Category: Global Domination

US Congress Wants To Let Private Companies Own The Law – set standards you must comply with but can’t actually find or see easily

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It sounds absolutely batty that there is a strong, bipartisan push to lock up aspects of our law behind copyright. But it’s happening. Even worse, the push is on to include this effort to lock up the law in the “must pass” National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is the bill that Congress lights up Read more about US Congress Wants To Let Private Companies Own The Law – set standards you must comply with but can’t actually find or see easily[…]

FTC asks 8 big names to explain surveillance pricing tech

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation into “surveillance pricing,” a phenomenon likely familiar to anyone who’s had to buy something in an incognito browser window to avoid paying a premium. Surveillance pricing, according to the FTC, is the use of algorithms, AI, and other technologies – most crucially combined with personal Read more about FTC asks 8 big names to explain surveillance pricing tech[…]

Google’s reCAPTCHAv2 is just labor exploitation, boffins say

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google promotes its reCAPTCHA service as a security mechanism for websites, but researchers affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, argue it’s harvesting information while extracting human labor worth billions. The term CAPTCHA stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart,” and, as Google explains, it refers to a challenge-response Read more about Google’s reCAPTCHAv2 is just labor exploitation, boffins say[…]

UN Cybercrime Treaty does not define cybercrime, allows any definition and forces all signatories to secretly surveil their own population on request by any other signatory (think totalitarian states spying on people in democracies with no recourse)

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] EFF colleague, Katitza Rodriguez, about the Cybercrime Treaty, which is about to pass, and which is, to put it mildly, terrifying: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/07/un-cybercrime-draft-convention-dangerously-expands-state-surveillance-powers Look, cybercrime is a real thing, from pig butchering to ransomware, and there’s real, global harms that can be attributed to it. Cybercrime is transnational, making it hard for cops in any Read more about UN Cybercrime Treaty does not define cybercrime, allows any definition and forces all signatories to secretly surveil their own population on request by any other signatory (think totalitarian states spying on people in democracies with no recourse)[…]

Google isn’t killing third-party cookies in Chrome after all in move that surprises absolutely no-one.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google won’t kill third-party cookies in Chrome after all, the company said on Monday. Instead, it will introduce a new experience in the browser that will allow users to make informed choices about their web browsing preferences, Google announced in a blog post. Killing cookies, Google said, would adversely impact online publishers and advertisers. This Read more about Google isn’t killing third-party cookies in Chrome after all in move that surprises absolutely no-one.[…]

Meta and Apple are Keeping their Next Big AI things Out of the EU – that’s a good thing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] In a statement to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Kate McLaughlin said that the company’s next-gen Llama AI model is skipping Europe, placing the blame squarely on regulations. “We will release a multimodal Llama model over the coming months,” Mclaughlin said, “but not in the EU due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory Read more about Meta and Apple are Keeping their Next Big AI things Out of the EU – that’s a good thing[…]

Firefox’s New ‘Privacy’ Feature Actually Gives Your Data to Advertisers – How and Why to Disable Firefox’s ‘Privacy-Preserving’ Ad Measurements

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Firefox finds itself in a tricky position at times, because it wants to be a privacy friendly browser, but most of its funding comes from Google, whose entire business is advertising. With Firefox 128, the browser has introduced ‘privacy-preserving ad measurement,’ which is enabled by default. Despite the name, the actual implications of the feature Read more about Firefox’s New ‘Privacy’ Feature Actually Gives Your Data to Advertisers – How and Why to Disable Firefox’s ‘Privacy-Preserving’ Ad Measurements[…]

Only 5 years too late: British regulators to examine Big Tech’s digital wallets – and where is the EU?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

British regulators said on Monday they were looking into the soaring use of digital wallets offered by Big Tech firms, including whether there are any competition, consumer protection or market integrity concerns. The Financial Conduct Authority and Payments Systems Regulator is seeking views on the benefits and risks, and will assess the impact digital wallets, Read more about Only 5 years too late: British regulators to examine Big Tech’s digital wallets – and where is the EU?[…]

Dutch DPA gets off its’ ass, Fine of 600,000 euros for tracking cookies on Kruidvat.nl – detected in 2020

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has imposed a fine of 600,000 euros on the company behind the Kruidvat drugstore. Kruidvat.nl followed consumers with tracking cookies, without their knowledge or permission. AS Watson collected and used sensitive personal data from millions of website visitors against the rules. The company behind Kruidvat collected data from website Read more about Dutch DPA gets off its’ ass, Fine of 600,000 euros for tracking cookies on Kruidvat.nl – detected in 2020[…]

WTFBBQ?! Firefox Starts collecting personal ad preferences

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a world where so much of our lives depend on the use of online services, the web browser used to access those services becomes of crucial importance. It becomes a question of whether we trust the huge corporate interests which control this software with such access to our daily lives, and it is vital Read more about WTFBBQ?! Firefox Starts collecting personal ad preferences[…]

Apple settles EU case by opening its iPhone payment system to rivals

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU on Thursday accepted Apple’s pledge to open its “tap to pay” iPhone payment system to rivals as a way to resolve an antitrust case and head off a potentially hefty fine. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm and top antitrust enforcer, said it approved the commitments that Apple offered earlier this year Read more about Apple settles EU case by opening its iPhone payment system to rivals[…]

Why all Chromium browsers tell Google about your CPU, GPU usage? A whitewashing bullshit explanation.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Running a Chromium-based browser, such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge? The chances are good it’s quietly telling Google all about your CPU and GPU usage when you visit one of the search giant’s websites. The feature is, from what we can tell, for performance monitoring and not really for tracking – Google knows who Read more about Why all Chromium browsers tell Google about your CPU, GPU usage? A whitewashing bullshit explanation.[…]

Data breach exposes millions of mSpy spyware customer support tickets

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Unknown attackers stole millions of customer support tickets, including personal information, emails to support, and attachments, including personal documents, from mSpy in May 2024. While hacks of spyware purveyors are becoming increasingly common, they remain notable because of the highly sensitive personal information often included in the data, in this case about the customers who Read more about Data breach exposes millions of mSpy spyware customer support tickets[…]

Inputs, Outputs, and Fair Uses: Unpacking Responses to Journalists’ Copyright Lawsuits

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The complaints against OpenAI and Microsoft in New York Times Company v. Microsoft Corporation and Daily News, LP v. Microsoft Corporation include multiple theories––for instance, vicarious copyright infringement, contributory copyright infringement, and improper removal of copyright information. Those theories, however, are ancillary to both complaints’ primary cause of action: direct copyright infringement. While the defendants’ Read more about Inputs, Outputs, and Fair Uses: Unpacking Responses to Journalists’ Copyright Lawsuits[…]

Sharing material used to be the norm for newspapers, and should be for LLMs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Even though parents insist that it is good and right to share things, the copyright world has succeeded in establishing the contrary as the norm. Now, sharing is deemed a bad, possibly illegal thing. But it was not always thus, as a fascinating speech by Ryan Cordell, Associate Professor in the School of Information Sciences Read more about Sharing material used to be the norm for newspapers, and should be for LLMs[…]

Report finds most subscription services manipulate customers with ‘dark patterns’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Most subscription sites use “dark patterns” to influence customer behavior around subscriptions and personal data, according to a pair of new reports from global consumer protection groups. Dark patterns are “practices commonly found in online user interfaces [that] steer, deceive, coerce or manipulate consumers into making choices that often are not in their best interests.” Read more about Report finds most subscription services manipulate customers with ‘dark patterns’[…]

The US Supreme Court’s Contempt for Facts Is a Betrayal of Justice

Posted on by Robin Edgar

When the Supreme Court’s Ohio v. EPA decision blocked Environmental Protection Agency limits on Midwestern states polluting their downwind neighbors, a sad but telling coda came in Justice Neil Gorsuch’s opinion. In five instances, it confused nitrogen oxide, a pollutant that contributes to ozone formation, with nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. You can’t Read more about The US Supreme Court’s Contempt for Facts Is a Betrayal of Justice[…]

Speed limiters arrive for all new cars in the European Union

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It was a big week for road safety campaigners in the European Union as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology became mandatory on all new cars. The rules came into effect on July 7 and follow a 2019 decision by the European Commission to make ISA obligatory on all new models and types of vehicles introduced Read more about Speed limiters arrive for all new cars in the European Union[…]

Paramount Axes Decades Of Comedy Central History In Latest Round Of Brunchlord Dysfunction

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Last month we noted how the brunchlords in charge of Paramount (CBS) decided to eliminate decades of MTV News journalism history as part of their ongoing “cost saving” efforts. It was just the latest casualty in an ever-consolidating and very broken U.S. media business routinely run by some of the least competent people imaginable. We’ve Read more about Paramount Axes Decades Of Comedy Central History In Latest Round Of Brunchlord Dysfunction[…]

Why You Should Consider Proton Docs Over Google

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Proton has officially launched Docs in Proton Drive, a new web-based productivity app that gives you access to a fully-featured text editor with shared editing capabilities and full end-to-end encryption. It’s meant to take on Google Docs—one of the leading online word processors in the world, and make it more convenient to use Proton’s storage Read more about Why You Should Consider Proton Docs Over Google[…]

Proton Docs is a privacy-focused answer to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Proton Docs looks a lot like Google Docs: white pages, formatting toolbar at the top, live indicators showing who’s in the doc with their name attached to a cursor, the whole deal. That’s not especially surprising, for a couple of reasons. First, Google Docs is hugely popular, and there are only so many ways to Read more about Proton Docs is a privacy-focused answer to Google Docs and Microsoft Word[…]

Spain introduces porn passport – really wants to know what you are watching and especially how often erm… no… *cough* to stop kids from watching smut

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Spanish government has a plan to prevent kids from watching porn online: Meet the porn passport. Officially (and drily) called the Digital Wallet Beta (Cartera Digital Beta), the app Madrid unveiled on Monday would allow internet platforms to check whether a prospective smut-watcher is over 18. Porn-viewers will be asked to use the app Read more about Spain introduces porn passport – really wants to know what you are watching and especially how often erm… no… *cough* to stop kids from watching smut[…]

Apple bows to Kremlin pressure to remove leading VPNs from Russian AppStore – in other news, Apple still active in Russia

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple has removed several apps offering virtual private network (VPN) services from the Russian AppStore, following a request from Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media regulator, independent news outlet Mediazona reported on Thursday. The VPN services removed by Apple include leading services such as ProtonVPN, Red Shield VPN, NordVPN and Le VPN. Those living in Russia will no Read more about Apple bows to Kremlin pressure to remove leading VPNs from Russian AppStore – in other news, Apple still active in Russia[…]

Supreme Court overrules Chevron, kneecapping federal regulators

Posted on by Robin Edgar

On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned a long-standing legal doctrine in the US, making a transformative ruling that could hamper federal agencies’ ability to regulate all kinds of industry. Six Republican-appointed justices voted to overturn the doctrine, called Chevron deference, a decision that could affect everything from pollution limits to consumer protections in the US. Read more about Supreme Court overrules Chevron, kneecapping federal regulators[…]

The Pentagon’s Antivaccine Propaganda Endangered Public Health and Tarnished U.S. Credibility

Posted on by Robin Edgar

According to a June Reuters exposé, the Pentagon ran a secret antivaccine campaign in several developing countries at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Why? “To sow doubt about the efficacy of vaccines and other life-saving aid that was being supplied by China,” Reuters reported. Trump’s secretary of defense signed off on it; the Read more about The Pentagon’s Antivaccine Propaganda Endangered Public Health and Tarnished U.S. Credibility[…]