Representatives from the public and private sectors have been collaborating to respond to the massive SolarWinds hack, which compromised at least 9 federal agencies and more than 100 businesses. But some are becoming increasingly frustrated with Amazon, saying the tech giant should be more publicly forthcoming about its knowledge of the attack. Cybersecurity and intelligence reporter Dustin Volz joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WSJ Tech News Briefing

Lawmakers Push Amazon for Public Disclosure on SolarWinds Hack

For many restaurants, food-delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub have been a critical way to serve customers in the pandemic. But some say the commissions and fees these services charge is too high, and some restaurants are turning to alternatives. Tech reporter Preetika Rana joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss what they are trying, and how the development could affect food-delivery companies' already-struggling bottom lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Restaurants Look for Ways Around Food-Delivery Apps

Last week, Facebook instituted a news blackout in Australia, over a proposal there that would require internet companies to pay publishers for news content. Now the company has reached a deal with Australia's government to restore news. Tech editor Bowdeya Tweh joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why it reversed course, and what the development could mean for other jurisdictions considering similar legislation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Facebook Is Restoring News Content in Australia

Over the course of the last decade or so, IBM has poured billions of dollars into developing Watson Health, an artificial-intelligence system aimed at revolutionizing healthcare. But now we report that IBM is exploring a sale of the unit. So what happened? Digital science editor Daniela Hernandez joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IBM's Watson Illustrates Why Applying A.I. to Healthcare Is So Hard

New campaign finance data shows that employees of big tech companies were a key source of funding for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. Reporter Brody Mullins joins host Amanda Lewellyn to talk about how the finding turns traditional Democratic fundraising on its head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big Tech's Employees Were Big Contributors to Democrats

For years, tech companies have been locked in a debate with publishers over whether they should have to pay for news content. This week, that debate has resulted in a deal between Google and News Corp, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, as well as a news blackout on Facebook in Australia. Media reporter Keach Hagey joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain the big issues at play. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Media and Big Tech Draw Lines in Debate Over News Content

The age of audio-first social media is upon us. The buzziest player is Clubhouse, an invite-only app now in beta testing. Twitter is working on its own version, and Facebook is hot on their heels. On today's episode, Senior Personal Tech Columnist Joanna Stern takes us on a tour and explains what the fuss is about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joanna Stern on Clubhouse and the Rise of Social Audio

In times of uncertainty, corporations usually spend less, not more, on risky venture-capital investments. But new data shows that in the pandemic, the trend has been reversed. WSJ Pro Venture Capital reporter Marc Vartabedian joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why that is, and what the trend could mean for tech startups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Corporations Are Upping Their Venture-Capital Investing

The U.S. is home to many of the world's largest tech companies, but the European Union has led the charge when it comes to setting global corporate-privacy standards. With several other countries looking to introduce their own measures or step up enforcement of existing measures, cybersecurity reporter David Uberti joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss the potential impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the U.S. Deadlocks on Privacy, Other Countries Set Standards

E-commerce is exploding during the pandemic, but for customers, it can be hard to find the right fit without the luxury of a physical dressing room. That is leading to consumers returning clothes en masse. Reporter Suzanne Kapner joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why that is a problem for retailers, and how they are turning to tech for solutions. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Online Stores Use Tech to Reduce Returns

The pandemic has made it so that the internet plays an even greater role in how we live, work and learn. Recent actions from the Biden administration signal that we could see a return to net neutrality rules, policies aimed at creating more equal access to the internet. Reporter Drew FitzGerald joins host Amanda Lewellyn to trace net neutrality's history in previous administrations, and the impact of a return to the policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biden Administration Signals Potential Return to Net Neutrality

The first interplanetary probe from an Arab nation entered Mars orbit yesterday, and other countries are set to follow soon. Science writer Robert Lee Hotz joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss the achievement, and why so many countries are setting their sights on the Red Planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.A.E. Probe Enters Mars Orbit; Other Nations Soon to Follow

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has often advocated for cryptocurrencies, and now his company is following suit. In a filing Monday, the company revealed that it bought $1.5 billion in bitcoin, and that it was moving towards allowing customers to pay for its products with the cryptocurrency. Markets reporter Caitlin Ostroff joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why Tesla is making the move, and what it could mean for bitcoin's future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Tesla Bought $1.5 Billion in Bitcoin

Amazon's business has benefited from strong demand from consumers during the pandemic. But moving into 2021, the e-commerce giant faces a potential headwind: Workers in an Alabama warehouse are set to begin voting Monday on whether to unionize. Reporter Sebastian Herrera joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain what's going on and what the move could mean for Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a Union Vote Could Change Amazon's Relationship With Workers

Some of the world's biggest automakers are cutting production, as a shortage of semiconductors squeezes their industry. Reporter Asa Fitch joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why car makers are feeling the pain, and how other industries could be affected. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Chip Shortage Is Hurting Car Makers. Other Industries Could Be Next.

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WSJ Tech News Briefing

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