Senate committee chair grills Apple, Google over protection against crypto app scams

Crypto scams remain a serious problem, and a key senator wants to make sure app store operators are cracking down. Senate banking committee chair Sen. Sherrod Brown has sent letters to the CEOs of Apple and Google requesting answers on their protections against cryptocurrency app fraud. The politician wanted details of their app approval and reporting processes, user alerts for fraudulent activity, coordination with rival stores and monitoring for apps that transform into phishing scams.

We’ve asked Apple and Google for comment. Brown gave the executives until August 10th to provide responses to the letters.

Both tech firms provide at least some screening for bogus crypto apps. Apple’s App Store review guidelines forbid scam apps, including bait-and-switch tactics. Google is less targeted with its Play Store policies, but bars apps that enable illegal activity or “dishonest behavior.” Both companies let you report suspicious apps. They haven’t historically sent direct scam alerts, however, and aren’t known to actively monitor apps in case they launch phishing scams.

Whatever the stances, Brown saw effective safeguards as important. The FBI recently warned that app-based cryptocurrency fraud has already led to losses of $42.7 million. It was “imperative” that shops protect investors against this damage, the senator said.

There’s no certainty that the requests will translate to legislation requiring stricter anti-fraud systems. The committee request could clarify the stances of Apple and Google on the subject, though, and might increase the pressure to take further action. At the least, it’s a reminder that an app’s presence on the App Store or Google Play isn’t a guarantee it will be trustworthy.

Instagram backpedals on full-screen feed and recommended posts

Following a significant backlash from its users, Instagram is walking back some major changes. Last month, Instagram started testing a full-screen display for photos and videos. Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri told Platformer that test will be wound down over the next couple of weeks. “For the new feed designs, people are frustrated and the usage data isn’t great,” Mosseri said. “So there I think that we need to take a big step back, regroup and figure out how we want to move forward.”

Along with getting rid of the full-screen feed, the app will reduce the level of recommended content that you see, at least temporarily. “When you discover something in your field that you didn’t follow before, there should be a high bar — it should just be great,” he said. “You should be delighted to see it. And I don’t think that’s happening enough right now.”

On Tuesday, Mosseri said the full-screen design was “not yet good” and needed more work before Instagram rolled it out to everyone. However, he noted that Instagram would become more video-focused over time, since that’s the kind of content people are sharing these days.

Mosseri also tried to justify the prevalence of recommended posts in the app, noting that they’re important to help creators build their audiences — whether or not you care about seeing content from them in your feed or Stories. You have the option to switch off all recommendations for a month, he noted. 

In an earnings call on Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said around 15 percent of the posts people see on Facebook (and even more on Instagram) are recommended by algorithms. He expected the volume of recommended posts to double over the next year or so.

Instagram brought in the full-screen feed and larger number of recommended posts in a bid to compete with TikTok and to contend with the pivot from photos to videos. The time spent people watch Reels grew by 30 percent last quarter and Mosseri said users’ gradual embrace of video is a “paradigm shift that we’ve seen for many, many years now.” Still, many people have revolted against the full-screen change. High-profile users like Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian this week called on Meta to “Make Instagram Instagram again.” 

Mosseri said Instagram’s data showed that users weren’t on board with the changes and that’s a key reason why it’s reversing course. However, the walkback on the full-screen feed and recommendations won’t be permanent. Mosseri told Platformer he’s confident that Instagram will improve the ranking and recommendation algorithms so that it can “start to grow again” after taking this step back.

Hundreds of TV writers call on Netflix, Apple to improve safety measures in anti-abortion states

A group of 411 TV showrunners, creators and writers sent letters to executives at streaming platforms and other major Hollywood companies to demand better protections for workers in anti-abortion states. “We have grave concerns about the lack of specific production protocols in place to protect those at work for Netflix in anti-abortion states,” they wrote in a letter to Netflix. “It is unacceptable to ask any person to choose between their human rights and their employment.” 

Similar letters, which were first reported on by Variety, were addressed to the likes of Apple, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC Universal, Paramount, Lionsgate, Amazon and AMC. The signatories include well-known creators, such as Issa Rae, Lilly Wachowski, Lena Waithe, Amy Schumer, Shonda Rhimes, Mindy Kaling, Ava DuVernay and Lena Dunham. They’re demanding specific safety measures for people working on productions in states that have banned abortion after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last month.

The group has demanded that the companies respond with details on their abortion safety plans within 10 days. Among other things, the writers want information on abortion travel subsidies, medical care for pregnancy complications (including ectopic pregnancies) and legal protections for workers who uphold a studio’s abortion policies or help someone else obtain an abortion. They also implored the companies to immediately halt “all political donations to anti-abortion candidates and political action committees.”

A Bloomberg report this week noted that studios are spending billions on productions in states that have banned or restricted abortions, though many were already filming before the Supreme Court decision in late June. Georgia, for instance, offers generous tax credits to productions, which has helped the state become a TV and film powerhouse. Last week, a law came into effect in the state. It essentially banned most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many people know whether they’re pregnant.

Watch Annapurna Interactive’s games showcase here at 3PM ET

Annapurna Interactive is set to hold its second games showcase today at 3PM and you can watch it below. The powerhouse indie publisher just released one of the most anticipated games of the year in Stray, as well as the acclaimed, speedrun-friendly Neon White. It’s about to offer a look at what’s next.

We might find out a release date for Open Roads, the latest game from Gone Home and Tacoma studio Fullbright. The road trip adventure is still slated to arrive this year, according to its Steam page. Here’s hoping for more details on Sayonara Wild Hearts developer Simogo’s Lorelei and the Laser Eyes and Cocoon, from Limbo and Inside lead gameplay designer Jeppe Carlsen. 

Maybe there will be word of updates for Annapurna’s previous games. There will almost certainly be some new game announcements too. In any case, we won’t have long to wait to find out what’s in store.

Senate deal would revive EV tax credits for GM, Tesla and Toyota

Automakers might just get the EV tax credit extension they’ve been hoping for. Bloomberg and InsideEVs claim Senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin have reached an agreement on the Inflation Reduction Act that would replace the 200,000-unit cap on federal EV tax credits with a system that would restore those perks for GM, Tesla and Toyota. According to Bloomberg‘s sources, the new approach is a compromise that would switch to price- and income-based limits, drop union manufacturing requirements and offer credits for used EVs.

The Act would provide up to $7,500 in credits for electric SUVs, trucks and vans priced up to $80,000, while cars would have to cost $55,000 or less. Individuals would have to earn no more than $150,000 per year, while couples could make up to $300,000 with the credit intact. You would reportedly get up to a $4,000 credit for buying a used EV, although the income ceiling is said to be much lower. Crucially, the credit could be offered at the point of sale (such as online or a dealership) rather than as a tax refund — you’d get your savings much sooner.

Although the agreement is expected to drop the union production requirement, there would still be incentives for domestic manufacturing. Although the exact terms aren’t clear, EVs would have to be built in North America and source many materials from the region. This would mainly represent a concession to Canada, which balked at earlier proposed legislation that would have required US-only assembly. Canadian factories produce US-destined cars for multiple major brands.

The Schumer-Manchin pact is also poised to revive some of the Biden administration’s environmental strategy, including its hopes of zero-emissions vehicles representing half of new sales by 2030. It’s expected to include $369 billion in climate and energy spending, Bloomberg said. Manchin had objected to the past proposal, in part because he felt the union requirement would favor incumbent American brands like Ford and GM while disadvantaging rivals like Tesla. 

More details of the deal are still to come, and there’s a chance the terms could change. If the Inflation Reduction Act passes as claimed, though, it could significantly alter the automotive landscape. GM, Tesla and Toyota could effectively lower the prices of their EVs and offset recent hikes, while Nissan and other marques wouldn’t have to worry about hitting a unit cap in the first place. The move could also spark life in the used EV market by offering a clearer financial incentive versus buying new. Simply put, EVs could become more accessible even without lower-cost models in the pipeline.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s second set of new tracks arrives on August 4th

Nintendo has unveiled the second wave of Booster Course Pass tracks for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. One of them is a brand-new track that will be added to smartphone spin-off Mario Kart Tour at a later date. It’s called Sky-High Sundae and it’s bursting with colorful, oversized desserts.

Sky-High Sundae will be part of the Propeller Cup along with another Mario Kart Tour course, Sydney Sprint, Snow Land from Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart Wii‘s Mushroom Gorge. The Turnip Cup offers Mario Kart Tour track New York Minute, Mario Circuit 3 from the original Super Mario Kart on SNES, Mario Kart 64‘s Kalimari Desert and fan-favorite Waluigi Pinball from Mario Kart DS. These tracks will hit the game on August 4th.

Nintendo announced the Booster Course Pass back in February and said it would bring 48 courses from other titles to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch. The company released the first of six planned bundles of tracks in March. The last batch should arrive by the end of 2023. The Booster Course Pass costs $25 as a standalone DLC (you’ll need to own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as well). The extra courses are also available at no extra cost to members of the Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription service.

Backbone made a PlayStation version of its excellent iPhone controller

It’s no secret that the Backbone One is one of the best mobile gaming controllers you can buy. So it should come as no surprise then that the company is partnering with Sony to release a PlayStation version of its accessory for iPhones. The new Backbon…