💼 Silicon Valley Defense Eyes Trump Era, Detroit Goes Crypto, Meta Wins Legal Battle
Good morning. It’s Friday, November 08. Today we are covering:
Silicon Valley Defense Tech Can't Wait For Trump To Get Started
Detroit to Accept Crypto for Tax Payments in Bid to Spur Tech Innovation, Fuel Economic Growth
Lawsuit Against Meta Over Section 230, Tech Shield Law, Is Dismissed
TikTok's latest feature lets music fans 'Share to TikTok' from Spotify and Apple Music
Amazon Discussing New Multibillion-Dollar Investment in Anthropic
Let’s dive in
Silicon Valley Defense Tech Can't Wait For Trump To Get Started
By David Jeans via Forbes
Silicon Valley's defense tech sector anticipates growth with a second Trump administration, with startups like Anduril, SpaceX, and Palantir eyeing expanded roles in U.S. military contracts.
Elon Musk and venture capital leaders, including Marc Andreessen and Joe Lonsdale, see Trump’s policies as favorable for reshaping the defense acquisition process, aiming to reduce reliance on large contractors and prioritize emerging tech firms.
Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy and possible reallocation of the Department of Defense budget create uncertainty, particularly in Europe and for U.S. companies involved in Ukraine contracts.
𝕏: New: Trump's win is being heralded as a big win for Silicon Valley's defense tech ambitions — thanks to Elon Musk. - David Jeans (@DavidJeans2)
Detroit to Accept Crypto for Tax Payments in Bid to Spur Tech Innovation, Fuel Economic Growth
By Sebastian Sinclair via Decrypt
Detroit will allow residents to pay taxes and fees with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum via PayPal starting mid-2025, aiming to boost economic growth and modernize city services.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to foster financial inclusivity and position Detroit as a tech-friendly hub, encouraging blockchain innovation for civic use.
Detroit joins states like Colorado, Utah, and Louisiana in accepting crypto for public services, aiming to attract forward-thinking entrepreneurs and enhance transparency and efficiency in city operations.
𝕏: Detroit will soon become the largest U.S. city to allow residents to pay taxes with crypto, joining just a few states—Colorado, Utah, and Louisiana—that currently accept crypto for government payments... - The Wolf Of All Streets (@scottmelker)
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Lawsuit Against Meta Over Section 230, Tech Shield Law, Is Dismissed
By David McCabe via The New York Times
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Meta that sought to allow users to unfollow everyone on their Facebook feeds, with the case relying on a unique interpretation of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Ethan Zuckerman, the professor behind the case, aimed to build a tool to clear users' feeds but now must code the tool before refiling; his team argues Section 230 should support user-controlled content.
Meta previously labeled the suit as “baseless,” maintaining its right to control platform modifications while the court left open the possibility for future legal actions.
TikTok's latest feature lets music fans 'Share to TikTok' from Spotify and Apple Music
By Sarah Perez via TechCrunch
TikTok launched a new "Share to TikTok" feature, allowing users to share tracks, albums, and playlists directly from Spotify and Apple Music to TikTok’s feed, Stories, or DMs, enhancing music discovery and cross-platform engagement.
This integration strengthens TikTok’s role in music promotion and supports artists by enabling seamless transitions between TikTok and music streaming services, instead of competing directly with them.
The feature builds on TikTok’s existing "Add to Music App" tool, which has driven millions of track saves and billions of streams, positioning TikTok as a valuable partner for streaming platforms rather than a rival.
Amazon Discussing New Multibillion-Dollar Investment in Anthropic
By Anissa Gardizy via The Information
Amazon is in discussions to make a new multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, a growing player in the artificial intelligence sector.
This potential investment underscores Amazon’s commitment to expanding its presence in AI and competing with tech giants already investing heavily in AI development.
The investment would further strengthen Amazon’s collaboration with Anthropic, supporting advancements in AI technology and enhancing Amazon’s portfolio in the competitive AI landscape.
𝕏: scoop: Amazon is discussing making a second multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI rival Anthropic AWS is asking Anthropic to use a large number of its own AI chips, Trainium, instead of Nvidia's GPUs. - Anissa Gardizy (@anissagardizy8)
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