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

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

University students are using AI to write essays. Teachers are learning how to embrace that

As word of students using AI to automatically complete essays continues to spread, some lecturers are beginning to rethink how they should teach their pupils to write. Writing is a difficult task to do well. The best novelists and poets write furiously, dedicating their lives to mastering their craft. The creative process of stringing together Read more about University students are using AI to write essays. Teachers are learning how to embrace that[…]

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

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

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

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

The LastPass disclosure of leaked password vaults is being torn apart by security experts

Last week, just before Christmas, LastPass dropped a bombshell announcement: as the result of a breach in August, which led to another breach in November, hackers had gotten their hands on users’ password vaults. While the company insists that your login information is still secure, some cybersecurity experts are heavily criticizing its post, saying that Read more about The LastPass disclosure of leaked password vaults is being torn apart by security experts[…]

EarSpy: Spying on Phone Calls via Ear Speaker Vibrations Captured by Accelerometer

As smartphone manufacturers are improving the ear speakers in their devices, it can become easier for malicious actors to leverage a particular side-channel for eavesdropping on a targeted user’s conversations, according to a team of researchers from several universities in the United States. The attack method, named EarSpy, is described in a paper published just Read more about EarSpy: Spying on Phone Calls via Ear Speaker Vibrations Captured by Accelerometer[…]

ETSI’s Activities in Artificial Intelligence: White Paper

[…] This White Paper entitled ETSI Activities in the field of Artificial Intelligence supports all stakeholders and summarizes ongoing effort in ETSI and planned future activities. It also includes an analysis on how ETSI deliverables may support current policy initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence.  A section of the document outlines ETSI activities of Read more about ETSI’s Activities in Artificial Intelligence: White Paper[…]

Two people charged with hacking Ring security cameras to livestream swattings

In a reminder of smart home security’s dark side, two people hacked Ring security cameras to livestream swattings, according to a Los Angeles grand jury indictment (according to a report from Bloomberg). The pair called in hoax emergencies to authorities and livestreamed the police response on social media in late 2020. James Thomas Andrew McCarty, Read more about Two people charged with hacking Ring security cameras to livestream swattings[…]

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

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

OpenAI releases Point-E, an AI that generates 3D point clouds / meshes

[…] This week, OpenAI open sourced Point-E, a machine learning system that creates a 3D object given a text prompt. According to a paper published alongside the code base, Point-E can produce 3D models in one to two minutes on a single Nvidia V100 GPU. […] Outside of the mesh-generating model, which stands alone, Point-E Read more about OpenAI releases Point-E, an AI that generates 3D point clouds / meshes[…]

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

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

AI-Created Comic Has Copyright Protection Revoked by US

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

ChatGPT Is a ‘Code Red’ for Google’s Search Business

A new wave of chat bots like ChatGPT use artificial intelligence that could reinvent or even replace the traditional internet search engine. From a report: Over the past three decades, a handful of products like Netscape’s web browser, Google’s search engine and Apple’s iPhone have truly upended the tech industry and made what came before Read more about ChatGPT Is a ‘Code Red’ for Google’s Search Business[…]

FBI warns of fake shopping sites – recommends to use an ad blocker

The FBI is warning the public that cyber criminals are using search engine advertisement services to impersonate brands and direct users to malicious sites that host ransomware and steal login credentials and other financial information. […] Cyber criminals purchase advertisements that appear within internet search results using a domain that is similar to an actual Read more about FBI warns of fake shopping sites – recommends to use an ad blocker[…]

LastPass admits attackers copied password vaults

Password locker LastPass has warned customers that the August 2022 attack on its systems saw unknown parties copy encrypted files that contains the passwords to their accounts. In a December 22nd update to its advice about the incident, LastPass brings customers up to date by explaining that the August 2022 attack saw “some source code Read more about LastPass admits attackers copied password vaults[…]

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

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

China’s Setting the Standard for Deepfake Regulation

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

Transparent sunlight-activated antifogging metamaterials

[…] Here, guided by nucleation thermodynamics, we design a transparent, sunlight-activated, photothermal coating to inhibit fogging. The metamaterial coating contains a nanoscopically thin percolating gold layer and is most absorptive in the near-infrared range, where half of the sunlight energy resides, thus maintaining visible transparency. The photoinduced heating effect enables sustained and superior fog prevention Read more about Transparent sunlight-activated antifogging metamaterials[…]

Skyglow pollution is separating us from the stars but also killing earth knowledge and species

[…] It’s not only star gazing that’s in jeopardy. Culture, wildlife and other scientific advancements are being threatened by mass light infrastructure that is costing cities billions of dollars a year as it expands alongside exponential population growth. Some researchers call light pollution cultural genocide. Generations of complex knowledge systems, built by Indigenous Australians and Read more about Skyglow pollution is separating us from the stars but also killing earth knowledge and species[…]

Hertz Shells Out $168 Million To Settle 364 False Theft Reports

[…] Months of reporting tied to lawsuits filed by Hertz renters falsely accused of theft should now come to a halt. Maybe. Here’s the company’s statement on the multi-million dollar settlement, which doesn’t say much about Hertz’s culpability, nor any plans it has in place to prevent something that has only occurred with this rental Read more about Hertz Shells Out $168 Million To Settle 364 False Theft Reports[…]

Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project is Complete, Now Open and Widely Available to Members

The Z-Wave Alliance, the Standards Development Organization (SDO) dedicated to advancing the smart home and Z-Wave® technology, today announced the completion of the Z-Wave Source Code project, which has been published and made available on GitHub to Alliance members. The Z-Wave Source Code Project opens development of Z-Wave and enables members to contribute code to Read more about Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project is Complete, Now Open and Widely Available to Members[…]

Epic Cutting Off Online Service, Servers For Some Old Games

Fortnite developer Epic Games announced today that it will no longer provide online service or servers for 17 older games, including six from the Unreal series dating back as far as 1998, and it will end access to some additional games entirely. […] The full list of affected games is as follows: 1000 Tiny Claws Read more about Epic Cutting Off Online Service, Servers For Some Old Games[…]

U.S. authorities charge 8 social media influencers in pump and dump plan

U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday said they have charged eight individuals in a securities fraud scheme, alleging they reaped about $114 million from by using Twitter and Discord to manipulate stocks. The eight men allegedly purported to be successful traders on the social media platforms and then engaged in a so-called “pump and dump” scheme by Read more about U.S. authorities charge 8 social media influencers in pump and dump plan[…]

Large Hadron Collider Beauty releases first set of data to the public

[…] While all scientific results from the LHCb collaboration are already publicly available through open access papers, the data used by the researchers to produce these results is now accessible to anyone in the world through the CERN open data portal. The data release is made in the context of CERN’s Open Science Policy, reflecting Read more about Large Hadron Collider Beauty releases first set of data to the public[…]