Tim De Chant /
Senior Technology Reporter Emeritus
Recent stories by Tim De Chant
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An old music industry scheme, revived for the Spotify era
The promise of exposure can lead artists to sign deals they otherwise wouldn't consider.
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Nissan, NASA aim to ditch rare, pricey metals in solid-state batteries
Partnership to use computational materials science to speed development.
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Ubiquiti sues journalist, alleging defamation in coverage of data breach
Ubiquiti's market cap dropped $4 billion following news coverage.
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Meta can’t buy TikTok, so it hired GOP operatives to run a smear campaign
Consultants placed op-eds, pushed local news to run stories maligning TikTok.
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Antitrust bill in Senate would help rein in Big Tech platforms, DOJ says
Bill would define which behaviors are illegal and anticompetitive on platforms.
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Bitcoin’s massive energy use faces $5M shame campaign from environmental groups
Environmental groups push bitcoin to emulate ethereum, adopt proof of stake.
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Russian oil tankers go dark, evading name-and-shame Twitter bot
Russian oil isn't illegal yet, but a Twitter bot is getting a head start.
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Russia can’t find enough buyers for its oil, considers selling in bitcoin
Move could work in the Kremlin’s favor—or further undermine Russia’s economy.
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FBI trolls Russian embassy with geotargeted ads for disgruntled spies
“Speak plainly… we are ready to listen.”
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AARP-backed social network looks to lure older users from Facebook
Platform focuses on shared interests, discourages off-topic political rants.
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Oil-refining giant Koch Industries invests nearly $1B in battery companies
Batteries are closer to Koch’s other businesses than you might think.
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Apple employee spent a decade defrauding company of $10M, DOJ says
Government has seized $5 million in assets so far.
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Ford F-150 Lightning beats targets, goes 320 miles in EPA testing
The cheapest 320-mile Lightning for consumers will cost over $70,000.
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Mac Studio is far better for the climate than the iMac Pro—even with the display
We dive into the data to see where Apple improved.
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Antitrust bill would bar mergers over $5B, allow regulators to unwind others
“Big companies have had almost free rein over our economy.”
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Slinky, stylish Audi A6 Avant e-tron previews future EV station wagon
Is it coming to America? "Never say never."
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Intel announces another megafab as chipmaker expands EU footprint
Move will shore up its operations in the EU while adding foundry capacity.
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Tesla hikes prices on all cars, with cheapest Model 3 now nearing $50K
Automaker increases prices—again—as its order book continues to grow.
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Ford ships Explorers without chips for rear-seat HVAC controls
Ford is just the latest automaker to cut features instead of idling factories.
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Google “hijacked millions of customers and orders” from restaurants, lawsuit says
Restaurants say blue “order online” button saps profits, diverts customers.
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Posting “death to the Russian invaders” on Facebook now OK in some countries
Violent speech can be “political expression” but can’t target civilians.
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Twitter coincidentally introduces Tor service following Russian censorship
“Possibly the most important and long-awaited tweet that I’ve ever composed.”
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Amazon lied about using seller data, lawmakers say, urging DOJ investigation
Retailer had denied using third-party seller data to develop its own products.
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Rivian hit with shareholder lawsuit over surprise EV truck price hike
Company made "untrue statements" in its IPO about R1T and R1S pricing.
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Biden bans imports of all Russian fossil fuels amid broad bipartisan support
Vast majority of Americans support the move, while the UK will follow suit.
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Russia mulls legalizing software piracy as it’s cut off from Western tech
Proliferation of software-as-a-service may make it harder to pull off, though.
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Putin blocks Russians’ access to Facebook, Twitter, app stores [Updated]
Cyber Curtain comes down as Putin retaliates against Western outlets and platforms.
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Musk “invites” union vote at Tesla plant despite long history of hostility
Musk’s offer may be attempt to please Biden, who wants union-made EVs.
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Ford reorg prioritizes EVs, keeps fossil fuel vehicles as “engines of cash”
Decision ends speculation that Ford would split into two companies, for now.
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Rivian surprises, outrages EV truck buyers with 20% price hike [Updated]
Price hike hits nearly all preorders, with lower-spec trucks years away.
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College kid’s Twitter bot that stalks Musk’s jet now tracking Russian oligarchs
Putin may be holed up in Moscow, but his wealthy confidants love to fly.
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BP abandons Russian oil company stake, Shell pulls out of Nord Stream 2
Oil and gas contribute around 40 percent of Russia's federal budget.
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Big Tech spent decades skirting geopolitical issues. That’s no longer an option
Tech companies find themselves navigating a new East-West split.
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Facebook misled investors on scope of misinformation problems, whistleblower says
Meta made “material representations and omissions,” complaint alleges.
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Corn ethanol no better—and probably worse—than burning gasoline, study says
Efforts to reduce carbon pollution using ethanol appear to have backfired.
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California close to regaining control of tailpipe emissions from EPA
Move would reverse Trump administration's revocation of California's waiver.