HiTechEdge

Author: Matt Milano

  • Mozilla Launches Rally, a Privacy-First Data Sharing Platform

    Mozilla Launches Rally, a Privacy-First Data Sharing Platform

    Mozilla has launched Rally, a privacy-first data sharing platform, to tackle the growing challenges related to privacy and user data.

    Mozilla has a long history of championing privacy. It’s web browser, Firefox, is one of the most privacy-focused, secure browsers available. The company also offers a VPN service that has garnered positive reviews for its approach to privacy and security.

    The company is adding Rally to its portfolio of software and services in an effort to help people take back control over their own data.

    Your data is valuable. But for too long, online services have pilfered, swapped, and exploited your data without your awareness. Privacy violations and filter bubbles are all consequences of a surveillance data economy. But what if, instead of companies taking your data without giving you a say, you could select who gets access to your data and put it to work for public good?

    Rather than advertisers benefiting from user data, Rally will give users the option to donate their data to help crowdfund research projects.

    Computer scientists, social scientists and other researchers will be able to launch groundbreaking studies about the web and invite you to participate. A core focus of the initiative is enabling unprecedented studies that hold major online services accountable.

    Mozilla is working with Professor Jonathan Mayer’s research group at Princeton University to help launch the Rally research initiative.

    “Online services constantly experiment on users, to maximize engagement and profit,” says Mayer. “But for too long, academic researchers have been stymied when trying to experiment on online services. Rally flips the script and enables a new ecosystem of technology policy research.”

    Rally sounds like an interesting concept and will hopefully help more users take control over their data.

  • TikTok in the Crosshairs of Dutch Consumer Group Over Data Harvesting

    TikTok in the Crosshairs of Dutch Consumer Group Over Data Harvesting

    TikTok is once again in hot water for its data practices, as a Dutch consumer group is launching a $1.8 billion claim against the company.

    TikTok is no stranger to controversy regarding its privacy and data practices. The company has faced accusations of exploiting child privacy, discrimination, lawsuits, bans — from corporations and the military — and criticism for being “fundamentally parasitic.”

    The Consumentenbond, along with the foundation Take Back Your Privacy, is bringing the claim against TikTok, according to ABC News.

    “The conduct of TikTok is pure exploitation,” Consumentenbond director Sandra Molenaar said in a statement. “The company earns hundreds of millions per year on the backs of children. And that while privacy law prescribes that children should receive additional protection.”

    TikTok has received a reprieve in the US, as the Biden administration has halted the previous administration’s attempts to ban TikTok. The company has drawn increased scrutiny from the EU, however, and this latest claim could have major repercussions.

  • Latest Google App Crashing on Android Devices

    Latest Google App Crashing on Android Devices

    The Google app appears to be crashing on multiple devices following the latest update, impacting Google Pixel, Samsung and Motorola phones.

    The latest version of the Google app for Android is 12.23.16.23. Unfortunately, some users started experiencing problems immediately after updating, according to 9to5Google. In addition, the Podcasts and Lens apps are also crashing post-update.

    It seems that updating to the 12.24 beta of the Google app resolves the issue. While beta software should usually not be run on a production device, in this case, it may be the best option for users looking to restore stability and functionality.

    Users experiencing the problem can get the beta here, or via the Play Store listing.

  • Drones May Soon Track You Using Your Screams

    Drones May Soon Track You Using Your Screams

    Scientists may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in search and rescue (SAR), training drones to track people using their screams.

    In life and death situations, such as when a natural disaster strikes, finding survivors is a race against the clock. To make matters worse, rescuers often have to proceed carefully and slowly to avoid making matters worse. For example, if people are trapped in the rubble following an earthquake, rescuers must move slowly and methodically to avoid causing any additional cave-ins.

    Scientists may have found a solution, training drones to zero in on the sound of a person screaming and track the screams back to their source, according to The Washington Post.

    Engineers at Germany’s Fraunhofer FKIE institute have already built a working prototype, and the initial results are promising.

    “[Drones] can cover a larger area in a shorter period of time than rescuers or trained dogs on the ground,” Macarena Varela, one of the lead engineers, said. “If there’s a collapsed building, it can alert and assist rescuers. It can go places they can’t fly to or get to themselves.”

    While the concept is absolutely brilliant, and the engineers are to be applauded for what they’re trying to accomplish, I for one can’t help but imagine bloodthirsty drones hunting down humans screaming and running for their lives, Skynet-style. Especially in view of recent reportswhere a military drone hunted humans down without authorization, I can’t help but wonder how long it will be until human scream-tracking is turned into a nightmarish Terminator scenario.

  • Apple Watch May Call 911 While You’re Sleeping

    Apple Watch May Call 911 While You’re Sleeping

    If the police and ambulances suddenly show up at your house and wake you from slumber…you may have your Apple Watch to blame.

    The Apple Watch has an Emergency SOS function, whereby holding the Watch’s side button can automatically call 911. The feature is similar to the one on the iPhone and iPad, where holding the power and volume button can do the same thing.

    Unfortunately, it appears some Apple Watch users are sleeping on their Watch in such a way that the Emergency SOS feature is being activated in their sleep.

    “What happens is while people are moving around in their sleep or exercising, they’ll get the Apple Watch into the emergency mode. Without knowing it, the watch will actually call 911,” Overland Park Police Captain Jim Sutterby said told Fox Kansas City.

    Fortunately, the feature has to be enabled in the Watch app on your iPhone first, so not everyone will be impacted. Of course, another easy way to avoid the problem is to simply to take the Watch off and put it on the charger before going to bed.

    If, however, you choose to wear your Apple Watch to bed and the police and paramedics show up in the middle of the night…don’t say we didn’t warn you…

  • Colorado Lawmakers Pass Colorado Privacy Act

    Colorado Lawmakers Pass Colorado Privacy Act

    Colorado has become the third state to pass sweeping privacy legislations, as lawmakers passed the Colorado Privacy Act.

    Privacy has become an increasingly important element to consumers and regulators alike, with Colorado the latest state to pass legislation protecting consumer privacy. The state joins California and Virginia as the only states in the country to take such measures.

    The new bill stipulates that “consumers have the right to opt out of the processing of their personal data; access, correct, or delete the data; or obtain a portable copy of the data.”

    While good for Colorado residents concerned with their privacy, the Colorado Privacy Act illustrates the challenges companies are beginning to face. The EU has the GDPR, while California, Virginia and Colorado will all have their own privacy legislation.

    As individual states continue to adopt their own legislation, it will become increasingly complicated for companies to ensure compliance with the patchwork of applicable requirements. It’s little wonder that, in early 2020, then Salesforce co-CEO Keith Block called on the US to pass comprehensive privacy legislation.

    In the meantime, the Colorado bill is headed to the governor’s office to be signed into law.

  • Microsoft Getting Back Into Retail

    Microsoft Getting Back Into Retail

    Microsoft appears to be reversing course, getting back into retail with its flagship New York City, London and Sydney locations.

    Microsoft famously announced in June 2020 it was closing its retail locations throughout the US. Unlike Apple, whose stores are some of the most profitable retail space in the country, Microsoft was never able to achieve the same degree of success.

    When the company announced it was closing its stores, it said it would keep a few locations — New York City, London and Sydney — open as “Microsoft Experience Centers.” The stores would showcase Microsoft’s products, but would not actually sell anything to customers.

    The company is now reversing course, and will begin selling products at its Experience Centers. The company confirmed the change of plans in a statement to The Verge.

    “Our Microsoft Experience Centers were created to provide customers a way to experience our products in person,” said Travis Walter, Microsoft’s head of retail stores. “We use these spaces to test and experiment, and continue to evolve the experience based on customer feedback. Starting July 1st, customers will be able to purchase select Microsoft products at the New York, London and Sydney locations.”

  • El Salvador Passes Law Adopting Bitcoin as Legal Tender

    El Salvador Passes Law Adopting Bitcoin as Legal Tender

    El Salvador has gone down in the history books, being the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

    Bitcoin is the most valuable, and most well-known, cryptocurrency, hitting a record price of $64,829.14 in April. As its value has soared, so has its mainstream acceptance, with financial companies and businesses alike moving to adopt it.

    El Salvador, however, has become the first country to adopt it as legal tender, with the Bitcoin Law passing the Salvadoran Congress with supermajority support. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced the law’s passage on Twitter.

    There’s still many details to be worked out, especially given Bitcoin’s volatility. But the law promises to “promote the necessary training and mechanisms so that the population can access bitcoin transactions.”

  • Microsoft Hosting Special Windows Event June 24

    Microsoft Hosting Special Windows Event June 24

    Microsoft is preparing to unveil the next generation of its Windows operating system, just weeks after killing Windows 10X.

    Microsoft has been working on reinventing Windows for some time, with Windows 10X a major part of that endeavor. The new version of Windows reportedly had a streamlined interface, abandoned legacy code and was being optimized for multi-screen devices. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced Microsoft to refocus on existing efforts to help meet customers immediate needs.

    When Microsoft announced it was killing Windows 10X, the company said it would incorporate its design elements and features into existing products. It appears the world is about to see the fruit of those labors.

    Microsoft has announced a Windows event on June 24, with the tagline: “Join us to see what’s next for Windows.” CEO Satya Nadella and Chief Product Officer Panos Panay will both be presenting at the event.

  • TikTok Updates Terms to Collect Biometric Data

    TikTok Updates Terms to Collect Biometric Data

    TikTok is at it again, threatening user privacy as it updates its terms to collect biometric data.

    TikTok is one of the most controversial social media platforms, in large part due to its repeated, flagrant disregard for privacy. The company has been sued over accusations it collected and uploaded videos to servers in China without consent, without the user even having an account. The company has been accused of repeatedly violating child privacy, censoring individuals it didn’t consider beautiful enough to be showcased and has been warned by the EU over its handling of data. Even the CEO of Reddit called the platform “fundamentally parasitic.”

    The latest controversy involves a change to the company’s privacy policy, allowing it to collect biometric data.

    We may collect biometric identifiers and biometric information as defined under US laws, such as faceprints and voiceprints, from your User Content. Where required by law, we will seek any required permissions from you prior to any such collection.

    In many ways, the change is not particularly surprising. The company recently settled a lawsuit in Illinois for $92 million over its handling of biometric data. Notably, the company never admitted to the accusations in the aforementioned lawsuit. The change to the company’s privacy policy, however, gives it the ability to do what it was accused of doing, while committing to following applicable laws.

    All of which does little to change the validity of Reddit’s CEO that the platform is “fundamentally parasitic,” and not one anybody concerned about privacy should have on their phone.