The Linkielist

Linking ideas with the world

Investigative Report Proves What Most People Already Suspected: The ‘War On Woke & DEI’ Mostly Pushed By A Bunch Of Censorial, Racist Shitheads

Posted on by Robin Edgar

One of the dumber things we’ve seen over the last couple of years is the supposed “war on woke” and (more recently) attacks on “diversity, equity, and inclusion” efforts (often shortened to the acronym DEI). In almost every case, these attacks misrepresent reality to generate culture war bullshit, and make a bunch of false claims Read more about Investigative Report Proves What Most People Already Suspected: The ‘War On Woke & DEI’ Mostly Pushed By A Bunch Of Censorial, Racist Shitheads[…]

OpenAI-New York Times Copyright Fight Further Illustrates Autonomy-Automaton Dichotomy

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The latest dispute between the New York Times and OpenAI reinforces the distinction in understanding artificial intelligence (AI) between autonomy and automatons, which we have previously examined. The Gray Lady turned heads late this past year when it filed suit against OpenAI, alleging that the artificial intelligence giant’s ChatGPT software infringed its copyrights. Broadly speaking, the Times alleged that the famous Read more about OpenAI-New York Times Copyright Fight Further Illustrates Autonomy-Automaton Dichotomy[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

Shameless Insult, Malicious Compliance, Junk Fees, Extortion Regime: Industry Reacts To Apple’s Proposed Changes Over Digital Markets Act

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In response to new EU regulations, Apple on Thursday outlined plans to allow iOS developers to distribute apps outside the App Store starting in March, though developers must still submit apps for Apple’s review and pay commissions. Now critics say the changes don’t go far enough and Apple retains too much control. Epic Games CEO Read more about Shameless Insult, Malicious Compliance, Junk Fees, Extortion Regime: Industry Reacts To Apple’s Proposed Changes Over Digital Markets Act[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple’s new rules in the European Union mean browsers like Firefox can finally use their own engines on iOS. Although this may seem like a welcome change, Mozilla spokesperson Damiano DeMonte tells The Verge it’s “extremely disappointed” with the way things turned out. “We are still reviewing the technical details but are extremely disappointed with Apple’s Read more about Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox[…]

Apple Isn’t Ready to Release Its Grip on the App Store

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] For the first time, new EU rules have forced the company to entertain the idea that you can shop for apps outside of Apple’s own App Store, as well as allow browsers other than Apple’s own Safari to run on iOS with their full suite of features. Yet critics say those changes, although drastic, Read more about Apple Isn’t Ready to Release Its Grip on the App Store[…]

Palworld Is a Great Example Of The Idea/Expression Dichotomy | Techdirt

Posted on by Robin Edgar

When it comes to copyright suits or conflicts that never should have existed, one of the most common misunderstandings that births them is not understanding the idea/expression dichotomy in copyright law. Even to most laypeople, once you explain it, it’s quite simple. You can copyright a specific expression of something, such as literature, recorded music, Read more about Palworld Is a Great Example Of The Idea/Expression Dichotomy | Techdirt[…]

EU forces Apple to open up to third-party app stores and payments. Details emerge what it will look like.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple is making major changes to the App Store and other core parts of iOS in Europe in response to new European Union laws. Beginning in March, Apple will allow users within the EU to download apps and make purchases from outside of its App Store. The company is already testing many of these changes Read more about EU forces Apple to open up to third-party app stores and payments. Details emerge what it will look like.[…]

Newly discovered smoking stars emit huge clouds.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Astronomers have discovered stars that appear to be blowing out plumes of smoke. The “old smokers”, as they have been nicknamed, challenge our ideas of what happens at the end of giant stars’ lives. Generally, when red giant stars grow old, they begin to pulsate. They become brighter, dimmer, brighter again and so on, while Read more about Newly discovered smoking stars emit huge clouds.[…]

Florida EV Buyers Shocked To Learn Their Cars Eat Tires

Posted on by Robin Edgar

EV buyers are often motivated by a desire to save money on gas and/or drive something more environmentally friendly. But, a recent story out of Florida in The Miami Herald details how EV owners there have been blindsided by how fast they’re having to change the tires on their EVs. The Herald spoke with the Read more about Florida EV Buyers Shocked To Learn Their Cars Eat Tires[…]

Akira ransomware gang says it stole personnel passport scans and other PII from Lush

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Akira ransomware gang is claiming responsiblity for the “cybersecurity incident” at British bath bomb merchant. Akira says it has stolen 110 GB of data from the UK-headquartered global cosmetics giant, which has more than 900 stores worldwide, allegedly including “a lot of personal documents” such as passport scans. Passport scans are routinely collected to Read more about Akira ransomware gang says it stole personnel passport scans and other PII from Lush[…]

Dutch COVID-19 testing firm Coronalab exposed 1.3 million patient records

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A password-less database containing an estimated 1.3 million sets of Dutch COVID-19 testing records was left exposed to the open internet, and it’s not clear if anyone is taking responsibility. Among the information revealed in the publicly accessible and seemingly insecurely configured database were 118,441 coronavirus test certificates, 506,663 appointment records, 660,173 testing samples and Read more about Dutch COVID-19 testing firm Coronalab exposed 1.3 million patient records[…]

Hubble finds water vapor in small exoplanet’s atmosphere

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope observed the smallest exoplanet where water vapor has been detected in its atmosphere. At only approximately twice Earth’s diameter, the planet GJ 9827d could be an example of potential planets with water-rich atmospheres elsewhere in our galaxy. GJ 9827d was discovered by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope in 2017. Read more about Hubble finds water vapor in small exoplanet’s atmosphere[…]

The US really really wants private companies out of EU AI Human Rights treaty – because you can trust them more than governments?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] The Council of Europe (CoE), an international human rights body with 46 member countries, is approaching the finalisation of the Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law. Since the beginning, the United States, the homeland of the world’s leading AI companies, has been pushing to exclude the private sector Read more about The US really really wants private companies out of EU AI Human Rights treaty – because you can trust them more than governments?[…]

iPhone Apps Secretly Harvest Data When They Send You Notifications, Researchers Find

Posted on by Robin Edgar

iPhone apps including Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter are skirting Apple’s privacy rules to collect user data through notifications, according to tests by security researchers at Mysk Inc., an app development company. Users sometimes close apps to stop them from collecting data in the background, but this technique gets around that protection. The data is Read more about iPhone Apps Secretly Harvest Data When They Send You Notifications, Researchers Find[…]

France fines Amazon $35 million over intrusive employee surveillance

Posted on by Robin Edgar

France’s data privacy watchdog organization, the CNIL, has fined a logistics subsidiary of Amazon €32 million, or $35 million in US dollars, over the company’s use of an “overly intrusive” employee surveillance system. The CNIL says that the system employed by Amazon France Logistique “measured work interruptions with such accuracy, potentially requiring employees to justify Read more about France fines Amazon $35 million over intrusive employee surveillance[…]

Samsung expands self-repair program to include home entertainment devices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Samsung just announced that its self-repair program will now include certain home entertainment devices. The company has developed a range of step-by-step repair guides for various products in the category, in addition to providing genuine replacement parts and repair tools. This program covers Samsung 2023 TVs, along with their remotes, and monitors released throughout the Read more about Samsung expands self-repair program to include home entertainment devices[…]

Animals Can See Colors We Can’t. A New camera method gives us a good idea.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The rainbow looks different to a human than it does to a honeybee or a zebra finch. That’s because these animals can see colors that we humans simply can’t. Now scientists have developed a new video recording and analysis technique to better understand how the world looks through the eyes of other species. The accurate Read more about Animals Can See Colors We Can’t. A New camera method gives us a good idea.[…]

Cells’ electric fields keep nanoparticles at bay, scientists confirm

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The humble membranes that enclose our cells have a surprising superpower: They can push away nano-sized molecules that happen to approach them. A team including scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has figured out why, by using artificial membranes that mimic the behavior of natural ones. Their discovery could make a Read more about Cells’ electric fields keep nanoparticles at bay, scientists confirm[…]

EU Commission readies establishment of AI Office on 21 feb

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The AI Office will play a pivotal role in the enforcement architecture of the AI Act, the EU’s landmark law to regulate Artificial Intelligence, set to be formally adopted in the coming weeks based on a political agreement nailed down in December. The idea of an AI Office to centralise the enforcement of the AI Read more about EU Commission readies establishment of AI Office on 21 feb[…]

if buying isnt owning then piracy isnt stealing

Ubisoft Says It Out Loud: We Want People To Get Used To Not Owning What They’ve Bought

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] the public too often doesn’t understand how it happens that products stop working the way they did after updates are performed remotely, or why movies purchased through an online store suddenly disappear with no refund, or why other media types purchased online likewise go poof. There is a severe misalignment, in other words, between Read more about Ubisoft Says It Out Loud: We Want People To Get Used To Not Owning What They’ve Bought[…]

Supreme Court declines appeals from Apple and Epic Games in App Store case

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeals filed by both Apple and Epic Games following a judge’s ruling that Apple must allow developers to offer alternative methods to pay for apps and services other than through the App Store. It did not provide an explanation as to why it refused to review Read more about Supreme Court declines appeals from Apple and Epic Games in App Store case[…]

EU says music streaming platforms must pay artists more

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The European Parliament is calling for new regulations to ensure streaming services pay artists fairly. The proposal also calls for more transparency around how algorithms generate suggestions for which artists to stream and what tracks get the most promotion. The proposed changes will be designed to ensure smaller artists are compensated fairly. Currently, royalty rates Read more about EU says music streaming platforms must pay artists more[…]

OpenAI must defend ChatGPT fabrications after failing to defeat libel suit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

OpenAI may finally have to answer for ChatGPT’s “hallucinations” in court after a Georgia judge recently ruled against the tech company’s motion to dismiss a radio host’s defamation suit. OpenAI had argued that ChatGPT’s output cannot be considered libel, partly because the chatbot output cannot be considered a “publication,” which is a key element of Read more about OpenAI must defend ChatGPT fabrications after failing to defeat libel suit[…]

Samsung and Google launch ‘Circle to Search’ Too

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Samsung announced many interesting products and features at its latest Galaxy Unpacked event (including the Galaxy S24 series) but one of the more impressive developments isn’t actually unique to the Galaxy brand itself. The feature, Circle to Search, was developed in partnership with Google, which means it’ll live on Google phones, too. What is Circle Read more about Samsung and Google launch ‘Circle to Search’ Too[…]