LIBN.COM VOLUME 68 NUMBER 7 ■ LIBN.COM Part of the network FEBRUARY 12-18, 2021 ■ $2.00
FREE SPEECH? A debate rages over Big Tech and the First Amendment ›› Page 4
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FINANCE/TECH REAL ESTATE FOCUS/ACCOUNTING 1-800-FLOWERS.COM AMAZON TAKES $1,400 PAYMENTS FOUNDER JIM MCCANN’S 300,000 SF PART OF BIDEN SPAC CLOSES IPO IN MELVILLE VIRUS RELIEF ›› 8 ›› 7 ›› 17 2 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS I February 12-18, 2021 I LIBN.COM
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For more information, visit LongLiveLongIsland.org LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS I February 12-18, 2021 I LIBN.COM I 3 THISWEEK Movers & Shakers COVER STORY Focus: Accounting 4 FREE SPEECH? 17 DEMS PROPOSE $1,400 A debate rages over Big Tech and the PAYMENTS AS PART OF BIDEN VIRUS RELIEF First Amendment 13 NEW DIRECTOR NAMED AT PRONTO OF LONG ISLAND Real Estate 7 AMAZON TAKES 300,000 SF IN MELVILLE FOR DISTRIBUTION HUB LASTWEEK’SPOLL: LISTS: ACCOUNTING FIRMS, 18; COLLEGES, 7 CBRE TAPPED FOR NEW 26; HOSPITALS, 27; SENIOR LIVING, 30 IN-PERSON WEDDINGS MELVILLE INDUSTRIAL ASSIGNMENT Events Long Island Business News hosts an array of Is it too early to bring back award programs, panel discussions, educational forums and more throughout the year. To view the full event lineup, nom- in-person weddings on Long Finance/Tech inate, and register to attend at libn.com/eventsdirectory. Island? 8 1-800-FLOWERS.COM FOUNDER JIM MCCANN’S SPAC CLOSES IPO • Yes: they could be superspreaders. 50% The special purpose acquisition ›› Diversity in Business — March 2 company to focus on the consumer- ›› Achievements in Healthcare — March 18 • No: It’s about time. 34% facing e-commerce sector ›› Executive Circle Awards — May 6 • Yes: But I’d send a gift and not at- ›› Corporate Citizenship Awards — June 10 tend. 16% ›› Business & Finance Awards — June 25 EVERYWEEK Visit www.libn.com to cast your vote for next week’s poll: 10 From LIBN.com 1B Public/Legal Notices Nominations Nominations for our 2021 award programs Does Big Tech have too much influence over our infor- are now open: libn.com/eventsdirectory 13 Movers & Shakers 34 On Our Island mation?
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FREE SPEECH? A debate rages over Big Tech and the First Amendment
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By ADINA GENN And there are concerns about computer algorithms Amendment, adopted 230 years ago, and what its im- that feed news items to people based on their browser pact means in the 21st Century. debate brews over whether Big Tech has too much history, a pattern that can prevent citizens from getting “It’s not a living thing,” Rosenberg said of the First influence over free expression and what that enough accurate information to tell fact from fiction. Amendment. “It’s the