This week’s edition of Week in Review (WiR) covers a range of tech news. Firstly, there is a hacking device that can spam nearby iPhones with Bluetooth pop-ups. Y Combinator, a venture firm, removed an Indian startup from its batch due to “irregularities” at the company. Bumble, a dating app company, has changed its policy to crack down on bots, spam, ghosting, and doxing. Lenovo has launched new gaming glasses and a PC handheld. Additionally, there is a federal investigation into Tesla’s “secret glass” project and Elon Musk is suing the Anti-Defamation League.
Y Combinator’s Demo Day showcased startups from its latest cohort. One of the startups, Medobed, was removed from the batch due to inconsistencies in the founder’s educational history and the company’s growth metrics.
A hacking tool allows hackers to spam iPhones with annoying pop-ups using Bluetooth. This attack was demonstrated using a device called Flipper Zero.
In another hacking incident, a smart chastity cage designed to be controlled by a partner over the internet exposed users’ sensitive information due to flaws in its servers.
Bumble has released updated community guidelines to combat bots, spam, ghosting, and doxing on its platforms. Actions like artificially influencing connections through automation or scripting are now banned.
Paw Patrol snacks were recalled by supermarket giant Lidl due to explicit content being displayed on the website listed on the product’s packaging.
A Texas judge issued an injunction against the enforcement of an online age verification bill, arguing that it violated the First Amendment and infringed on Section 230 rights.
Lenovo unveiled Legion Glasses, priced at $329, and Legion Go, priced at $699, at the IFA conference.
Federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are separately investigating Tesla’s use of funds for a secret glass house project in Austin, Texas. CEO Elon Musk and Tesla board members are involved in the investigation.
Elon Musk announced that X, formerly Twitter, will sue the Anti-Defamation League for defamation, accusing them of false accusations and blaming them for falling advertising revenue.
In podcast news, Equity hosted Michael Seibel, YC partner, who discussed Y Combinator’s evolution and the top trends from last year’s summer batch. Found featured Graham Hine, co-founder and CEO of ePlant. Chain Reaction interviewed Charlie Shrem, founder of the Bitcoin Foundation, about his work in the crypto industry.
These are just a few of the highlights from this week in tech.