10 things in tech you need to know today
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1. Facebook fired back at WSJ reports that say the company is "riddled with flaws." In a series published last week, WSJ found Facebook turns a blind eye to its role in human trafficking and teens' mental health, among other things. The company is hitting back, calling the series full of "deliberate mischaracterizations."
2. The NTSB head criticized Tesla's use of the term Full Self-Driving. A National Transportation Safety Board exec called Tesla's use of the term "misleading and irresponsible," and said it led people to misuse the technology. Here's what else she said.
3. El Salvador just made bitcoin its legal currency - but not everyone's thrilled. Technological hurdles and national protests are exposing the limits of bitcoin's potential. From local shops to international chains, one writer shows us what it's like trying to buy things using the notoriously volatile cryptocurrency in El Salvador.
4. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has developed a following of "Holmies." The Holmies, a small group of online fans, herald her as a "girl boss" and post videos idolizing the embattled blood-testing company founder. Plus, here's everything you might have missed from week two of her fraud trial.
5. Apple reportedly threatened to remove Facebook from the App Store. After a 2019 BBC report detailed how human traffickers were using Facebook to sell victims, Apple warned Facebook it'd be removed from the App Store. More on that here.
6. Elon Musk promised to donate $50 million to a children's hospital. The donation is part of the Inspiration4's fundraiser, whose goal was to raise $200 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Musk's donation brings the fundraiser's total to more than $210 million.
7. Facebook leaders worry their service has gotten too big to control. As part of the WSJ's ongoing reporting on the social-media company, the outlet found Facebook leaders worry the company has gotten out of hand: "We created the machine and can't control the machine."
8. Starlink's satellite-internet service will come out of its beta-testing phase next month. Elon Musk announced Starlink will enter its next phase in October, a key step to a broader launch. Get the full rundown here.
9. We hitched a ride on a secretive autonomous mass-transit vehicle in Silicon Valley. Glydways, a driverless EV system, would work like an Uber but cost as little as a subway ride - and is slated to start shuttling California commuters in 2024. Check out Glydways' futuristic electric pods.
10. Apple faces another NLRB charge. The National Labor Relations Board is pursuing Apple over its firing of a senior employee who complained of sexual harassment by a fellow employee and subsequent retaliation by Apple. Here's what we know so far.
Compiled by Jordan Erb. Tips/comments? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @JordanParkerErb.
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