An iPhone to HDMI adapter was discovered that, when plugged in, runs a program prompting users to download an app. This EZ Cast app collects extensive personal data and sends it to China for ad targeting. It requires location access, photos, and installs tracking cookies. The adapter appears designed to mimic official Apple products. While its intentions are unclear, it demonstrates how such devices could enable privacy risks by introducing untrusted software into a user's devices. Analysis of a similar EZCast dongle found it was vulnerable and not designed with security in mind. Reviews complain the app is useless or a scam. The adapter may have originated as unsold Amazon returns later acquired by electronics recyclers. Its existence relates to concerns about privacy and navigation issues on online marketplaces.
House Republicans unveiled a budget blueprint proposing trillions in spending cuts over 10 years, targeting steep reductions to Medicaid and food assistance programs. The plan seeks $2 trillion in Medicaid cuts and $800 billion from SNAP. It also calls for establishing a commission to propose changes to Social Security and Medicare. Democrats criticized the proposal as pushing "cruel cuts" that will hurt access to healthcare and raise costs for many. If enacted, the budget would slash nearly $5 trillion from discretionary spending and $9 trillion from mandatory programs over a decade. However, the proposal is unlikely to become law given Democratic control of the Senate. The resolution indicates Republicans remain committed to large cuts across many public services and low-income programs.
Sridhar Ramaswamy, former CEO of the privacy-focused search engine Neeva, believes the window for AI systems to truly disrupt Google's dominance in consumer search is closing following Snowflake's acquisition of Neeva. At Snowflake, Ramaswamy sees more potential in using AI for enterprise applications and knowledge discovery. While chatbots like ChatGPT showed promise early this year, Google's own Bard system is improving and the lack of integration between services limits disruption. In the enterprise space, Snowflake trusts allow it to securely leverage customers' data to help them use AI. Ramaswamy notes that success in large language models remains unpredictable, as platforms that once dominated like BlackBerry and Nokia have fallen. Overall, the acquisition allows Neeva's team to apply their search technology to Snowflake's structured and unstructured enterprise data.
The Indiana Attorney General sued Indiana University Health, the state's largest hospital system, claiming it violated patient privacy laws in the case of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who received an abortion in Indiana. Attorney General Todd Rokita has taken repeated legal actions targeting the doctor who discussed the girl's case publicly. The lawsuit says the hospital prioritized protecting the doctor over patient privacy. It alleges the hospital violated both HIPAA and an Indiana law by not keeping the girl's information private. While the medical board reprimanded the doctor for not following privacy protocols, Rokita had sought a suspension of her license. The hospital argues the doctor did not break any laws. Notably, a 28-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for raping the 10-year-old girl, highlighting the severity of the situation that sparked the national abortion debate.
WASHINGTON ― House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) dared his right-wing haters to try to take away his speaker’s gavel during a closed-door meeting Thursday morning.
“If you want to file a motion to vacate, then file the fucking motion,” McCarthy told his Republican colleagues, according to Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), a McCarthy supporter.
For the first time, Apple discussed repairability during its iPhone launch event. An engineer mentioned the new iPhone 15 Pro models were designed with a structural frame that makes the back glass easier to replace. This comes after the iPhone 14 introduced a design that allows removal of the front or back. Repair advocates welcomed the acknowledgment but will still examine the devices for barriers like parts pairing. While praising initiatives to reduce emissions, critics argue the most sustainable option is not buying a new phone annually. The conversation on repairability is complex as commitments face scrutiny versus past actions restricting repair. Only time will tell if Apple's claims translate to meaningful improvements or are more superficial than substantive.
The US child poverty rate more than doubled in 2022 according to new Census data, rising to 12.4% from 5.2% the previous year. This sharp increase was largely due to the expiration of the expanded Child Tax Credit program that was part of the American Rescue Plan but was not extended due to opposition from Senator Joe Manchin and Republicans. The boosted Child Tax Credit had significantly reduced child poverty in 2021. Experts say child poverty would not have risen so drastically last year if the expanded tax credit was maintained. The data underscores the significant impact policy decisions around social programs can have on poverty levels.
Virginia implemented new anti-transgender policies for schools, but Fairfax County Public Schools will not comply with them. The new policies go against federal law by restricting bathroom access for transgender students and allowing teachers to ignore using students' chosen names and pronouns. Studies show that affirming policies help transgender students feel safer and have better educational outcomes. FCPS affirmed its commitment to protecting transgender students and allowing them to fully participate as their authentic selves. The policies have faced opposition from residents, students, and civil rights groups who argue they violate nondiscrimination laws and harm transgender youth. Superintendent Reid echoed that affirming policies are critical to providing quality education for all students. Overall, the new state policies have ignited debate around balancing students' welfare with claims of parental rights.
cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/7714318
> Grindr Inc. has lost about 45% of its staff as it enforces a strict return-to-office policy that was introduced after a majority of employees announced a plan to unionize.
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> About 80 of the 178 employees at the LGBTQ dating app company were forced to resign after the company in August mandated workers return to work in person two days a week at assigned “hub” offices or be fired, the Communications Workers of America said in a statement Wednesday.
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> The West Hollywood, California-based company also gave a severance package to staff who were unable to relocate, in what the CWA alleged was an attempt “to silence workers from speaking out about their working conditions,” according to a statement from the organization. The CWA filed a new labor complaint against the company on Wednesday, the second such complaint in about a month.
In an interview, former president Donald Trump claimed he was allowed to do whatever he wanted with classified documents under the Presidential Records Act. However, the act actually requires classified materials to be handed over to the National Archives at the end of a president's term. When asked if he would testify at his upcoming trial over classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago after leaving office, Trump said he would and looked forward to it, comparing it to the Russia investigation. He also said he would love to debate Meghan Markle and criticized how she treated the Queen. Overall, Trump maintained in the interview that he did nothing wrong and was within his rights regarding the classified materials.
Several Republican politicians, including a state senator in Georgia and a former Alaska governor, have suggested that civil war could result if Donald Trump is prosecuted for his various criminal trials. They argue that prosecuting Trump would be treason and have warned that conservatives may need to take up arms. The author notes that these kinds of inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders risk inciting violence, as evidenced by those involved in the January 6th attack who echoed such messages. Even Trump himself alluded to the possibility of further unrest, praising the "passion" and "love" of the January 6th mob. As political divisions continue intensifying in the U.S., explicitly calling for civil war is irresponsible and could have dangerous consequences, according to the author.
Also starting next spring, the Al Companion will give "real-time feedback' on people's presence in meetings plus coaching on their conversational and presentation skills.
An FBI whistleblower named Johnathan Buma has alleged that Rudy Giuliani may have been compromised by Russian intelligence during his work for Trump's 2020 campaign. Buma claims the FBI investigated Giuliani's relationship with a Ukrainian oligarch Pavel Fuks, who was assessed to be an asset of Russian intelligence. Giuliani reportedly received $300,000 from Fuks for legal work. Buma's investigation found that Giuliani consorted with several Ukrainians who were later sanctioned by the U.S. as spreading Russian disinformation, including Andriy Derkach. However, some within the FBI allegedly blocked further investigation. Giuliani also attempted to produce an anti-Biden propaganda film with sources connected to Russian disinformation campaigns, though it was ultimately unsuccessful.
The New York Times has faced criticism for its coverage of transgender issues, with some articles echoing right-wing talking points and questioning whether being trans is acceptable. Trans advocates have expressed concerns about a lack of trans voices in reporting. While Times staff generally care about the issues, coverage does not seem to receive the same rigor as other topics. An open letter signed by over 1,200 contributors called for addressing biases, but the Times did not acknowledge it. Some staff believe leadership does not fully accept the humanity of trans people. However, public backlash is starting to make the Times reconsider its approach to trans coverage.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has rejected calls from some Republican state legislators to hold a special legislative session focused on investigating Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Willis recently oversaw the indictment of former President Donald Trump and others related to election interference in Georgia. However, Kemp said such a session would be unconstitutional and amounts to "political theater." A law professor noted that legislators can technically impeach the DA, but the new Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission should handle any complaints. Kemp and the Republican House Speaker support allowing the legal process to proceed without political interference. Meanwhile, State Senator Colton Moore continues pushing for the special session, claiming Willis' investigation could spark civil war. Kemp disavowed that language and said Georgia will follow the law regardless of political consequences. Overall, Kemp and other leaders aim to prevent turning the legal case into further partisan fighting.
Google and Nvidia are offering all Chromebook owners a free 3-month subscription to GeForce Now, Nvidia's cloud gaming service, without needing a credit card. Those who bought a gaming Chromebook get the higher-tier Ultimate subscription allowing 1440p resolution and 120fps streaming. The free trial allows users to experience the improved latency and image quality of Ultimate. A fast internet connection is still required for cloud gaming on a Chromebook. Interestingly, this announcement comes shortly after Google canceled plans for more powerful gaming Chromebooks with dedicated Nvidia GPUs, making one wonder if the free subscriptions were originally intended for those canceled devices. The timing also mirrors Google's previous cancellation of its own Stadia cloud gaming platform around the same time it had announced gaming Chromebooks.
A lawsuit was filed against Reddit alleging that the company fired an employee with anxiety for taking medical leave. The employee, Jamie Lee, had worked at Reddit as an accountant for over 4 years with positive reviews. In July 2022, Lee requested 3 days off for her health but was denied. She was later placed on medical leave after fainting, but was fired upon returning and accused of poor performance. However, the lawsuit claims others made similar mistakes. It also alleges Reddit's new leadership under the CFO has created a "toxic, political, and not inclusive" culture, which two other employees also left over. This highlights challenges employees faced with the changing culture at Reddit.
The organization that represents Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's works has petitioned the U.S. government to restrict the right to repair a religious artifact called an E-Meter. This device is core to Scientology practices but the group argues exemptions allowing device hacking should not apply to equipment restricted to trained users. Experts believe the E-Meter is the targeted device, which the Church says requires specific Scientologist operation. Documentation shows the E-Meter updater software mandates registration, including a membership number, suggesting repair restrictions. The language used in the petition matches stipulations Scientology requires for E-Meter use and purchase agreements. In short, the Church appears to be attempting to prevent independent E-Meter repair or experimentation through copyright exemption restrictions.
Wisconsin Republicans are threatening to impeach recently elected liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she does not recuse herself from upcoming cases related to the state's gerrymandered legislative maps. Speaker Robin Vos suggested Protasiewicz has pre-judged the issue, which could warrant impeachment. Democrats warned that Republicans will go to extreme lengths to undermine the will of voters after Protasiewicz took a seat that had been held by conservatives for 15 years. Her comments calling the maps "rigged" and "unfair" prompted the GOP impeachment threats. However, voting rights groups argued the recusal demand stems merely from Republican unhappiness with losing their gerrymandered advantage rather than real pre-judgment. The standoff raises alarming questions about political interference in the state's highest court.
The pharmaceutical lobby strongly opposed the Biden administration's plan to directly negotiate drug prices for 10 medications with Medicare. PhRMA argued this will hurt innovation, but advocates note that drug companies make 76% more than needed for R&D. Eliquis, which costs Medicare over $16 billion, will be subject to negotiations. The policy was enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act, which PhRMA spent millions lobbying against. PhRMA sued over the negotiations, but the DOJ moved to dismiss the case. Advocates believe this defeat of Big Pharma will not be the last as negotiations may expand to over 100 drugs in the future, greatly helping seniors and people with disabilities access affordable medications.
Many mushroom identification and foraging books being sold on Amazon are likely generated by AI with no human authorship. These books could provide dangerous misinformation and potentially lead to deaths if people eat poisonous mushrooms based on the AI's inaccurate descriptions. Two New York mushroom societies have warned about the risks of AI-generated foraging guides. Experts note that safely identifying wild mushrooms requires careful research and experience that an AI system does not have. Amazon has since removed some books flagged as AI-generated, but more may exist. Detecting AI-generated books and authors can be difficult as the systems can fabricate author bios and images. Relying on multiple credible sources, as well as guidance from local foraging groups, is advised for safely pursuing mushroom foraging.
Google has developed a tool called SynthID that can watermark AI-generated images in a way that is imperceptible to humans but detectable by AI. The watermark is embedded in pixel values without noticeably changing the image. SynthID is being launched for use with Google Cloud's image generator to verify original photos. While aimed initially at detecting deepfakes, the tool could also help businesses check AI-generated images used for tasks like product descriptions. Google hopes SynthID may become a web-wide standard but recognizes others are working on detection methods too. The launch marks the start of an arms race as hackers will try to circumvent the system, requiring it to continuously improve. Overall, SynthID is a first step toward greater transparency around AI-generated content online.
Another new Meet feature lets Duet “attend” a meeting on your behalf. On a meeting invite, you can click an “attend for me” button, and Google can auto-generate some text about what you might want to discuss. Those notes will be viewable to attendees during the meeting so that they can discuss them.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently told employees that those who do not want to return to the office at least three days a week should consider finding employment elsewhere. According to a recording obtained by Insider, Jassy stated "It's past the time to disagree and commit," adding that if employees cannot commit to the new hybrid work model, "it's probably not going to work out for you at Amazon." He characterized the decision to have employees return to the office part-time as a "judgment call." Notably, Jassy said employees are free to leave if they do not want to comply with the hybrid work requirement. This makes clear that Amazon has not changed its stance on returning to office work despite some employees preferring full remote arrangements.
The article discusses expectations for smart home announcements at the upcoming IFA tech show in Berlin. While companies may unveil new smart speakers, cameras and robot vacuums, the smart home remains fragmented as the Matter interoperability standard has yet to fully deliver on integrating devices. The author argues the industry needs to provide more utility than novelty by allowing different smart devices to work together seamlessly. Examples mentioned include lights notifying users of doorbell activity or a robot vacuum taking on multiple household chores autonomously. Overall, the smart home needs solutions that are essential rather than just novel if consumers are to see the value beyond the initial cool factor.
Laura Ann Carleton, a 66-year-old shopkeeper who owned a clothing store in Cedar Glen, California, was shot and killed after confronting a man who pulled down the rainbow Pride flag displayed outside her store. Carleton reportedly made disparaging remarks before opening fire with a handgun. He fled but was later shot dead by police. Carleton was regarded as an ally of the local LGBTQ+ community, even though she did not identify as such herself. Her death has sparked tributes from friends and activists who note rising incidents of violence and harassment targeting the LGBTQ+ community across the U.S. in recent months. Notably, over 350 such attacks have occurred from June 2022 to April 2023 alone according to recent reports.
It is with immense sadness that we must share with you the news of the loss of our friend, our leader, and our mentor, Kris Nóva.
It was Nóva who inspired us to come together to build Hachyderm, whose vision created Nivenly, and whose mission we continue to carry forward. In her working life beyond Nivenly, she has left behind a legacy of professionalism and strength of vision, and we all miss her terribly.
This is very fresh and raw for us in the Nivenly community right now, so we ask for patience while we figure out how we move forward. But move forward we will, as we know that is what Nóva would want.
HN https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37199495
The head librarian in Gillette, Wyoming was fired after 11 years for refusing to remove LGBTQ+ books from the teen section of the library. Residents had complained about books addressing LGBTQ+ topics and a Pride blog post. Guided by an out-of-state conservative group, residents challenged 29 books over two years. Last year, the library board cut ties with the ALA and changed policies to allow removing sexually explicit materials. When the librarian would not follow the new censorship-friendly guidance, the board voted to terminate her. She believed the library should serve all citizens. Interestingly, some long-time residents were upset that outsiders had attacked the respected small-town library.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to sharply curtail access to abortion pills, reversing federal actions that expanded availability. This could restrict the pills from 10 weeks of pregnancy to 7 weeks and require in-person doctor visits. The Biden administration plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. One judge wanted to go further and strip approval of the pills altogether. Access will remain unchanged for now but legal experts say this puts the pills in greater peril. The fate of medication abortion now rests with the Supreme Court, which could take up the case next year ahead of the 2024 election. The ruling highlighted divisions between judges over interpreting an old anti-vice law's impact on mail delivery of abortion pills.
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“Unborn babies are a source of profound joy for those who view them,” he wrote. “Expectant parents eagerly share ultrasound photos with loved ones. Friends and family cheer at the sight of an unborn child. Doctors delight in working with their unborn patients — and experience an aesthetic injury when they are aborted.”
Roberts didn’t even personally address the lawmakers. Supreme Court Legal Counsel Ethan Torrey, writing on behalf of Roberts, replied instead, saying simply that, **“The Chief Justice has asked me to acknowledge your letter dated June 27, 2023, and to thank you very much for bringing your concerns about these important matters to his attention.”**
Trump canceled a planned news conference next week where he said he would present claims of election fraud in Georgia from the 2020 election. His lawyers felt it better to file the claims formally in court as they fight his recent indictment in Georgia. The indictment charges Trump with attempting to pressure state officials to overturn the election results. It cites instances where Trump alleged fraud that did not occur. Previously, Trump's campaign had filed lawsuits in Georgia making unfounded claims of issues like dead people voting. Of note, one of the indictment charges relates specifically to a lawsuit Trump signed verifying false claims. Trump remains vocal in disputing the 2020 election results despite lack of evidence.
The indictment of former President Trump and others in the Georgia election interference case includes 30 unnamed co-conspirators. CNN was able to identify many of these co-conspirators based on clues in the indictment and previous reporting. This includes Trump advisers like Boris Epshteyn and Bernie Kerik, as well as Georgia Republican officials like Burt Jones, the current lieutenant governor. Jones and others served as fake electors as part of the conspiracy. The indictment also connects individuals to the effort to access voting machines in Coffee County, including Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan. In total, the report provides a detailed look at the network of people allegedly involved in the plot to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
The North Carolina Legislature overrode vetoes by Governor Roy Cooper of several Republican bills targeting transgender youth. One bill bans gender-affirming healthcare for trans minors. Another prohibits instruction about gender identity and sexuality for K-4 students. A third prevents trans girls from playing on sports teams matching their gender identity. Advocates called this an "all-out attack" that will harm young people. Over 550 anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed nationwide this year. Notably, a Democratic state representative recently switched to the Republican party, giving them the votes needed to override vetoes.
The purported names and addresses of grand jurors who indicted Donald Trump were posted online by Trump supporters on a fringe website known for violent rhetoric. This prompted security concerns for the jurors and district attorney's office. A research group found the jurors' information being spread across other sites along with false claims about their political views. The indictment itself does not include such private details. After Trump referred to "riggers" online, supporters appeared to use that term in place of a racial slur in discussing the jurors. Both the sheriff's office handling Trump's surrender and the FBI declined to comment on grand jury security matters. The posting of jurors' private information has led to death threats against them from some Trump supporters online.
Microsoft has integrated Microsoft Teams with the Xbox Game Bar, allowing users to stream their gameplay in real-time to friends over Teams video calls. Up to 20 people can join a call to watch and chat together while gaming. The viewer can see both the game and overlaid video of friends. However, streaming performance is currently limited to 30fps or less, which is not ideal for viewing high-fidelity PC games. Viewers also cannot yet see overlaid video during gameplay. While this new feature aims to compete with Discord for social gaming, the integration still needs improvements to provide a comparable experience. Overall, Microsoft is trying to grow Teams communities and social features to rival other platforms like Discord.
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Wtf who is this for
The appeals court ruled that the abortion pill mifepristone can remain available but with restrictions. However, access remains unchanged until the Supreme Court decides whether to take the case. The case marks a major legal battle since Roe was overturned. While the ruling allows the drug to stay on the market, it turns back changes by the FDA easing access. Any effects of the ruling are delayed as the case will likely return to the Supreme Court. The judges were appointed by Republican presidents and indicated a willingness to restrict the drug during arguments. Overall the ruling was a partial victory for both sides but access remains unsettled as the legal fight continues.
Donald Trump announced plans to hold a press conference next week to present a "conclusive report" proving that the 2020 election in Georgia was rigged. This comes after Trump was recently indicted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for attempting to overturn the election results in Georgia. Trump claims the report will show election fraud and lead to "a complete exoneration" of all charges against him. However, critics argue it has been over two years since the election and Trump has not previously provided evidence of widespread fraud. The announcement also comes just hours after Trump lashed out at Willis for indicting him now rather than earlier. It remains to be seen whether Trump's promised report will actually contain new evidence that could substantively challenge the prior investigations.
“Mr. Meadows is entitled to remove this action to federal court because the charges against him plausibly give rise to a federal defense based on his role at all relevant times as the White House Chief of Staff to the President of the United States,” attorneys for Meadows wrote in the Tuesday filing in the Northern District of Georgia.
“Nothing Mr. Meadows is alleged in the indictment to have done is criminal per se: arranging Oval Office meetings, contacting state officials on the President’s behalf, visiting a state government building, and setting up a phone call for the President. One would expect a Chief of Staff to the President of the United States to do these sorts of things,” the filing states.
“This is precisely the kind of state interference in a federal official’s duties that the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits.”
Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis (D) noted 12 of former President Trump’s tweets as part of her case charging Trump for his efforts to remain in power following the 2020 election.
The indictment lists more than 150 alleged acts that prosecutors say all contributed to a conspiracy to overturn Georgia’s election results, and a dozen of them comprised a Trump tweet.
Special counsel Jack Smith obtained a search warrant in January for data from former President Trump’s Twitter account as part of his investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Twitter was recently found in contempt for delaying compliance with the warrant and ordered to pay a $350,000 fine. The existence of the warrant and Twitter’s noncompliance had not been previously disclosed due to a nondisclosure order. Twitter initially objected to the order before providing the requested information past a court deadline. The special counsel is investigating Trump’s actions surrounding the transfer of power after the 2020 election. Last week, Trump was indicted on several charges including conspiracy related to interfering with the election certification.
Interesting vox video about geoengineering. I find the coalition of scientists demanding we don’t even look at geo eng tech, like zero research into it frustrating. https://youtu.be/EKPFZPyQurA
You think we can solve primary problems? Cause all I see is us driving off a cliff. If we aren’t willing to hit the breaks I’ll settle for turning the car into a bush
A list of recent hostile moves by #Google’s #Chrome team; handy for sharing with your entourage, to explain why they should stop using #Chromium / #GoogleChrome and use #Firefox or #Epiphany as their main #web #browser :
“Is copyright infringement theft” is something that had been debated for as long as mp3s were a thing. This is an old argument with lots of material on both sides scattered across the web. I clearly fall on the side of copyright infringement is theft and theft is stealing.
Re: Stolen. Not stolen comments Copyright law as interpreted judges is still being worked out on AI. Stay tuned if it’s defined as stolen or not. But even if the courts decide existing copyright law would define training on artists work as legitimate use. The law can change and it still could swing the way of the artist if congress got involved.
My personal opinion, which may not reflect what happens legally is I hope we all get more control over our data and how it’s used and sold. Wether that’s my personal data like my comments, location or my artistic data like my paintings. I think that would be a better world
another change to Twitter’s ad policy. Starting August 7th, advertisers that haven’t reached certain spending thresholds will lose their official brand account verification. According to emails obtained by the WSJ, brands need to have spent at least $1,000 on ads within the prior 30 days or $6,000 in the previous 180 days to retain the gold checkmark identifying that the account belongs to a verified brand.
Donald Trump and his allies are planning to vastly expand presidential power if he wins the 2024 election. Their plans include bringing independent agencies like the FCC and FTC under direct presidential control, reviving the practice of impounding funds, and centralizing more authority in the Oval Office. Trump intends to issue an executive order requiring independent agencies to submit actions to the White House for review. Critics argue these moves would undermine checks and balances and congressional oversight of the executive branch, and could lead to a power grab by the president. However, Trump allies claim they are simply seeking to realign the federal government with conservative principles.
@TheRtRevKaiser@beehaw.org done! https://beehaw.org/post/7204920