Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
GDPR goes into effect. Companies around the world are scrambling to prepare for the General Data Protection Regulation, which will be enforced by the European Union starting Friday. Among the new rules, which businesses have complained are too difficult to implement, companies must reveal data breaches to regulators within 72 hours, tell users how their information is being used, and provide profiled data to users on request.
Ireland votes on an abortion referendum. Irish women across the globe are returning to vote Friday on a divisive referendum to repeal the country’s eighth amendment, which made abortion illegal, even in cases of rape or incest. A recent poll found that 57% of voters plan to vote yes, much lower than the 65% who voted for marriage equality.
Harvey Weinstein may turn himself in. The disgraced Hollywood producer reportedly plans to surrender to authorities on Friday. Several dozen women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault and rape dating back decades, and he’ll face arrest for at least one sex crime charge.
Shinzō Abe meets with Vladimir Putin. Japan’s prime minister is visiting Russia this weekend, where he hopes to have a “heart-to-heart” chat with Putin about the two nations’ WWII-era territory dispute over the Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Abe will also seek to reaffirm Russia’s support in pushing North Korea toward total denuclearization.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump canceled the summit with Kim Jong-un. Scheduled for June 12, the meeting would have been a historic first, but Trump backed out, blaming the “tremendous anger and open hostility” of recent comments by a North Korean official calling US vice president Mike Pence “a political dummy.”
The US government will investigate bitcoin price manipulation. The Justice Department announced a probe into illegal practices like spoofing and wash trading, which involve creating false orders to create the impression of genuine market activity.
Eight women accused Morgan Freeman of sexual misconduct. In interviews with CNN, the women, including CNN entertainment reporter Chloe Melas, alleged that the actor made unwanted comments and advances. Freeman apologized in a statement, saying it was never his intent.
Uber’s self-driving car saw the pedestrian it hit. A preliminary report by the US National Transportation Safety Board determined that the vehicle did register 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, but failed to stop in time as she crossed the street in Tempe, Arizona.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Roland Imhoff on what the 4% of Americans who believe in lizard people can teach us about conspiracy theories: “Belief in conspiracies can serve to set oneself apart from the ignorant masses—a self-serving boast about one’s exclusive knowledge. Adherence to conspiracy theory might not always be the result of some perceived lack of control, but rather a deep-seated need for uniqueness.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Trump has pushed US allies into Putin’s embrace. Russia’s leader is happy to fill the void (paywall) as the US withdraws from its leadership role.
GDPR is the most unifying thing to happen to the EU in a while. It took six years, but 28 countries will now enforce data protection as a human right.
There’s a fine line between “preserving” and “stealing” archival documents. Journalists should consider consent, privacy, and consequences.
Surprising discoveries
The official US-North Korea summit coin is available at a discount. The meeting may be canceled, but the commemorative coin is still available.
The US military is taking on deepfakes. But spotting the ultra-realistic AI-powered fake video clips may be impossible.
The Loch Ness monster could be real. A new scientific expedition intends to find out, by analyzing DNA floating around water samples.
Troops guarding US nuclear missiles ran a drug ring. Air Force airmen were allegedly into LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, and marijuana.
Turkmen can no longer use their president’s image as toilet paper. Police are making sure Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s face isn’t being soiled.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, commemorative coins, and Nessie DNA to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and McKinley Noble.