Tech

Tech


More Canadians using AI tools, despite ‘deep-rooted’ fears about the tech: poll

Despite worries artificial intelligence lacks empathy and could be coming to steal their jobs, a growing number of Canadians are turning to AI tools, a new poll suggests. Thirty per cent of Canadians now use artificial intelligence tools, the Leger poll suggested, up from 25 per cent a year ago, though two-thirds of respondents said […]

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With ‘superhuman’ artificial intelligence looming, Canada needs law now: AI pioneer

The federal government must move urgently to regulate artificial intelligence, says a top AI pioneer, warning the technology’s current trajectory poses major societal risks. Yoshua Bengio, dubbed a “godfather” of AI, told members of Parliament Monday that Ottawa should put a law in place immediately, even if that legislation is not perfect. The scientific director […]

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Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation

Sexual predators. Addictive features. Suicide and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children’s advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them. On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies […]

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Microsoft lets cloud users keep personal data within Europe to ease privacy fears

LONDON (AP) — Microsoft said Thursday that it is upgrading its cloud computing service to let customers store all personal data within the European Union instead of having it flow to the U.S. where national privacy laws don’t exist. The changes apply to services including Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365, the Seattle-based […]

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Meta offers Canadian Facebook users $51M to settle lawsuit in 4 provinces

A multimillion-dollar settlement proposed by Meta sends a message to other companies about the importance of paying attention to the country’s privacy laws, says a lawyer representing Canadians in the class-action lawsuit against the social media giant. Meta is offering $51 million to settle the lawsuit in four provinces over Facebook’s “Sponsored Stories” advertising program, […]

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Tennessee governor, music leaders launch push to protect songwriters and other artists against AI

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday unveiled new legislation designed to protect songwriters, performers and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Lee made the announcement while standing in the middle of Nashville’s famed RCA Studio A, a location where legends such as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson […]

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Rite Aid banned from facial recognition tech use for 5 years after faulty theft targeting in stores

Rite Aid has been banned from using facial recognition technology for five years over allegations that its surveillance system was used incorrectly to identify potential shoplifters, especially Black, Latino, Asian or female shoppers. The settlement with the Federal Trade Commission addresses charges that the struggling drugstore chain didn’t do enough to prevent harm to its customers and […]

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Xfinity notifies its customers of data breach linked to software vulnerability

NEW YORK (AP) — Hackers accessed Xfinity customers’ personal information by exploiting a vulnerability in software used by the company, the Comcast-owned telecommunications business announced this week. In a Monday notice to customers, Xfinity said there was unauthorized access to internal systems as a result of this vulnerability — which was previously announced by software provider Citrix […]

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Leaders seek to expand crime fighting net of cameras and sensors beyond New Mexico’s largest city

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s largest city is blanketed with 10,000 cameras, license plate readers along some of the busiest roadways and special listening devices that hone in on the sound of gunfire — all part of a technological net of sorts that Albuquerque authorities say has been an integral part of addressing high […]

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AI generated hoaxes pose a ‘persistent threat’ to public safety: intel analysis

OTTAWA — Violent extremists who lack the means to carry out an attack in Canada could compensate by perpetrating hoaxes with the help of artificial intelligence, says a newly released analysis. The May report by the federal Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre, obtained through the Access to Information Act, warns that such visual trickery, known as […]

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At UN climate talks, cameras are everywhere. Many belong to Emirati company with a murky history

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — At the United Nations’ COP28 climate summit in Dubai, surveillance cameras seem to be everywhere you turn. And that has some worried. It’s unclear how the United Arab Emirates, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms, uses the footage it gathers across its extensive network. However, the country already has […]

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Nova Scotia information commissioner to investigate file sharing cybersecurity breach

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s information and privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into the theft of personal information from a file-transfer system used by the provincial government. In June, the government confirmed a cybersecurity breach involving a third-party system known as MoveIt. Tricia Ralph issued a statement Thursday saying the system was used by many public bodies, […]

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