Category: Global Domination

Google Ordered to Pay $314M for Misusing Android Users’ Cellular Data Without Permission – calling home 389 times per day even when completely idle and all google apps closed!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google has been ordered by a court in the U.S. state of California to pay $314 million over charges that it misused Android device users’ cellular data when they were idle to passively send information to the company. The verdict marks an end to a legal class-action complaint that was originally filed in August 2019. Read more about Google Ordered to Pay $314M for Misusing Android Users’ Cellular Data Without Permission – calling home 389 times per day even when completely idle and all google apps closed![…]

Someone Built a Concept Ad Blocker for Real Life, and I Can’t Wait to Try It

Posted on by Robin Edgar

I use as many ad-blocking programs as possible, but no matter how many I install, real-life advertising is still there, grabbing my attention when I’m just trying to go for a walk. Thankfully, there may be a solution on the horizon. Software engineer Stijn Spanhove recently posted a concept video showing what real-time, real-life ad-blocking Read more about Someone Built a Concept Ad Blocker for Real Life, and I Can’t Wait to Try It[…]

The Conservatives On The Supreme Court Are So Scared Of Nudity, They Threw Out The First Amendment

Posted on by Robin Edgar

he Supreme Court this morning took a chainsaw to the First Amendment on the internet, and the impact is going to be felt for decades going forward. In the FSC v. Paxton case, the Court upheld the very problematic 5th Circuit ruling that age verification online is acceptable under the First Amendment, despite multiple earlier Read more about The Conservatives On The Supreme Court Are So Scared Of Nudity, They Threw Out The First Amendment[…]

Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Danish government is to clamp down on the creation and dissemination of AI-generated deepfakes by changing copyright law to ensure that everybody has the right to their own body, facial features and voice. The Danish government said on Thursday it would strengthen protection against digital imitations of people’s identities with what it believes to Read more about Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features[…]

Federal judge sides with Meta in lawsuit over training AI models on copyrighted books, close on Federal judge ruling for Anthropic

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A federal judge sided with Meta on Wednesday in a lawsuit brought against the company by 13 book authors, including Sarah Silverman, that alleged the company had illegally trained its AI models on their copyrighted works. Federal Judge Vince Chhabria issued a summary judgment — meaning the judge was able to decide on the case Read more about Federal judge sides with Meta in lawsuit over training AI models on copyrighted books, close on Federal judge ruling for Anthropic[…]

Google to Gemini Users: We’re Going to Look at Your Texts Whether You Like It or Not

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…]As highlighted in a Reddit post, Google recently sent out an email to some Android users informing them that Gemini will now be able to “help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.” That change, according to the email, will take place on Read more about Google to Gemini Users: We’re Going to Look at Your Texts Whether You Like It or Not[…]

Anthropic wins key US ruling on AI training in authors’ copyright lawsuit, but should only have used legally bought books.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A federal judge in San Francisco ruled late on Monday that Anthropic’s use of books without permission to train its artificial intelligence system was legal under U.S. copyright law. Siding with tech companies on a pivotal question for the AI industry, U.S. District Judge William Alsup said Anthropic made “fair use” , opens new tab Read more about Anthropic wins key US ruling on AI training in authors’ copyright lawsuit, but should only have used legally bought books.[…]

Judge Denies Creating ‘Mass Surveillance Program’ Harming All ChatGPT Users after ordering all chats (including “deleted” ones) be kept indefinitely

Posted on by Robin Edgar

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: After a court ordered OpenAI to “indefinitely” retain all ChatGPT logs, including deleted chats, of millions of users, two panicked users tried and failed to intervene. The order sought to preserve potential evidence in a copyright infringement lawsuit raised by news organizations. In May, Judge Ona Read more about Judge Denies Creating ‘Mass Surveillance Program’ Harming All ChatGPT Users after ordering all chats (including “deleted” ones) be kept indefinitely[…]

Makers of air fryers and smart speakers told to respect users’ right to privacy in UK

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Makers of air fryers, smart speakers, fertility trackers and smart TVs have been told to respect people’s rights to privacy by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). People have reported feeling powerless to control how data is gathered, used and shared in their own homes and on their bodies. After reports of air fryers designed Read more about Makers of air fryers and smart speakers told to respect users’ right to privacy in UK[…]

Pornhub Back Online in France After Court Ruling About Age Verification

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Many porn sites, including Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, all went dark earlier this month in France to protest a new age verification law that would have required the websites to collect ID from users. But those sites went back online Friday after a new ruling from a French court suspended enforcement of the law until Read more about Pornhub Back Online in France After Court Ruling About Age Verification[…]

Net Neutrality: What happened during the July 12 Internet-Wide Day of Action protest, why did the internet go down?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Updated July 14: The Internet-Wide Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality on July 12 enjoyed a healthy turnout.Thousands of companies and some visible tech celebrities united against the FCC proposal called Restoring Internet Freedom, by which the new FCC chairman Ajit Pai hopes to loosen regulations for the ISPs and telecom companies that provide Read more about Net Neutrality: What happened during the July 12 Internet-Wide Day of Action protest, why did the internet go down?[…]

‘We’re done with Teams’: German state hits uninstall on Microsoft. So do Denmark and NL.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In less than three months’ time, almost no civil servant, police officer or judge in Schleswig-Holstein will be using any of Microsoft’s ubiquitous programs at work. Instead, the northern state will turn to open-source software to “take back control” over data storage and ensure “digital sovereignty”, its digitalisation minister, Dirk Schroedter, told AFP. “We’re done Read more about ‘We’re done with Teams’: German state hits uninstall on Microsoft. So do Denmark and NL.[…]

Nintendo will record your Gamechat audio and video

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Last month, ahead of the launch of the Switch 2 and its GameChat communication features, Nintendo updated its privacy policy to note that the company “may also monitor and record your video and audio interactions with other users.” Now that the Switch 2 has officially launched, we have a clearer understanding of how the console Read more about Nintendo will record your Gamechat audio and video[…]

The US Is Storing Migrant Children’s DNA in a Criminal Database

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The United States government has collected DNA samples from upwards of 133,000 migrant children and teenagers—including at least one 4-year-old—and uploaded their genetic data into a national criminal database used by local, state, and federal law enforcement, according to documents reviewed by WIRED. The records, quietly released by the US Customs and Border Protection earlier Read more about The US Is Storing Migrant Children’s DNA in a Criminal Database[…]

European Publishers Council stays true – to the tired old trope about “copyright theft”

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A few weeks ago Walled Culture explored how the leaders in the generative AI world are trying to influence the future legal norms for this field. In the face of a powerful new form of an old technology – AI itself has been around for over 50 years – those are certainly needed. Governments around Read more about European Publishers Council stays true – to the tired old trope about “copyright theft”[…]

Regeneron to Acquire all 23andMe genetic data for $256m

Posted on by Robin Edgar

23andMe Holding Co. (“23andMe” or the “Company”) (OTC: MEHCQ), a leading human genetics and biotechnology company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of 23andMe to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Regeneron”) (NASDAQ: REGN), a leading U.S.-based, NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious Read more about Regeneron to Acquire all 23andMe genetic data for $256m[…]

Boeing Strikes Deal with DOJ to Avoid Criminal Charges Over 737 Max Crashes

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Boeing and the Department of Justice have reached an “agreement in principle” that will keep the airplane manufacturer from facing criminal charges for allegedly misleading regulators about safety features on its 737 Max plane before two separate crashes that killed 346 people. The tentative deal, according to a court filing, will see Boeing pay out Read more about Boeing Strikes Deal with DOJ to Avoid Criminal Charges Over 737 Max Crashes[…]

New Orleans police secretly used facial recognition on over 200 live camera feeds

Posted on by Robin Edgar

New Orleans’ police force secretly used constant facial recognition to seek out suspects for two years. An investigation by The Washington Post discovered that the city’s police department was using facial recognition technology on a privately owned camera network to continually look for suspects. This application seems to violate a city ordinance passed in 2022 Read more about New Orleans police secretly used facial recognition on over 200 live camera feeds[…]

FBI Director Kash Patel Abruptly Closes Internal Watchdog Office Overseeing Surveillance Compliance

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If there’s one thing the Federal Bureau of Investigation does well, it’s mass surveillance. Several years ago, then attorney general William Barr established an internal office to curb the FBI’s abuse of one controversial surveillance law. But recently, the FBI’s long-time hater (and, ironically, current director) Kash Patel shut down the watchdog group with no Read more about FBI Director Kash Patel Abruptly Closes Internal Watchdog Office Overseeing Surveillance Compliance[…]

Russia to enforce location tracking app on all foreigners in Moscow

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Russian government has introduced a new law that makes installing a tracking app mandatory for all foreign nationals in the Moscow region. The new proposal was announced by the chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, who presented it as a measure to tackle migrant crimes. “The adopted mechanism will allow, using modern technologies, Read more about Russia to enforce location tracking app on all foreigners in Moscow[…]

Google found not compliant with AVG when registering new accounts – sends the data to 70 services without user knowledge

Posted on by Robin Edgar

According to a ruling by the Berlin Regional Court, Google must disclose to its users which of its more than 70 services process their data when they register for an account. The civil chamber thus upheld a lawsuit filed by the German Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv). The consumer advocates had complained that neither the Read more about Google found not compliant with AVG when registering new accounts – sends the data to 70 services without user knowledge[…]

Respond to the EU on allowing corporations to shut down sections of the internet with no recourse before 28th May

Posted on by Robin Edgar

After LaLiga accidentally shut down Cloudflare and Vercel in Spain (LaLiga Piracy Blocks Randomly Take Down huge innocent segments of internet with no recourse or warning, slammed as “Unaccountable Internet Censorship”) and the Italian Privacy Shield shut down Google Drive in Italy (Massive expansion of Italy’s Piracy Shield underway despite growing criticism of its flaws Read more about Respond to the EU on allowing corporations to shut down sections of the internet with no recourse before 28th May[…]

House of Lords shows they are in pocket of big copyright and pushes back against government’s AI plans

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The government has suffered another setback in the House of Lords over its plans to let artificial intelligence firms use copyright-protected work without permission. An amendment to the data bill requiring AI companies to reveal which copyrighted material is used in their models was backed by peers, despite government opposition. It is the second time Read more about House of Lords shows they are in pocket of big copyright and pushes back against government’s AI plans[…]

Moderna’s Vaccine for both Flu and Covid Works—Now Politics Could Sink It

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Moderna’s mRNA-based flu and covid-19 vaccine could provide the best of both worlds—if it’s actually ever approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This week, scientists at Moderna published data from a Phase III trial testing the company’s combination vaccine, codenamed mRNA-1083. Individuals given mRNA-1083 appeared to generate the same or even greater immune response Read more about Moderna’s Vaccine for both Flu and Covid Works—Now Politics Could Sink It[…]

Google will pay Texas $1.4B to settle claims the company collected users’ data without permission

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] “For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won.” The agreement settles several claims Texas made against the search giant in 2022 related to geolocation, incognito searches and biometric data. The state argued Google was “unlawfully tracking Read more about Google will pay Texas $1.4B to settle claims the company collected users’ data without permission[…]