BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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Google offers users option to plug AI mode into their photos, email for more personalized answers
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google is leveraging its artificial intelligence technology to open a new peephole for its dominant search engine to tailor answers that draw upon people’s interests, habits, travel itineraries and photo libraries. The new option rolling out Thursday will give millions of people the option of turning on a recently introduced tool…
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Under Armour looking into data breach affecting customers’ email addresses
BALTIMORE (AP) — Clothing retailer Under Armour is investigating a recent data breach that purloined customers’ email addresses and other personal information, but so far there are no signs the hackers stole any passwords or financial information. The breach is believed to have happened late last year, and affected 72 million email addresses, according to…
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Tens of thousands of Canadian marine animals killed or maimed by ‘ghost gear’
A “shocking” amount of marine life is being ensnared in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear adrift in Canada’s oceans, internal federal data reveals. Nearly 86,000 marine animals were caught up in “ghost gear” between 2020 and 2023, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) data obtained by Canada’s National Observer through an access to…
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Ontario to ban research testing on dogs and cats, premier says
Ontario will ban research testing on dogs and cats, Premier Doug Ford said Monday as he called the practice “cruel.” “You aren’t going to use pets — dogs or cats — to experiment on any longer,” Ford said at an unrelated news conference in London, Ont. “Simple as that. We just don’t do that, it’s…
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Alberta seeking public input in establishing nuclear power industry
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she expects the private sector to lead the way on potentially bringing nuclear power to the province, but her government would set up a Crown corporation if needed. “Because we have a power market where generation is privatized, we would anticipate that the private sector would pay for it,” Smith…
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Province drafts lesson plan to combat high teacher turnover in North
Manitoba is creating a new strategy to tackle high staff turnover in First Nations schools and the achievement gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Over the last 15 months, the Education Department has been developing a plan to recruit and retain classroom and traditional-language teachers who want to live and work in the North. “Nobody…
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As AI becomes part of everyday life, it brings a hidden climate cost
Marissa Loewen first started using artificial intelligence in 2014 as a project management tool. She has autism and ADHD and said it helped immensely with organizing her thoughts. “We try to use it conscientiously though because we do realize that there is an impact on the environment,” she said. Her personal AI use isn’t unique…
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UK’s top diplomat gets a warning for illegal fishing with US vice president
LONDON (AP) — British Foreign Secretary David Lammy went fishing with U.S. Vice President JD Vance earlier this month and the closest thing he came to catching was a whopping fine. Lammy was given a written warning for fishing without a license, an Environment Agency spokesperson said Friday. As far as breaking the law goes,…
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Fake Automatic Speed Enforcement texts target New Tecumseth residents
If you or someone driving your vehicle is caught speeding in a zone with an Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) camera, you will receive a notification in the mail. The Town of New Tecumseth has issued a warning about a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming to be part of the Automated Speed Enforcement program. These…
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Scammer taunts victim after swiping more than $11K, North Vancouver RCMP say
North Vancouver RCMP are reminding the public about fraudsters after a man lost a hefty chunk of cash and was then taunted by the churlish scammer. Police say on Aug. 19 a distraught victim went to the local detachment reporting he had just been defrauded. The man said he had received a phone call from…
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‘Devastating’ court ruling rejects B.C. ostrich farm’s bid to prevent avian flu cull
The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by a British Columbia ostrich farm to prevent the culling of its flock that had been infected with avian flu, in a case that has drawn international attention and protests about government overreach. But a spokeswoman for Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. said they would fight on…