Category: Global Domination

Spy Tech Palantir’s Covid-era UK health contract extended without public consultation or competition

Posted on by Robin Edgar

NHS England has extended its contract with US spy-tech biz Palantir for the system built at the height of the pandemic to give it time to resolve the twice-delayed procurement of a data platform to support health service reorganization and tackle the massive care backlog. The contract has already been subject to the threat of Read more about Spy Tech Palantir’s Covid-era UK health contract extended without public consultation or competition[…]

Apple Faces French $8.5M Fine For Illegal Data Harvesting

Posted on by Robin Edgar

France’s data protection authority, CNIL, fined Apple €8 million (about $8.5 million) Wednesday for illegally harvesting iPhone owners’ data for targeted ads without proper consent. […] The French fine, though, is the latest addition to a growing body of evidence that Apple may not be the privacy guardian angel it makes itself out to be. Read more about Apple Faces French $8.5M Fine For Illegal Data Harvesting[…]

John Deere signs right to repair agreement

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In what looks like a victory for farmers in the United States, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has struck a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with equipment vendor John Deere regarding the repairability of its machines. As farming has become more technology-driven, Deere has increasingly injected software into its products with all of its tractors Read more about John Deere signs right to repair agreement[…]

Startup Claims It’s Sending Sulfur Into the Atmosphere to Fight Climate Change

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A startup says it has begun releasing sulfur particles into Earth’s atmosphere, in a controversial attempt to combat climate change by deflecting sunlight. Make Sunsets, a company that sells carbon offset “cooling credits” for $10 each, is banking on solar geoengineering to cool down the planet and fill its coffers. The startup claims it has Read more about Startup Claims It’s Sending Sulfur Into the Atmosphere to Fight Climate Change[…]

FSF Warns: Stay Away From iPhones, Amazon, Netflix, and Music Steaming Services

Posted on by Robin Edgar

For the last thirteen years the Free Software Foundation has published its Ethical Tech Giving Guide. But what’s interesting is this year’s guide also tags companies and products with negative recommendations to “stay away from.” Stay away from: iPhones It’s not just Siri that’s creepy: all Apple devices contain software that’s hostile to users. Although Read more about FSF Warns: Stay Away From iPhones, Amazon, Netflix, and Music Steaming Services[…]

Mickey’s Copyright Adventure: Early Disney Creation Will Soon Be Public Property – finally. What lawsuits lie in wait?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The version of the iconic character from “Steamboat Willie” will enter the public domain in 2024. But those trying to take advantage could end up in a legal mousetrap. From a report: There is nothing soft and cuddly about the way Disney protects the characters it brings to life. This is a company that once Read more about Mickey’s Copyright Adventure: Early Disney Creation Will Soon Be Public Property – finally. What lawsuits lie in wait?[…]

Meta agrees to $725 million settlement in Cambridge Analytica class-action lawsuit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It’s been four years since Facebook became embroiled in its biggest scandal to date: Cambridge Analytica. In addition to paying $4.9 billion to the Federal Trade Commission in a settlement, the social network has just agreed to pay $725 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit, making it the biggest settlement ever in a privacy Read more about Meta agrees to $725 million settlement in Cambridge Analytica class-action lawsuit[…]

The Copyright Industry Is About To Discover That There Are Hundreds Of Thousands Of Songs Generated By AI Already Available, Already Popular

Posted on by Robin Edgar

ou may have noticed the world getting excited about the capabilities of ChatGPT, a text-based AI chat bot. Similarly, some are getting quite worked up over generative AI systems that can turn text prompts into images, including those mimicking the style of particular artists. But less remarked upon is the use of AI in the Read more about The Copyright Industry Is About To Discover That There Are Hundreds Of Thousands Of Songs Generated By AI Already Available, Already Popular[…]

AI-Created Comic Has Copyright Protection Revoked by US

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The United States Copyright Office (USCO) reversed an earlier decision to grant a copyright to a comic book that was created using “A.I. art,” and announced that the copyright protection on the comic book will be revoked, stating that copyrighted works must be created by humans to gain official copyright protection. In September, Kris Kashtanova Read more about AI-Created Comic Has Copyright Protection Revoked by US[…]

Epic Forced To Pay $520 Million Fine over Fortnite Privacy and Dark Patterns

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Fortnite-maker Epic Games has agreed to pay a massive $520 million fine in settlements with the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly illegally gathering data from children and deploying dark patterns techniques to manipulate users into making unwanted in-game purchases. The fines mark a major regulatory win for the Biden administration’s progressive-minded FTC, who, up until Read more about Epic Forced To Pay $520 Million Fine over Fortnite Privacy and Dark Patterns[…]

China’s Setting the Standard for Deepfake Regulation

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] On January 10, according to The South China Morning Post, China’s Cyberspace Administration will implement new rules that are intended to protect people from having their voice or image digitally impersonated without their consent. The regulators refer to platforms and services using the technology to edit a person’s voice or image as, “deep synthesis Read more about China’s Setting the Standard for Deepfake Regulation[…]

Google must delete search results about you if they’re fake, EU court rules

Posted on by Robin Edgar

People in Europe can get Google to delete search results about them if they prove the information is “manifestly inaccurate,” the EU’s top court ruled Thursday. The case kicked off when two investment managers requested Google to dereference results of a search made on the basis of their names, which provided links to certain articles Read more about Google must delete search results about you if they’re fake, EU court rules[…]

Telegram is auctioning phone numbers to let users sign up to the service without any SIM

Posted on by Robin Edgar

After putting unique usernames on the auction on the TON blockchain, Telegram is now putting anonymous numbers up for bidding. These numbers could be used to sign up for Telegram without needing any SIM card. Just like the username auction, you can buy these virtual numbers on Fragment, which is a site specially created for Read more about Telegram is auctioning phone numbers to let users sign up to the service without any SIM[…]

Grad Students Analyze, Hack, and Remove Under-Desk Surveillance Devices Designed to Track Them – at  a privacy institute!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] graduate students at Northeastern University were able to organize and beat back an attempt at introducing invasive surveillance devices that were quietly placed under desks at their school. Early in October, Senior Vice Provost David Luzzi installed motion sensors under all the desks at the school’s Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex (ISEC), a facility Read more about Grad Students Analyze, Hack, and Remove Under-Desk Surveillance Devices Designed to Track Them – at  a privacy institute![…]

As US, UK Embrace ‘Age Verify Everyone!’ French Data Protection Agency Says Age Verification Is Unreliable And Violates Privacy Rights

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] We’ve already spent many, many words explaining how age verification technology is inherently dangerous and actually puts children at greater risk. Not to mention it’s a privacy nightmare that normalizes the idea of mass surveillance, especially for children. But, why take our word for it? The French data protection agency, CNIL, has declared that Read more about As US, UK Embrace ‘Age Verify Everyone!’ French Data Protection Agency Says Age Verification Is Unreliable And Violates Privacy Rights[…]

Players are boycotting Nintendo and Panda events in the wake of Smash Bros tournaments being instacanceled by Nintendo

Posted on by Robin Edgar

n the wake of Nintendo being Nintendo and unceremoniously canceling the Smash World Tour, one of the year’s biggest esports tournaments dedicated to all things Super Smash Bros., copious folks in the game’s community have come out in protest. Casual fans, pro players, long-time commentators, and even other tournament organizers, from AITX eSports to Beyond Read more about Players are boycotting Nintendo and Panda events in the wake of Smash Bros tournaments being instacanceled by Nintendo[…]

Telegram shares users’ data in copyright violation lawsuit to Indian court

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Telegram has disclosed names of administrators, their phone numbers and IP addresses of channels accused of copyright infringement in compliance with a court order in India in a remarkable illustration of the data the instant messaging platform stores on its users and can be made to disclose by authorities. The app operator was forced by Read more about Telegram shares users’ data in copyright violation lawsuit to Indian court[…]

Eufy Cameras Have Been Uploading Unencrypted Face Footage to Cloud

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Eufy, the company behind a series of affordable security cameras I’ve previously suggested over the expensive stuff, is currently in a bit of hot water for its security practices. The company, owned by Anker, purports its products to be one of the few security devices that allow for locally-stored media and don’t need a cloud Read more about Eufy Cameras Have Been Uploading Unencrypted Face Footage to Cloud[…]

Nintendo Shuts Down Smash World Tour – worlds largest e-sports tournament – out of the blue

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The organisers of the Smash World Tour have today announced that they are being shut down after Nintendo, “without any warning”, told them they could “no longer operate”. The Tour, which is run by a third party (since Nintendo has been so traditionally bad at this), had grown over the years to become one of Read more about Nintendo Shuts Down Smash World Tour – worlds largest e-sports tournament – out of the blue[…]

Mercedes locks faster acceleration behind a yearly $1,200 subscription – the car can already go faster, they slowed you down

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Mercedes is the latest manufacturer to lock auto features behind a subscription fee, with an upcoming “Acceleration Increase” add-on that lets drivers pay to access motor performance their vehicle is already capable of. The $1,200 yearly subscription improves performance by boosting output from the motors by 20–24 percent, increasing torque, and shaving around 0.8 to Read more about Mercedes locks faster acceleration behind a yearly $1,200 subscription – the car can already go faster, they slowed you down[…]

Google Settles 40 States’ Location Data Suit for only $392 Million

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google agreed to a $391.5 million dollar settlement on Monday to end a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of tricking users with location data privacy settings that didn’t actually turn off data collection. The payout, the result of a suit brought by 40 state attorneys general, marks one of the biggest privacy settlements in history. Read more about Google Settles 40 States’ Location Data Suit for only $392 Million[…]

Apple Vanquishes Evil YouTube Account Full Of Old Apple WWDC Videos

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Many of you are likely to be familiar with WWDC, Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. This is one of those places where you get a bunch of Apple product reveals and news updates that typically result in the press tripping all over themselves to bow at the altar of an iPhone 300 or whatever. The conference Read more about Apple Vanquishes Evil YouTube Account Full Of Old Apple WWDC Videos[…]

Apple Apps Track You Even With Privacy Protections on – and they hoover a LOT

Posted on by Robin Edgar

For all of Apple’s talk about how private your iPhone is, the company vacuums up a lot of data about you. iPhones do have a privacy setting that is supposed to turn off that tracking. According to a new report by independent researchers, though, Apple collects extremely detailed information on you with its own apps Read more about Apple Apps Track You Even With Privacy Protections on – and they hoover a LOT[…]

Senator Wyden Asks State Dept. To Explain Why It’s Handing Out ‘Unfettered’ Access To Americans’ Passport Data

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] In 2018, a blockbuster report detailed the actions of CBP agent Jeffrey Rambo. Rambo apparently took it upon himself to track down whistleblowers and leakers. To do this, he cozied up to a journalist and leveraged the wealth of data on travelers collected by federal agencies in hopes of sniffing out sources. A few Read more about Senator Wyden Asks State Dept. To Explain Why It’s Handing Out ‘Unfettered’ Access To Americans’ Passport Data[…]

Dutch foundation launches mass privacy claim against Twitter – DutchNews.nl

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A Dutch foundation is planning to take legal action against social media platform Twitter for illegally collecting and trading in personal details gathered via free apps such as Duolingo and Wordfeud as well as dating apps and weather forecaster Buienradar. Twitter owned advertising platform MoPub between 2013 and January 2022 and that is where the Read more about Dutch foundation launches mass privacy claim against Twitter – DutchNews.nl[…]