Overnight Tech: Trump aims to return US astronauts to the moon | FTC, FCC to team up on policing internet | Activists plan protest outside net neutrality vote | Apple to buy Shazam

TRUMP SENDING ASTRONAUTS BACK TO THE MOON: President Trump in a White House ceremony on Monday signed a new directive aimed at sending U.S. astronauts back to the moon — one that, while short on details, the administration insisted will restore the U.S. to its role as a leader in space exploration and help spur job growth.

The order “will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery,” and “marks an important step in returning American astronauts to the moon … for long-term exploration and use,” Trump said prior to signing the document.

Monday marks the anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission landing on the moon in 1972, the last human voyage to the moon.

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Trump opened the ceremony by thanking Vice President Pence, chairman of the National Space Council, “for helping … to restore American leadership in space.”

Also at the ceremony was retired astronaut Harrison Hagan “Jack” Schmitt, the last living crew member of Apollo 17, and Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon.

“Exactly 45 years ago, almost to the minute, Jack became one of the last Americans to land on the moon. Today we pledge that he will not be the last, and I suspect we’ll be finding other places to land in addition to the moon. What do you think Jack?” Trump said.

“This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprint, we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars and perhaps, someday, to many worlds beyond. This directive will ensure America’s space program once again leads and inspires all of humanity,” Trump added.

“This is a giant step toward that inspiring future. We are the leader, and we are going to stay the leader,” he said.

Pence praised Trump’s leadership and said today’s action will establish a “renewed American presence on the moon,” and “enhance our national security and our capacity to provide for the common defense” of the United States.

Read more here.

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FCC, FTC ANNOUNCE POST-NET NEUTRALITY PARTNERSHIP: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced an agreement on Monday to coordinate their efforts to police the internet once the latter agency has repealed its net neutrality rules.

On Thursday, the FCC is expected to approve the plan to scrap the Obama-era consumer protections that prohibit internet service providers from discriminating against, or favoring, certain websites. Under the proposal, the FCC would get rid of the conduct rules governing broadband companies and cede authority over the industry to the FTC.

“The Memorandum of Understanding will be a critical benefit for online consumers because it outlines the robust process by which the FCC and FTC will safeguard the public interest,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. “Instead of saddling the Internet with heavy-handed regulations, we will work together to take targeted action against bad actors.”

Once the repeal is passed, the FTC will be tasked with going after internet providers that engage in unfair or deceptive practices, but net neutrality supporters argue the agency is not equipped to prevent companies from abusing their power over web traffic.

Read more here.

APPLE WILL BUY SHAZAM: Apple will acquire music-recognition service Shazam, the company confirmed on Monday.

Apple says the purchase will help advance its operations in the digital music business, which Shazam has played a significant part in since Apple created iTunes, and more recently with its Apple streaming service.

“Apple Music and Shazam are a natural fit, sharing a passion for music discovery and delivering great music experiences to our users,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement. “Since the launch of the App Store, Shazam has consistently ranked as one of the most popular apps for iOS. Today, it’s used by hundreds of millions of people around the world, across multiple platforms.”

Read more here.

INTERNET PIONEERS SEND NET NEUTRALITY LETTER TO CONGRESS: A group of internet innovators is calling on Congress to intervene to stop the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from repealing its landmark net neutrality rules.

In a letter to the top congressional Republicans and Democrats overseeing the agency, the group argued that the plan to deregulate internet service providers threatens the openness of the internet.

The letter, which was sent on Monday, was signed by Tim Berners-Lee and Vinton Cerf, both considered the founding fathers of the internet; Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak; and Mitchell Baker, the head of the Mozilla Foundation.

“The FCC’s rushed and technically incorrect proposed Order to abolish net neutrality protections without any replacement is an imminent threat to the Internet we worked so hard to create. It should be stopped,” they wrote.

Read more here.

NET NEUTRALITY SUPPORTERS PLAN RALLY OUTSIDE FCC VOTE: Activists are planning a protest outside the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday as the agency is expected to vote to repeal its landmark net neutrality rules.

The rally will feature speakers like Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), as well as Symone Sanders, a former spokeswoman for Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) presidential campaign. The event will be hosted by a coalition of consumer groups called the Voices for Internet Freedom.

The FCC is expected to vote along party lines on Thursday to scrap the regulations preventing companies like Comcast and Verizon from restricting access to content or prioritizing some websites over others.

Read more here.

ON TAP:

The House Judiciary Committee will mark up the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act at 10 a.m.

The Senate Commerce subcommittee on technology will hold a hearing on artificial intelligence at 10 a.m.

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The Wall Street Journal: In new NFL deal, Verizon trades mobile exclusivity for rights on Yahoo

The Verge: Former Facebook exec says social media is ripping apart society

From The Hill’s opinion pages: We must reconcile privacy and safety in the digital era