James Farrell
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California bans deep fake videos ahead of 2020 US election
California just became the latest state to crack down on deep fake videos, following growing concern that such technology could be used to cause mayhem on the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. Last week, California governor Gavin Newsom signed the AB 730 bill into law which will make it illegal to manipulate and distribute ...
US, UK and Australia want Facebook to build a back door into messaging apps
The governments of the U.S., the U.K. and Australia want Facebook Inc. to allow a back door into the company’s messaging apps citing safety concerns, it was revealed Thursday. In an open letter, U.K. home secretary Priti Patel, U.S. Attorney General William Barr, acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan and Australian Minister for Home ...
Google reportedly used questionable methods to improve facial recognition
Earlier this year Google LLC reportedly was handing out $5 gift certificates to anyone willing to give up their face so the company could improve its Pixel 4’s face unlock system. New reports suggest the company hired to do that by Google have been employing questionable tactics. According to that report by the New York Daily News ...
Leaked audio reveals Mark Zuckerberg’s feelings about potential Facebook breakup
More than two hours of audio was obtained Tuesday by The Verge that revealed how Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg intends to fight anyone going up against his company. Much of the conversation Zuckerberg had with his employees – confirmed as genuine – was about the potential breakup of Facebook and how he feels about ...
Tesla’s ‘Smart Summon’ gets off to a bumpy start
Tesla Inc.’s new feature in its 10.0 update, “Smart Summon,” has gone viral for all the wrong reasons as customers tested it for the first time. Last week, Tesla introduced the software stating it was the biggest update so far, with many of the new features related to entertainment. But in terms of advanced technology, ...
Tesla introduces new software update 10.0, with movies, music and more
Tesla Inc. announced Thursday its “biggest software update ever,” designed in part to make driving more entertaining. The Software Version 10.0 will roll out to Model S, Model X and Model 3 cars, although those who have the fully self-driving capability in their car will get the update first. Those updates for the most part ...
FTC sues Match Group for allegedly tricking lovelorn customers
Tinder parent company Match Group has found itself in deep water after the Federal Trade Commission accused the company of conning its customers into buying subscriptions. “The Federal Trade Commission sued online dating service Match Group Inc. (Match), the owner of Match.com, Tinder, OKCupid, PlentyOfFish, and other dating sites, alleging that the company used fake ...
Amazon is now testing ‘virtual healthcare’ for its employees
Amazon.com is continuing to make waves in the healthcare market, as CNBC revealed Tuesday that the company is now offering virtual healthcare as a pilot project to its employees. Employees in Seattle as well as their families now have access to something called “Amazon Care.” If those people have an Amazon health insurance plan and work in ...
Amazon’s Echo can now help describe grocery items to the visually impaired
Amazon.com’s virtual assistant just got more intelligent after the company revealed Monday that the visually impaired can now ask it what they are holding. The new feature, called “Show and Tell,” enables customers who are blind or people with low vision to hold an item in front of first- and second-generation Echo Show devices and ...
YouTube imposes stricter rules for verified channels
A lot of YouTube channels could find themselves without the much-sought-after verification badge after the company announced Thursday that it will introduce stricter regulations on what meets the requirement for verification. “We’ve updated the eligibility criteria for verification badges on YouTube,” YouTube said. “This change is to help viewers distinguish the official channel of a ...