Weekly Roundup 12/5

By Andie Arnold | December 05, 2016

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Happy Monday, Readers. In a major victory for Standing Rock protesters, the Army Corps of Engineers announced yesterday that it would deny a construction permit for a key phase of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Since making national headlines in August, thousands of people have flocked to Standing Rock, N.D. to protest the construction of the oil pipeline which critics say would endanger drinking water and disrupt the sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation.

Over a million people took to social media to show solidarity with the protesters in North Dakota. Using the Facebook ‘check-in’ feature, social media users listed their location as Standing Rock, N.D. in attempts to disrupt police intelligence. In the past, Facebook granted police access to Geofeedia, a company that provides live surveillance information. Facebook revoked this access in September, but using social media to track suspects movements has been a well used tactic by police. In a statement made via Facebook, the Morton County Sheriff Department claimed they are not monitoring social media accounts for DAPL protest movements. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has not commented on the digital protest, and though the origins remain unclear, it speaks to the power that social media has socially, politically, and technologically.

Tech News:

Microsoft reportedly working on Home Hub, a smart home platform for the PC

Amazon Tests Grocery Store With No Checkout

Artificial Intelligence Makes Strides, but Has a Long Way to Go

Obama presses Trump on cybersecurity

The Continued Decline of Internet Freedom

Hacks at Russian central bank have cost 2 billion rubles

Civic Tech:

Getting from A to B in Tanzania Gets Easier with New Mapping Open Data

Google’s new app will help you find loved ones in an emergency

How Facebook Values Personal Data From Developing Countries

Apple will turn to drones to improve the quality of Apple Maps