Mobile Privacy and Business-to-Platform Dependencies: An Analysis of SEC Disclosures

This Article systematically examines the dependence of mobile apps on mobile platforms for the collection and use of personal information through an analysis of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings of mobile app companies. The Article uses these disclosures to find systematic evidence of how app business models are shaped by the governance of user data by mobile platforms, in order to reflect on the role of platforms in privacy regulation more generally. The analysis of SEC filings documented in the Article produces new and unique insights into the data practices and data-related aspects of the business models of popular mobile apps and shows the value of SEC filings for privacy law and policy research more generally. The discussion of SEC filings and privacy builds on regulatory developments in SEC disclosures and cybersecurity of the last decade. The Article also connects to recent regulatory developments in the U.S. and Europe, including the General Data Protection Regulation, the proposals for a new ePrivacy Regulation and a Regulation of fairness in business-to-platform relations

Legal, Economic, and Cultural Aspects of file sharing

This contribution seeks to identify the short- and long-term economic and cultural effects of file sharing on music, films and games, while taking into account the legal context and policy developments. The short-term implications examined concern direct costs and benefits to society, whereas the long-term impact concerns changes in the industry’s business models as well as in cultural diversity and the accessibility of content. It observes that the proliferation of digital distribution networks combined with the availability of digital technology among consumers has broken the entertainment industries’ control over the access to their products. Only part of the decline in music sales can be attributed to file sharing. Despite the losses for the music industry, the increased accessibillity of culture renders the overall welfare effects of file sharing robustly positive. As a consequence the entertainment industries, particularly the music industry, have to explore new models to sustain their busines.filesharing, downloading/uploading, entertainment industry, cultural analysis, economic analysis, legal and policy analysis.

Novel insights in antimicrobial and immunomodulatory mechanisms of action of PepBiotics CR-163 and CR-172

Objectives: Our group recently developed a new group of antimicrobial peptides termed PepBiotics, of which peptides CR-163 and CR-172 showed optimized antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus without inducing antimicrobial resistance. In this study, the antibacterial mechanism of action and the immunomodulatory activity of these two PepBiotics was explored. Methods: RAW264.7 cells were used to determine the ability of PepBiotics to neutralize Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-and Lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced activation of macrophages. Isothermal titration calorimetry and competition assays with dansyl-labeled polymyxin B determined binding characteristics to LPS and LTA. Combined bacterial killing with subsequent macrophage activation assays was performed to determine so-called ‘silent killing’. Finally, flow cytometry of peptide-treated genetically engineered Escherichia coli expressing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and mCherry in the cytoplasm and periplasm, respectively, further established the antimicrobial mechanism of PepBiotics. Results: Both CR-163 and CR-172 were shown to have broad-spectrum activity against ESKAPE pathogens and E. coli using a membranolytic mechanism of action. PepBiotics could exothermically bind LPS/LTA and were able to replace polymyxin B. Finally, it was demonstrated that bacteria killed by PepBiotics were less prone to stimulate immune cells, contrary to gentamicin and heat-killed bacteria that still elicited a strong immune response. Conclusions: These studies highlight the multifunctional nature of the two peptide antibiotics as both broad-spectrum antimicrobial and immunomodulator. Their ability to kill bacteria and reduce unwanted subsequent immune activation is a major advantage and highlights their potential for future therapeutic use

SARS-CoV-2 infects the human kidney and drives fibrosis in kidney organoids

Kidney failure is frequently observed during and after COVID-19, but it remains elusive whether this is a direct effect of the virus. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 directly infects kidney cells and is associated with increased tubule-interstitial kidney fibrosis in patient autopsy samples. To study direct effects of the virus on the kidney independent of systemic effects of COVID-19, we infected human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived kidney organoids with SARS-CoV-2. Single-cell RNA sequencing indicated injury and dedifferentiation of infected cells with activation of profibrotic signaling pathways. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 infection also led to increased collagen 1 protein expression in organoids. A SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor was able to ameliorate the infection of kidney cells by SARS-CoV-2. Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect kidney cells and induce cell injury with subsequent fibrosis. These data could explain both acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients and the development of chronic kidney disease in long COVID

SARS-CoV-2 infects the human kidney and drives fibrosis in kidney organoids

Kidney failure is frequently observed during and after COVID-19, but it remains elusive whether this is a direct effect of the virus. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 directly infects kidney cells and is associated with increased tubule-interstitial kidney fibrosis in patient autopsy samples. To study direct effects of the virus on the kidney independent of systemic effects of COVID-19, we infected human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids with SARS-CoV-2. Single cell RNA-sequencing indicated injury and dedifferentiation of infected cells with activation of pro-fibrotic signaling pathways. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 infection also led to increased collagen 1 protein expression in organoids. A SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor was able to ameliorate the infection of kidney cells by SARS-CoV-2. Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect kidney cells and induce cell injury with subsequent fibrosis. These data could explain both acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients and the development of chronic kidney disease in Long-COVID

Vanitas vanitatum: Alphanumeric use of service numbers

Alphanumeric use of phone numbers means selecting phone numbers on the basis of a relationship between numbers and letters. The number 0800-TELECOM, for example, corresponds with the number series 0800-8353266. Alphanumeric use primarily concerns service numbers, which are toll-free numbers or numbers for premium services. This article describes alphanumeric use and addresses a few specific regulatory issues.

Enkele kanttekeningen bij de Wiv 2017

Europese landen worstelen met het ‘post Snowden’-tijdperk. Dit is zichtbaar in de nieuwe wetgeving die in veel landen recentelijk tot stand is gekomen. Grote thema’s daarbij zijn onder meer hoe om te gaan met de hedendaagse informatiesamenleving, die oneindige hoeveelheden data produceert en die zich kenmerkt door snelle technologische ontwikkelingen. Hoe kan worden voorkomen dat zich een tweede ‘Snowden’-onthulling gaat voordoen? Ook de Wet op de inlichtingen- en veiligheidsdiensten (Wiv) 2017 is opnieuw een product van zijn tijd. Deze wet probeert de nieuwe dilemma’s te ondervangen terwijl tegelijkertijd een werkbare situatie voor de bescherming van de rechtstaat via inlichtingen en veiligheidsdiensten wordt nagestreefd. Wij presenteren in dit artikel een aantal kanttekeningen bij de Wiv 2017. Dit doen wij door een aantal relevante in Nederland (Eskens e.a. 2016; Loof e.a. 2016) en in de Europese Unie1 verschenen overkoepelende studies over grondrechten te bespreken. Deze kanttekeningen zijn deels gebaseerd op normatieve uitgangspunten en aanbevelingen uit deze studies, deels ontleend aan nog lopend onderzoek. Gezien de aard en omvang van dit artikel is een selectie gemaakt en beperkt de analyse zich tot het schetsen van de belangrijkste dilemma’s