(CD) — The European Union (EU) on Wednesday took a step toward enacting new internet copyright rules that experts warn pose “an imminent threat to the future of this global network” and threaten to create a “censorship machine.” The Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) passed the Copyright Directive, which could now move to negotiations with EU member states ahead of […]
(ZHE) — Responding to a report in the New York Times which revealed Facebook gave at least 60 major device manufacturers unprecedented access to user data, Democratic Congressman David Cicilline (RI) tweeted on Sunday: “Sure looks like Zuckerberg lied to Congress about whether users have “complete control” over who sees our data on Facebook,” adding “This needs to be investigated […]
(CD) — Accusing Facebook, Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram of “intentionally” violating Europe’s strict new privacy rules that officially went into effect on Friday, Austrian lawyer and privacy activist Max Schrems filed four lawsuits against the tech companies arguing they are still “coercing users into sharing personal data” despite rolling out new policies ostensibly aimed at complying with the new […]
(ZHE) — As it turns out, the scandal over Amazon’s Alexa voice-controlled personal assistant recording and sharing private conversations both with hackers and with people on the users’ contact list is much more serious than the company had feared. As Bloomberg reported, Amazon responded to a KIRO 7 news report about a couple who received a call from a […]
(ZHE) — “Unplug your Alexa devices right now…You’re being hacked.” That was the disturbing message that a Portland family received just weeks after installing the Amazon listening devices throughout their home. As KIRO7 reports, Danielle, who did not want us to use her last name, contacted Amazon to investigate after they say a private conversation in their home was recorded […]
“We’re pleased with the court’s decision, which reflects a careful application of core First Amendment principles to government censorship on a new communications platform.” (CD) — In a decision free speech advocates celebrated as a “historic moment for the First Amendment” and online freedom of expression, a federal judge ruled (pdf) on Wednesday that President Donald Trump cannot block Twitter […]
Smoker's data, free popcorn and baby boxes + this day in history w/the attack of the "losers" and our song of the day by Cowboy Junkies on your Morning Monarchy for May 23, 2018.
(ZHE) — More than 3,000 people in Sweden have implanted tiny microchips beneath their skin to replace their credit card information, identification, keys, train tickets, among other everyday items, Agence France-Press announced Sunday. The implant, which is about the size of a grain of rice, utilizes Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, also found in credit cards, debit cards, key […]
The Atlantic Council “will now assist Facebook in suppressing what they decide is disinformation.” (CD) In a new project Facebook insists is a completely objective and nonpartisan effort to root out what it deems “disinformation,” the social media giant announced on Thursday that it is partnering with the Atlantic Council — a prominent Washington-based think-tank funded by […]
New fissures, the olympics of beer and heavenly whiskey + this day in history w/the Queen of America and our song of the day by Okkervil River on your Morning Monarchy for May 16, 2018.
