Real World News

https://www.imore.com/leaked-eu-plans-mandate-scanning-encrypted-messages-stop-child-sexual-abuse A new leaked document appears to reveal that the EU is planning to mandate that the providers of messaging services like WhatsApp and iMessage must scan messages in order to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and grooming of children within messages. It's hard to believe that this is done in good faith. They talk about end to end encryption being necessary for security and confidentiality, but at the same time they propose something which would let other people people read your messages without your permission. Well I'm sorry, but I don't see how that …

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/09/clearview-chicago-settlement-aclu Facial recognition startup Clearview AI has agreed to restrict the use of its massive collection of face images to settle allegations that it collected people’s photos without their consent.

Magistrates have had their sentencing powers doubled in a bid to tackle the courts backlog – but barristers warned yesterday the move could trigger a flood of appeals. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10773627/Magistrates-dish-YEAR-jail-sentencing-powers-doubled-help-courts-backlog.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61220095 People who rely on face-to-face banking and cash are at risk of "being cut adrift" as branches and ATMs close, according to consumer group Which?.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/26/elon-musk-twitter-takeover-bought-buys-what-will-change-is-free-speech-at-risk Billionaire’s buyout of social media company reignites debate about leaving the platform but is it too soon to act – and where could you go?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/13/wayne-couzens-requests-trial-by-jury-on-indecent-exposure-charges Sarah Everard’s killer, Wayne Couzens, has requested a trial by jury to face four charges of indecent exposure. The alleged flashing incidents are said to have taken place in Swanley, Kent, in January and February last year while he was a serving Metropolitan police officer. He's entitled to request trial by jury for these charges so fair enough, but I can't help but wonder why he's done that. Is there any strategic benefit for him, or is it just attention seeking? I've always thought that the only reason someone would choose crown court over ma…

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/14/how-free-speech-absolutist-elon-musk-would-transform-twitter Analysis: Musk’s past musings about Twitter show desire to reshape essence of its business model Free speech should be seen as a good thing, but for a long time now social media users have been more interested in getting social validation for what they say. They would rather go with the crowd than express a unpopular opinion. After all, unpopular opinions might be challenged and criticized. Who wants to risk having their views challenged, who wants to spend time having a detailed discussion on complex issues with plenty of nuance when you can ju…

Boris Johnson is to be fined for breaking the law by attending an illegal Partygate event along with his wife Carrie during the Covid pandemic, No10 confirmed today. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10711387/Boris-Johnson-Partygate-fine.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/10/speed-camera-app-developers-face-abuse-from-uk-drivers Speedcam Anywhere allows anyone to submit evidence of drivers speeding One reviewer made a comparison with with the Stasi in East German encouraging people to report each other for minor infractions of the rules. I think we've got to be careful we don't end up like that, although in regards speeding specifically I don't think that's a minor infraction. So not necessarily got a massive problem with the app but I do wonder how useful this kind of footage would be. People just going to say that the persons camera was inaccurate or defective. I assume police r…

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-60198140 A man has been found guilty of posting a "grossly offensive" tweet about the death of fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore. I don't condone the comment, it was out of order, but I'm not particularly comfortable with people being in trouble for simply causing offence. Where does that end? It's too subjective, for example it seems to be socially acceptable these days for people to openly call for violence against Russian military personnel. Facebook has even gone as far as officially declaring it acceptable under their terms of service. Yet someone makes a nasty comment about a British officer, ag…

https://news.sky.com/story/high-court-rules-against-priti-patel-over-data-being-extracted-from-migrants-mobile-phones-12574892 The High Court has found that the Home Office acted unlawfully in a programme known as Project Sunshine in which data was extracted from mobile phones seized off migrants who arrived on small boats.

Hundreds of eco activists from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil today blocked ten major oil terminals across England in a mass protest amid demands that the Government stops new oil and gas projects. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10675231/Hundreds-Just-Stop-Oil-Extinction-Rebellion-protestors-block-entrances-seven-oil-terminals.html people like this need locking up.

Rishi Sunak was facing questions over his wife's wealth last night after accounts indicated that she received millions of pounds in dividends from a firm that is still operating in Russia. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10653653/Rishi-Sunaks-wife-gets-12million-two-dividend-payments-Russia-linked-firm.html

https://www.techdirt.com/2022/03/21/federal-court-says-good-faith-prevails-in-deployment-of-extremely-questionable-reverse-warrant/ They’re called “reverse” warrants because the paperwork asks Google to turn over location info on everyone in certain areas at certain times in hopes of giving law enforcement enough information to generate a list of suspects. It may technically be a warrant but probable cause is lacking — unless you consider (as some courts have) that the only probably cause needed is the probability that Google possesses the records sought by investigators.

https://news.sky.com/story/online-safety-bill-updated-proposals-will-make-uk-safest-place-to-go-online-government-says-12568070 Laws that will require social media sites and tech firms to prevent users being exposed to harmful content are being introduced to parliament after several major updates. The biggest firms must also address 'legal but harmful' content under the updated proposals The "legal but harmful" bit has always worried me, harmful is very subjective and could easily be abused. If any material is truly that harmful, they could just make it illegal and deal with it that way. This just seems like a way for them to censor unpopular or disa…