Facebook Inc. said late Monday it agreed to buy a startup that would let people control computers with their brains – a long-held ambition by Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. The proposed acquisition of CTRL-Labs, a 4-year-old company developing software and a bracelet that measures neuron activity in a subject’s arm, is believed to be between $500 million and $1 billion, according to published reports.Facebook declined to comment on the price of the acquisition. “Technology like this has the potential to open up new creative possibilities and reimagine 19th century inventions in a...…Facebook Inc. said late Monday it agreed to buy a startup that would let people control computers with their brains – a long-held ambition by Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. The proposed acquisition of CTRL-Labs, a 4-year-old company developing software and a bracelet that measures neuron activity in a subject’s arm, is believed to be between $500 million and $1 billion, according to published reports.Facebook declined to comment on the price of the acquisition. “Technology like this has the potential to open up new creative possibilities and reimagine 19th century inventions in a...WW…

Impossible Foods Inc. is prepping for an initial public offering that could value the maker of plant-based burgers at about $10 billion within the next year. The Silicon Valley-based company, which just launched its first national TV ad campaign, is chewing over going public either through a traditional IPO or a so-called special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), according to Thursday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.A $10 billion IPO would substantially dwarf the $4 billion the company was worth in a private funding round in 2020. Impossible Foods’ backers — which include...…Impossible Foods Inc. is prepping for an initial public offering that could value the maker of plant-based burgers at about $10 billion within the next year. The Silicon Valley-based company, which just launched its first national TV ad campaign, is chewing over going public either through a traditional IPO or a so-called special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), according to Thursday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.A $10 billion IPO would substantially dwarf the $4 billion the company was worth in a private funding round in 2020. Impossible Foods’ backers — which include...WW…

Twitter Inc. briefly mulled a $4 billion acquisition of Clubhouse before talks broke off, according to a new report. , citing unnamed sources, said the microblogging service in recent months considered a takeover. But after discussions ceased, Clubhouse began to explore ways to raise funding from investors in a round valuing the business at about $4 billion, according to another Bloomberg report.A Twitterspokesman said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation. Clubhouse was not immediately available for comment. Twitter shares, which rose 3% during the regular trading session,...…Twitter Inc. briefly mulled a $4 billion acquisition of Clubhouse before talks broke off, according to a new report. , citing unnamed sources, said the microblogging service in recent months considered a takeover. But after discussions ceased, Clubhouse began to explore ways to raise funding from investors in a round valuing the business at about $4 billion, according to another Bloomberg report.A Twitterspokesman said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation. Clubhouse was not immediately available for comment. Twitter shares, which rose 3% during the regular trading session,...WW…

Facebook Inc. indefinitely banned President Trump from posting on its platforms Thursday, as tech companies responded to Wednesday’s Capitol siege by Trump supporters whom the president openly supported on social media. FacebookChief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said that the risks of letting Trump stay on Facebook ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden were “simply too great” after Trump supporters conducted a withering assault Wednesday on Capitol Hill.Zuckerberg said Trump’s posts served to “condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building.” — a Trump , in...…Facebook Inc. indefinitely banned President Trump from posting on its platforms Thursday, as tech companies responded to Wednesday’s Capitol siege by Trump supporters whom the president openly supported on social media. FacebookChief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said that the risks of letting Trump stay on Facebook ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden were “simply too great” after Trump supporters conducted a withering assault Wednesday on Capitol Hill.Zuckerberg said Trump’s posts served to “condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building.” — a Trump , in...WW…

The antitrust target on Big Tech’s back is growing. With separate antitrust actions by 48 attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission’s against Facebook Inc.charges by the European Union against Amazon.com Inc.and two fresh state AG cases on top of a Justice Department lawsuit vs. Alphabet Inc.’sGoogle, only Apple Inc.among the Big Four has yet to face official regulatory actions. Yet Apple faces a high-profile private lawsuit and a developer backlash, leaving it far from unscathed.It just got worse: A week after the early December suits against Facebook, two consortiums of state AGs...…The antitrust target on Big Tech’s back is growing. With separate antitrust actions by 48 attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission’s against Facebook Inc.charges by the European Union against Amazon.com Inc.and two fresh state AG cases on top of a Justice Department lawsuit vs. Alphabet Inc.’sGoogle, only Apple Inc.among the Big Four has yet to face official regulatory actions. Yet Apple faces a high-profile private lawsuit and a developer backlash, leaving it far from unscathed.It just got worse: A week after the early December suits against Facebook, two consortiums of state AGs...WW…

Facebook Inc.on Wednesday said it has taken down hundreds of Facebook Pages, groups, and Instagram accounts linked to QAnon and the Antifa movement in a move to restrict those groups' ability to organize on its social-networking platforms. Facebook has also blocked hashtags associated with QAnon, a conspiracy theorist organization, as well as those connected to Antifa and other violent groups. "We already remove content calling for or advocating violence and we ban organizations and individuals that proclaim a violent mission," Facebook said in a .Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. topped earnings...…Facebook Inc.on Wednesday said it has taken down hundreds of Facebook Pages, groups, and Instagram accounts linked to QAnon and the Antifa movement in a move to restrict those groups' ability to organize on its social-networking platforms. Facebook has also blocked hashtags associated with QAnon, a conspiracy theorist organization, as well as those connected to Antifa and other violent groups. "We already remove content calling for or advocating violence and we ban organizations and individuals that proclaim a violent mission," Facebook said in a .Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. topped earnings...WW…

Opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention drew 28% fewer viewers than in 2016, according to Monday ratings from Nielsen HoldingsThe virtually-held political convention, a first in U.S. history, attracted 18.7 million viewers, compared with 26 million for the TV-centric 2016 edition despite speeches from former First Lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt. This year's convention was to be held in Milwaukee, but the pandemic has forced it and next week's Republican National Convention to broadcast remotely. National and cable networks are providing live cut-ins to...…Opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention drew 28% fewer viewers than in 2016, according to Monday ratings from Nielsen HoldingsThe virtually-held political convention, a first in U.S. history, attracted 18.7 million viewers, compared with 26 million for the TV-centric 2016 edition despite speeches from former First Lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt. This year's convention was to be held in Milwaukee, but the pandemic has forced it and next week's Republican National Convention to broadcast remotely. National and cable networks are providing live cut-ins to...WW…

Shares of Rackspace Technology Inc.plunged 22% on their first day of trading Wednesday. Four years after it went private, Rackspace pricing of its initial public offering: 33.5 million shares of common stock at $21 per share. But investors turned up their noses, leaving the stock at $16.39 at the close of trading. "We're in the middle of a tectonic shift to multicloud technology," company Chief Executive Kevin Jones told MarketWatch in a Zoom interview early Wednesday. "It is the right place, right time for our transformation. We used to compete with hyper-scalers in cloud like...…Shares of Rackspace Technology Inc.plunged 22% on their first day of trading Wednesday. Four years after it went private, Rackspace pricing of its initial public offering: 33.5 million shares of common stock at $21 per share. But investors turned up their noses, leaving the stock at $16.39 at the close of trading. "We're in the middle of a tectonic shift to multicloud technology," company Chief Executive Kevin Jones told MarketWatch in a Zoom interview early Wednesday. "It is the right place, right time for our transformation. We used to compete with hyper-scalers in cloud like...WW…

For more than a year, the federal government has circled Big Tech and its business practices. On Wednesday, members of the House of Representatives will roll out evidence their staffs have found and put pressure directly on some of the most prominent executives in the world.Four of tech’s most prominent chief executives — Sundar Pichai of Google parent Alphabet Inc.  , Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com Inc. , Tim Cook of Apple Inc. and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook Inc.  — are scheduled to answer questions from lawmakers about their business practices and enormous influence...…For more than a year, the federal government has circled Big Tech and its business practices. On Wednesday, members of the House of Representatives will roll out evidence their staffs have found and put pressure directly on some of the most prominent executives in the world.Four of tech’s most prominent chief executives — Sundar Pichai of Google parent Alphabet Inc.  , Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com Inc. , Tim Cook of Apple Inc. and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook Inc.  — are scheduled to answer questions from lawmakers about their business practices and enormous influence...WW…

Amazon.com Inc.'sbusiness practices are being investigated as part of an inquiry by California authorities, according to a Wall Street Journal Friday. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, says the state is examining how Amazon treats sellers in its online marketplace, including the company's practices for selling its own products in competition with third-party sellers. Amazon was not immediately available for comment. The reported inquiry comes as Amazon faces antitrust scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission and European Union. Amazon shares declined 0.5% in trading...…Amazon.com Inc.'sbusiness practices are being investigated as part of an inquiry by California authorities, according to a Wall Street Journal Friday. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, says the state is examining how Amazon treats sellers in its online marketplace, including the company's practices for selling its own products in competition with third-party sellers. Amazon was not immediately available for comment. The reported inquiry comes as Amazon faces antitrust scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission and European Union. Amazon shares declined 0.5% in trading...WW…