This week, we look at a cyber attack on Black Lives Matter, the lack of color at Trump’s recent tech meeting, and more news on racial issues in the world of science and technology.
Fake News Story Circulates That President Obama is Forcing Reparations
A fake news story circulating on far right-wing blog sites, claiming that President Obama is manipulating the U.N. to force the United States to pay reparations to African Americans. The spread of fake news has led many to blame this rise in lying masked as news on getting Trump elected.
(source: Punditfact)
American Library Association (ALA) Joins Fight to Close Digital Divide
The American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 57,000 members strong, became part of a coalition that released a set of policies to support freedom of speech, equal opportunity, and the use of technology to foster economic opportunity and education.
(source: Information Today, Inc.)
Blowing Holes in Myths about Diversity and STEM
Pacific Standard takes an interesting look at how diversity initiatives may actually do more harm than good when it comes to diversifying STEM, especially when diversity strategies perpetuate myths–such as not enough people of color educated in STEM, or that white STEM professors are not beneficial to students of color.
(source: Pacific Standard )
DDoS Vigilantes Trying to Silence Black Lives Matter
Ars Technica reports on vigilante groups targeting the Black Lives Matter movement via cyber attacks. The BLM website has had repeated DDoS attacks take the site offline on 117 separate occasions in the past six months.
(source: Ars Technica)
No Minorities at Trump Tech Summit
This week, President-elect Trump invited 25 heads of the world’s largest tech companies to Trump Tower, to discuss technology and innovation during his presidency. Invitees included Apple’s Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, and other notable tech-lebrities. However, who was missing was anyone from any underrepresented groups.
(source: Black Enterprise)