Sick of AI engines scraping your pics for facial recognition? Fawkes breaks the AI for you

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Sand Lab have developed a technique for tweaking photos of people so that they sabotage facial-recognition systems. The project, named Fawkes in reference to the mask in the V for Vendetta graphic novel and film depicting 16th century failed assassin Guy Fawkes, is described in a paper scheduled for Read more about Sick of AI engines scraping your pics for facial recognition? Fawkes breaks the AI for you[…]

Ex-boss of ICANN shifts from ‘advisor’ to co-CEO of private equity biz that tried to buy .org for $1bn

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Robin Edgar

The former head of DNS regulator ICANN has been named as co-CEO of a company that launched a controversial attempt to purchase the .org internet registry earlier this year. The news has again raised concerns over the revolving doors between regulators and those who need regulation. In the past week, the website of Ethos Capital, Read more about Ex-boss of ICANN shifts from ‘advisor’ to co-CEO of private equity biz that tried to buy .org for $1bn[…]

Microsoft’s Doing the Monopoly Thing Again, Slack Says

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Workplace messaging software company Slack is accusing Microsoft of monopoly behavior in an antitrust complaint filed today to European Union regulators. Unsurprisingly, the accusations hinge on the same practice that helped make Microsoft rich in the first place. Bill Gates, Windows, innovation, yes, yes, OK—undoubtedly Microsoft had a lot to contribute to the early years Read more about Microsoft’s Doing the Monopoly Thing Again, Slack Says[…]

test detects cancer four years before conventional diagnosis using a blood test

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Early detection has the potential to reduce cancer mortality, but an effective screening test must demonstrate asymptomatic cancer detection years before conventional diagnosis in a longitudinal study. In the Taizhou Longitudinal Study (TZL), 123,115 healthy subjects provided plasma samples for long-term storage and were then monitored for cancer occurrence. Here we report the preliminary results Read more about test detects cancer four years before conventional diagnosis using a blood test[…]

China successfully launches Mars probe that packs an orbiter, lander, rover

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

China has successfully launched a Mars probe. The middle kingdom’s previous red planet effort, 2011’s Yinghuo-1, rode on a Russian rocket that failed to leave Earth orbit and therefore did not fulfill its orbital observation mission. For this new mission, dubbed Tianwen-1, China has used its own Long March 5 heavy lifter and packed in Read more about China successfully launches Mars probe that packs an orbiter, lander, rover[…]

Twitter hack latest: Up to 36 compromised accounts had their private messages read – including a Dutch politician’s

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Twitter has admitted that the naughty folk who hijacked verified accounts last week read a portion of hacked users’ direct messages. Among the 36 Twitter users whose direct messages (DMs), email addresses and phone numbers were definitely accessed by account hijackers last week was one Dutch politician, the microblogging platform said overnight. “We believe that Read more about Twitter hack latest: Up to 36 compromised accounts had their private messages read – including a Dutch politician’s[…]

Fitness freaks flummoxed as massive global Garmin outage leaves them high and dry for hours

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Garmin’s Connect service has been down for more than seven hours today to the frustration of fitness enthusiasts keen to upload running times or synchronise with other services such as Strava. So, too, is the company’s web shop and support forums. Users have expressed obvious concern that such an extended outage is indicative of a Read more about Fitness freaks flummoxed as massive global Garmin outage leaves them high and dry for hours[…]

US accuses Chinese-Made Drones with Security Weakness: the possiblity to update their software

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

In two reports, the researchers contended that an app on Google’s Android operating system that powers drones made by China-based Da Jiang Innovations, or DJI, collects large amounts of personal information that could be exploited by the Beijing government. Hundreds of thousands of customers across the world use the app to pilot their rotor-powered, camera-mounted Read more about US accuses Chinese-Made Drones with Security Weakness: the possiblity to update their software[…]

Facebook settles unauthorised use of facial recognition for $650 million

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Facebook has agreed to pay a total of $650 million in a landmark class action lawsuit over the company’s unauthorized use of facial recognition, a new court filing shows. The filing represents a revised settlement that increases the total payout by $100 million and comes after a federal judge balked at the original proposal on Read more about Facebook settles unauthorised use of facial recognition for $650 million[…]

Amazon Met With Startups About Investing, Then Launched Competing Products

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

When Amazon.com’s venture-capital fund invested in DefinedCrowd, it gained access to the technology startup’s finances and other confidential information. Nearly four years later, in April, Amazon’s cloud-computing unit launched an artificial-intelligence product that does almost exactly what DefinedCrowd does, said DefinedCrowd founder and Chief Executive Daniela Braga. The new offering from Amazon Web Services, called Read more about Amazon Met With Startups About Investing, Then Launched Competing Products[…]

Instacart Customers’ Data Is Being Sold Online, but Instacart has it’s fingers in it’s ears, pretends nothing is wrong

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

The personal information of what could be hundreds of thousands of Instacart customers is being sold on the dark web. This data includes names, the last four digits of credit card numbers, and order histories, and appears to have affected customers who used the grocery delivery service as recently as yesterday. As of Wednesday, sellers Read more about Instacart Customers’ Data Is Being Sold Online, but Instacart has it’s fingers in it’s ears, pretends nothing is wrong[…]

Amazon’s auditing of Alexa Skills is so good, these boffins got all 200+ rule-breaking apps past the reviewers

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Amazon claims it reviews the software created by third-party developers for its Alexa voice assistant platform, yet US academics were able to create more than 200 policy-violating Alexa Skills and get them certified. In a paper [PDF] presented at the US Federal Trade Commission’s PrivacyCon 2020 event this week, Clemson University researchers Long Cheng, Christin Read more about Amazon’s auditing of Alexa Skills is so good, these boffins got all 200+ rule-breaking apps past the reviewers[…]

The Record Industry Is Going After Parody Songs Written By an Algorithm

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Georgia Tech researcher Mark Riedl didn’t expect that his machine learning model “Weird A.I. Yankovic,” which generates new rhyming lyrics for existing songs would cause any trouble. But it did. On May 15, Reidl posted an AI-generated lyric video featuring the instrumental to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” It was taken down on July 14, Reidl Read more about The Record Industry Is Going After Parody Songs Written By an Algorithm[…]

KFC will test lab-grown chicken nuggets made with a 3D bioprinter this fall in Russia

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

KFC announced on July 16 it would test chicken nuggets made with 3D bioprinting technology in Russia this fall. The chain partnered with 3D Bioprinting Solutions to create a chicken nugget that will mimic the taste and appearance of its original nuggets at a fraction of the environmental cost. The release will be the first Read more about KFC will test lab-grown chicken nuggets made with a 3D bioprinter this fall in Russia[…]

Russia tested satellite-to-satellite shooter, say UK and USA

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

The USA and UK have alleged that Russia last week trialled an in-orbit satellite-killer weapon. US Space Force chief of operations General John Raymond put his name to a statement that says on July 15th Russia “injected a new object into orbit from Cosmos 2543”, a satellite that Moscow insists is a maintenance vehicle but Read more about Russia tested satellite-to-satellite shooter, say UK and USA[…]

Google aims at Amazon and fires: List your products on Google Shopping for free

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

we’re advancing our plans to make it free for merchants to sell on Google. Beginning next week, search results on the Google Shopping tab will consist primarily of free listings, helping merchants better connect with consumers, regardless of whether they advertise on Google. With hundreds of millions of shopping searches on Google each day, we Read more about Google aims at Amazon and fires: List your products on Google Shopping for free[…]

Copyright Claims Block Star Trek, Cartoon Network Comic-Con Panels video streams. Somehow they get to fix DMCA in 20 minutes – why doesn’t the rest of the world?

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Robin Edgar

It wouldn’t be a virtual event without a few technical difficulties. Though I can’t imagine the media giants showcasing at San Diego Comic-Con’s online event were worried about copyright violations affecting their panels. Considering, you know, they’re the ones that own the copyright. Of course, that’s exactly what happened. On Thursday, ViacomCBS livestreamed an hour-long Read more about Copyright Claims Block Star Trek, Cartoon Network Comic-Con Panels video streams. Somehow they get to fix DMCA in 20 minutes – why doesn’t the rest of the world?[…]

UNESCO launches worldwide online public consultation on the ethics of artificial intelligence

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Today, UNESCO is launching a global online consultation on the ethics of artificial intelligence, to give everyone around the world the opportunity to participate in the work of its international group of experts on AI. This group has been charged with producing the first draft of a Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, to be Read more about UNESCO launches worldwide online public consultation on the ethics of artificial intelligence[…]

BadPower Attack Can Trick Power Bricks into Starting a Fire

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Robin Edgar

In a study published by Xuanwu Labs (which is owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent), researchers detailed the BadPower hack which works by manipulating the firmware inside fast charge power adapters. Normally, when a phone is connected to a power brick with support for fast charging, the phone and the power adapter communicate with each Read more about BadPower Attack Can Trick Power Bricks into Starting a Fire[…]

Sloan Digital Sky Surver releases biggest 3D map of the universe

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Robin Edgar

An international consortium has compiled the most comprehensive 3D map of the observable cosmos to date, significantly improving our understanding of cosmological history while raising new questions about the fundamental laws that govern the universe. The updated map, made from data gathered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), offers a detailed history of the Read more about Sloan Digital Sky Surver releases biggest 3D map of the universe[…]

AI helps drone swarms navigate through crowded, unfamiliar spaces

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Drone swarms frequently fly outside for a reason: it’s difficult for the robotic fliers to navigate in tight spaces without hitting each other. Caltech researchers may have a way for those drones to fly indoors, however. They’ve developed a machine learning algorithm, Global-to-Local Safe Autonomy Synthesis (GLAS), that lets swarms navigate crowded, unmapped environments. The Read more about AI helps drone swarms navigate through crowded, unfamiliar spaces[…]

The Physical Traits that Define Men and Women in Literature

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Robin Edgar

After slogging through that book, I began paying attention to similarly stereotyped descriptions of bodies in other books. Women are all soft thighs and red lips. Men, strong muscles and rough hands. I was frustrated by this lazy writing. I want to read books that explore the full humanity of their characters, not stories that Read more about The Physical Traits that Define Men and Women in Literature[…]

Firefox on Android: Camera remains active when phone is locked or the user switches apps after streaming

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Mozilla says it’s working on fixing a bug in Firefox for Android that keeps the smartphone camera active even after users have moved the browser in the background or the phone screen was locked. A Mozilla spokesperson told ZDNet in an email this week that a fix is expected for later this year in October. Read more about Firefox on Android: Camera remains active when phone is locked or the user switches apps after streaming[…]

Mozilla offers trusted VPN services – good timing!

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Robin Edgar

Starting today, there’s a VPN on the market from a company you trust. The Mozilla VPN (Virtual Private Network) is now available on Windows and Android devices. This fast and easy-to-use VPN service is brought to you by Mozilla, the makers of Firefox, and a trusted name in online consumer security and privacy services. See Read more about Mozilla offers trusted VPN services – good timing![…]

Seven ‘no log’ VPN providers accused of leaking – yup, you guessed it – 1.2TB of user logs onto the internet

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Robin Edgar

A string of “zero logging” VPN providers have some explaining to do after more than a terabyte of user logs were found on their servers unprotected and facing the public internet. This data, we are told, included in at least some cases clear-text passwords, personal information, and lists of websites visited, all for anyone to Read more about Seven ‘no log’ VPN providers accused of leaking – yup, you guessed it – 1.2TB of user logs onto the internet[…]