The Linkielist

Linking ideas with the world

Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours | Reuters

Posted on by Robin Edgar

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/scientists-japan-develop-plastic-that-dissolves-seawater-within-hours-2025-06-04/ Researchers in Japan have developed a plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours, offering up a potential solution for a modern-day scourge polluting oceans and harming wildlife. While scientists have long experimented with biodegradable plastics, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo say their new material breaks Read more about Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours | Reuters[…]

Mysterious leaker GangExposed outs Conti kingpins in massive ransomware data dump

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A mystery whistleblower calling himself GangExposed has exposed key figures behind the Conti and Trickbot ransomware crews, publishing a trove of internal files and naming names. The leaks include thousands of chat logs, personal videos, and ransom negotiations tied to some of the most notorious cyber-extortion gangs —believed to have raked in billions from companies, Read more about Mysterious leaker GangExposed outs Conti kingpins in massive ransomware data dump[…]

EU to force Apple to open up IOS for developers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple has filed an appeal with the European Union’s General Court in Luxembourg challenging the bloc’s order requiring greater iOS interoperability with rival companies’ products under the Digital Markets Act. The EU executive in March directed Apple to make its mobile operating system more compatible with competitors’ apps, headphones, and virtual reality headsets by granting Read more about EU to force Apple to open up IOS for developers[…]

The US Is Storing Migrant Children’s DNA in a Criminal Database

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The United States government has collected DNA samples from upwards of 133,000 migrant children and teenagers—including at least one 4-year-old—and uploaded their genetic data into a national criminal database used by local, state, and federal law enforcement, according to documents reviewed by WIRED. The records, quietly released by the US Customs and Border Protection earlier Read more about The US Is Storing Migrant Children’s DNA in a Criminal Database[…]

European Publishers Council stays true – to the tired old trope about “copyright theft”

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A few weeks ago Walled Culture explored how the leaders in the generative AI world are trying to influence the future legal norms for this field. In the face of a powerful new form of an old technology – AI itself has been around for over 50 years – those are certainly needed. Governments around Read more about European Publishers Council stays true – to the tired old trope about “copyright theft”[…]

Europe warns giant e-tailer SHEIN to stop cheating consumers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The European Commission has warned Chinese e-tailer SHEIN to clean up its act, after finding several practices on its website breach local consumer law. The Commission and Europe’s Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC), a network of national consumer authorities, on Monday warned the e-tailer that an investigation found the following breaches of EU law on SHEN’s Read more about Europe warns giant e-tailer SHEIN to stop cheating consumers[…]

Regeneron to Acquire all 23andMe genetic data for $256m

Posted on by Robin Edgar

23andMe Holding Co. (“23andMe” or the “Company”) (OTC: MEHCQ), a leading human genetics and biotechnology company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of 23andMe to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Regeneron”) (NASDAQ: REGN), a leading U.S.-based, NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious Read more about Regeneron to Acquire all 23andMe genetic data for $256m[…]

Authors Are Accidentally Leaving AI Prompts In their Novels

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Fans reading through the romance novel Darkhollow Academy: Year 2 got a nasty surprise last week in chapter 3. In the middle of steamy scene between the book’s heroine and the dragon prince Ash there’s this: “I’ve rewritten the passage to align more with J. Bree’s style, which features more tension, gritty undertones, and raw Read more about Authors Are Accidentally Leaving AI Prompts In their Novels[…]

Boeing Strikes Deal with DOJ to Avoid Criminal Charges Over 737 Max Crashes

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Boeing and the Department of Justice have reached an “agreement in principle” that will keep the airplane manufacturer from facing criminal charges for allegedly misleading regulators about safety features on its 737 Max plane before two separate crashes that killed 346 people. The tentative deal, according to a court filing, will see Boeing pay out Read more about Boeing Strikes Deal with DOJ to Avoid Criminal Charges Over 737 Max Crashes[…]

New Orleans police secretly used facial recognition on over 200 live camera feeds

Posted on by Robin Edgar

New Orleans’ police force secretly used constant facial recognition to seek out suspects for two years. An investigation by The Washington Post discovered that the city’s police department was using facial recognition technology on a privately owned camera network to continually look for suspects. This application seems to violate a city ordinance passed in 2022 Read more about New Orleans police secretly used facial recognition on over 200 live camera feeds[…]

Drug-treated mosquite nets eliminate parasites (such as marlaria) in mosquitoes

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Researchers have identified a type of chemical compound that, when applied to insecticide-treated bed nets, appears to kill the malaria-causing parasite in mosquitoes. Published in the journal Nature, the multi-site collaborative study represents a breakthrough for a disease that continues to claim more than half a million lives worldwide every year. […] ELQ drugs refer Read more about Drug-treated mosquite nets eliminate parasites (such as marlaria) in mosquitoes[…]

Someone Found Over 180 Million User Records for all kinds of platforms in an Unprotected Online Database

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If you use the internet, you’ve probably had at least some personal information go missing. It’s just the nature of the web. But this latest discovery, as reported by Wired, is something different. Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler found a public online database housing over 180 million records (184,162,718 to be exact) which amounted to more Read more about Someone Found Over 180 Million User Records for all kinds of platforms in an Unprotected Online Database[…]

UK Legal Aid Agency attack involved ‘significant’ data theft

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A “significant amount of personal data” belonging to legal aid applicants dating back to 2010 in the UK was stolen by cybercriminals, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed today. The announcement follows the initial news from May 6 of an attack on the UK’s Legal Aid Agency (LAA), an MoJ-sponsored organization that allows legal aid Read more about UK Legal Aid Agency attack involved ‘significant’ data theft[…]

FBI Director Kash Patel Abruptly Closes Internal Watchdog Office Overseeing Surveillance Compliance

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If there’s one thing the Federal Bureau of Investigation does well, it’s mass surveillance. Several years ago, then attorney general William Barr established an internal office to curb the FBI’s abuse of one controversial surveillance law. But recently, the FBI’s long-time hater (and, ironically, current director) Kash Patel shut down the watchdog group with no Read more about FBI Director Kash Patel Abruptly Closes Internal Watchdog Office Overseeing Surveillance Compliance[…]

M&S warns of £300M dent in profits from cyberattack

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Marks & Spencer says the disruption related to its ongoing cyberattack is likely to knock around £300 million ($402 million) off its operating profits for the next financial year (2025/26). The beleaguered high street retailer made the admission in its fiscal 2025 profit and loss accounts for the year ended March 29, published on Wednesday, Read more about M&S warns of £300M dent in profits from cyberattack[…]

VMware price hikes 800-1,500%, claim Euro customers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Broadcom has upped VMware licensing costs by between eight to 15 times since it took over the organization, and a lack of alternatives in the tech industry means trade and end customers have no choice but to play ball. This is the according to the European Cloud Competition Observatory (ECCO), an independent body formed by Read more about VMware price hikes 800-1,500%, claim Euro customers[…]

The Enhanced Games—the Olympics on Literal Steroids—Will Take Place in Vegas Next Year

Posted on by Robin Edgar

© Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Enhanced Games, a bizarre, steroid-fueled Olympics knock-off that is being funded by wealthy MAGA types, is officially happening. The unconventional sports festival—which, as its name proudly suggests, will allow contestants to use performance-enhancing drugs—will take place in 2026 in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, organizers announced on Read more about The Enhanced Games—the Olympics on Literal Steroids—Will Take Place in Vegas Next Year[…]

Russia to enforce location tracking app on all foreigners in Moscow

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Russian government has introduced a new law that makes installing a tracking app mandatory for all foreign nationals in the Moscow region. The new proposal was announced by the chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, who presented it as a measure to tackle migrant crimes. “The adopted mechanism will allow, using modern technologies, Read more about Russia to enforce location tracking app on all foreigners in Moscow[…]

Oops: DanaBot Malware Devs Infected Their Own PCs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Initially spotted in May 2018 by researchers at the email security firm Proofpoint, DanaBot is a malware-as-a-service platform that specializes in credential theft and banking fraud. Today, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a criminal complaint and indictment from 2022, which said the FBI identified at least 40 affiliates who were paying between $3,000 and Read more about Oops: DanaBot Malware Devs Infected Their Own PCs[…]

Infrared contact lenses allow people to see in the dark, even with their eyes closed

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Neuroscientists and materials scientists have created contact lenses that enable infrared vision in both humans and mice by converting infrared light into visible light. Unlike infrared night vision goggles, the contact lenses, described in the journal Cell, do not require a power source—and they enable the wearer to perceive multiple infrared wavelengths. Because they’re transparent, Read more about Infrared contact lenses allow people to see in the dark, even with their eyes closed[…]

Microsoft’s Partners With Holocaust Denying, White Genocide Peddling Grok AI

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] On Monday, Microsoft announced that it will begin offering access to Grok AI, specifically Grok 3 and Grok 3 Mini, through its Azure AI Foundry. For the uninitiated, Grok AI is a product of xAI, which is owned by the same guy whose social media site, X, is reportedly taking money from terrorist groups—Elon Read more about Microsoft’s Partners With Holocaust Denying, White Genocide Peddling Grok AI[…]

Google found not compliant with AVG when registering new accounts – sends the data to 70 services without user knowledge

Posted on by Robin Edgar

According to a ruling by the Berlin Regional Court, Google must disclose to its users which of its more than 70 services process their data when they register for an account. The civil chamber thus upheld a lawsuit filed by the German Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv). The consumer advocates had complained that neither the Read more about Google found not compliant with AVG when registering new accounts – sends the data to 70 services without user knowledge[…]

Upgrade now: OpenPGP.js bug enables encrypted message spoofing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Security researchers are sounding the alarm over a fresh flaw in the JavaScript implementation of OpenPGP (OpenPGP.js) that allows both signed and encrypted messages to be spoofed. Discovered by Codean Labs’ Edoardo Geraci and Thomas Rinsma, the vulnerability essentially undermines the core purpose of using public key cryptography to secure communications. Tracked as CVE-2025-47934 (8.7 Read more about Upgrade now: OpenPGP.js bug enables encrypted message spoofing[…]

Trump’s Golden Dome Missile Shield: What We Just Learned And Its Implications

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Golden Dome missile defense system will cost about $175 billion and be operational “in less than three years” with “a success rate close to 100%,” President Donald Trump declared Tuesday afternoon as he shared new details about his ambitious, very expensive, and controversial missile defense shield for the U.S. homeland. It follows one of Read more about Trump’s Golden Dome Missile Shield: What We Just Learned And Its Implications[…]

Respond to the EU on allowing corporations to shut down sections of the internet with no recourse before 28th May

Posted on by Robin Edgar

After LaLiga accidentally shut down Cloudflare and Vercel in Spain (LaLiga Piracy Blocks Randomly Take Down huge innocent segments of internet with no recourse or warning, slammed as “Unaccountable Internet Censorship”) and the Italian Privacy Shield shut down Google Drive in Italy (Massive expansion of Italy’s Piracy Shield underway despite growing criticism of its flaws Read more about Respond to the EU on allowing corporations to shut down sections of the internet with no recourse before 28th May[…]