Google this week announced changes to its privacy policy that will see the company track and consolidate user information across all Google services. This means that what you do on YouTube, for example, could be used to offer you targeted ads with other Google services. Though it might be advantageous to have Google inform you you're going to be late for that Google Calendar appointment based on your location and the level of traffic in that area, it's not hard to see how this information might make people uneasy. That said, Google insists that it will provide a better user-experience for those with Google accounts.

The SOPA online piracy bill that helped spark this week's unprecedented Internet protests will be redrafted, its lead sponsor said Friday.

The move came shortly after the Senate postponed a key vote on the companion PIPA bill scheduled for next week and amid calls for consensus before Congress moves forward on any legislation to address the problem of foreign piracy websites.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) had hoped to push his Stop Online Piracy Act through the committee next month. But in the wake of growing opposition triggered by Wednesday's Internet blackout, Smith said the committee "will postpone consideration of the legislation until there is wider agreement on a solution."

DICE released a server side update today (R17) for Battlefield 3, which fixes several cheat exploits allowing hackers to mass kill players. A post on the Battlefield Blog states they have banned a batch of several hundred confirmed cheaters recently and will continue to hunt down cheaters. DICE reminds players that you can go to a suspected cheaters profile on Battlelog and click the report button marked by a triangle with an exclamation mark.

From the Battlefield Blog:
In our continued effort to minimize cheating in Battlefield 3, we recently banned another batch of several hundred confirmed cheaters based on your reports and our player behavior data.

At DICE, we will never tolerate cheaters. Life on the battlefield can be harsh, especially when you’re up against the fantastic flying duo. But it should never be a case of you losing because someone is outright cheating.