News of the Cyber World

[kyonides]

UK Govt Quietly Backs Facial Recognition Tech to Supposedly Stop Theft

British government officials reportedly drew up a secret scheme to put pressure on privacy regulators to allow private businesses to be allowed to use facial recognition cameras in a supposed push to crack down on crime.

A report from The Observer revealed that in a backroom meeting on March 8th, policing minister Chris Philp and top Home Office officials met with the facial recognition camera manufacturer Facewatch to come up with a plan to lobby the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to allow high street shops, supermarkets, and other stores to be able to deploy facial recognition tech to deter shoplifting and other crimes.

The minutes of the meeting, which were provided to the sister paper of The Guardian, showed that Philp and Facewatch founder Simon Gordon talked about “retail crime and the benefits of privately owned facial recognition technology” and sought to make reduce privacy protections to allow shops to utilise the technology. Philp was also said to be considering “a speech to bring the benefits of FR [facial recognition] to the fore”.

Defending the utility of the dystopian tech, Gordon told the paper: “We provide each individual business with a service that will reduce crime in their stores and make their staff safer.

“Every store has 10 to 20 people who just constantly steal from that store. And the store knows who they are. They’ve been preventing theft for years – this isn’t a new thing. All this is doing is using new technology to stop it.
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The advocacy manager of the campaign group Big Brother Watch, Mark Johnson said: “The Home Office must urgently answer questions about this meeting, which appears to have led officials to lean on the ICO in order to favour a firm that sells highly invasive facial recognition technology.

“Government ministers should strive to protect human rights, not cosy up to private companies whose products pose serious threats to civil liberties in the UK.”

Facebook Blocks News Stories in Canada over Big Media Bailout Bill

Engadget reports that Facebook has begun blocking news content in Canada, a decision that will affect both domestic and international news organizations. Starting August 1 users in the country will no longer be able to view or share news links or see videos and photos posted by publishers and broadcasters. The change is expected to take a few weeks to be fully implemented across the country.

According to a Facebook statement, “News links and content posted by news publishers and broadcasters in Canada will no longer be viewable by people in Canada. We are identifying news outlets based on legislative definitions and guidance from the Online News Act.” The decision also extends to content shared by international news organizations, making them invisible on Facebook and Instagram in Canada.

The move comes in response to the Canadian legislators passing the Online News Act, a law that requires platforms like Facebook and Instagram to negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with news organizations. The legislation aims to address the collapse in advertising revenue that news outlets have struggled with over the last two decades, a problem exacerbated by the growth of online services.
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The CBC has highlighted that Facebook and Google together account for approximately 80 percent of digital advertising revenue. In a related move, Google has also announced plans to stop users in Canada from accessing links to news stories across several of its products in response to the legislation.

Facebook’s Creepy Recording Ray-Ban Sunglasses Flop with Users

The Wall Street Journal reports that less than 10 percent of the Ray-Ban Stories smart sunglasses that have been purchased since their September 2021 introduction have been actively utilized by owners, signaling a failure for Facebook’s ambitious foray into the field of smart glasses. Although the company sold 300,000 wearables by the end of February, only approximately 27,000 people used them on a regular basis.

The Ray-Ban smart glasses, which allow users to take photos and listen to music with the frames of their glasses, have faced a series of challenges. According to a company document from February, the device has experienced a 13 percent return rate. According to the WSJ, the top drivers of poor user experience were “issues with connectivity, problems with some of the hardware features including battery life, inability for users to import media from the devices, issues with the audio on the product and problems with voice commands for the smart glasses.”

Despite the initial setbacks, Facebook (now known as Meta) is not backing down. The company is planning to release the second generation of its Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses either in the fall or next spring. The new version is expected to come with improved battery life and better cameras, and will be available on more models of Ray-Ban’s frames.

The company’s Reality Labs division, responsible for the Ray-Ban Stories, has accumulated an operating loss of nearly $8 billion in the first six months of 2023. However, Facebook executives see the sunglasses as a predecessor to augmented-reality glasses, which they hope to release in the coming years.

Feds Investigate Elon Musk’s Tesla
over Steering Wheels that Freeze Up

The Verge reports that claims of loss of steering control in Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles are being investigated by the NHTSA, potentially affecting about 280,000 vehicles. The investigation comes after the NHTSA received 12 complaints alleging loss of steering control and power steering in the vehicles.

Five individuals filed complaints alleging an inability to steer the vehicle, while seven others reported a loss of power resulting in steering difficulties. One complaint detailed the situation, stating, “Vehicle steering lost power steering and the steering is stuck in straight position only while driving. Vehicle can travel only straight line forward or backward and cannot turn. Powering off and on did not help resolve the issue. Had to get the car towed to Tesla service.”

This is not the first time Tesla has come under scrutiny for vehicle defects. The company is currently subject to several other defect investigations, including one looking into reports that steering wheels on Model Y SUVs have fallen off while the vehicle was being driven. Additionally, NHTSA has received over 800 reports of “phantom braking” problems, leading Tesla to issue an over-the-air software update to 1.1 million vehicles in China in response to a braking and acceleration problem.

Although the latest investigation is over hardware problems, Tesla’s “self driving” technology has more than its own share of problems. Internal leaks have revealed the astonishing extent crashes related to Musk’s “Autopilot.”

Comrade Elon’s Slump: Tesla’s July Sales in China Crater 31%

Teslarati reports that recent data reveals that the sales for Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai-made vehicles in July 2023 represents a 31.38 percent decline from the 93,680 vehicles sold in June 2023, making it the lowest monthly result for Tesla China this year.

The report also provided a detailed overview of Tesla China’s figures for the year, listing 66,051 for January, 74,402 for February, 88,869 for March, 75,842 for April, 77,695 for May, and a a high water mark of 93,680 cars sold for June. Cumulatively, Tesla China has sold 540,824 Giga Shanghai-made vehicles from January to July 2023, marking a 67.45 percent improvement year-over-year.

China-based BYD, which leads the country in sales of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), posted a 61 percent year-over-year increase to 261,105 vehicles in July 2023, 18,169 of which were exported to foreign territories.

Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai, the electric vehicle maker’s largest factory by volume, currently has an estimated annual output of over 750,000 vehicles. This figure surpasses the estimated annual capacity of 650,000 vehicles at Tesla’s Fremont Factory, the company’s oldest plant.

Biden White House Wanted Facebook to ‘Change the Algorithm’
Boost New York Times Content over Right-Wing Media

In the latest round of disclosures, which Rep. Jordan is calling “The Facebook Files,” Biden White House digital strategy director Rob Flaherty can be seen suggesting Facebook change its algorithm to promote corporate establishment media including The New York Times over competitors, including Tomi Lahren and the Daily Wire.
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“If you were to change the algorithm so that people were more likely to see NYT, WSJ, any authoritative news source over Daily Wire, Tomi Lahren, polarizing people,” said Flaherty. “You wouldn’t have a mechanism to check the material impact?”

This is the latest release in Rep. Jordan’s Facebook Files, a cache of communications between Facebook and the Biden White House which were only obtained after the Judiciary Committee brought considerable pressure to bear on the tech company, including a threat to hold Mark Zuckerberg in contempt of Congress.

It’s not the first time that Flaherty’s name has come up. More emails between Biden’s point man on digital strategy and Facebook officials have been released through Missouri v. Biden, showing Flaherty pressuring Facebook to spy on and censor users on WhatsApp, a supposedly encrypted private messaging platform.
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In an email to Facebook officials disclosed through the lawsuit, Flaherty asked how Facebook could prevent “misinformation” on WhatsApp if they couldn’t see people’s messages.
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In another email, Flaherty tore into Facebook for not reducing the spread of “vaccine-skeptical” content.

Claiming Fake News, Russia Fines Apple $4,400
For Not Taking Down Ukraine War Content

A justice of the peace in a magistrate’s court, which handles administrative violations and low-level criminal cases, found Apple guilty of failing to delete podcasts and apps that spread false information about the conflict, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

Since sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has enacted an array of measures to punish any criticism or questioning of the military campaign.

Some critics have received severe punishments. Opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced this year to 25 years in prison for treason stemming from speeches he made against Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

China Limits Export of Drones That Could Be Used for ‘Non-Peaceful Purposes’ in Ukraine

Beijing said it was concerned with the “increasing risk” that its drones could be used for “non-peaceful purposes” in the Ukraine war.

“The risk of some high-specification and high-performance civilian unmanned aerial vehicles being converted to military use is constantly increasing,” the Ministry of Commerce said in its statement Monday.

The ministry noted that “since the crisis in Ukraine, some Chinese civilian drone companies have voluntarily suspended their operations in conflict areas.”

The Ministry of Commerce walked a tightrope between preserving its close partnership with Russia and insisting it has remained absolutely neutral in the Ukraine conflict. The statement angrily rejected last week’s U.S. intelligence report that said China has surreptitiously shipped “more than $12 million in drones and drone parts to Russia” during the war.

“The moderate expansion of drone control by China this time is an important measure to demonstrate the responsibility of a responsible major country,” the statement said.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, export restrictions will be imposed on drones that can fly beyond line-of-sight from their operators, stay aloft for more than 30 minutes, or carry payloads that can be dropped.

China’s state-run Global Times on Tuesday quoted drone manufacturers insisting they have never designed any military products and “strongly opposes” the use of their drones for non-peaceful purposes, so the new export restrictions should not affect their business at all.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce insisted that the export controls “do not target any country or region,” and were only a modest expansion of existing policies that should allow Chinese manufacturers to “still export their products for legitimate civilian uses after following the necessary procedures.”
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The Global Times uncritically relayed Russia’s claim that “25 Ukrainian drones tried to attack Crimea on Sunday night,” and that Ukraine deliberately launched a missile against Russian “civilian infrastructure” on July 28.

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Crowd Overwhelms New York City’s Union Square
Tosses Chairs, Climbs on Vehicles

Police in New York City are struggling to control a crowd of thousands of people who gathered in Manhattan’s Union Square for an internet personality’s supposed videogame console giveaway that got out of hand.

Aerial TV news footage Friday showed a surging, tightly packed crowd climbing on vehicles, hurling chairs, throwing punches and scaling structures in the park. Shouting teenagers swung objects at car windows and ran through the streets.
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Traffic was blocked by the crowd on several streets. A growing number of police officers could be seen trying to control the gathering. Some people climbed on top of a moving vehicle, falling off as it sped away. Others pounded on the side of a city bus. People could be seen climbing on top of another bus and jumping up and down.
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The NYPD didn’t immediately have information on injuries or arrests. Numerous people could be seen in hand restraints, sitting on the sidewalks. A young man was seen in hand restraints being led away by two officers. Police were forming lines in the street, trying to direct the crowd, which periodically broke out in a run.

On his Instagram feed, the streamer Kai Cenat had an image promoting a giveaway at 4 p.m. Friday in the park. Some young people leaving the park said they had come expecting a giveaway of a computer for livestreaming and a new PlayStation.

Skylark Jones, 19, and a friend had come to the area to see Cenat and try to get something from his giveaway, which they said was promoted as a chance to get gaming consoles or even a gaming chair, as well as an opportunity to see the popular streamer.

When they got there, the scene was already packed and they saw bottles being thrown by people in the crowd. There was a commotion even before Cenat appeared, they said.

Twitter Clone Threads Suffers 82% Engagement Drop

CNN reports that as of July 31, the number of daily active users on Facebook’s new social network Threads was down 82 percent from when it first launched. The app’s user base has decreased from an impressive 44 million daily active users to just eight million.

Data from market research companies Similarweb and Sensor Tower highlight the difficulties Facebook (now known as Meta) faces as it attempts to take advantage of the opportunity brought on by the shakeup surrounding Twitter’s management. Threads’ daily active user count is now the lowest it has been since the day after the app’s release.
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The decline in user engagement has been consistent since the app’s launch. Findings from Similarweb showed the same pattern of decline, with Threads’ user count peaking at roughly 49 million on July 7 and falling steadily to just over 11 million by July 29.

Despite the concerning numbers, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains optimistic about the app’s future. Speaking on the company’s earnings call last month, he said, “We saw unprecedented growth out of the gate and more importantly we’re seeing more people coming back daily than I’d expected. And now, we’re focused on retention and improving the basics. And then after that, we’ll focus on growing the community to the scale we think is possible.”

Musk Pledges to ‘Speak’ to Tim Cook About 30% ‘Apple Tax’

The Verge reports that in a move that could signal a significant shift in the tech industry’s relationship with Apple, Elon Musk has publicly stated his plans to discuss the company’s 30 percent commission on in-app purchases with CEO Tim Cook. This announcement comes alongside changes to Twitter’s revenue model, which Musk also detailed. Musk’s problem with the 30 percent Apple Tax is that it impacts the earnings of content creators who can now earn money on the site through paid subscriptions, which Apple considers in-app purchases.

In a post on Wednesday, he said he “will speak with @tim_cook” to see if the Apple CEO would adjust the 30 percent commission the company takes on in-app purchases. He further elaborated that he wants to change this so that Apple only takes a 30 percent commission on the portion of the payout kept by Twitter.
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In addition to his comments on Apple’s commission, Musk also announced changes to Twitter’s own revenue model. Musk claims that Twitter will only take 10 percent of subscription revenue if rewards reach $100,000, as opposed to taking 10 percent of subscription revenue from creators after 12 months. Twitter will continue to not charge anything for the first 12 months under this new scheme.
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Apple’s 30 percent commission has been a contentious issue in the tech industry, with some likening it to a tax. The company has faced legal challenges and has at times carved out exemptions for apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Fortnite maker Epic Games.

iPhone Sales Fall for Third Straight Quarter

CNBC reports that Apple’s iPhone revenue fell for the third quarter in a row dropping two percent in the period ending in June. Despite the ongoing slump in hardware sales, Apple’s services business, including subscriptions, warranties, licensing fees, and Apple Pay, has emerged as its most profitable arm, showing over eight percent growth in the June quarter.

The services division’s growth was “better than we expected,” Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors, highlighting the importance of the sector, which has stronger margins and more predictable revenue streams. The gross margin for services in the June quarter was 70.5 percent, almost double the 35.4 percent margin for all of Apple’s hardware products.

While the decline in iPhone sales continues, the company’s services business is poised for further expansion. CFO Luca Maestri emphasized the growth potential, stating, “It goes from the fact that our install base continues to grow, so we got a larger pool of customers, to the fact that our customers are more engaged, as we have more transacting accounts and paid accounts on the ecosystem.”

The services division’s robust performance is not only compensating for the hardware softness but also setting new records. “We set an all-time revenue record for total services and in a number of categories including video, AppleCare, cloud, and payment services,” Cook said.

‘Grossly Irresponsible:’ Security Experts Blast
Microsoft’s Cloud Security Practices

Ars Technica reports that Microsoft’s cloud security practices are coming under intense criticism. Amit Yoran, chairman and CEO of security firm Tenable, has been particularly vocal in his condemnation of Microsoft’s handling of security issues. Yoran stated that Microsoft is “grossly irresponsible” and mired in a “culture of toxic obfuscation.” He further criticized the company for failing to fix a critical issue that gives hackers unauthorized access to data and apps managed by Azure AD, a Microsoft cloud offering for managing user authentication inside large organizations.

“To give you an idea of how bad this is, our team very quickly discovered authentication secrets to a bank,” Yoran wrote. “Did Microsoft quickly fix the issue that could effectively lead to the breach of multiple customers’ networks and services? Of course not. They took more than 90 days to implement a partial fix—and only for new applications loaded in the service.”
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In response to the criticism, Microsoft issued a statement, saying: “We appreciate the collaboration with the security community to responsibly disclose product issues. We follow an extensive process involving a thorough investigation, update development for all versions of affected products, and compatibility testing among other operating systems and applications. Ultimately, developing a security update is a delicate balance between timeliness and quality, while ensuring maximized customer protection with minimized customer disruption.”
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“What you hear from Microsoft is ‘just trust us,’ but what you get back is very little transparency and a culture of toxic obfuscation,” Yoran wrote. “How can a CISO, board of directors or executive team believe that Microsoft will do the right thing given the fact patterns and current behaviors? Microsoft’s track record puts us all at risk. And it’s even worse than we thought.”

[kyonides]

Truth Social Post Prompts Jack Smith
to Ask Judge to Prevent Trump
from Releasing Discovery Evidence to Public

Special Counsel Jack Smith on Friday asked a judge to issue a protective order in the case against former President Donald Trump over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election after Trump made a post on Truth Social.

On Friday, Trump posted the following message to his Truth Social account: “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU.”

Now, Smith is using that post to argue Trump’s access to the discovery in his criminal case should be restricted. Smith’s proposed order seeks to prevent “improper dissemination or use of discovery materials, including to the public,” according to a four-page filing.

“Such a restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him,” Smith argued before referencing Trump’s Truth Social post. “And in recent days, regarding this case, the defendant has issued multiple posts either specifically or by implication including the following, which the defendant posted just hours ago.”
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A Trump spokesperson defended the Truth Social post as “political speech” and denied it was in reference to the criminal case.

”The Truth post cited is the definition of political speech, and was in response to the RINO, China-loving, dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs, like the ones funded by the Koch brothers and the Club for No Growth,” the spokesperson said.

Social media influencer Kai Cenat faces charges
of inciting riot after thousands cause mayhem in NYC

Social media influencer Kai Cenat is facing charges of inciting a riot and promoting an unlawful gathering in New York City, after the online streamer drew thousands of his followers, many of them teenagers, with promises of giving away electronics, including a new PlayStation.

The event produced chaos, with dozens of people arrested — some jumping atop vehicles, hurling bottles and throwing punches.

Cenat was released early Saturday from police custody after being issued a desk appearance ticket, which police issue to require a suspect to appear in court to answer charges. A police spokesperson said he is to appear in court on Aug. 18.

The mayhem in New York City’s Union Square Friday afternoon put further focus on the hold social media influencers have on the people who follow and fawn over them.

“Our children cannot be raised by social media,” Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday during a press briefing on an unrelated crime.

Police said they arrested 65 people, including 30 juveniles. Several people were injured, including some with bloodied faces. At least four people were taken away in ambulances.

Elon Musk: Japan issues rare warning over fake X account

Japan's finance ministry has called on X, formerly known as Twitter, to take down an account impersonating its top currency diplomat Masato Kanda.

"Please don't follow the impersonation account and/or comment on the post," the ministry said in a rare post in English on the social media platform.

Mr Kanda is a key figure in efforts by the world's third largest economy to stabilise the value of the yen.

The fake account now appears to have been suspended.
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Mr Kanda is an influential voice amongst Japan's monetary policy makers. His public comments have the potential to move the yen's value against other major currencies.

The account, which was followed by around 550 users, had not made comments on the yen or financial markets, according to the Reuters news agency.

There had been five posts on the account, with the most recent appearing to impersonate Mr Kanda's trip to Ukraine earlier this week, the agency reported.

...the currency has fallen in value against the US dollar in recent months. This is because Japan's central bank has kept its main interest rate below zero, even as central banks around the world raised their interest rates sharply.

Higher interest rates tend to make a currency more attractive to investors.

Tech shares fall as China mulls child smartphone limits

Chinese technology shares fell after the country's cyberspace regulator recommended limiting smartphone usage of children under 18.

Shares of firms like Alibaba and video-sharing site Bilibili fell on Wednesday and saw more losses early on Thursday.

The proposed law would see children being only allowed to use their phones for a maximum of two hours a day.

It comes four years after children in the world's second-largest economy were subject to gaming restrictions.

The rules proposed by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), will also see children banned from accessing the internet on mobile devices from 22:00 to 06:00 local time.

The CAC's proposal requires industry players including mobile phone device makers, apps and app stores to develop a function called "minor mode" to set usage limits - which vary by age.

While children between the ages of 16 to 18 will be allowed two hours of screen time a day, those under the age of eight will only be allotted eight minutes.

The proposal is currently open to public feedback.

Worldcoin suspended in Kenya as thousands queue for free money

The Kenyan government has ordered cryptocurrency project Worldcoin to stop signing up new users, citing data privacy concerns.

Worldcoin, founded by US tech entrepreneur Sam Altman, offers free crypto tokens to people who agree to have their eyeballs scanned.

Thousands of Kenyans have been queuing up at registration centres this week to get the currency worth about $49 (£39).

Kenya warned citizens to be cautious giving their data to private companies.
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The ministry of the interior has launched an investigation into Worldcoin and called on security services and data protection agencies to establish its authenticity and legality.

In a statement released on Thursday, Worldcoin says it is planning to implement crowd-control measures and collaborate with the government before resuming work. It added that Kenyan regulations are adhered to.

In one of the pop-up registration centres in the capital, Nairobi, where hundreds had been lining up for the registration, many had been locked out of the process on Wednesday after the large crowd was termed a "security risk".

Health board staff shared patient data on WhatsApp

Staff at NHS Lanarkshire shared the information of patients through an unauthorised WhatsApp group, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has found.

The ICO found that personal information such as the names, phone numbers and addresses of patients were shared by 26 staff members on over 500 occasions.

Images and videos, which included clinical information, were also shared.

The health board apologised to any patients affected.

...between April 2020 and April 2022.

A non-staff member was also added to the WhatsApp group by mistake, resulting in the disclosure of personal information to an unauthorised individual.

The social media platform was made available for staff to communicate during the pandemic, but only basic information was supposed to be shared. WhatsApp was not approved by NHS Lanarkshire for processing patient data and was adopted by staff without the organisation's knowledge.

Once NHS Lanarkshire became aware, it reported the incident to the ICO.

The health board's director of nursing, Trudi Marshall, said it had received a formal reprimand over the use of WhatsApp by one of its community teams.

[kyonides]

Musk offers funds to users who got in trouble over X posts

Elon Musk has promised his social media company X — formerly known as Twitter— will provide monetary legal aid to users who face blowback from their employers over controversial posts on the platform.

"If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill," he wrote on the site. "No limit. Please let us know."

"And we won't just sue, it will be extremely loud and we will go after the boards of directors of the companies too," the tycoon added later.

However, it was unclear if X could afford paying large legal bills for many users, as advertising income has collapsed since Musk bought the platform last October.
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Many users, including celebrities and others in the public eye, have found themselves in trouble over their actions on the platform.

They include comedian and actress Roseanne Barr who in 2018 wrote a racially offensive post about a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama and was dismissed from her newly revived sitcom.
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Despite its revenue woes, Musk says that monthly users of X reached a "new high" last month at over 540 million.

Elon Musk: Cage Fight with Mark Zuckerberg to Be Livestreamed on Twitter/X

Business Insider reports that the cage match between tech billionaire Elon Musk and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is still going to take place, according to a recent post by Musk. The event will be livestreamed on Twitter [now] known as X, Musk’s social media site. It isn’t yet clear if Zuckerberg has agreed to this stipulation, which would especially curious given that his Twitter clone Threads is on life support.

Elon Musk appeared to confirm the highly anticipated fight, stating that it will be broadcasted on his platform. “Zuck v Musk fight will be live-streamed on X,” Musk wrote. “All proceeds will go to charity for veterans.”
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The idea of a physical confrontation between the two tech moguls has been brewing since June, when Musk criticized Facebook’s plans to launch Threads. Zuckerberg was quick to accept Musk’s challenge, responding with “Send Me Location.”

Musk has been seen preparing for the fight, lifting weights and even live-streaming a bicep curl on X. When asked about the purpose of the fight, Musk responded, “It’s a civilized form of war. Men love war.”

The following article shows us what happens when dating goes quite political.

Texas Woman Gets Probation for Stabbing Date
as Revenge for Iranian General’s Killing

The woman accused of stabbing a man as revenge for the death of an Iranian military figure was sentenced this week to probation, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

The incident happened on March 5, 2022, near Las Vegas when the victim called law enforcement from the Sunset Station hotel, claiming a woman stabbed him in the neck, the outlet said Friday. The report noted the pair initially met through a dating app.

Following her arrest, 23-year-old Nika Nikoubin faced attempted murder, battery, and burglary charges, while also pleading guilty to a pair of felony counts of false imprisonment with a deadly weapon.

The two individuals were apparently having sex when the stabbing occurred, Fox News reported Sunday.
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On Wednesday, the young woman was sentenced to three years of probation. In addition, she must finish 100 hours of community service while undergoing mental health treatment.
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When officers initially took her into custody, Nikoubin told them she wanted revenge for the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
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Per the Review-Journal, defense attorneys claimed Nikoubin had been suffering a psychotic episode when the stabbing occurred. However, she later began prioritizing her mental health, the attorneys said.

In February, the University of Texas at Dallas banned the young woman from attending classes while she was under house arrest in Texas prior to the stabbing trial, according to Fox 4.

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FBI Gunned Down Utah Man Accused of Threatening Joe Biden

The FBI gunned down a Utah man accused of making death threats against President Joe Biden during a raid on his home on Wednesday morning.

Seventy-five-year-old Craig Deleeuw Robertson was being charged with three counts of interstate threats, threats against the president, and influencing, impeding, and retaliating against federal law enforcement officers by threat, according to a criminal complaint.

Robertson allegedly threatened Biden this week, just days before he was scheduled to visit Utah on Wednesday.

“PERHAPS UTAH WILL BECOME FAMOUS THIS WEEK AS THE PLACE A SNIPER TOOK OUT BIDEN THE MARXIST,” one of his Facebook posts allegedly read.
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“I hear Biden is coming to Utah. Digging out my old ghillie suit and cleaning the dust off the M24 sniper rifle, Robertson allegedly wrote on Monday.

Robertson also reportedly posted numerous photos online of the firearms he kept in a gun cache inside his house.

The FBI deemed these threats “credible,” and attempted to serve arrest and search warrants at Robertson’s home in Provo, Utah, but ended up shooting and killing him around 6:15 a.m. local time.

Biden was expected to arrive in Salt Lake City, Utah, an hour away from the Provo residence, just hours after the shooting occurred.

Two FBI agents conducted surveillance at Robertson’s home in late March after he allegedly made threats against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
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When the FBI agents contacted Robertson in March, he defended his post, arguing it “was a dream,” and he told them to come back with a warrant, according to the charging documents.

“HEY FBI, YOU STILL MONITORING MY SOCIAL MEDIA? CHECKING SO I CAN BE SURE TO HAVE A LOADED GUN HANDY IN CASE YOU DROP BY AGAIN,” Robertson allegedly posted on Facebook on Monday.

What a crazy way to use the social media networks!

Katie Hobbs Asked Twitter to Censor Users
Criticizing Her Trump ‘Neo-Nazi’ Post

Days after the 2020 election, Breitbart News reported that Hobbs said Trump had a “neo-nazi base” while she was serving as a Democrat state senator in 2017. Hobbs’ tweet appeared to be a reaction to the false narrative that Trump praised neo-nazi rioters in Charlottesville.

.@realDonaldTrump has made it abundantly clear he's more interested in pandering to his neo-nazi base than being @POTUS for all Americans.

— Katie Hobbs

The President is on the side of the freaking Nazis. Don't just say stuff – DO SOMETHING!!! https://t.co/Es9ScskF58

— Katie Hobbs

It took you a day and a half to figure this out? Also if you're not condemning @POTUS for not condemning nazis, it's just words. https://t.co/OI0JAlvOYX

— Katie Hobbs
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• Aug. 12, 2017: Trump condemned “violence “on many sides” in Charlottesville after neo-Nazi and Antifa clashes
  
• Aug. 14, 2017: Trump condemned “neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups” in White House statement
  
• Aug. 15, 2017: Trump condemned neo-Nazis “totally,” praised non-violent protesters “on both sides” of statue debate
  

On Thursday, Fox News revealed that Hobbs emailed Twitter in an attempt to censor critics who were upset with her posts about Trump and his base, relying on recently obtained emails.

Supreme Court Allows Apple to Keep App Store ‘Tax’
Pending Appeal in Epic Games Case

Epic Games had asked the Supreme Court to lift an injunction by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which delayed an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, which banned the current App Store practice of preventing third party app developers from offering users the option to pay outside of Apple’s ecosystem, avoiding the 30 percent charge popularly known as the Apple Tax.

Liberal Justice Elena Kagan, acting for the Supreme Court, denied Epic’s request to lift a decision by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that effectively delayed implementing an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers barring certain App Store rules, while Apple pursues a Supreme Court appeal.

The 9th Circuit in April had upheld the injunction but in July put that decision on hold. Kagan handles emergency matters for the Supreme Court arising from a group of states including California.

Epic filed an antitrust lawsuit in 2020, accusing Apple of acting as an illegal monopolist by requiring consumers to get apps through its App Store and buy digital content inside an app using its own system – for which it charges up to a 30% commission.

While the ruling represents a setback for Epic Games, it merely ensures the 9th Circuit’s injunction remains in place. Apple must still win its appeal before the Supreme Court to overturn Judge Rogers’ injunction.

Virgin Galactic rockets its first tourist passengers into space

Virgin Galactic launched its first tourist passengers into the weightlessness of space Thursday, the culmination of a nearly two-decade commercial pursuit, the company said.

The three passengers — Jon Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff, and her teenage daughter Anastatia Mayers — floated gravity-free through the Virgin spacecraft about 45 minutes after taking off.

“They are officially astronauts. Welcome to space,” said Virgin Galactic announcer Sirisha Bandla as the spacecraft pushed above 80 kilometers (50 miles) in altitude, the level marking the edge of space where the pull of gravity is minimal.
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After a few minutes in space, the craft began descending and safely landed in the US state of New Mexico, on the same runway from which it took off.
...
“The pure acceleration, Mach-3 in eight-and-a-half seconds was completely surreal,” he said.
...
The spaceflights involve a giant, twin-fuselage carrier aircraft that takes off from a runway, gains altitude, then drops a rocket-powered spaceplane that soars higher.

This mission, named Galactic 02, is the company’s second commercial flight.

The first at the end of June carried a group of senior Italian Air Force officers who had carried out several experiments on board, rather than civilians making the trip purely for pleasure.

Founded in 2004, Virgin Galactic has sold around 800 tickets for seats on future commercial flights — 600 between 2005 and 2014 for $200,000 to $250,000, and 200 since then for $450,000 each.

[kyonides]

Elon’s ‘Self Driving’ Cars: Dashcam Captures
Tesla on Autopilot Smashing into Police Vehicles at 55 MPH

Futurism reports that a Texas crash is now under the spotlight as it becomes one of 16 incidents between Tesla vehicles and emergency vehicles being investigated by regulators. The alarming revelation comes from a detailed examination of the crash, which has raised serious questions about the safety and reliability of Tesla’s Autopilot system. The Wall Street Journal exclusively published the dashcam video and analysis of the crash, which injured multiple first responders who are now suing Tesla.

Tesla’s Autopilot technology failed to recognize stopped emergency vehicles, according to a review of the dashcam video and crash data from Texas. This failure has led to growing concerns among safety experts and regulators who are now probing deeper into the technology’s potential shortcomings.

The incident is not an isolated case. It represents a pattern of accidents involving Tesla’s Autopilot system and emergency vehicles. The inability of the system to detect stationary emergency vehicles could pose a significant risk to both Tesla drivers and emergency responders on the road.

Breitbart News reported in March on a California crash in which a Tesla on Autopilot crashed into a fire truck, killing the driver and injuring multiple firefighters.
...
The Department of Justice opened a federal probe into potential criminal charges against the company in 2022.

Canadian Man Abandons Electric Ford F-150
After His Family Is Left Stranded

Winnipeg resident Dalbir Bala, who had invested in a Ford F150 Lightning EV earlier this year for a whopping $115,000 plus tax, had initially hoped the vehicle would serve both his professional and recreational needs. He believed that owning an EV was synonymous with “responsible citizenship these days.”
...
He was forced to install two $10,000 chargers for the car: one at work and one at home, and then had to spend $6,000 to update his home’s electrical panel in order to fit the charger.

Following a minor accident, the vehicle was stuck at a body shop for six months.”It was in [the] shop for 6 months. I can’t take it to my lake cabin. I cannot take it for off-grid camping. I cannot take for even a road trip,” Bala wrote. “I can only drive in city – biggest scam of modern times.”

The real test of his patience came during a 1,400-mile family road trip to Chicago. Bala recounted the challenges he faced with the EV’s charging infrastructure. Fast charging facilities, which can only refuel EVs to a maximum of 90 percent, are more expensive than gas stations. In one occasion, he spent two hours and $56 charging his car from 10 percent to 90 percent during a stop in Fargo, North Dakota.

Twitter Rebranding to X Was a 'Liberation,' CEO Linda Yaccarino Says

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X—previously known as Twitter—has explained why the social media platform recently dropped its iconic blue bird logo and changed its name.

In an interview with CNBC aired on Aug. 10, Ms. Yaccarino, who took over as X CEO in May, noted that owner Elon Musk has been publicly discussing plans to transform the platform into X, "the everything app," similar to China's WeChat, for some time.
...
"The rebrand represented really a liberation from Twitter," she said of the company's decision to adopt the single stylized letter "X."

"A liberation that allowed us to evolve past a legacy mindset and thinking. And to reimagine how everyone, how everyone on Spaces who’s listening, everybody who’s watching around the world. It’s going to change how we congregate, how we entertain, how we transact all in one platform," Ms. Yaccarino continued.

The CEO also stressed that a global town square that is "fueled by free expression" will be at the center of the app and will be a place "where the public gathers in real-time."

This will all run under one seamless interface, she said, before noting the numerous changes that have taken place since Mr. Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter last year.

Those changes include "experiences and evolution into long-form video and articles," and allowing users to subscribe to their favorite creators, who are now "earning a real living on the platform, which is so exciting," Ms. Yaccarino said.

The CEO also noted how X users will soon be able to make video and voice calls without having to give their phone numbers to anyone on the platform and send encrypted messages.

The platform also plans to enable payments between users and friends and creators, Ms. Yaccarino, the former head of advertising at NBC Universal, told CNBC.

US Reports Big Interest in $52 Billion Semiconductor Chips Funding

The U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday that more than 460 companies have expressed interested in winning government semiconductor subsidy funding in a bid to boost the country's competitiveness with China's science and technology efforts.

The White House is marking the one-year anniversary on Wednesday of President Joe Biden's signing of the landmark "Chips for America" legislation providing $52.7 billion in subsidies for U.S. semiconductor production, research, and workforce development.

President Biden said in a statement that companies have announced $166 billion in semiconductors and electronics manufacturing over the last year, adding the law will "make America once again a leader in semiconductor manufacturing and less dependent on other countries for our electronics or clean energy supply chains."

The Commerce Department began accepting applications in June for the $39-billion subsidy program for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing as well as equipment and materials for making chips but has not yet issued awards.

"We're finally making the investments that are long overdue to secure our economic and national security," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters. "We need to move quickly but it's more important we get it right."

A senior Commerce Department official told reporters the department is moving quickly: "We are in active dialogue with applicants and we expect to be announcing major progress in the months ahead."

The chips law also includes a 25 percent investment tax credit for building chip plants, estimated to be worth $24 billion.

[kyonides]

US warns space companies about foreign spying

US counterintelligence agencies on Friday warned the American space industry to guard against efforts by foreign intelligence entities to steal research and trade secrets as they try to boost their own countries' space programs.

"We anticipate growing threats to this burgeoning sector of the US economy," a US counterintelligence official told Reuters, adding that "China and Russia are among the leading foreign intelligence threats to the US space industry."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) issued a two-page bulletin, saying unspecified foreign entities were using cyberattacks and techniques such as strategic investment through joint ventures and acquisitions to gain access to the US space industry.
...
The document warned companies to be on guard for facility visit requests, and attempts to gather confidential information at conferences. It also said individual employees were at risk of recruitment efforts through offers of travel abroad or consultancy work and payment for proprietary information.

It urged companies to contact the FBI or AFOSI with any concerns of being targeted, as well as to track "peculiar incidents" and establish "insider threat" programs as part of vetting individuals in sensitive positions.

Elon’s Grand Plan: Tesla Is Making Electric Cars with *Even Shorter* Range

Elon Musk’s Tesla is reintroducing “Standard Range” versions of its Model S and Model X vehicles, offering lower price points at the expense of shorter driving ranges.

Electrek reports that Tesla has announced the relaunch of the “Standard Range” versions of its Model S and Model X vehicles. These new versions come with shorter driving ranges and lower prices, making them a slightly more accessible option for consumers at the cost of reduced battery capacity.

In the past, Tesla has released various versions of the Model S and Model X, often differentiated by different battery pack capacities ranging from 40 kWh to 100 kWh. At times, the company has even introduced new trims by simply limiting the capacity of the battery pack through software.

Since the 2021 refresh of the Model S and Model X, Tesla had exclusively offered the “Long Range” and “Plaid” versions of its flagship sedan and SUV. The reintroduction of the “Standard Range” versions represents a change in Tesla’s approach, possibly aimed at capturing a larger customer base with a slightly lower price point.

The newly launched “Standard Range” Model S comes with a price tag of $78,490, a $10,000 reduction from the previous version. However, it offers a shorter range of 320 miles on a single charge, compared to the 405 miles provided by the “Long Range” version.

Similarly, the “Standard Range” Model X is now available at a price that is $10,000 lower than the previous version, and it offers a range of 269 miles, which is 79 miles less than the “Long Range” version.

Comrade Elon: Musk’s Tesla Slashes Prices in China
Despite Promising to Uphold ‘Core Socialist Values’

Bloomberg reports that Elon Musk’s Tesla has recently slashed the prices of its two top-tier Model Y electric vehicles by 14,000 yuan ($1,900) in order to stay competitive in the Chinese market. This decision is viewed as a response to the ongoing price war that has impacted the EV industry in China.

The price cut affects the Model Y Long-Range and Performance models, which will now be priced at 299,900 yuan and 349,900 yuan respectively. The announcement was made on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform.

The Model Y has been a key player in Tesla’s lineup, along with the Model 3, both of which have been best-sellers for the company. The price reduction is seen as a strategic move to maintain Tesla’s competitive edge in the Chinese market, where the company has faced stiff competition from local EV manufacturers.

The price war in China’s EV market was triggered by Tesla last year, forcing other manufacturers to follow suit and lower their prices as well. This aggressive pricing strategy has had a significant impact on the industry, with many companies struggling to maintain profitability.

Tesla’s decision to cut prices comes at a time when the company’s China deliveries have cratered by 31 percent, reaching the lowest level this year. Industry experts believe Musk hopes to boost sales and regain market share in the highly competitive Chinese market.

Elon Musk’s X/Twitter Slows Down Access
to Competitor Websites, Certain News Orgs

The Washington Post reports that Elon Musk’s social media company X (formerly Twitter) has come under scrutiny for its decision to slow down the speed at which users can access links to certain websites. This move appears to be targeted at companies that have clashed with Musk in the past. Users who clicked a link on X/Twitter for one of the targeted websites had to wait about five seconds before seeing the page.

Several websites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Substack, Reuters wire service, and New York Times, experienced delays. The delay impacts the t.co domain, which is a link-shortening service used by X/Twitter to process every link posted on their website. This service allows the paltform to monitor and limit traffic to the target website, which could potentially result in a decrease in ad revenue and traffic for businesses disliked by X/Twitter.

A statement from Charlie Stadtlander, spokesperson for the Times, confirms that they have also noticed the systemic delays and have not received any explanation from the platform. Stadtlander expressed concern over targeted pressure applied to news organizations without clear reasons. The rationale behind the time delay remains unknown.

In a statement, Substack requested X/Twitter to reconsider its decision of introducing a delay on Substack links. “Substack was created in direct response to this kind of behavior by social media companies,” they said. “Writers cannot build sustainable businesses if their connection to their audience depends on unreliable platforms that have proven they are willing to make changes that are hostile to the people who use them.”

Hunter Biden Hired PR Firms to Airbrush Wikipedia

The President’s son hired FTI consulting, a major PR consulting firm that also worked for Burisma, the Ukrainian energy giant tied to the Biden family.

Hunter, the emails show, sought to delete a line explaining that the National Endowment for Democracy, which he previously worked with, had ties to the CIA. He also pushed to include more official titles from his various NGO board memberships.

On May 28, 2014, an account called “AmeliaChevalier” edited Hunter’s Wikipedia to delete any reference to “disgraced financier Allen Stanford.” Over the next few weeks, more anonymous Wikipedia accounts began rapidly editing Hunter’s page, records show. Archives of Wikipedia show that a month after engaging with FTI, Hunter’s Wikipedia page had dramatically changed, with negative references scrubbed, and lengthy passages added to discuss his volunteer work, service in government, and appointments to various boards and political committees.

One of the more prolific and anonymous Wikipedia accounts making edits to Hunter’s page was a user called “Earflaps,” which made a number of edits, including the deletion of criticism of Hunter’s work for Burisma, the Ukrainian energy firm. That account was later identified as a “sock puppet,” a term of art used for the illicit pay-for-play editing by fake accounts, to airbrush negative information off of Wikipedia. An investigation found that Earflaps was one of nearly a dozen fake accounts tied to PR firms hired to carefully manage the image of Russian businessmen.

Paid Wikipedia editing is a common practice on the website, which has become controlled by a cabal of left-leaning editors.

Microsoft’s Xbox Strengthens ‘Hate Speech’ Rules to Ban Gamers

Microsoft’s video game platform, Xbox, is revamping its “hate speech” and “profanity” rules, introducing a strike-based system to ban gamers from games they have purchased if they use the wrong words.

Once a place where young people could blow off steam, online gaming is now a place where gamers have to walk on eggshells for fear of a ban from a gaming ecosystem that often represents hundreds of dollars in purchased games and gaming equipment.

In an interview with The Verge, Xbox player services corporate vice president Dave McCarthy explained the new enforcement system and its place in Xbox’s overall community management strategy. “This is all about player transparency,” McCarthy said. “We didn’t have a way to show our players what their standing was in our community. And this makes it completely clear.”

In the new system, if a player violates the Xbox community standards, they’ll receive a strike. The severity of the violation determines the number of strikes and the length of the punishment. If a player receives a total of eight strikes, their account will be banned from using Xbox services like voice chat or multiplayer for a year. The strike program starts today with everyone on the platform getting a clean strike-less slate.

McCarthy shared that only about 1 percent of the Xbox player base receives any kind of enforcement action and that only a third of that 1 percent goes on to receive additional enforcement actions. Without any kind of standardized program in place, McCarthy said that players would express confusion as to why some enforcements earned daylong suspensions while others would ban a player for a week or a month.

McCarthy said the goal was to create an environment where “everyone feels welcome” — except, apparently, the large number of gamers who enjoy a boisterous atmosphere of trash talk over a corporate world of artificial politeness.

Instead of creating a welcoming atmosphere, it certainly sounds a lot like a repressive cyber environment.

Keystone AI Cops: Facial Recognition Tech
Leads to Wrongful Arrest of Heavily Pregnant Detroit Woman

Artificial Intelligence News reports that the Detroit Police Department (DPD) is facing scrutiny following the wrongful arrest of an innocent woman due to a flawed facial recognition match. The victim, Porcha Woodruff, was eight months pregnant at the time, is the sixth individual to come forward and report being falsely accused of a crime because of the controversial technology used by law enforcement.

Woodruff was charged with robbery and carjacking, accusations she found absurd given her advanced pregnancy. She reportedly expressed her disbelief to the arresting officers, pointing to her visibly pregnant belly and asking “are you kidding?”

This incident is part of a concerning pattern of wrongful arrests linked to facial recognition technology.
...
This marks the third known instance of a wrongful arrest in the past three years attributed specifically to the DPD’s reliance on inaccurate facial recognition matches. Robert Williams, who is represented by the ACLU of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School’s Civil Rights Litigation Initiative (CRLI), is currently pursuing a lawsuit against the DPD for his wrongful arrest in January 2020 due to similar technological errors.

Phil Mayor, Senior Staff Attorney at ACLU of Michigan, expressed deep concern over the DPD’s continued use of facial recognition technology despite knowing its devastating consequences. He emphasized that Ms. Woodruff’s distressing experience underscores the urgent need for the Department to cease its use of this technology.
...
The deployment of facial recognition technology in law enforcement has been a subject of ongoing debate, with critics raising concerns about its accuracy, racial bias, and potential infringements on privacy and civil liberties. Critics argue that relying solely on facial recognition for arrests poses significant risks and can have severe repercussions for innocent individuals, as demonstrated in Woodruff’s case.

[kyonides]

New York City Bans China’s TikTok
on City-Owned Devices over Security Concerns

The Verge reports that New York City has taken a decisive step in the ongoing debate over the security of the Chinese social media app TikTok. The city has issued a directive requiring all city agencies to remove the app from city-owned devices within the next 30 days. The decision comes after a review by the NYC Cyber Command, which found that TikTok posed a security threat to the city’s technical networks.

“NYC Cyber Command regularly explores and advances proactive measures to keep New Yorkers’ data safe,” a New York City Hall spokesperson said in a statement. “While social media is great at connecting New Yorkers with one another and the city, we have to ensure we are always using these platforms in a secure manner.”
...
In 2020, New York state prohibited the use and download of TikTok on government-owned devices through an internal policy. However, a few public relations platforms in the state were still allowed to use the app for marketing purposes.

Elon Musk’s Twitter/X Seeks Job Applicants
to Fill What Critics Call ‘Censorship Positions’

Twitter/X is looking for job applicants to fill two positions tasked with protecting “information integrity” and “civic conversations” on the social media platform, according to a report by Just the News.

The applicants must be “passionate about protecting users from global disinformation,” as well as “combating threats to online conversational health,” and “helping people find credible information online” regarding elections.

Qualified applicants must also “have a deep understanding of geopolitical, disinformation, and cybersecurity trends,” with fluency in Russian, Mandarin or Cantonese preferred, the report added.

Critics quickly flagged the jobs as “censorship positions,” and social media users pointed out the accounts  team leader Aaron Rodericks follows on rival platform BlueSky, which former State Department cyber official Mike Benz referred to as “every high-level spook & censorship industry heavyweight in the world.”

The accounts Rodericks is following reportedly include leaders of anti-disinformation groups that worked closely with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

In February, social media analyst Kristen Ruby noted that the Musk-owned platform still had its recently renamed civic integrity misleading information policy.

This authorizes Twitter/X to remove, stifle, and label “content that may suppress participation,” as well as “mislead” about civic processes, cause “confusion,” or contain “satirical or humorous elements.”

Elon Musk Announces Removal of Block Feature from Twitter/X
Potentially Breaking App Store Rules

BBC News reports that Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of Twitter/X, has revealed plans to remove the blocking feature from the platform, claiming that the feature “makes no sense.” While users will still be able to block others from directly messaging them, the removal of the blocking feature is expected to make it more challenging for users to remove abusive posts from their timeline.

The decision has been met with criticism from practically everyone beyond fanatical Musk loyalists. Many have voiced concerns that muting an account, which only stops notifications about an account’s posts, would not provide sufficient protection from cases of harassment, abuse, or stalking. An account that is muted can still view the muter’s posts and reply to them, leaving users vulnerable to unwanted interactions. Other critics say the loss of the block button means their replies will be filled with crypto and porn bots. Musk was quick to block critics making such points, including conservative social media powerhouse Catturd.
...
If a blocking feature is removed, it may go against the terms and conditions set by app stores such as Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Both app stores require social media apps to offer users the ability to filter out instances of harassment or bullying. This raises concerns about whether X is meeting these requirements.
...
Twitter/X CEO Linda Yaccarino claimed in a tweet that the company was “building something better than the current state of block and mute.”

[kyonides]

Bad News for All Game Developers

Especially in the US!!

AI-generated art can't be copyrighted
federal judge rules
with potential consequences for Hollywood studios

The lawsuit, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, was brought against the US Copyright Office by plaintiff Stephen Thaler, in an attempt to list his own AI system as the sole creator of an artwork called "A Recent Entrance to Paradise."

Thaler has previously filed other lawsuits related to AI inventions, such as listing his AI machine as an inventor in a patent application.

In Friday's ruling, US District Judge Beryl Howell upheld the Copyright Office's decision to reject Thaler's copyright application.

She said humans are an "essential part of a valid copyright claim" and "human authorship is a bedrock requirement of copyright."

"Plaintiff can point to no case in which a court has recognized copyright in a work originating with a non-human," Howell added.

The judge also cited the famous "monkey selfie" case, in which photographer David Slater was sued for claiming copyright on an image that a crested macaque took with Slater's camera. The court found that non-humans don't have any legal authority for copyright claims.
...
The ruling could still provoke apprehension among Hollywood studios in relation to the contract dispute with striking actors and writers.

AI is a key issue in the strike, amid concerns that the technology could be used to write screenplays or reproduce actors' likenesses.

Tech advocacy groups press FTC to investigate Google
for alleged children’s privacy violations

Advocacy groups Fairplay and Center for Digital Democracy filed a request with the Federal Trade Commission Wednesday asking the agency to investigate whether Google and YouTube serve personalized ads on “made for kids” YouTube channels.

The groups are asking the FTC to use its investigative authorities to determine if Google’s behavior has violated federal children’s privacy law as well as an agreement it reached with the agency in 2019 over previous alleged violations.

Documents submitted as part of the request for investigation detail research conducted independently by Fairplay that raises the possibility Google may be personalizing ads placed on videos from “made for kids” channels, potentially contradicting the tech giant’s claims it does not target children.

The documents do not provide any evidence that Google has violated federal children’s privacy law. Rather, the groups are asking the FTC to use its investigative authorities to make a determination as to whether Google has committed any violations.

Electronic Privacy Information Center and Common Sense Media joined Fairplay and Center for Digital Democracy in writing to the FTC.

Fairplay said it conducted its investigation following a report by the firm Adalytics last week that YouTube was putting ads for adult products on the channel, potentially leading to the collection of data on children. The research, which was first reported by The New York Times, sparked calls from members of Congress for an FTC probe.

Excessive Screen Time Translates into Developmental Delays in Children

Gizmodo reports that a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics (JAMA) on Monday has sent shockwaves through the pediatric community. The research involved over 7,000 children and discovered that those who spent up to four hours per day in front of screens were three times more likely to experience delays in communication and problem-solving skills. Even more concerning, children who spent more than four hours on screens were nearly six times more likely to face similar developmental issues.

Interestingly, the study also shed light on the demographic factors contributing to excessive screen time. Children who were exposed to more screen time typically came from families with younger, first-time mothers who had lower household incomes and education levels, and who suffered from postpartum depression.

Experts argue that screen time not only hampers developmental milestones but also affects a child’s ability to be bored, which is crucial for fostering creativity. “When they’re allowed to be a little bit bored for a second, they get a little uncomfortable, but then they’re like, ‘OK, I want to make myself more comfortable.’ And that’s how creativity happens,” said Dr. John Hutton, an associate professor of general and community pediatrics.

Elon Musk’s Twitter/X Follower Count Bloated
by Millions of Suspicious or Inactive Accounts

According to a recent report from Mashable, new data raises questions about the authenticity and engagement levels of Elon Musk’s massive Twitter/X following, which now exceeds 153 million users on the recently renamed platform. Musk has been a towering figure on social media since long before his acquisition of Twitter in October 2022. However, recent data suggests that the numbers on his gigantic following may not be as straightforward as they seem.

Mashable reports that third-party researcher Travis Brown recently conducted an exhaustive analysis of Musk’s Twitter followers. According to Brown, a staggering 42 percent of Musk’s followers have zero followers of their own, and over 72 percent have fewer than 10. Roughly 40 percent of Musk’s followers have never tweeted. This leads to questions about the authenticity of Musk’s followers, as these users follow many of the behaviors associated with bots, or fake accounts.

Another focus of the research is the timing of account creations. More than 25 percent of Musk’s current followers created their accounts after he acquired Twitter in October 2022. This could either indicate a surge of interest in Musk or point to a potential influx of bot accounts. Despite the colossal following, only a minuscule 0.3 percent of Musk’s followers are subscribed to X Premium, the platform’s paid subscription service that was formerly known as Twitter Blue. This is particularly surprising given that Musk has been actively promoting the service, which offers features like a verification badge and monetization eligibility.

Ronan Farrow Documents Elon Musk’s ‘Shadow Rule’ over the War in Ukraine

In an article titled “Elon Musk’s Shadow Rule,” published by the New Yorker, Ronan Farrow details the influence of Elon Musk and his companies on the Ukraine war due to the Ukrainian military’s extensive use of SpaceX Starlink internet hardware to communicate on the battlefield.

In October 2022, Colin Kahl, then the Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon, called Musk to discuss SpaceX’s role in providing internet access across Ukraine.
...
Musk became involved in the Ukraine conflict after Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The Kremlin was launching cyberattacks on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and Ukrainian officials and tech expatriates discussed potential solutions in group chats on WhatsApp and Signal. They identified SpaceX’s Starlink, a line of mobile Internet terminals, as a possible solution.
...
Three individuals involved in bringing Starlink to Ukraine, who spoke anonymously due to concerns that Musk might withdraw his services if displeased, said they initially didn’t consider the implications of his personal control. One Ukrainian tech executive said, “Nobody thought about it back then. It was all about ‘Let’s go, people are dying.'”
...
“We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time,” SpaceX’s director of government sales told the Pentagon in a letter, last September. (CNBC recently valued SpaceX at nearly a hundred and fifty billion dollars. Forbes estimated Musk’s personal net worth at two hundred and twenty billion dollars, making him the world’s richest man.)
...
Since that time, Musk has become selective about what Starlink can be used for in Ukraine.

[kyonides]

‘Never Surrender’: Donald Trump Tweets Mugshot in First Post Since 2021

Former President Donald Trump uploaded his Fulton County mugshot to Twitter on Thursday, marking his first post on the platform since 2021.

Trump posted a link to his website along with a photo of his mugshot that had the following caption:

MUG SHOT – AUGUST 24, 2023
ELECTION INTERFERENCE
NEVER SURRENDER!
DONALDITRUMP.COM
...
Today, at the notoriously violent jail in Fulton County, Georgia, I was ARRESTED despite having committed NO CRIME.

The American people know what’s going on. What has taken place is a travesty of justice and ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

The Left wants to intimidate YOU out of voting for a political outsider who puts the American people FIRST.

But today, I walked into the lion’s den with one simple message on behalf of our entire movement: I WILL NEVER SURRENDER OUR MISSION TO SAVE AMERICA.

Beijing Drafts Regulations to Limit Use of A.I. in Health Care

The Beijing Municipal Health Commission drafted regulations on Monday that would “strictly prohibit” using artificial intelligence (A.I.) systems to produce medical prescriptions.

The rules would restrict A.I. in various other ways, with the overall goal of ensuring A.I. “shall not replace the doctors to provide diagnosis and treatment services.”

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) noted that these regulations, if adopted in full, would “mark the first time a local government explicitly limits the use of generative A.I. in healthcare.”

The Chinese central government has promulgated some regulations on A.I. and, in fact, has yet to allow anything comparable to the famed ChatGPT system for consumers.

On the other hand, the Chinese Communist Party has often expressed a desire to take the leadership position on worldwide A.I. research, boosted by China’s lack of concern for privacy rights and its mania for accumulating gigantic databases, often without the consent or awareness of the people it mines for information.
...
The Chinese government is also eager to ensure that artificial minds are firmly shackled to Communist ideology. Piles of regulations have been written by the central government to require that all A.I. chatbots “adhere to core socialist values” and must never express an idea that “incites subversion of state power and the overthrow of the socialist system.”

US Justice Department sues SpaceX over hiring practices

The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against SpaceX on Thursday over its hiring practices, accusing Elon Musk’s rocket company of discriminating against asylum seekers and refugees.

“Our investigation found that SpaceX failed to fairly consider or hire asylees and refugees because of their citizenship status and imposed what amounted to a ban on their hire regardless of their qualification, in violation of federal law,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said.

“Our investigation also found that SpaceX recruiters and high-level officials took actions that actively discouraged asylees and refugees from seeking work opportunities at the company,” Clarke added in a statement.

The Justice Department said SpaceX, from September 2018 to May 2022, discouraged asylum seekers and refugees from applying for jobs at the company because of their citizenship status.

“SpaceX wrongly claimed that under federal regulations known as ‘export control laws,’ SpaceX could hire only US citizens and lawful permanent residents, sometimes referred to as ‘green card holders,'” the department said.

“Export control laws impose no such hiring restrictions,” it said.