Blockchain public trial lets testers track government spending live
In a Whatsyourtech.ca report: A trial of Ethereum technology was made available to the public last week. It was used to track, verify and publish information about innovation funding programs available to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, through its Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), has been testing public blockchain technology (on Ethereum) to help manage the Contribution Agreements it makes with its clients.
Twitter and Facebook executives met with U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee
On Wednesday the 5th of September, a hearing over concerns of the social media platforms intentionally stifling the free exchange of ideas took place in Washington DC. A question also raised over the attempt of foreign influence over domestic politics using social media. Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, who testified alongside Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, acknowledged that the company was too slow to respond to Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election, but insisted it is doing better.
Five Eyes called for a government backdoor into commercial tech
In a joint statement, the intelligence-sharing pact stated among the reasons they’re asking tech companies to build backdoors into encrypted technologies that are used by consumers. “The inability of intelligence and law enforcement agencies to lawfully access encrypted data and communications poses challenges to law enforcement agencies’ efforts to protect our communities,” the statement reads. “Therefore, we agreed to the urgent need for law enforcement to gain targeted access to data, subject to strict safeguards, legal limitations, and respective domestic consultations.”
Bitcoin trading fell after Goldman Sachs’ move
[Globe and Mail] Goldman Sachs scraping a plan for trading cryptocurrencies in the foreseeable future, citing unclear regulatory framework. “In recent weeks, executives have come to the conclusion that many steps still need to be taken, most of them outside the bank’s control, before a regulated bank would be allowed to trade cryptocurrencies, the financial news website reported, citing one of the people.”