Tag

Surveillance

All articles tagged with #surveillance

society2 hours ago•15 min saved

Iran weighs a China-style internet: tighter control, not a total blackout

Iran may be moving from episodic internet shutdowns toward a durable, China-style system of digital control that centralizes censorship, monitors communications, and isolates citizens from the outside world while keeping some commerce online. While officials cite imported Chinese equipment as a sign of a “permanent” shutdown, experts caution Iran lacks many domestic capabilities and may pursue an adaptive, centralized internet that tightens restrictions during sensitive moments and eases them for economic needs rather than a full, permanent disconnection.

via ایران اینترنشنال|

#censorship #china #internet

technology1 day ago•9 min saved

AI Hype vs Hidden Costs: Data Centers, Water, and Surveillance

An opinion piece cautions that AI’s hype risks a bubble while highlighting real downsides: energy- and water-intensive data centers, potential environmental damage, and expanding surveillance—from Utah’s giant data center and New Jersey bans to Memphis water use for xAI and China’s AI-enabled policing—calling for skepticism of tech moguls and stronger governance to address environmental justice and civil liberties as AI expands.

via CleanTechnica|

#artificial-intelligence #data-centers #environmental-impact

technology2 days ago•6 min saved

Everyday WiFi Could Identify You Without a Device

German researchers demonstrated that ordinary WiFi signals can identify people with near-perfect accuracy by analyzing how radio waves reflect off their bodies using beamforming feedback information, even if the person isn’t carrying a device or has their phone off. The finding raises serious privacy concerns, suggesting routers could serve as covert surveillance tools; experts urge safeguards in the upcoming IEEE 802.11bf standard.

via ScienceDaily|

#ai #beamforming #privacy

world4 days ago•90 min saved

WHO raises Ebola risk to very high as outbreak spreads rapidly

The World Health Organization has elevated the global risk level of the Ebola outbreak to very high as cases surge and the virus appears to be spreading rapidly beyond initial epicenters, triggering intensified surveillance, cross-border coordination, and accelerated funding and response efforts.

via Yahoo|

#ebola #global-health #outbreak

health6 days ago•33 min saved

North America Reports Its First Hantavirus Case, Prompting Health Vigilance

Health officials confirm North America’s first hantavirus case, prompting enhanced surveillance and reminders to limit rodent exposure as clinicians monitor for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

via Yahoo|

#hantavirus #health #infectious-disease

technology9 days ago•3 min saved

Meta Faces Employee Backlash Over AI-Training Surveillance

Meta’s Model Capability Initiative would track employees’ keystrokes, mouse activity, and screens to train AI, prompting internal protests and a petition over privacy concerns as morale sinks amid layoffs and AI-driven performance reviews.

via Futurism|

#ai #meta #privacy

public-health11 days ago•21 min saved

Record Dengue Surge in the United States in 2024 Fueled by Travel-Associated Cases

CDC data show a record 3,798 dengue cases in the United States and DC in 2024, up 359% from the 2010–2023 average, with travel-associated cases (97.2%) far exceeding locally acquired ones (2.8%). The Caribbean, Mexico, and Cuba were major exposure regions; Florida, California, and Texas reported local transmission in multiple counties. The median patient age was 49; 57.5% identified as Hispanic/Latino, and 36.1% were hospitalized, with six deaths (0.2%). DENV-3 was the most common serotype among those tested. The findings call for stronger prevention, vector control, and traveler-focused messaging, while vaccines are not yet available for short-term travelers; protective measures include EPA-approved repellents, protective clothing, screens, and reducing standing water.

via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC (.gov)|

#dengue #public-health #surveillance

technology11 days ago•7 min saved

Meta Staff Push Back Against Laptop-Tracking Tool, Sparking UK Union Drive

Meta’s mandatory Model Capability Initiative, which records screen activity to gather data for AI training, has provoked internal protests and a petition, with UK staff organizing a union drive and some US workers delaying installation to protest surveillance and data harvesting, signaling growing mistrust in the workplace.

via WIRED|

#ai #meta #privacy

health12 days ago•10 min saved

Pandemic Ready? Lessons From a Hantavirus Cruise Outbreak

The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, while carrying low public risk, underscores that another pandemic could occur and highlights the need for sustained public health infrastructure, clear leadership, rapid detection and tracing, and transparent communication—along with continued investment in vaccine platforms and antivirals to be better prepared for future threats.

via Gizmodo|

#hantavirus #health #pandemics

technology13 days ago•7 min saved

Meta’s Ray-Bans Spark Privacy Debate Amid Smart Glasses Boom

Meta's Ray‑Ban smart glasses are driving a global wave of AI-enabled eyewear, boasting about 7 million sold and more than 80% of the market, but they’re fueling privacy concerns after covert recordings and related lawsuits; as rivals like Apple, Snap, and Google plan competing devices, experts warn that widespread camera wear could complicate laws and norms around recording in public.

via BBC|

#augmented-reality #meta #privacy

technology15 days ago•2 min saved

Hardware Stores Turn Parking Lots Into Surveillance Hubs With License-Plate Cameras

Home Depot and Lowe's have installed Flock license-plate cameras in parking lots to track vehicles and people; Home Depot says it does not share data with federal agencies but does cooperate with local law enforcement, while Lowe's discloses similar data-sharing in its privacy statement. The cameras have been in use since at least last year, prompting privacy concerns about pervasive surveillance and the potential chilling effect on shoppers.

via Jalopnik|

#license-plate-scanners #local-law-enforcement #privacy

technology16 days ago•39 min saved

When Billionaire Jets Warn the World: A Doomsday Gauge

Los Angeles artist Kyle McDonald has built an “Apocalypse Early Warning System” that tracks publicly available private and charter jet data to gauge surges in air traffic. The system rates activity on a 1–5 scale and can alert followers if a spike suggests the ultra-rich are fleeing cities, a concept meant to satirize and critique wealth disparities and surveillance culture, not to predict literal doomsday. Washington Post context notes that while some billionaires prep for crises, the tracker signals billionaire panic and invites broader discussion about accountability and action rather than an imminent apocalypse.

via Yahoo|

#apocalypse #kyle-mcdonald #private-jets

technology17 days ago•1 min saved

Hidden-recording eyewear sparks extortion risks in public spaces

A London woman was secretly filmed by a man wearing camera-equipped smart glasses; the clip appeared online and was used in an extortion bid demanding payment for removal. Despite platform takedowns, copies circulated, highlighting how discreet wearables enable abuse and ambient AI data capture, even as Meta's Ray-Ban eyewear denies facial recognition and third-party tools can identify people.

via extremetech.com|

#extortion #privacy #smart-glasses

gadgets19 days ago•15 min saved

Extortion via Smart Glasses Stirs Privacy Alarm

A London woman was covertly filmed by a man wearing smart glasses, who then demanded payment to remove the video from social media; the BBC says the clip circulated online, was briefly removed after TikTok rules were cited, and the incident underscores rising privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses, with police saying there isn’t enough information to launch an investigation yet.

via Gizmodo|

#extortion #gadgets #privacy

technology20 days ago•23 min saved

Apocalypse Tracker: Watching private jets for insider signals

An independent developer has built an 'Apocalypse Early Warning System' that tracks public data on private jets and military aircraft to spot unusual spikes in air traffic. The tracker uses FAA public registry data and ADS-B Exchange to flag statistically unusual activity and can alert users by text or email when counts reach a Level 5 outlier. The project, framed as a potential warning of insider knowledge about major actions, has reignited debates over privacy and government access to aircraft data as lawmakers consider new restrictions.

via Straight Arrow News - SAN|

#air-traffic-data #flight-tracking #privacy