Alphabet’s YouTube announced on Thursday that it was shutting down Lauren Chen’s Tenet Media channel as well as four other channels run by her.
TakeAway Points:
- Alphabet’s YouTube said it was terminating the Tenet Media channel and four channels operated by Tenet owner Lauren Chen, following an indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice.
- The Justice Department on Wednesday filed money-laundering charges against two employees of Russian state media network RT for what officials said was a scheme to hire an American company to produce online content to influence the 2024 presidential election.
- Ofcom proposes allowing Amazon’s Project Kuiper to operate a satellite network, rivalling Elon Musk’s Starlink.
- Project Kuiper plans to launch over 3,000 satellites by the end of 2024, offering high-speed broadband services in underserved areas.
- The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by providing reliable internet to rural communities and regions affected by conflict or natural disasters.
YouTube to terminate Tenet Media Channel
Following an indictment from the US Department of Justice, Alphabet’s YouTube announced on Thursday that it was shutting down the Tenet Media channel as well as four other channels run by Lauren Chen, the owner of Tenet.
The Justice Department on Wednesday filed money-laundering charges against two employees of Russian state media network RT for what officials said was a scheme to hire an American company to produce online content to influence the 2024 presidential election.
Justice Department officials said the two employees used shell companies and fake personas to pay $10 million to an unnamed Tennessee company to produce online videos aimed at amplifying political divisions in the United States.
Though the company is not named in the indictment, details provided in court filings match up with Tenet Media, a Nashville-based company that has posted nearly 2,000 videos to YouTube in less than a year.
The UK may permit Project Kuiper to run a satellite network
The British telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, has proposed allowing Amazon.com Inc.’s unit, Project Kuiper, to operate a satellite network that would rival Elon Musk’s Starlink. This proposal aims to provide high-speed broadband services, particularly to underserved areas. Ofcom has requested comments on Amazon Kuiper Services Europe SARL’s application and the regulator’s proposal to grant the licence by October 4, as stated in a release on Thursday.
Project Kuiper
If granted a licence, Project Kuiper will be able to supply customers with outdoor antennae, known as terminals, that can receive broadband services with speeds comparable to 4G. This initiative is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to offer high-speed internet connectivity through a constellation of more than 3,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit. The project aims to launch its first satellites before the end of 2024, with plans to offer commercial services the following year.
Addressing Connectivity Gaps
Satellite internet services like Kuiper and Starlink are designed to provide high-speed connectivity to areas that are underserved by traditional internet providers. These include rural communities, conflict zones, and regions where infrastructure has been damaged by natural disasters. By offering these services, Amazon aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure that more people have access to reliable internet.
