Access and Privacy Online

Access and Privacy Online


Google’s AI model faces European Union scrutiny from privacy watchdog

LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators said Thursday they’re looking into one of Google’s artificial intelligence models over concerns about its compliance with the bloc’s strict data privacy rules. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission said it has opened an inquiry into Google’s Pathways Language Model 2, also known as PaLM2. It’s part of wider efforts, including […]

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NYPD officer lands $175K settlement over ‘courtesy cards’ that help drivers get out of traffic stops

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City police officer has reached a $175,000 settlement with the city in a lawsuit that illuminated the use of the “courtesy cards” that officers dole out to friends and relatives to get out of traffic stops and other minor infractions, according to an agreement filed in Manhattan federal […]

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Federal Court of Appeal sides with privacy watchdog in long-running Facebook case

A panel of judges says Facebook broke federal privacy law by failing to adequately inform users of the risks to their data upon signing up to the popular social media platform.  The Federal Court of Appeal found that Facebook, now known as Meta, did not obtain the meaningful consent required by the Personal Information Protection […]

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Poland’s cybersecurity experts foil Russian and Belarussian attacks

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s security officials said Monday they have foiled cyberattacks and online blackmail attempts by groups acting for Russian and Belarusian services. Poland has registered up to 1,000 online attacks daily targeting government institutions and agencies, officials said, linking them to the country’s support for neighboring Ukraine in its 2 1/2-year war […]

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The iPhone 16, new AirPods and other highlights from Apple’s product showcase

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple squarely shifted its focus toward artificial intelligence with the unveiling of its hotly anticipated iPhone 16 along with a slew of new features coming with the next update to the device’s operating system. While the new phone lineup headlined Monday’s showcase, the tech giant also shared updates to its smartwatch […]

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Apple embraces the AI craze with its newly unleashed iPhone 16 lineup

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple on Monday charged into the artificial intelligence craze with a new iPhone lineup that marks the company’s latest attempt to latch onto a technology trend and transform it into a cultural phenomenon. The four different iPhone 16 models will all come equipped with special chips needed to power a suite […]

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Cars collect troves of data about traffic and road hazards. Should they share it?

The secret to avoiding red lights during rush hour in Utah’s largest city might be as simple as following a bus. Transportation officials have spent the past few years refining a system in which radio transmitters inside commuter buses talk directly to the traffic signals in the Salt Lake City area, requesting a few extra […]

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N.S. RCMP apologizes to Black community for wide-ranging effects of street checks

The commander of the RCMP in Nova Scotia delivered what he described as a long-overdue apology to the province’s Black residents on Saturday, acknowledging that the force’s past use of street checks did lasting harm to both individuals and communities. Assistant commissioner Dennis Daley issued the apology to African Nova Scotians and all people of […]

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20240907 Access and Privacy Online

Show Notes for Saturday September 7th. Writing: Shaun Fisk  | Production: Patrick Farnsworth  | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.   Show Notes: Clearview AI fined $33.7 million by Dutch data protection watchdog over ‘illegal database’ of faces  https://fipa.bc.ca/clearview-ai-fined-33-7-million-by-dutch-data-protection-watchdog-over-illegal-database-of-faces/   A great teaching opportunity’: How one school board plans to use AI in the classroom  https://fipa.bc.ca/a-great-teaching-opportunity-how-one-school-board-plans-to-use-ai-in-the-classroom/   Black students are […]

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Sweden joins countries seeking to end screen time for children under 2

Sweden says children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to any digital screens. The recommendations, issued by the Scandinavian country’s public health agency earlier this month as a new school year begins, are the latest in a worldwide effort to limit screen time for young children. The coronavirus lockdowns exacerbated the problem […]

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Fight For Farmland condemns region for freedom of information denials

The group behind the fight to deny the Region of Waterloo access to 770 acres of land in Wilmot Township for a future mega-site development has been dealt another blow in their fight get more details. Fight for Farmland has expressed deep disappointment and growing concern as the region has again denied a freedom of […]

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Nova Scotia RCMP to apologize to Black community for historic use of street checks

The commander of the RCMP in Nova Scotia will apologize to the province’s Black community on Saturday for the Mounties’ historic use of street checks. Now banned in Nova Scotia, street checks involve police randomly stopping citizens to record their personal information and store it electronically — a practice sometimes referred to as “carding” elsewhere […]

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