This Week in Startups Casey Newton’s Superhuman misfire, Apple’s backdoor, 5G crypto network, WhatsApp’s Taliban problem | E1266
Aug 17, 2021
In a lively discussion from Italy, the hosts dissect Casey Newton's criticisms of Superhuman's fundraising. They delve deep into Apple's controversial scanning for abusive imagery, raising vital privacy concerns. The conversation shifts to the innovative Helium Networks and the regulatory challenges of cryptocurrency. Finally, they tackle the thorny issue of WhatsApp's role in Afghanistan, highlighting the Taliban's tech-savvy communication methods and the ethical dilemmas tech companies face in navigating security and privacy.
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Casey Newton's Superhuman Critique
- Casey Newton criticized Superhuman's fundraising and product in a tweet, calling it a "Gmail skin."
- Jason Calacanis, an investor in Superhuman, refuted Newton's claims, citing factual errors and mischaracterizations.
Journalists' Information Disadvantage
- Journalists often possess only a fraction of the information about a company, leading to inaccurate reporting.
- Founders should understand this information disadvantage when interacting with the press.
Avoid Journalists, Build Your Platform
- Stop talking to journalists; no good will come from it.
- Create your own content to control your narrative instead of being interpreted by potentially biased journalists.