BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Are tech companies removing evidence of war crimes?
In just three months, last year, TikTok removed 80 million uploaded videos that in some way broke its rules. Powerful artificial intelligence combined with human moderators had removed them at lightning speed, 94.2% before anyone had seen them, it said. Systems that searched for "violative content" had removed 17 million of the videos removed automatically. And other social-media comp ... Read more
2022-03-31 20:23:25
Facebook in 'bare-knuckle' fight with TikTok
The chief executive of a political consulting firm has responded to a report alleging Meta paid his company to "undermine" TikTok. Internal emails, apparently seen by the Washington Post, allegedly suggested Targeted Victory's campaign aimed to show TikTok "as a danger to American children". Zac Moffatt tweeted that the Post's report mischaracterised their work and "key ... Read more
2022-03-31 20:22:41
Dyson headphones come with air vacuum for mouth
Dyson has taken its first step into wearable technology, with an eye-catching pair of over-ear headphones that come with an air-purifying mouth visor. Best known for vacuum cleaners, Dyson has diversified in recent years with products such as fans and a hairdryer. The headphones - dubbed Dyson Zone - are designed to tackle the growing issue of air pollution. One reviewer said they would definit ... Read more
2022-03-30 23:45:58
Ronin Network: What a $600m hack says about the state of crypto
Thousands, if not millions, of people could have lost money in the second largest crypto hack in history. Ronin Network, a key platform powering the popular mobile game Axie Infinity, has had $615m (£467m) stolen. A 20-year-old from Wiltshire, Dan Rean, is one of those affected. He told the BBC: "I have lost 0.15 Ethereum, about $500. It's bad but I have friends in a worse position." ... Read more
2022-03-30 23:45:30
Facebook drives sceptics towards climate denial
Facebook pushes climate sceptics towards increasingly extreme disinformation and conspiracy groups, a human-rights body's research suggests. A report released Wednesday by Global Witness found Facebook's algorithm amplified doubts rather than nudging people towards reliable information. Facebook says its systems are "designed to reduce misinformation". Researchers created two users - ... Read more
2022-03-30 02:25:21
China gains a foothold in Australia's backyard
Late last week, a proposed security treaty between China and a tiny chain of islands in the Pacific sent shock waves across the ocean. The leaked draft signalled that China could deploy troops to the Solomon Islands - and potentially establish a naval base there. Nowhere was more alarmed than the Solomons' neighbour to the south, Australia - the bedrock regional partner of the Aukus alliance, a ... Read more
2022-03-29 20:15:33
Rules on free lateral flow and PCR Covid tests published
Free Covid tests will still be available for some groups, including NHS staff caring directly for patients, the government has confirmed as it winds down the service for the public. From 1 April, most people will have to pay for a lateral flow test in England. It is part of the government's 'living with Covid' plan, although levels of the virus are high, with an estimated one in 16 people infect ... Read more
2022-03-29 20:14:47
More must reconsider Russian anti-virus software use, UK warns
The National Cyber Security Centre has said more organisations should reconsider the risk of using Russian technology, including anti-virus software. But in a blog post published today, it said that for most individual users it is safe to use Kaspersky's software. Germany recently suggested replacing Kaspersky anti-virus. The Russia-headquartered firm said the German warnings were "made on ... Read more
2022-03-29 20:13:44
Covid: Free parking for NHS hospital staff in England to end this week
Free parking for NHS hospital staff in England introduced as a result of the pandemic will end on Friday, the government says. Parking fees were waived in March 2020, but Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the pandemic had moved to a new stage. He said over 93% of NHS trusts charging for parking have implemented free parking "for those in greatest need", including NHS staff working over ... Read more
2022-03-29 20:13:19
TikTok hit by another lawsuit over working conditions for its content moderators
New York (CNN Business)TikTok has been hit with another lawsuit from former content moderators who claim the job traumatized them. Ashley Velez and Reece Young, former contract content moderators for TikTok, allege that their work involved reviewing "unfiltered, disgusting and offensive content," including "child sexual abuse, rape, torture, bestiality, beheadings, suicide, and mur ... Read more
2022-03-28 20:50:03