Key PointsGoogle's political action committee won't fund members of Congress who voted against the presidential election results, the company confirmed to CNBC on Monday evening."After the disturbing events at the Capitol, NetPAC paused all contributions while undertaking a review," a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement to CNBC. "Following that review, the NetPAC board has decided that it will not be making any contributions this cycle to any member of Congress who voted against certification of the election results."Axios first reported the funding pause.Last week, tech...…Key PointsGoogle's political action committee won't fund members of Congress who voted against the presidential election results, the company confirmed to CNBC on Monday evening."After the disturbing events at the Capitol, NetPAC paused all contributions while undertaking a review," a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement to CNBC. "Following that review, the NetPAC board has decided that it will not be making any contributions this cycle to any member of Congress who voted against certification of the election results."Axios first reported the funding pause.Last week, tech...WW…

Seoul (CNN)For the first time in 25 years, the distinctive vocals of South Korean superstar Kim Kwang-seok will be heard on national television singing new material.It's a feat made all the more extraordinary because the famous folk singer is dead.National broadcaster SBS plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to bring Kim's voice back to life on a new program, "Competition of the Century: AI vs Human," to air later this week.It's not the first time AI has been used to revive a famous singer in South Korea. In December, music channel Mnet aired "One More Time," a show that used AI and...…Seoul (CNN)For the first time in 25 years, the distinctive vocals of South Korean superstar Kim Kwang-seok will be heard on national television singing new material.It's a feat made all the more extraordinary because the famous folk singer is dead.National broadcaster SBS plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to bring Kim's voice back to life on a new program, "Competition of the Century: AI vs Human," to air later this week.It's not the first time AI has been used to revive a famous singer in South Korea. In December, music channel Mnet aired "One More Time," a show that used AI and...WW…

Email updates on news, actions,and events in your area.DEEPLINKS BLOGShare ItLate in 2019, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey a plan for an interoperable, federated, standardized Twitter that would let users (or toolsmiths who work on behalf of users) gain more control over their participation in the Twitter system. This was an exciting moment for us, a significant lurch towards an , decentralized social media world. We were especially excited to see Dorsey cite Mike Masnick's excellent paper.It’s been more than a year, and Twitter has marked its progress with an “” that sets out its view of the...…Email updates on news, actions,and events in your area.DEEPLINKS BLOGShare ItLate in 2019, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey a plan for an interoperable, federated, standardized Twitter that would let users (or toolsmiths who work on behalf of users) gain more control over their participation in the Twitter system. This was an exciting moment for us, a significant lurch towards an , decentralized social media world. We were especially excited to see Dorsey cite Mike Masnick's excellent paper.It’s been more than a year, and Twitter has marked its progress with an “” that sets out its view of the...WW…

Less than a fortnight since DarkMarket was taken offline, authorities seized laptops, phones, hard drives and bank cards from several Australian properties.Gavin ButlerMike PowerGavin ButlerBy signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content.…Less than a fortnight since DarkMarket was taken offline, authorities seized laptops, phones, hard drives and bank cards from several Australian properties.Gavin ButlerMike PowerGavin ButlerBy signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content.WW…

By andShare this storyEvery second, the surveillance cameras installed in each classroom at Niulanshan First Secondary School in Beijing snap a photo. The images are then fed into the Classroom Care System, an “emotion recognition” program developed by Hanwang Technology. It identifies each student’s face and analyzes their behavior: a student rifling through their desk might be labeled “distracted,” while another looking at the board would be labeled “focused.” Other behavioral categories include answering questions, interacting with other students, writing, and sleeping. Teachers and...…By andShare this storyEvery second, the surveillance cameras installed in each classroom at Niulanshan First Secondary School in Beijing snap a photo. The images are then fed into the Classroom Care System, an “emotion recognition” program developed by Hanwang Technology. It identifies each student’s face and analyzes their behavior: a student rifling through their desk might be labeled “distracted,” while another looking at the board would be labeled “focused.” Other behavioral categories include answering questions, interacting with other students, writing, and sleeping. Teachers and...WW…

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.Jan. 25, 2021, 5:56 PM UTCBy Ben Collins and Brandy ZadroznyTwitter unveiled a feature Monday meant to bolster its efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation by tapping users in a fashion similar to Wikipedia to flag potentially misleading tweets.The new system allows users to discuss and provide context to tweets they believe are misleading or false. The project, titled Birdwatch, is a standalone section of Twitter that will at first only be available to a small set of users, largely on a...…IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.Jan. 25, 2021, 5:56 PM UTCBy Ben Collins and Brandy ZadroznyTwitter unveiled a feature Monday meant to bolster its efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation by tapping users in a fashion similar to Wikipedia to flag potentially misleading tweets.The new system allows users to discuss and provide context to tweets they believe are misleading or false. The project, titled Birdwatch, is a standalone section of Twitter that will at first only be available to a small set of users, largely on a...WW…

Blackberry and Chinese search engine giant Baidu have agreed to expand a partnership that aims to give automakers the tools they need to launch next-generation connected and autonomous vehicles in China.Under the deal, Baidu’s high-definition maps will be integrated into Blackberry’s QNX Neutrino Real-Time Operating System. The embedded system will be mass produced in the upcoming GAC New Energy Aion models from the electric vehicle arm of GAC Group, one of the country’s top three automakers that produces more 2 million vehicles a year.The aim of this new, expanded partnership is to...…Blackberry and Chinese search engine giant Baidu have agreed to expand a partnership that aims to give automakers the tools they need to launch next-generation connected and autonomous vehicles in China.Under the deal, Baidu’s high-definition maps will be integrated into Blackberry’s QNX Neutrino Real-Time Operating System. The embedded system will be mass produced in the upcoming GAC New Energy Aion models from the electric vehicle arm of GAC Group, one of the country’s top three automakers that produces more 2 million vehicles a year.The aim of this new, expanded partnership is to...WW…

January 18, 2021by Bob Yirka , Phys.orgA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China has used drones to create a prototype of a small airborne quantum network. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the researchers describe sending entangled particles from one drone to another and from a drone to the ground.Computer scientists, physicists and engineers have been working over the last several years toward building a usable quantum —doing so would involve sending entangled particles between users and the result would be the most secure network...…January 18, 2021by Bob Yirka , Phys.orgA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China has used drones to create a prototype of a small airborne quantum network. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the researchers describe sending entangled particles from one drone to another and from a drone to the ground.Computer scientists, physicists and engineers have been working over the last several years toward building a usable quantum —doing so would involve sending entangled particles between users and the result would be the most secure network...WW…

Explore:Explore:Explore:Nanosatellite thruster emits pure ionsTomGearty617-253-3951MIT.nanoA 3D-printed thruster that emits a stream of pure ions could be a low-cost, extremely efficient propulsion source for miniature satellites.The nanosatellite thruster created by MIT researchers is the first of its kind to be entirely additively manufactured, using a combination of 3D printing and hydrothermal growth of zinc oxide nanowires. It is also the first thruster of this type to produce pure ions from the ionic liquids used to generate propulsion.The pure ions make the thruster more efficient...…Explore:Explore:Explore:Nanosatellite thruster emits pure ionsTomGearty617-253-3951MIT.nanoA 3D-printed thruster that emits a stream of pure ions could be a low-cost, extremely efficient propulsion source for miniature satellites.The nanosatellite thruster created by MIT researchers is the first of its kind to be entirely additively manufactured, using a combination of 3D printing and hydrothermal growth of zinc oxide nanowires. It is also the first thruster of this type to produce pure ions from the ionic liquids used to generate propulsion.The pure ions make the thruster more efficient...WW…

YesterdayTesla has reportedly partnered with Samsung on a new 5nm chip for full self-driving, according to a new report coming from Korea.Back in 2016, Tesla started building a team of chip architects led by legendary chip designer Jim Keller to develop its own silicon.The goal was to design a super powerful and efficient chip for self-driving.In 2019, Tesla finally unveiled the chip as part of They claim a factor of 21 improvement in frame per second processing versus the previous generation Tesla Autopilot hardware, which was powered by Nvidia hardware, while only barely increasing the...…YesterdayTesla has reportedly partnered with Samsung on a new 5nm chip for full self-driving, according to a new report coming from Korea.Back in 2016, Tesla started building a team of chip architects led by legendary chip designer Jim Keller to develop its own silicon.The goal was to design a super powerful and efficient chip for self-driving.In 2019, Tesla finally unveiled the chip as part of They claim a factor of 21 improvement in frame per second processing versus the previous generation Tesla Autopilot hardware, which was powered by Nvidia hardware, while only barely increasing the...WW…

///Parler LLC, the social media app popular with Trump supporters and conspiracy theorists, is attempting to get back online with the help of a Russian company whose clients include an internet service provider to Russian intelligence, raising concerns about the conservative social forum’s security if it ever formally returns.U.S-based began working with DDoS-Guard on Jan. 17 after getting cut off from . The Russian company offers its customers cybersecurity services and web hosting, which includes reserving website names, collecting platform data and piecing it together to present on the...…///Parler LLC, the social media app popular with Trump supporters and conspiracy theorists, is attempting to get back online with the help of a Russian company whose clients include an internet service provider to Russian intelligence, raising concerns about the conservative social forum’s security if it ever formally returns.U.S-based began working with DDoS-Guard on Jan. 17 after getting cut off from . The Russian company offers its customers cybersecurity services and web hosting, which includes reserving website names, collecting platform data and piecing it together to present on the...WW…

Byfor| January 19, 2021 -- 14:47 GMT (06:47 PST)| Topic:Ethical-source licenses, such as the , have not been widely adopted. True, the , the first and most popular open-source project code of conduct has had success -- it was , but actual code ethical-source licenses have had a hard row to hoe. Today, seeking more users, there's a new nonprofit group, the .Founded by the ethical-source leader and creator of the Hippocratic License and Contributor Covenant Coraline Ada Ehmke, the OES is devoted to the idea that the free software and open-source concept of "" are outdated. Freedom Zero is...…Byfor| January 19, 2021 -- 14:47 GMT (06:47 PST)| Topic:Ethical-source licenses, such as the , have not been widely adopted. True, the , the first and most popular open-source project code of conduct has had success -- it was , but actual code ethical-source licenses have had a hard row to hoe. Today, seeking more users, there's a new nonprofit group, the .Founded by the ethical-source leader and creator of the Hippocratic License and Contributor Covenant Coraline Ada Ehmke, the OES is devoted to the idea that the free software and open-source concept of "" are outdated. Freedom Zero is...WW…

In addition to , which carried over its Right to Repair bill from 2020, , , , Maryland ( and ), Montana (, another for a), , , , , , and have all filed new bills. In addition, legislators in some of these states are drafting complementary bills and lawmakers in other states will introduce new bills. The next few weeks will be a flurry of activity as U.S. PIRG and our allies work with legislators to nail down language while building and mobilizing coalition support in as many of these states as possible. It’s a frenetic effort that requires a lot of coordination with our longtime partners ,...…In addition to , which carried over its Right to Repair bill from 2020, , , , Maryland ( and ), Montana (, another for a), , , , , , and have all filed new bills. In addition, legislators in some of these states are drafting complementary bills and lawmakers in other states will introduce new bills. The next few weeks will be a flurry of activity as U.S. PIRG and our allies work with legislators to nail down language while building and mobilizing coalition support in as many of these states as possible. It’s a frenetic effort that requires a lot of coordination with our longtime partners ,...WW…

Exclusive: former cybersecurity chief calls for law change and warns situation is ‘close to getting out of control’ Defence and security editorSun 24 Jan 2021 12.31 ESTLast modified on Sun 24 Jan 2021 15.40 ESTInsurers are inadvertently funding organised crime by paying out claims from companies who have paid ransoms to regain access to data and systems after a hacking attack, Britain’s former top cybersecurity official has warned.Ciaran Martin, who ran the National Cyber Security Centre until last August, said he feared that so-called ransomware was “close to getting out of control” and...…Exclusive: former cybersecurity chief calls for law change and warns situation is ‘close to getting out of control’ Defence and security editorSun 24 Jan 2021 12.31 ESTLast modified on Sun 24 Jan 2021 15.40 ESTInsurers are inadvertently funding organised crime by paying out claims from companies who have paid ransoms to regain access to data and systems after a hacking attack, Britain’s former top cybersecurity official has warned.Ciaran Martin, who ran the National Cyber Security Centre until last August, said he feared that so-called ransomware was “close to getting out of control” and...WW…

The person selling access to the service claims it has data on 500 million Facebook users.Do you work at Facebook, or know about another data breach? We'd love to hear from you. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Joseph Cox securely on Signal on +44 20 8133 5190, Wickr on josephcox, OTR chat on , or email .By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content.…The person selling access to the service claims it has data on 500 million Facebook users.Do you work at Facebook, or know about another data breach? We'd love to hear from you. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Joseph Cox securely on Signal on +44 20 8133 5190, Wickr on josephcox, OTR chat on , or email .By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content.WW…

Email updates on news, actions,and events in your area.DEEPLINKS BLOGShare ItMany governments have long seen social media as a potential threat. In the early part of the new millennium, countries across the globe were engaged in a wide variety of censorship and even wholesale restrictions to platforms, and even Internet access as a whole. As the use of social media accelerated, governments took action: Thailand blocked YouTube in 2006; Facebook was blocked in Syria in 2007; countries from Turkey to Tunisia to Iran followed suit. Within a few years, tech companies were inundated with...…Email updates on news, actions,and events in your area.DEEPLINKS BLOGShare ItMany governments have long seen social media as a potential threat. In the early part of the new millennium, countries across the globe were engaged in a wide variety of censorship and even wholesale restrictions to platforms, and even Internet access as a whole. As the use of social media accelerated, governments took action: Thailand blocked YouTube in 2006; Facebook was blocked in Syria in 2007; countries from Turkey to Tunisia to Iran followed suit. Within a few years, tech companies were inundated with...WW…

ByShare this storyIn May 2020, former president Donald Trump wrote on Twitter and , “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” encouraging the use of lethal force against Black Lives Matter protesters. Mark Zuckerberg, in communicating with his staff about why he decided not to take down the post, compared it with a statement the company removed from its platform earlier that year in India. Kapil Mishra, a Delhi politician from the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, had given the Delhi police a few months earlier on Twitter and Facebook. If the police didn’t clear the...…ByShare this storyIn May 2020, former president Donald Trump wrote on Twitter and , “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” encouraging the use of lethal force against Black Lives Matter protesters. Mark Zuckerberg, in communicating with his staff about why he decided not to take down the post, compared it with a statement the company removed from its platform earlier that year in India. Kapil Mishra, a Delhi politician from the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, had given the Delhi police a few months earlier on Twitter and Facebook. If the police didn’t clear the...WW…

Filed under:New updates bring proactive hunches and Guard Plus to the smart assistantAmazon is enabling a new feature today that allows Alexa to proactively complete tasks around the house, such as turning off lights, based on your habits and frequent requests.Alexa has been able to sense these habits and ask about them — the company calls them “hunches” — but before this update, Alexa would ask permission before acting on something like lowering the thermostat before you went to bed. If the new proactive hunches are enabled, though, Alexa will skip asking for permission for a task and just...…Filed under:New updates bring proactive hunches and Guard Plus to the smart assistantAmazon is enabling a new feature today that allows Alexa to proactively complete tasks around the house, such as turning off lights, based on your habits and frequent requests.Alexa has been able to sense these habits and ask about them — the company calls them “hunches” — but before this update, Alexa would ask permission before acting on something like lowering the thermostat before you went to bed. If the new proactive hunches are enabled, though, Alexa will skip asking for permission for a task and just...WW…

YesterdayPresident Joe Biden has just announced that he will replace the entire US federal fleet with electric vehicles made in the US.The US federal fleet consists of over 645,000 vehicles, according to the latest . This includes 245k civilian vehicles, 173k military vehicles, and 225k post office vehicles.Biden , so an announcement to this effect is not unexpected, but campaign promises do not always translate to real action.We do not have a timeline for replacement, merely a commitment so far. No specifics of this plan have yet been released.Some federal vehicles may avoid replacement in...…YesterdayPresident Joe Biden has just announced that he will replace the entire US federal fleet with electric vehicles made in the US.The US federal fleet consists of over 645,000 vehicles, according to the latest . This includes 245k civilian vehicles, 173k military vehicles, and 225k post office vehicles.Biden , so an announcement to this effect is not unexpected, but campaign promises do not always translate to real action.We do not have a timeline for replacement, merely a commitment so far. No specifics of this plan have yet been released.Some federal vehicles may avoid replacement in...WW…

///If you had to say one last thing to your grandpa or your cat before they passed away, what would it be? Well, Microsoft has patented a technology, which if implemented will enable people to have full-blown conversations with people who are long gone.The patent “Creating a conversational chatbot of a specific person” that was filed back in 2017 and granted this month talks about creating a ‘conversational chatbot of a specific person’ that would access social data, which includes images, voice data, social media posts, electronic messages, and written letters among others, to create or...…///If you had to say one last thing to your grandpa or your cat before they passed away, what would it be? Well, Microsoft has patented a technology, which if implemented will enable people to have full-blown conversations with people who are long gone.The patent “Creating a conversational chatbot of a specific person” that was filed back in 2017 and granted this month talks about creating a ‘conversational chatbot of a specific person’ that would access social data, which includes images, voice data, social media posts, electronic messages, and written letters among others, to create or...WW…

Email updates on news, actions,and events in your area.DEEPLINKS BLOGShare ItShare ItImagine this scenario: You’re driving home. Police pull you over, allegedly for a traffic violation. After you provide your license and registration, the officer catches you off guard by asking: “Since you’ve got nothing to hide, you don’t mind unlocking your phone for me, do you?” Of course, you don’t...WhatsApp users have recently started seeing a new pop-up screen requiring them to agree to its new terms and privacy policy in order to keep using the app. At first users were required to agree by February...…Email updates on news, actions,and events in your area.DEEPLINKS BLOGShare ItShare ItImagine this scenario: You’re driving home. Police pull you over, allegedly for a traffic violation. After you provide your license and registration, the officer catches you off guard by asking: “Since you’ve got nothing to hide, you don’t mind unlocking your phone for me, do you?” Of course, you don’t...WhatsApp users have recently started seeing a new pop-up screen requiring them to agree to its new terms and privacy policy in order to keep using the app. At first users were required to agree by February...WW…

SAN FRANCISCO – Albedo, the latest space company to join the well-known Y Combinator startup accelerator, plans to establish a satellite constellation offering Earth imagery with a resolution of 10 centimeters per pixel.That’s the same resolution that caused a stir when former President Trump in August 2019. At the time, geospatial imagery experts that cost more than $1 billion dollars. (NRO satellite prices and capabilities are classified.)Albedo plans to reduce the cost of gathering electro-optical imagery with 10-centimeter resolution as well as thermal imagery with two-meter resolution...…SAN FRANCISCO – Albedo, the latest space company to join the well-known Y Combinator startup accelerator, plans to establish a satellite constellation offering Earth imagery with a resolution of 10 centimeters per pixel.That’s the same resolution that caused a stir when former President Trump in August 2019. At the time, geospatial imagery experts that cost more than $1 billion dollars. (NRO satellite prices and capabilities are classified.)Albedo plans to reduce the cost of gathering electro-optical imagery with 10-centimeter resolution as well as thermal imagery with two-meter resolution...WW…

With COVID19 vaccines beginning to make their way around the world, there’s a glimmer of hope for this pandemic to end sometime within the next year. Searches for “vaccines near me” have increased fivefold, , so in the coming weeks, the company will begin to make vaccination locations available on Google Maps and Search.The feature will roll out initially in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississipi, and Texas, “with more states and countries to come.” The feature will display information like whether you’ll need an appointment or referral to get vaccinated, if the vaccine is limited to certain...…With COVID19 vaccines beginning to make their way around the world, there’s a glimmer of hope for this pandemic to end sometime within the next year. Searches for “vaccines near me” have increased fivefold, , so in the coming weeks, the company will begin to make vaccination locations available on Google Maps and Search.The feature will roll out initially in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississipi, and Texas, “with more states and countries to come.” The feature will display information like whether you’ll need an appointment or referral to get vaccinated, if the vaccine is limited to certain...WW…

Follow Us   © 1996-2021 News CommunicationThe views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill © Getty ImagesIt’s fair to say that the Trump administration wasn’t defined by space policy. However, there are handovers for the Biden’s administration, from laying the groundwork for a to the creation of the  and the beginnings of of low Earth orbit research. The first 100 days of the new administration will be crucial as we begin a new era of space investment.Space investment does not present an urgency in the same way other national issues, like responding to the ...…Follow Us   © 1996-2021 News CommunicationThe views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill © Getty ImagesIt’s fair to say that the Trump administration wasn’t defined by space policy. However, there are handovers for the Biden’s administration, from laying the groundwork for a to the creation of the  and the beginnings of of low Earth orbit research. The first 100 days of the new administration will be crucial as we begin a new era of space investment.Space investment does not present an urgency in the same way other national issues, like responding to the ...WW…

Please wait...Log OutLearn how fintechs and forward-thinking FIs are accelerating personalized financial products through data-rich APIs.Surveillance cameras already dot or blanket major cities, but it’s not necessarily easy to continuously track a person or object moving through multiple locations and cameras. Now researchers from the Indian Institute of Science are applying advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to this complex challenge, creating a software platform called — Hindi for “investigator” — that simultaneously manages the specifics of tracking and the larger issue of...…Please wait...Log OutLearn how fintechs and forward-thinking FIs are accelerating personalized financial products through data-rich APIs.Surveillance cameras already dot or blanket major cities, but it’s not necessarily easy to continuously track a person or object moving through multiple locations and cameras. Now researchers from the Indian Institute of Science are applying advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to this complex challenge, creating a software platform called — Hindi for “investigator” — that simultaneously manages the specifics of tracking and the larger issue of...WW…