Mediagazer: Critics say India's proposed internet rules, which could let Indian officials compel companies to remove posts, violate constitutional free speech protections (Vindu Goel/New York Times)

James Vincent / The Verge:

OpenAI says it won't release the dataset behind GPT-2, its new text generator algorithm that can write, translate, and summarize text, due to fears of misuse — OpenAI's researchers knew they were on to something when their language modeling program wrote a convincing essay on a topic they disagreed with.

Discussion: The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Fast Company, Gizmodo, @techreview, @jimwaterson, OpenAI Blog and The Next Web, more at Techmeme »

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Great Hill Partners is in exclusive talks with Univision to buy Gizmodo Media Group for an undisclosed sum — Deal would include websites such as Gizmodo, Deadspin, Lifehacker and Jezebel — Great Hill Partners is in exclusive talks with Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications Inc …

Hollywood Reporter:

Univision reports Q4 revenue of $688.5M, down 8.9% YoY and a loss of $40.2M amid ongoing carriage dispute with Dish — The Spanish-language media giant reported lower revenue, but CEO Vince Sadusky on an analyst call lauded a recent “ratings resurgence” while also addressing his battle with Dish.

Discussion: @benmullin and Variety

Jeremy Barr / Hollywood Reporter:
Univision recorded 2018 loss of $120M+ on its English-language digital assets like Gizmodo and The Onion, bought the remaining stake in The Onion for $28.7M

Discussion: @jeremymbarr, @mathewi and Wall Street Journal

Sarah Frier / Bloomberg:

Facebook says it is exploring ways to address anti-vaccine misinformation including reducing or removing it from recommendations and demotion in search results — Facebook Inc., under pressure to reduce harmful, misleading and fake content, said it is exploring removing anti-vaccine information …

Discussion: The Daily Beast, schiff.house.gov, CNN, The Week, Fast Company, @jayrosen_nyu, Engadget, Fortune, The Hill, Business Insider and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Vindu Goel / New York Times:

Critics say India's proposed internet rules, which could let Indian officials compel companies to remove posts, violate constitutional free speech protections — NEW DELHI — India's government has proposed giving itself vast new powers to suppress internet content, igniting a heated battle …

Discussion: @sflcin and @histoftech

Nobel Women's Initiative:

The Nobel Women's Initiative launches InterviewHer, a global database to connect media to women experts on conflict, peace, and security — Ottawa—February 13, 2019. — The Nobel Women's Initiative today launched InterviewHer, a global database that helps connect media to a wide range …

Kim Lyons / Columbia Journalism Review:

Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh files complaint with National Labor Review Board, claiming Post-Gazette's publisher threatened to fire staff for union activity — On Saturday night, February 9, John Robinson Block—publisher of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of more than a dozen news outlets owned …

Dade Hayes / Deadline:

CBS reports Q4 revenues of $4B, up 3% YoY, missing estimates, adjusted operating income of $837M, up 10% YoY, and says it has 8M direct-to-consumer subscribers — CBS Corp. reported fourth-quarter earnings that fell short of Wall Street analysts' expectations, largely due to a dip …

Discussion: MediaPost, Multichannel News, CNBC, Variety, The Wrap, Bloomberg, @lucas_shaw, @jbflint, @lucas_shaw, Broadcasting & Cable, Business Insider, Variety and CBS Corporation SEC Filings

Melynda Fuller / MediaPost:

Hearst Magazines names its first chief data officer, Mike Smith, in charge of ad products, digital ad operations, and data capabilities — In its latest move as a data-driven content company, Hearst Magazines has appointed Mike Smith its first Chief Data Officer. — Smith will report to Hearst Magazines President Troy Young.

Discussion: Folio

Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:

Sources: Col Allan, former longtime controversial editor-in-chief of New York Post has been working as a consultant for News Corp., for the past three weeks — Can Col Allan, the swashbuckling and bibulous tabloid star of the aughts, help the New York Post decode its most important reader?

Discussion: New York Daily News and @joepompeo

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Cord-cutting accelerates as the five biggest U.S. pay-TV providers collectively lost around 3.2 million customers in 2018, a 4.2% decrease — - After Machinima Shutdown, Rooster Teeth Revives ‘Inside Gaming’ and Rescues Other Machinima Shows — Cord-cutting inflicted a heavier toll …

Discussion: @tortured_verse and BGR

Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:

US Copyright Office has refused a copyright claim for the “Carlton Dance”, a potential blow to performers seeking rights to dance emotes in games like Fortnite — A government examiner also questioned the submission of the actor's performance on ABC's “Dancing With the Stars,” …

Discussion: Variety, The A.V. Club, The Verge, Mashable, Fortune, Engadget, @abaesq, Waypoint, @eriqgardner and PCGamesN, more at Techmeme »