late civil rights hero and politician John Lewis is scheduled for the same day, meaning the CEOs will get a reprieve before they have to face Congress — and live cameras. |
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An online antiracist vigilante makes their case |
By Will Nicol, Senior Writer
Antiracist groups have begun to save screenshots of racist statements people make online and forwarding them to their employers in the hopes they'll be fired. One such vigilante, writing for Digital Trends under the pseudonym Star McCleary, made their case for her work as a social good.
"For us, it's important that racists face consequences for sharing neo-Nazi talking points and bigoted comments online," McCleary explains.
Despite their intentions, the practice remains a contentious issue ethically and legally. McCleary writes that they and some of their fellow vigilantes follow certain rules, such as taking screenshots themselves rather than sharing unverified screens that could be photoshopped.
Others are less scrupulous, though, and misidentification happens. Such was the case when a University of Arkansas assistant professor was wrongly accused of being at the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, prompting a flood of harassment.
Despite the risks, the work isn't going to stop anytime soon, and McCleary remains committed to the cause. |
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You can watch Comic-Con at home. Here's what to look for |
By Will Nicol, Senior Writer
Comic-Con has been forced to go digital due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn't mean it won't be exciting. Comic-Con@Home is a five-day streaming event that brings panels, trailers, and more to viewers at home.
New trailers are already pouring out of the event, for titles like the upcoming film Bill & Ted Face the Music, the second season of bloody, dark superhero comedy The Boys, and animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Some of the panels to look out for are a sneak peek at X-Men spinoff The New Mutants, a preview of the future of The Walking Dead franchise, and for the gamers, Magic: the Gathering head designer Mark Rosewater unveiling the card game's next expansion.
DT's Rick Marshall has a comprehensive guide on how to watch the event and which panels to look out for, as well as a roundup of the best trailers shown. |
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What we're watching: Dark on Netflix |
By Rob Oster, Copy Chief
The deeper I get into the Netflix series Dark, the more puzzled I become by how frequently it gets compared to one of the streaming service's marquee shows, Stranger Things. That's not to say that the two series don't have similarities — they both feature a 1980s setting, a heavy focus on science fiction, and a youthful cast — but comparing Dark to Stranger Things almost feels like a slight.
Don't get me wrong — I like Stranger Things. But it's more of a breezy homage to '80s movies, while Dark is an extremely intricate — and, well, extremely dark — puzzle that revolves around time travel. It does all this while also taking a deep dive into human nature and the hearts of its very fallible — and sprawling — cast of characters.
In simple terms, Stranger Things is a beach read, while Dark is more akin to Tolkein. Like the British author's masterworks about Middle-earth, one needs a flow chart to keep track of the dozens of characters, most of whom are played by two or three different actors at various ages. Luckily, Netflix provides a damn good family tree. Oh, and those characters pop up in different time periods at various stages of their lives. And it's all in German (you can try watching the dubbed version, but I switched to subtitles after a couple of episodes and found it to be infinitely more enjoyable).
Yes, Dark, which does stumble in its third and final season, is a daunting watch. It's complicated to the point where I had to read recaps from the Decider website to make sure I didn't miss anything (here's the recap for the premiere). And if you're prone to surfing on your phone while watching TV, don't even attempt to watch Dark -— it demands your attention. But if you're looking for a show that will challenge, confound, and often astound you, take a step into Dark.
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