What's Next: We're still looking for a reason to trust Facebook.
• TechCrunch's Josh Constine reports Facebook secretly deleted messages written by Mark Zuckerberg and other executives from recipients' inboxes. Facebook says it was preventing executive communications from being hacked.
• CNBC's Christina Farr reports Facebook secretly asked hospitals "to share anonymized data about their patients, such as illnesses and prescription info, for a proposed research project." Facebook says the project never started.
• Mark Zuckerberg told reporters this week that "the vast majority" of data that users share is "data [they] chose to share." The claim downplays how extensively Facebook tracks users' activity even when they're not on Facebook.
The Big Picture: Every new revelation reinforces the idea that Facebook acts with impunity.
What's ahead: More changes to Facebook's political ad policy. | | | PACIFIC
Today's Agenda What everyone is talking about: Trump's $100-billion tariff threat ... What Silicon Valley is talking about: Sheryl Sandberg's turn in the hot seat, and Chris Paine's new A.I. documentary ... What Hollywood is talking about: AT&T's Comcast problem, and Netflix's $300-million billboard play ...
Good morning. Masters tee times: 7:42: Rory McIlroy. 7:53: Jordan Spieth. 10:27: Tiger Woods. ... Tonight in South Beach: Dodgers vs. Giants ... | | Trade Wars
Trump's $100-billion threat
President Trump says he is considering an additional $100 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, bringing the U.S. and China still closer to a trade war.
• The statement comes after the two countries imposed $50 billion in tariffs on one another earlier this week.
• China's Commerce Ministry says it will fight the U.S. "at any cost, and will firmly attack... to firmly defend the interest of the nation and its people."
• The rhetoric on both sides could just be a starting point for negotiations. But every escalation creates greater uncertainty.
The Long Game, via WaPo's Heather Long:
• "China has more to lose economically in an all-out trade war. The Chinese economy is dependent on exports, and nearly 20 percent of its exports go to the United States.
• "But this isn't just an economic fight, it's also political, and there's a strong case that President Trump would be less able to sustain a protracted conflict than the Chinese -- especially with the 2018 midterm elections coming."
Just In: "The U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs in March, slower than previous months and well below expectations." | | Super Intelligence
New film stokes AI fears
Chris Paine's new A.I.-documentary "Do You Trust This Computer?" premiered last night here in L.A. I was there, as was Elon Musk, "Westworld" co-creator Jonathan Nolan and actor/filmmaker Jon Favreau.
• The good: The film raises significant, pressing questions about the future of artificial intelligence and its influence on society, warfare, healthcare, etc.
• The bad: It is alarmist and gives the impression that we are mere years away from a super-intelligent system that controls the human race -- a suggestion shot down afterward by at least three of the experts who appeared in the film.
The takeaway: It's worth seeing. It drives home the full impact of AI and will inspire a robust conversation about the need for ethics and regulation.
Where to watch: Elon Musk announced at the premiere that he had paid for the movie to be shown for free through the weekend on the film's website. | | The Trust Crisis
Sheryl Sandberg's PR push
Headlines that tell you everything:
• FT: "Sheryl Sandberg says Facebook was too slow to respond to crises"
• NPR: "'We Were Way Too Idealistic'
• BuzzFeed: "I Take Responsibility For This" | | Going Vertical
AT&T's Comcast problem
New in DOJ vs. AT&T: The Justice Department is using AT&T executives' correspondence to explain why it believes AT&T shouldn't be allowed to acquire Time Warner:
• AT&T executives said that Comcast's NBCUniversal acquisition would result in higher prices or programming blackouts once certain conditions expired -- the exact leverage that the DOJ believes AT&T would have with Time Warner.
• In one email, an AT&T executive said NBCUniversal "could play hardball" after the agreement expires. In another, an executive said there will be "no more conditions on how they behave in the marketplace."
• CNNMoney's Hadas Gold: "Justice Department Antitrust Chief Makan Delrahim appeared in the courtroom... to watch the proceedings... It was the second time Delrahim showed up in the courtroom to observe witness testimony." | | Ryan Murphy Money
Netflix's $300-million billboards
The latest in Netflix's unbridled spending, via Reuters:
• "Netflix is attempting its largest acquisition, offering more than $300 million to acquire a company that owns billboards across Los Angeles, including West Hollywood's famed Sunset Strip..."
• "The move illustrates how one of the most successful streaming media companies values physical advertising assets as it steps up its marketing efforts."
• "Billboards are holding their own compared to other forms of traditional advertising, such as ads in newspapers or TV that are easy to skip."
Context: $300 million is what Netflix paid TV hitmaker Ryan Murphy for a five-year deal.
The Big Picture: Netflix is spending like crazy to scare the competition. But keep in mind: It has well north of $20 billion in debt. You have to spend money to make money -- but can you spend this much? | | Bleeding Blue, Seeing Red
The Shohei Ohtani sensation
What Dodgers fans wish they were talking about: "The One Baseball's Been Waiting For" by ESPN The Magazine's Tim Keown: "So far, the two-way sensation is living up to Ruthian expectations. But how will he possibly keep this up? We trace his journey back to Japan in search of the surprising answer."
Backstory: Ohtani plays for the Angels. He could've played for the Dodgers. | | | | |
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