BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Ukraine offered tool to search billions of faces
A system that searches a database of billions of facial images could help Ukraine uncover Russian infiltrators, fight misinformation and identify the dead, a company has said. Facial recognition firm Clearview AI has offered its services to Ukraine's government. The company says it has a searchable database of 10 billion faces sourced from the web. But the technology has previously attracted fi ... Read more
2022-03-16 00:41:13
Ukraine offered tool to search billions of faces
A system that searches a database of billions of facial images could help Ukraine uncover Russian infiltrators, fight misinformation and identify the dead, a company has said. Facial recognition firm Clearview AI has offered its services to Ukraine's government. The company says it has a searchable database of 10 billion faces sourced from the web. But the technology has previously attracted fi ... Read more
2022-03-14 20:54:43
Bitcoin cash machines ordered to shut down in UK
All UK crypto-currency cash machines (ATMs) are operating illegally and must be shut down, the Financial Conduct Authority has announced. Crypto-ATMs look like regular cash machines and let people buy crypto-currency, such as Bitcoin, using their bank cards. But no company offering crypto-currency services in the UK has a licence to operate a crypto-ATM. The FCA said all such machines must be s ... Read more
2022-03-13 21:54:28
Zoe Covid-tracking app loses government funding
An app that was widely used to track the symptoms of Covid will not have its government funding renewed as the UK adapts to living with the disease. Co-founder of the Zoe Covid study app, Prof Tim Spector, labelled the decision "a really bad mistake". The app had received more than £5m in grants from the UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The UKHSA said it would continue to monitor ... Read more
2022-03-13 21:54:12
War in Ukraine: Instagram banned in Russia over 'calls to violence'
Russia's state media watchdog Roskomnadzor says Instagram will be blocked in the country due to "calls for violence" against Russian soldiers. Instagram owner Meta said it would let its users in some countries call for violence against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers. It will temporarily allow some violent posts such as "death to the Russian invaders" th ... Read more
2022-03-13 21:53:31
Bitcoin cash machines ordered to shut down in UK
All UK crypto-currency cash machines (ATMs) are operating illegally and must be shut down, the Financial Conduct Authority has announced. Crypto-ATMs look like regular cash machines and let people buy crypto-currency, such as Bitcoin, using their bank cards. But no company offering crypto-currency services in the UK has a licence to operate a crypto-ATM. The FCA said all such machines must be s ... Read more
2022-03-11 18:56:16
'Reselling PlayStations keeps a roof over my head'
A sudden drop in income, a mounting medical debt and a family to feed left Sheraz (not his real name) struggling to find another way of making money. During the pandemic his wife lost her job as a beautician, and the government's pandemic support was not easily available to him. So, he turned to "scalping" - an unfavourable term for stockpiling popular products and reselling them at a ... Read more
2022-03-11 18:55:59
War in Ukraine: Instagram banned in Russia over 'calls to violence'
Russia's state media watchdog Roskomnadzor says Instagram will be blocked in the country due to "calls for violence" against Russian soldiers. Instagram owner Meta said it would let its users in some countries call for violence against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers. It will temporarily allow some violent posts such as "death to the Russian invaders" th ... Read more
2022-03-11 18:55:25
War in Ukraine: Facebook to allow calls for violence against Putin
The owner of Facebook and Instagram will allow users in some countries to call for violence against Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers. Meta says it has temporarily made allowances for some violent speech, like "death to the Russian invaders," that would usually break its rules. However, it says it won't permit calls for violence against Russian civilians. In response, Russia called ... Read more
2022-03-11 18:55:02
North Korea recently tested intercontinental missile system: US
The US says N Korea recently tested parts of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, in what it called a "serious escalation". Pyongyang said the launches on 26 February and 4 March focused on developing a reconnaissance satellite. But the Pentagon now says the tests were experimental launches, before a likely full-range ICBM launch. With a minimum range of 5,500km (3, ... Read more
2022-03-10 19:41:08