Category: iNews

Category: iNews

Microsoft Discloses New Russian Hacking Effort
10/25/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The U.S. technology giant Microsoft says that the same Russia-backed hackers responsible for the 2020 SolarWinds breach of corporate computer systems is continuing to attack global technology systems, this time targeting cloud service resellers. Microsoft …

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Whistleblower Haugen to Testify as UK Scrutinizes Facebook
10/25/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Former Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower Frances Haugen plans to answer questions Monday from lawmakers in the United Kingdom who are working on legislation to rein in the power of social media companies.  Haugen is …

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Facebook’s Language Gaps Weaken Screening of Hate, Terrorism
10/25/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

In Gaza and Syria, journalists and activists feel Facebook censors their speech, flagging inoffensive Arabic posts as terrorist content. In India and Myanmar, political groups use Facebook to incite violence. All of it frequently slips …

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Italian Lab Creates Extreme Weather; Could Predict Climate Change Effects
10/24/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Researchers at a specialized lab in Italy say understanding climate change effects requires recreating them in a controlled environment. So, they built one. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi has more. …

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Zoom Gets More Popular Despite Worries About Links to China
10/24/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Very few companies can boast of having their name also used as a verb. Zoom is one of them. The popularity of the videoconferencing platform continues to grow around the world despite continued questions about …

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Facebook Dithered in Curbing Divisive User Content in India
10/24/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook in India has been selective in curbing hate speech, misinformation and inflammatory posts, particularly anti-Muslim content, according to leaked documents obtained by The Associated Press, even as its own employees cast doubt over the …

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Apple Updates App Store Payment Rules in Concession to Developers
10/23/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Apple has updated its App Store rules to allow developers to contact users directly about payments, a concession in a legal settlement with companies challenging its tightly controlled marketplace. According to App Store rules updated …

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Another Whistleblower Accuses Facebook of Wrongdoing: Report
10/23/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

A former Facebook worker reportedly told U.S. authorities Friday the platform has put profits before stopping problematic content, weeks after another whistleblower helped stoke the firm’s latest crisis with similar claims. The unnamed new whistleblower …

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China’s Reach Into Africa’s Digital Sector Worries Experts
10/22/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Chinese companies like Huawei and the Transsion group are responsible for much of the digital infrastructure and smartphones used in Africa. Chinese phones built in Africa come with already installed apps for mobile money transfer …

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Facebook Kept Oversight Board in Dark about Special Treatment of VIP Accounts
10/21/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook’s quasi-independent oversight board criticized the company Thursday, saying many high-profile accounts such as celebrities and politicians are not held to the same standards as other accounts. In a blog post, the board said, “Facebook …

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New Name for Facebook? Critics Cry Smoke and Mirrors
10/21/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook critics pounced Wednesday on a report that the social network plans to rename itself, arguing it may be seeking to distract from recent scandals and controversy. The report from tech news website The Verge, …

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Facebook to Pay Up to $14 Million Over Discrimination Against US Workers 
10/19/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook must pay a $4.75 million fine and up to $9.5 million in back pay to eligible victims who say the company discriminated against U.S. workers in favor of foreign ones, the Justice Department announced …

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Catching a Ride: A ‘Robotaxi’ Drives Itself to You
10/19/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Consider it a “robotaxi.” For customers who need a ride in Las Vegas, they can now use a ride-hailing startup whose cars drive themselves to customers. Tina Trinh reports. …

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Facebook Plans to Hire 10,000 in EU to Build ‘Metaverse’
10/18/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook says it plans to hire 10,000 workers in the European Union over the next five years to work on a new computing platform. The company said in a blog post Sunday that those high-skilled …

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US Puts Cryptocurrency Industry on Notice Over Ransomware Attacks 
10/15/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Suspected ransomware payments totaling $590 million were made in the first six months of this year, more than the $416 million reported for all of 2020, U.S. authorities said on Friday, as Washington put the …

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US Authorities Disclose Ransomware Attacks Against Water Facilities
10/15/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

U.S. authorities said on Thursday that four ransomware attacks had penetrated water and wastewater facilities in the past year, and they warned similar plants to check for signs of intrusions and take other precautions.  The …

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Facebook Objects to Releasing Private Posts About Myanmar’s Rohingya Campaign
10/15/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook was used to spread disinformation about the Rohingya, the Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, and in 2018 the company began to delete posts, accounts and other content it determined were part of a campaign …

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Microsoft to Shut Down LinkedIn in China Over Censorship Concerns
10/14/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Microsoft will close LinkedIn in China later this year, the company announced Thursday. The professional networking site, which started operating in China in 2014, faces a “significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements” …

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Forum Urges Social Networks to Act Against Antisemitism
10/13/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Social media giants were urged to act Wednesday to stem online antisemitism during an international conference in Sweden focused on the growing amount of hatred published on many platforms.  The Swedish government invited social media …

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US Staging Global Conference to Combat Ransomware Attacks
10/13/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The White House is holding a two-day international conference starting Wednesday to combat ransomware computer attacks on business operations across the globe that cost companies, schools and health services an estimated $74 billion in damages …

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Computers and Brains: Sensors Implanted in the Brain Help Paralyzed Man Write
10/12/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Brain computer interfaces, where computers analyze brain signals and help paralyzed people to write and carry out other actions, is a burgeoning area of research. VOA’s Deana Mitchell has the story of one breakthrough. …

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Facebook Unveils New Controls for Kids Using Its Platforms
10/11/2021 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Facebook, in the aftermath of damning testimony that its platforms harm children, will be introducing several features including prompting teens to take a break using its photo sharing app Instagram, and “nudging” teens if they …

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