The Linkielist

Linking ideas with the world

European digital identity: Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement on eID

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Under the new law, member states will offer citizens and businesses digital wallets that will be able to link their national digital identities with proof of other personal attributes (e.g., driving licence, diplomas, bank account). Citizens will be able to prove their identity and share electronic documents from their digital wallets with a click Read more about European digital identity: Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement on eID[…]

What does that free vs ad supported Facebook / Instagram warning mean, why is it there?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In the EU, Meta has given you a warning saying that you need to choose for an expensive ad free version or continue using targetted adverts. Strangely, considering Meta makes it’s profits by selling your information, you don’t get the option to be paid a cut of the profits they gain by selling your information. Read more about What does that free vs ad supported Facebook / Instagram warning mean, why is it there?[…]

9th Circuit Advances Lawsuit Over Fortnite ‘Emotes;’ Says Dance Moves Are As Protected As Songs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Many courts have already dealt with these lawsuits-come-lately filed by opportunistic people who failed to capitalize on their own pop culture cache but thought it was worth throwing a few hundred dollars in filing fees towards a federal court in hopes that the eventual payoff would be millions. Most of these efforts have failed. Read more about 9th Circuit Advances Lawsuit Over Fortnite ‘Emotes;’ Says Dance Moves Are As Protected As Songs[…]

Korean Financial Regulator Chief: About 100 Stocks Targeted in Naked Short Selling, Indicating Pervasive Illegality

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In response to criticism suggesting that the ban on short selling implemented on Nov. 6 is a “political decision” aimed at next year’s general election, Lee Bok-hyun, the head of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), directly refuted the claims, stating, “About 100 stocks were identified as targets for naked short selling.” He said that it Read more about Korean Financial Regulator Chief: About 100 Stocks Targeted in Naked Short Selling, Indicating Pervasive Illegality[…]

HP Spectre Fold review – 3 in one laptop with folding screen

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It’s rare, but now and then a company will go out on a limb and create a truly cutting-edge device, even if its books take a hit. That’s exactly what HP has done with the Spectre Fold. Despite having the same processor as last year’s ASUS Zenbook 17 OLED, HP’s take on a flexible-screen laptop Read more about HP Spectre Fold review – 3 in one laptop with folding screen[…]

Data broker’s staggering sale of sensitive info exposed in unsealed FTC filing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] The FTC has accused Kochava of violating the FTC Act by amassing and disclosing “a staggering amount of sensitive and identifying information about consumers,” alleging that Kochava’s database includes products seemingly capable of identifying nearly every person in the United States. According to the FTC, Kochava’s customers, ostensibly advertisers, can access this data to Read more about Data broker’s staggering sale of sensitive info exposed in unsealed FTC filing[…]

US Court rules automakers can record and save owner text messages and call logs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A federal judge on Tuesday refused to bring back a class action lawsuit alleging four auto manufacturers had violated Washington state’s privacy laws by using vehicles’ on-board infotainment systems to record and intercept customers’ private text messages and mobile phone call logs. The Seattle-based appellate judge ruled that the practice does not meet the threshold Read more about US Court rules automakers can record and save owner text messages and call logs[…]

WhatsApp will let you hide your IP address from whoever you call

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A new feature in WhatsApp will let you hide your IP address from whoever you call using the app. Knowing someone’s IP address can reveal a lot of personal information such as their location and internet service provider, so having the option to hide it is a major privacy win. “This new feature provides an Read more about WhatsApp will let you hide your IP address from whoever you call[…]

Capcom: PC Game Mods Are Essentially Just Cheats By A Different Name – uhm… what’s wrong with cheats (if it’s offline)?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It truly is amazing that the video game industry is so heavily divided on the topic of user-made game mods. I truly don’t understand it. My take has always been very simple: mods are good for gamers and even better for game makers. Why? Simple, mods serve to extend the useful life of video games Read more about Capcom: PC Game Mods Are Essentially Just Cheats By A Different Name – uhm… what’s wrong with cheats (if it’s offline)?[…]

EU Tries To Slip In New Powers To Intercept Encrypted Web Traffic Without Anyone Noticing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU is currently updating eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services), an EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the European Single Market. […] Back in March 2022, a group of experts sent an open letter to MEPs [pdf] […] It warned: The Digital Identity framework includes provisions that Read more about EU Tries To Slip In New Powers To Intercept Encrypted Web Traffic Without Anyone Noticing[…]

EU Commission’s nameless experts behind its “spy on all EU citizens” *cough* “child sexual abuse” law

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU Ombudsman has found a case of maladministration in the European Commission’s refusal to provide the list of experts, which it first denied existing, with whom they worked together in drafting the regulation to detect and remove online child sexual abuse material. Last December, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) filed complaints to Read more about EU Commission’s nameless experts behind its “spy on all EU citizens” *cough* “child sexual abuse” law[…]

Researchers posed as foreign actors, and data brokers sold them information on military servicemembers anyway – for pennies

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Researchers at Duke University released a study on Monday tracking what measures data brokers have in place to prevent unidentified or potentially malign actors from buying personal data on members of the military. As it turns out, the answer is often few to none — even when the purchaser is actively posing as a Read more about Researchers posed as foreign actors, and data brokers sold them information on military servicemembers anyway – for pennies[…]

YouTube cares less for your privacy than its revenues

Posted on by Robin Edgar

YouTube wants its pound of flesh. Disable your ad blocker or pay for Premium, warns a new message being shown to an unsuspecting test audience, with the barely hidden subtext of “you freeloading scum.” Trouble is, its ad blocker detecting mechanism doesn’t exactly comply with EU law, say privacy activists. Ask for user permission or Read more about YouTube cares less for your privacy than its revenues[…]

In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate without heat

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] In recent years, some researchers have been puzzled upon finding that water in their experiments, which was held in a sponge-like material known as a hydrogel, was evaporating at a higher rate than could be explained by the amount of heat, or thermal energy, that the water was receiving. And the excess has been Read more about In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate without heat[…]

Amazon and Meta to stop using rivals marketplace data to undercut their products.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Amazon and Meta have agreed to not use data collected from their marketplaces to unfairly benefit themselves, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority announced on Friday. The monopoly watchdog launched separate investigations into both internet giants’ business practices, and accused the Big Tech duo of not only gathering up information about sellers using their respective Read more about Amazon and Meta to stop using rivals marketplace data to undercut their products.[…]

Unredacted documents in the FTC’s Amazon lawsuit shed light on the company’s secret price-gouging algorithm

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It looks like Amazon is hellbent on keeping its spot as the biggest online retailer — even if that means hurting both sellers and customers. In September, the FTC filed a long-expected antitrust lawsuit against Amazon over its alleged use of illegal strategies to stay on top. Details of the suit were previously withheld from Read more about Unredacted documents in the FTC’s Amazon lawsuit shed light on the company’s secret price-gouging algorithm[…]

Library of Babel Online – all books ever written or ever to be written, all images ever created or ever to be created can be found here

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Library of Babel is a place for scholars to do research, for artists and writers to seek inspiration, for anyone with curiosity or a sense of humor to reflect on the weirdness of existence – in short, it’s just like any other library. If completed, it would contain every possible combination of 1,312,000 characters, Read more about Library of Babel Online – all books ever written or ever to be written, all images ever created or ever to be created can be found here[…]

Audi Will Make You Pay A Subscription For More Features You Already Bought Starting Next Year

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Over the summer, BMW finally backed down on its heated seat subscription program from sheer public outrage and bad press. This response apparently hasn’t deterred its rival Audi, however, as the German car company plans to make more new software features paid options on its next generation of vehicles. Pioneered on the E-Tron and E-Tron Read more about Audi Will Make You Pay A Subscription For More Features You Already Bought Starting Next Year[…]

‘Super Melanin’ Speeds Healing, Stops Sunburn, and More

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A team of scientists at Northwestern University has developed a synthetic version of melanin that could have a million and one uses. In new research, they showed that their melanin can prevent blistering and accelerate the healing process in tissue samples of freshly injured human skin. The team now plans to further develop their “super Read more about ‘Super Melanin’ Speeds Healing, Stops Sunburn, and More[…]

World’s First Commercial Spaceplane Faces Crucial Test at NASA

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Dream Chaser, built by Sierra Space, is being prepped for transport to a NASA facility in Ohio, where it will undergo a series of tests to make sure the spaceplane can survive its heated reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. Starting these tests is crucial, demonstrating Dream Chaser’s readiness for flights and potentially transforming commercial space travel. Read more about World’s First Commercial Spaceplane Faces Crucial Test at NASA[…]

Brave rivals Bing and ChatGPT with new privacy-focused AI chatbot

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Brave, the privacy-focused browser that automatically blocks unwanted ads and trackers, is rolling out Leo — a native AI assistant that the company claims provides “unparalleled privacy” compared to some other AI chatbot services. Following several months of testing, Leo is now available to use for free by all Brave desktop users running version 1.60 Read more about Brave rivals Bing and ChatGPT with new privacy-focused AI chatbot[…]

Latest Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch Nerfs Sex Speedruns because… Americans?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

For being a role-playing game based on 5e Dungeons & Dragons, Baldur’s Gate 3 is notoriously horny. Regardless of mythical race, gender, or social station, many of the game’s alluring party members are willing to at least spank you, and because of this, BG3 has a thriving and official sex speedrun category. For a time, Read more about Latest Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch Nerfs Sex Speedruns because… Americans?[…]

YouTube’s Crackdown Spurs Record Uninstalls And Reinstalls in new Browser of Ad Blockers… Time to Change Video Site?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Previously unreported figures from ad blocking companies indicate that YouTube’s crackdown is working, with hundreds of thousands of people uninstalling ad blockers in October. The available data suggests that last month saw a record number of ad blockers uninstalled—and also a record for new ad blocker installs as people sought alternatives that wouldn’t trigger Read more about YouTube’s Crackdown Spurs Record Uninstalls And Reinstalls in new Browser of Ad Blockers… Time to Change Video Site?[…]

EU Parliament Fails To Understand That The Right To Read Is The Right To Train. Understands the copyright lobby has money though.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Walled Culture recently wrote about an unrealistic French legislative proposal that would require the listing of all the authors of material used for training generative AI systems. Unfortunately, the European Parliament has inserted a similarly impossible idea in its text for the upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. The DisCo blog explains that MEPs added new copyright requirements to the Commission’s Read more about EU Parliament Fails To Understand That The Right To Read Is The Right To Train. Understands the copyright lobby has money though.[…]

EU Trys to Implement Client-Side Scanning, death to encryption By Personalised Targeting of EU Residents With Misleading Ads

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU Commission has been pushing client-side scanning for well over a year. This new intrusion into private communications has been pitched as perhaps the only way to prevent the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Mandates proposed by the EU government would have forced communication services to engage in client-side scanning of content. Read more about EU Trys to Implement Client-Side Scanning, death to encryption By Personalised Targeting of EU Residents With Misleading Ads[…]