The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

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Recent Editions

VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger. Photo by Bloomberg.

VMware Eyes Big Move in Security Market

By Sarah Kuranda · Nov 7, 2017 10:02am PST

VMware has been on the hunt for acquisitions in recent months as the data center software maker looks to expand its security business, people familiar with the matter said.VMware this summer held discussions with a security vendor, Carbon Black, about a possible acquisition, according to three people familiar with the matter. The talks ended... VMware has been on the hunt for acquisitions in recent months as the data center software maker...

Bytedance founder Zhang Yiming. Photo by Bloomberg.

China’s Toutiao Tried to Buy Reddit

By Juro Osawa, Serena Saitto and Jessica E. Lessin · Nov 7, 2017 7:02am PST · 2 comments

Jinri Toutiao, the fast-growing $20 billion Chinese news and entertainment giant, tried to buy Reddit last year, according to people familiar with the offer. The previously unreported move reveals the Chinese company’s ambitions to become a global media juggernaut, according to people familiar with the matter.The Chinese startup... Jinri Toutiao, the fast-growing $20 billion Chinese news and entertainment giant, tried to buy...

Visualization by Mike Sullivan

The People Who Matter at Delphi

By Amir Efrati · Nov 6, 2017 10:01am PST · 1 comment

Delphi Automotive, which makes mechanical and electrical parts for cars, gets less attention than its customers like GM and Ford in the race to develop autonomous vehicles. But as those automakers try to take greater control of their vehicles, potentially leaving out Delphi, the parts maker is looking for other avenues to sell its products and... Delphi Automotive, which makes mechanical and electrical parts for cars, gets less attention than...

The Tower of Babel: Five Challenges of the Modern Internet

By Sam Lessin · Nov 6, 2017 7:01am PST · 7 comments

Modest Proposals

The Tower of Babel: Five Challenges of the Modern Internet

By Sam Lessin · Nov 6, 2017 7:01am PST · 7 comments

Late last year, I wrote a column about free speech and democracy in the age of micro-targeting. In it I observed that in order to preserve an open democratic discourse, it was critical to require that all micro-targeted political ads and their targeting information be public record, so that advocates and watchdog organizations could keep track... Late last year, I wrote a column about free speech and democracy in the age of micro-targeting....

Modest Conversations

Modest Conversations: Attention and Addiction

By Sam Lessin · Nov 5, 2017 5:22pm PST

Tristan Harris fomerly of Google joins to discuss his views on attention and addiction. Tristan Harris fomerly of Google joins to discuss his views on attention and addiction. ...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Nov 4, 2017 8:02am PDT · 1 comment

Good Morning!So a Twitter contract worker briefly deactivated Donald Trump's account this week. You could tell it wasn't a full-time Twitter employee because they actually made a product decision. Good Morning!So a Twitter contract worker briefly deactivated Donald Trump's account this...

The Information’s 411 — Tech in the Swamp

By Tom Dotan · Nov 3, 2017 2:29pm PDT

Cory talks about the Capitol Hill hearings featuring executives from Facebook, Twitter and Google, and why this is a big moment for tech. Priya and Tom talk about the new top programmer at Amazon Studios. Cory talks about the Capitol Hill hearings featuring executives from Facebook, Twitter and...

Art: Matt Vascellaro

Outmoded Space Policy Stunts Progress

By Scott Nolan · Nov 3, 2017 7:00am PDT · 2 comments

Art: Matt Vascellaro

Outmoded Space Policy Stunts Progress

By Scott Nolan · Nov 3, 2017 7:00am PDT · 2 comments

Over the past few years, the U.S. space sector has undergone a commercial renaissance, helping the U.S. maintain its global dominance in space. But outmoded public policy threatens to slow the sector’s incredible progress, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to strategic threats from countries with fewer legacy structures holding them back.The... Over the past few years, the U.S. space sector has undergone a commercial renaissance, helping...

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins. Photo by Bloomberg

Cisco Replaces Cloud Collaboration Unit Chief Amid Weak Sales

By Kevin McLaughlin and Amir Efrati · Nov 2, 2017 12:01pm PDT

Cisco has replaced the head of its cloud collaboration unit, which sells software that lets teams of workers communicate via text, voice and video, as it looks to boost the unit’s sluggish sales, said people familiar with the matter. Intense competition from rivals like Slack and Microsoft have hurt sales of the unit’s flagship... Cisco has replaced the head of its cloud collaboration unit, which sells software that lets teams...

Art by Matt Vascellaro.

Amazon Studios’ New Power Player

By Tom Dotan and Priya Anand · Nov 2, 2017 7:01am PDT

Earlier this year, as Hollywood agents and producers struggled to divine a programming strategy coming from Amazon Studios and its leader Roy Price, some employees at the studio quietly delivered a message to the creative community: Avoid the confusion and bring your projects to Sharon, one industry executive recalled.It was a reference to... Earlier this year, as Hollywood agents and producers struggled to divine a programming strategy...

VMWare CEO Pat Gelsinger. Photo: Bloomberg

VMware to Acquire VeloCloud, Doubling Down on Networking

By Kevin McLaughlin and Sarah Kuranda · Nov 1, 2017 3:05pm PDT

VMware has struck a deal to acquire software-based networking startup VeloCloud Networks, according to a person close to VeloCloud, in a move that is likely to escalate VMware’s rivalry with Cisco Systems. Terms of the deal couldn’t be learned. For VMware, a data center software company, acquiring VeloCloud is a sign of its... VMware has struck a deal to acquire software-based networking startup VeloCloud Networks,...

Source: The Information

Subscribers Say Big Tech Is Too Powerful

By Wendy Pollack and Mike Sullivan · Nov 1, 2017 11:25am PDT · 5 comments

Source: The Information

Subscriber Survey

Subscribers Say Big Tech Is Too Powerful

By Wendy Pollack and Mike Sullivan · Nov 1, 2017 11:25am PDT · 5 comments

Large technology companies like Apple and Facebook wield too much power, say more than two-thirds of The Information subscribers responding to our latest survey. A nearly equal share believe big tech should face heavier regulation than it does now.The survey was undertaken last month, ahead of this week’s congressional hearings about the... Large technology companies like Apple and Facebook wield too much power, say more than two-thirds...

Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch at Tuesday's Senate hearing. Photo by Bloomberg.

The Cost of Facebook’s Political Baggage

By Cory Weinberg · Nov 1, 2017 7:02am PDT · 5 comments

When WhatsApp surveyed people in India last year about their perceptions of the firm, it discovered that few knew WhatsApp was owned by Facebook, according to two people briefed on the survey. WhatsApp was happy about that because Facebook’s brand was hurt in India after a 2015 political controversy involving its free-internet efforts. ... When WhatsApp surveyed people in India last year about their perceptions of the firm, it...

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, during a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 19. Photo: Bloomberg

The People to Watch as Facebook, Google Face Congress

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 31, 2017 10:02am PDT

Facebook, Google and Twitter are expected to face tough questions on Capitol Hill today and Wednesday about how their platforms might have been used to manipulate voters. The job of addressing lawmakers’ concerns will fall to a group of attorneys who have relatively low profiles in Silicon Valley.The general counsels for Facebook, Google... Facebook, Google and Twitter are expected to face tough questions on Capitol Hill today and...

Source: Company Filings

Amazon’s Properties Tripled

By Priya Anand · Oct 31, 2017 7:02am PDT · 2 comments

Amazon.com’s purchase of Whole Foods prompted lots of talk that it has become a brick and mortar retailer. But Amazon already had a huge amount of property in North America, thanks to its expansion in e-commerce and cloud computing. And its properties are increasingly crowded with workers.Amazon’s North American properties more than... Amazon.com’s purchase of Whole Foods prompted lots of talk that it has become a brick and...

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in May on Russian interference in the 2016 elections. Photo by AP

Catching Up on Wednesday’s Facebook, Google, Twitter Hearings

By The Information Staff · Oct 30, 2017 12:13pm PDT · 4 comments

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in May on Russian interference in the 2016 elections. Photo by AP

Catching Up on Wednesday’s Facebook, Google, Twitter Hearings

By The Information Staff · Oct 30, 2017 12:13pm PDT · 4 comments

The tech world’s focus this week will be on testimony by executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter about Russian influence on last year’s election. To help our readers sort through—and catch up on—the hours of testimony, The Information in association with POLITICO will be holding a conference call for subscribers.The... The tech world’s focus this week will be on testimony by executives from Facebook, Google...

Deliv CEO Daphne Carmeli. Photo by Bloomberg

The Big Interview

Amazon’s Growth Speeds Demand for Deliv

By Priya Anand · Oct 30, 2017 10:52am PDT · 1 comment

Daphne Carmeli, CEO of same-day delivery startup Deliv, freely admits that demand for her business is driven almost entirely by retailers’ fear of Amazon. Now that the e-commerce giant is offering delivery as fast as one hour, brick-and-mortar retailers such as Macy’s and Best Buy are increasingly using Deliv to offer speedy delivery... Daphne Carmeli, CEO of same-day delivery startup Deliv, freely admits that demand for her...

Visualization by Mike Sullivan

The People Who Matter at Didi Chuxing

By Yunan Zhang · Oct 30, 2017 7:01am PDT

Didi Chuxing, which absorbed Uber’s China operations last year, lately has taken a page from Uber’s early management playbook. Just as Uber hired a number of Goldman Sachs bankers in its early days to work in operations, Didi has lately installed veterans of Western investment banks in key positions—including several Goldman... Didi Chuxing, which absorbed Uber’s China operations last year, lately has taken a page...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Oct 28, 2017 8:02am PDT

Good Morning!News is Apple had to dumb down its FaceID in order to release the product on time. Now the phone thinks all VCs look exactly the same. Good Morning!News is Apple had to dumb down its FaceID in order to release the product on time....

The Information’s 411 — A Sad Spectacle

By Tom Dotan · Oct 27, 2017 12:48pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — A Sad Spectacle

By Tom Dotan · Oct 27, 2017 12:48pm PDT

Reed and Tom explain how Snap way overshot their expectations for Spectacles sales. Serena talks about boardrooms avoiding discussions around sexual harassment and the investigation within DFJ. Reed and Tom explain how Snap way overshot their expectations for Spectacles sales. Serena talks...