Business
Jeff Bezos Is Reportedly Driving Amazon’s Recent String of Snarky Tweets Against Lawmakers
Published
2 years agoon
By
Cory Ray
- Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is believed to be the driving force behind a series of confrontational posts that the official Amazon News Twitter account directed at Democratic lawmakers last week, according to Vox’s Recode.
- Recode’s report claims Bezos instructed company officials to be “more aggressive in how they pushed back against criticisms of the company that he and other leaders deem inaccurate or misleading.”
- In one highly criticized exchange with Rep. Mark Pocan (Wi.), Amazon News cast doubt over claims that warehouse workers were forced to pee in bottles to avoid bathroom breaks.
- Reports about Bezos’ order come as workers at one Alabama warehouse finish voting Monday on whether or not they will become the first Amazon warehouse in the country to unionize.
Bezos Allegedly Directs Amazon To Fight Back
The official Twitter account for Amazon News attracted the internet’s attention last week after it began lobbing snarky replies at Democratic lawmakers. According to a new report from Vox’s Recode, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may be to blame.
The report described Bezos as “pissed” and said he “expressed dissatisfaction… that company officials weren’t more aggressive in how they pushed back against criticisms of the company that he and other leaders deem inaccurate or misleading.”
He then reportedly gave a broad mandate to “fight back.”
What Is Bezos Reportedly Upset About?
The Twitter spats with lawmakers began on Wednesday after it was reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was traveling to Alabama to meet with Amazon workers who’ve been pushing to unionize.
In a statement on Twitter, Amazon Consumer Chief Dave Clark said he welcomed Sanders and “appreciate[s] his push for a progressive workplace.”
He also added, “I often say we are the Bernie Sanders of employers, but that’s not quite right because we actually deliver a progressive workplace for our constituents: a $15 minimum wage, health care from day one, career progression, and a safe and inclusive work environment.”
“So if you want to hear about $15 an hour and health care, Senator Sanders will be speaking downtown. But if you would like to make at least $15 an hour and have good health care, Amazon is hiring.”
1/3 I welcome @SenSanders to Birmingham and appreciate his push for a progressive workplace. I often say we are the Bernie Sanders of employers, but that’s not quite right because we actually deliver a progressive workplace https://t.co/Fq8D6vyuh9
— Dave Clark (@davehclark) March 24, 2021
3/3 So if you want to hear about $15 an hour and health care, Senator Sanders will be speaking downtown. But if you would like to make at least $15 an hour and have good health care, Amazon is hiring.
— Dave Clark (@davehclark) March 24, 2021
From there, Rep. Mark Pocan (Wi.) jumped into the mix, quote tweeting Clark and saying, “Paying workers $15/hr doesn’t make you a “progressive workplace” when you union-bust & make workers urinate in water bottles.”
Paying workers $15/hr doesn't make you a "progressive workplace" when you union-bust & make workers urinate in water bottles. https://t.co/CnFTtTKA9q
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) March 25, 2021
Here, Pocan is referring to two things: The first is Amazon’s efforts to keep employees from unionizing by telling them that unions cost too much money and that the company already provides enough benefits for its workers.
The second is a reference from a 2018 report in which British author James Bloodworth, who went undercover at an Amazon warehouse, said he found a bottle of urine on a warehouse shelf. When speaking to Insider, Bloodworth said at the time that workplace culture in the warehouse was like a “prison” and that workers were admonished for taking restroom breaks.
In a reply to Pocan, the account for Amazon News said, “You don’t really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you? If that were true, nobody would work for us.”
“We hope you can enact policies that get other employers to offer what we already do,” it added.
2/2 We hope you can enact policies that get other employers to offer what we already do.
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) March 25, 2021
“And yes, I do believe your workers,” Pocan bit back. “You don’t?”
And yes, I do believe your workers.
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) March 25, 2021
You don’t?
Amid the exchanges, Amazon began trending on Twitter, with many people very confused and others outwardly shocked at the tone in Amazon’s tweet.
This is so wild. What brand thinks it’s a smart idea to publicly communicate in such a condescending manner, especially when there’s ample documentation of how little protection you offer your fulfillment center workers? Not doing yourself any favors here…
— Charlotte Hill (@hill_charlotte) March 25, 2021
It's one thing for Amazon to systematically choke to death the American retail and labor markets, but it feels altogether darker that they also insist the general public regards them as benevolent and generous for doing so, and that they are insulted by implications otherwise.
— Amanda Mull (@amandamull) March 25, 2021
Eventually, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) added her voice by including a letter from an Amazon manager who noted three separate instances where bags of poop had been found by drivers.
“This you?” she asked.
This you? https://t.co/HtyJsuj0jW pic.twitter.com/QZpsriA3ph
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 26, 2021
On Thursday, Amazon News and Senator Elizabeth Warren (Ma.) engaged in another so-called “Twitter war.”
In a reply to a condemnatory thread by Amazon news, Warren accused Amazon of exploiting loopholes to pay lower taxes and vowed to “fight to break up Big Tech so you’re not powerful enough to heckle senators with snotty tweets.”
In a reply, Amazon News accused Warren of trying to break them up “so that they can’t criticize her anymore.”
This is extraordinary and revealing. One of the most powerful politicians in the United States just said she’s going to break up an American company so that they can’t criticize her anymore. https://t.co/Nt0wcZo17g
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) March 26, 2021
What’s Next?
Amid this “Twitter war,” Amazon workers at a warehouse in Alabama have been voting over the last couple of months on whether or not to unionize.
That vote ends Monday, while counting is expected to begin Tuesday. If the push is successful, it would become the first Amazon warehouse in the U.S. to be represented by a union.
See what others are saying: (Vox) (Yahoo) (Insider)
Business
TikTok to Require Labels on Manipulated Media, Ban Deepfakes of Children
Published
2 days agoon
March 22, 2023
The social media platform says it wants to embrace the creativity AI can offer while being cautious of the “societal and individual risks” that come with it.
TikTok is rolling out a slew of limitations regarding synthetic deepfake videos, including a ban on deepfake content of children.
In an update on Tuesday, the social media platform said it wants welcome “the creativity that new artificial intelligence and other digital technologies may unlock” while also being careful of the “societal and individual risks” that come with it. To mitigate those risks, TikTok will require users to label manipulated media depicting “realistic scenes.” Users can do so in stickers, captions, or other means that make it clear the video is “synthetic,” “fake,” “not real,” or “altered.”
On top of that, there are new restrictions about who can be the subject of these manipulated videos. TikTok will not allow deepfake media that shows the likeness of a “young person” or any private person, including adults. It is also barring deepfakes that depict adult public figures giving political or commercial endorsements, as well as deepfakes that violate one of the platform’s other rules.
“While we provide more latitude for public figures, we do not want them to be the subject of abuse, or for people to be misled about political or financial issues,” the company’s updated guidelines say.
As TikTok’s policies previously stated, synthetic media that has been edited to mislead audiences about real-world events is also not allowed on the platform.
As far as what kind of deepfake media is allowed on TikTok, the company said videos showing adult public figures in “certain contexts, including artistic and educational content,” get the green light. This can include a video of a celebrity doing a TikTok dance, or a historical figure being depicted in a history lesson.
The rules will be enforced starting April 21. Between now and then, TikTok says it will be training its moderators to better implement the guidelines.
See what others are saying: (The Verge) (The Associated Press) (TechCrunch)
Business
Adidas Financial Woes Continue, Company on Track for First Annual Loss in Decades
Published
2 weeks agoon
March 8, 2023By
Star Pralle
Adidas has labeled 2023 a “transition year” for the company.
Yeezy Surplus
Adidas’ split with musician Kanye West has left the company with financial problems due to surplus Yeezy products, putting the sportswear giant in the position to potentially suffer its first annual loss in over 30 years.
Adidas dropped West last year after he made a series of antisemitic remarks on social media and other broadcasts. His Yeezy line was a staple for Adidas, and the surplus product is due, in part, to the brand’s own decision to continue production during the split.
According to CEO Bjorn Gulden, Adidas continued production of only the items already in the pipeline to prevent thousands of people from losing their jobs. However, that has led to the unfortunate overabundance of Yeezy sneakers and clothes.
On Wednesday, Gulden said that selling the shoes and donating the proceeds makes more sense than giving them away due to the Yeezy resale market — which has reportedly shot up 30% since October.
“If we sell it, I promise that the people who have been hurt by this will also get something good out of this,” Gulden said in a statement to the press.
However, Gulden also said that West is entitled to a portion of the proceeds of the sale of Yeezys per his royalty agreement.
The Numbers
Adidas announced in February that, following its divergence from West, it is facing potential sales losses totaling around $1.2 billion and profit losses of around $500 million.
If it decides to not sell any more Yeezy products, Adidas is facing a projected annual loss of over $700 million.
Outside of West, Adidas has taken several heavy profit blows recently. Its operating profit reportedly fell by 66% last year, a total of more than $700 million. It also pulled out of Russia after the country’s invasion of Ukraine last year, which cost Adidas nearly $60 million dollars. Additionally, China’s “Zero Covid” lockdowns last year caused in part a 36% drop in revenue for Adidas compared to years prior.
As a step towards a solution, Gulden announced that the company is slashing its dividends from 3.30 euros to 0.70 euro cents per share pending shareholder approval.
Adidas has labeled 2023 a “transition year” for the company.
“Adidas has all the ingredients to be successful. But we need to put our focus back on our core: product, consumers, retail partners, and athletes,” Gulden said. “I am convinced that over time we will make Adidas shine again. But we need some time.”
See what others are saying: (The Washington Post) (The New York Times) (CNN)
Business
Elon Musk Bashes Disabled Ex-Twitter Employee, Gets Blowback
Published
2 weeks agoon
March 7, 2023By
Chris Tolve
After Musk claimed the former employee “did no actual work,” the staffer calmly directed passive-aggressive insults right back at the billionaire.
Excuse Me, Do I Still Work Here?
Elon Musk brawled online with a former Twitter employee who didn’t know whether he was fired Tuesday, accusing the staffer of exploiting his disability.
Haraldur “Halli” Thorleifsson, who has muscular dystrophy, joined Twitter in 2021 after it acquired the creative agency he founded: Ueno.
He said on Twitter that he was unable to confirm whether he was still a Twitter employee nine days after being locked out of his work computer, despite reaching out to the head of HR and Musk himself through email.
Dear @elonmusk 👋
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 6, 2023
9 days ago the access to my work computer was cut, along with about 200 other Twitter employees.
However your head of HR is not able to confirm if I am an employee or not. You've not answered my emails.
Maybe if enough people retweet you'll answer me here?
At the time, Twitter had laid off at least 200 workers, or some 10% of its remaining workforce.
In search of an answer, Thorleifsson tweeted at Musk, who responded with the question: “What work have you been doing?”
After being given permission by Musk to break confidentiality, Thorleifsson listed several of his accomplishments, including leading “design crits to help level up design across the company.”
Among others:
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
– led the effort to save about $500k on one SaaS contract. Supported closing down many others
– led prioritization of design projects across the company to make sure we were able to deliver with a small team
– led design crits to help level up design across the company
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
– was hiring manager for all design roles
– worked on efforts to steer the company away from focusing on power users and on to younger users (because our user base is aging)
“Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didn’t happen,” Musk replied.
“We haven’t hired design roles in 4 months. What changes did you make to help with the youths?”
You locked my computer. I don't have access to any pics or docs. If you want to have it opened I can get you things.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
Thorleifsson reminded Musk that he couldn’t access any pictures because he was locked out of his work computer.
– Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didn’t happen.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023
– We haven’t hired design roles in 4 months
– What changes did you make to help with the youths?
Musk stopped replying to the tweets, but hours later he returned to the platform to lob invective at his former employee.
Musk Vs. Halli
“The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm,” Musk tweeted, apparently referring to Thorleifsson. “Can’t say I have a lot of respect for that.”
The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023
Can’t say I have a lot of respect for that.
“But was he fired? No, you can’t be fired if you weren’t working in the first place,” he added.
But was he fired? No, you can’t be fired if you weren’t working in the first place!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023
In a later Twitter thread, Thorleifsson said he could type for one or two hours at a time before his hands cramped, but that in pre-Musk Twitter, that wasn’t a problem because he was a senior director.
I can however write for an hour or two at a time.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
This wasn't a problem in Twitter 1.0 since I was a senior director and my job was mostly to help teams move forward, give them strategic and tactical guidance.
He added that despite his crippling disability, he worked hard for years to build Ueno.
“We grew fast and made money,” he said. “I think that’s what you are referring to when you say independently wealthy? That I independently made my money, as opposed to say, inherited an emerald mine.”
We worked for more or less every big tech company.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
We grew fast and made money. I think that's what you are referring to when you say independently wealthy?
That I independently made my money, as opposed to say, inherited an emerald mine.
Thorleifsson made several more passive-aggressive jabs at Musk.
“I joined at a time when the company was growing fast,” he wrote. “You kind of did the opposite. The company had a fair amount of issues, but then again, most bigger companies do. Or even small companies, like Twitter today.”
I joined at a time when the company was growing fast. You kind of did the opposite.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
There was a lot going on. The company had a fair amount of issues, but then again, most bigger companies do.
Or even small companies, like Twitter today.
Thorleifsson said that immediately following his back-and-forth with Musk, Twitter’s head of HR confirmed that he had indeed been fired from the company.
See what others are saying: (Business Insider) (CNN) (Yahoo)

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