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The handwriting of certain doctors in medical prescriptions has been a subject of both confusion and comedy over the years. Most patients find it quite difficult to properly understand the instructions given in the prescriptions but Google may have a solution that can end their problem for good.&nbsp;

During an address at the Google for India event, a senior executive said that the company is currently developing an artificial intelligence model that will be able to decipher any kind of handwriting. Google has been in contact with pharmacists for research purposes and the feature will a part of Google Lens.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-users-vote-in-favour-of-removing-elon-musk-as-ceo-544536">Twitter users vote in favour of removing Elon Musk as CEO</a>

“This will act as an assistive technology for digitising handwritten medical documents by augmenting the humans in the loop such as pharmacists, however, no decision will be made solely based on the output provided by this technology,” the company said in a statement according to TechCrunch.&nbsp;

The company did not announce any time frame for the launch of the feature but they made it clear that “much work still remains to be done before this system is ready for the real world.”&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-china-to-hold-joint-naval-drills-in-a-bid-to-strengthen-cooperation-544519">Russia, China to hold joint naval drills in a bid to 'strengthen cooperation'</a>

Google Lens is already capable of detecting various objects and translating languages. However, this feature will be a valuable addition for users who frequently need to decipher handwritten notes.&nbsp;

According to early indications, the Google Lens needs to be used to take a picture of any handwriting and the AI will be able to decipher it and present it in a device-friendly format. While it was announced in the event for the South Asian market, the feature is expected to make its debut worldwide.&nbsp;

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The handwriting of certain doctors in medical prescriptions has been a subject of both confusion and comedy over the years. Most patients find it quite difficult to properly understand the instructions given in the prescriptions but Google may have a solution that can end their problem for good.

The handwriting of certain doctors in medical prescriptions has been a subject of both confusion and comedy over the years. Most patients find it quite difficult to properly understand the instructions given in the prescriptions but Google may have a solution that can end their problem for good. During an address at the Google for India event, a senior executive said that the company is currently developing an artificial intelligence model that will be able to decipher any kind of handwriting. Google has been in contact with pharmacists for research purposes and the feature will a part of Google Lens. Also read | Twitter users vote in favour of removing Elon Musk as CEO “This will act as an assistive technology for digitising handwritten medical documents by augmenting the humans in the loop such as pharmacists, however, no decision will be made solely based on the output provided by this technology,” the company said in a statement according to TechCrunch. The company did not announce any time frame for the launch of the feature but they made it clear that “much work still remains to be done before this system is ready for the real world.” Also read | Russia, China to hold joint naval drills in a bid to 'strengthen cooperation' Google Lens is already capable of detecting various objects and translating languages. However, this feature will be a valuable addition for users who frequently need to decipher handwritten notes. According to early indications, the Google Lens needs to be used to take a picture of any handwriting and the AI will be able to decipher it and present it in a device-friendly format. While it was announced in the event for the South Asian market, the feature is expected to make its debut worldwide.

Google working on AI capable of reading doctors' handwriting on prescriptions

In a major boost to Asia's third largest economy's towering ambitions to dominate the smart devices market, India's home grown brands now comprise 55 per cent of the country's accessories' space, data by market intelligence-major IDC India showed. The accessories' space includes hearables, wearables and power accessories.&nbsp;

The IDC India attributed the dominance of Indian wearable brands to new launches, discounts across channels, and aggressive marketing by brands. Following this, despite an overall pessimism in smartphone manufacturing space due to fears of global recession, the Indian wearable brands are reportedly doubling down on manufacturing and subsequent expansion.&nbsp;

Which Indian brands are dominating the wearables market?

Of the top five wearable brands in the country, the top three are Indian brands. They are Imagine Marketing (BoAt) with over 32 per cent, Nexxbase (Noise) with close to 14 per cent share, and Fire-Boltt with close to 9 per cent share.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/watch-now-use-your-bodys-energy-to-charge-smartphones-and-watches-398373">Now use your body's energy to charge smartphones and watches</a>

China-headquartered OnePlus (more than 8 per cent) and Realme (more than 4 per cent) also make it among the top five wearable brands in India.

Why Indian brands are dominating smart accessories' space?

During last few years that had COVID-19 pandemic challenging the growth ambitions of industries worldwide, the existing smartphone players who were widely expected to take over a significant pie of wearables' market in India. The Chinese brands, that sit over about 62 per cent share of India's smartphone market couldn't make strides into new segments like wearables.&nbsp;

"I think a lot of smartphone players, because the opportunity was so much bigger in smartphones, remained focused on smartphones with 4G and now 5G coming in, especially during the pandemic when they had to handle supply chain disruptions," Vivek Gambhir, CEO at Imagine Marketing (BOAT) was quoted as saying by Economic Times.&nbsp;

"They were focused on their existing markets and weren't really looking at creating new markets," he added.&nbsp;

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In a major boost to Asia's third largest economy's towering ambitions to dominate the smart devices market, India's home grown brands now comprise 55 per cent of the country's accessories' space, data by market intelligence-major IDC India showed.

In a major boost to Asia's third largest economy's towering ambitions to dominate the smart devices market, India's home grown brands now comprise 55 per cent of the country's accessories' space, data by market intelligence-major IDC India showed. The accessories' space includes hearables, wearables and power accessories. The IDC India attributed the dominance of Indian wearable brands to new launches, discounts across channels, and aggressive marketing by brands. Following this, despite an overall pessimism in smartphone manufacturing space due to fears of global recession, the Indian wearable brands are reportedly doubling down on manufacturing and subsequent expansion. Which Indian brands are dominating the wearables market? Of the top five wearable brands in the country, the top three are Indian brands. They are Imagine Marketing (BoAt) with over 32 per cent, Nexxbase (Noise) with close to 14 per cent share, and Fire-Boltt with close to 9 per cent share. ALSO READ | Now use your body's energy to charge smartphones and watches China-headquartered OnePlus (more than 8 per cent) and Realme (more than 4 per cent) also make it among the top five wearable brands in India. Why Indian brands are dominating smart accessories' space? During last few years that had COVID-19 pandemic challenging the growth ambitions of industries worldwide, the existing smartphone players who were widely expected to take over a significant pie of wearables' market in India. The Chinese brands, that sit over about 62 per cent share of India's smartphone market couldn't make strides into new segments like wearables. "I think a lot of smartphone players, because the opportunity was so much bigger in smartphones, remained focused on smartphones with 4G and now 5G coming in, especially during the pandemic when they had to handle supply chain disruptions," Vivek Gambhir, CEO at Imagine Marketing (BOAT) was quoted as saying by Economic Times. "They were focused on their existing markets and weren't really looking at creating new markets," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian brands now dominate country's wearables market

Google has introduced a price drop notifications feature on its web browser Chrome. Users will not have to refresh the page every day to check the price of any product. In a blog post on Thursday, Google said users can opt-in to receive an e-mail or mobile notification from Chrome if there is a price drop.&nbsp;This feature is currently available on desktops and Android devices in the United States.&nbsp;

"Next time you’re shopping, select “track price” in the Chrome address bar. You can manage the products you’re tracking through the side panel, or through the notifications you receive,'' the blog post said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-chrome-introduces-password-less-authentication-heres-how-it-works-542134">Google Chrome introduces passwordless authentication. Here's how it works</a>

With the price drop notifications feature, users can instantly find discounts in their shopping cart. When items are added to the cart, Chrome will find available discount codes from the retailer and automatically show them at checkout.&nbsp;

"Just open the New Tab Page anytime you need to track down existing shopping carts and you’ll see available discounts there, too. Both features are now available on desktop, starting first in the US," the blog post added.&nbsp;

On a desktop, users can right-click on an image and then select "search image with Google Lens" to get results in the side panel. The results will show similar options from retailers and prices that fit a user's budget. Users will also be able to see if the product is in stock or back-ordered.&nbsp;

When users arrive at the checkout stage, Chrome will fill out all details automatically with previously saved information such as users' addresses or payment details from Google Pay. Also, Chrome will always check if users want to save their previously saved information for their next purchase.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Google has introduced a price drop notifications feature on its web browser Chrome. Users will not have to refresh the page every day to check the price of any product.

Google has introduced a price drop notifications feature on its web browser Chrome. Users will not have to refresh the page every day to check the price of any product. In a blog post on Thursday, Google said users can opt-in to receive an e-mail or mobile notification from Chrome if there is a price drop. This feature is currently available on desktops and Android devices in the United States. "Next time you’re shopping, select “track price” in the Chrome address bar. You can manage the products you’re tracking through the side panel, or through the notifications you receive,'' the blog post said. ALSO READ | Google Chrome introduces passwordless authentication. Here's how it works With the price drop notifications feature, users can instantly find discounts in their shopping cart. When items are added to the cart, Chrome will find available discount codes from the retailer and automatically show them at checkout. "Just open the New Tab Page anytime you need to track down existing shopping carts and you’ll see available discounts there, too. Both features are now available on desktop, starting first in the US," the blog post added. On a desktop, users can right-click on an image and then select "search image with Google Lens" to get results in the side panel. The results will show similar options from retailers and prices that fit a user's budget. Users will also be able to see if the product is in stock or back-ordered. When users arrive at the checkout stage, Chrome will fill out all details automatically with previously saved information such as users' addresses or payment details from Google Pay. Also, Chrome will always check if users want to save their previously saved information for their next purchase. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Google Chrome introduces price drop notifications feature. Details here

Elon Musk has decided to reinstate the Twitter accounts of several journalists that were suspended a day earlier after the billionaire accused of them of endangering his family.

In the second Twitter poll conducted by Musk, after the first went against his preferred outcome, an overwhelming majority of people voted to reinstate the journalists' accounts.

"The people have spoken. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now," the Twitter CEO said.

On Thursday, over half-a-dozen tech journalists from reputed media houses like the Guardian, the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, among others, found their accounts to be defunct for allegedly breaching the company’s new rule about revealing people’s locations.

The new rule prohibits users from publishing “live location information” that would “reveal a person’s location, regardless if this information is publicly available”.

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The people have spoken. 
 
Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now. <a href="https://t.co/MFdXbEQFCe">https://t.co/MFdXbEQFCe</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1603982891179839488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

It pertained to their coverage of a dispute between Musk and a user who ran a series of accounts that use publicly available flight information to track the location of private jets, including the one used by Musk. The ElonJet account was later suspended.

Musk alleged that these tech journalists had “doxxed” him by revealing information about the movements of his private jet.

However, several media houses refuted the claims saying that they merely published articles about Musk’s suspension of a Twitter account and did not include information about Musk’s real-time location, or the location of any of his family members.

Musk claims that reporting on this issue amounted to "assassination coordinates" against him and his family.

The billionaire reasoned that the decision to suspend the account was necessary after he claimed that a car in Los Angeles carrying one of his children was followed by "a crazy stalker" and blamed the tracking of his jet for the incident.

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Elon Musk has decided to reinstate the Twitter accounts of several journalists that were suspended a day earlier after the billionaire accused of them of endangering his family.

Elon Musk has decided to reinstate the Twitter accounts of several journalists that were suspended a day earlier after the billionaire accused of them of endangering his family. In the second Twitter poll conducted by Musk, after the first went against his preferred outcome, an overwhelming majority of people voted to reinstate the journalists' accounts. "The people have spoken. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now," the Twitter CEO said. On Thursday, over half-a-dozen tech journalists from reputed media houses like the Guardian, the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, among others, found their accounts to be defunct for allegedly breaching the company’s new rule about revealing people’s locations. The new rule prohibits users from publishing “live location information” that would “reveal a person’s location, regardless if this information is publicly available”. The people have spoken. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now. https://t.co/MFdXbEQFCe — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 17, 2022 × It pertained to their coverage of a dispute between Musk and a user who ran a series of accounts that use publicly available flight information to track the location of private jets, including the one used by Musk. The ElonJet account was later suspended. Musk alleged that these tech journalists had “doxxed” him by revealing information about the movements of his private jet. However, several media houses refuted the claims saying that they merely published articles about Musk’s suspension of a Twitter account and did not include information about Musk’s real-time location, or the location of any of his family members. Musk claims that reporting on this issue amounted to "assassination coordinates" against him and his family. The billionaire reasoned that the decision to suspend the account was necessary after he claimed that a car in Los Angeles carrying one of his children was followed by "a crazy stalker" and blamed the tracking of his jet for the incident. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Elon Musk reinstates Twitter accounts of suspended journalists

The technological competitors of Google on Thursday announced a project which will be aimed at making data sets required for building map features available for free. 
The world of online mapping is dominated by Alphabet-owned Google which provides its services to other platforms or companies and improves its other offerings like online advertising, using navigation and location capabilities.

Creating ripples in the Google-dominated market, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, TomTom and Meta have introduced “Overture Maps Foundation”, which is aimed at providing comprehensive mapping data freely to anyone who may need it for use, said non-profit Linux Foundation, in a press release.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-says-it-does-not-change-search-results-amid-hong-kong-anthem-row-543340">Google says it does not change search results amid Hong Kong anthem row</a>

"Mapping the physical environment and every community in the world, even as they grow and change, is a massively complex challenge that no one organization can manage," Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin said. "Industry needs to come together to do this for the benefit of all,” he added.

The team of technological companies announced to work on Overture, did not include Google. However, it added that its goal is to increase membership for increasing the work’s progress. By mid-2023, the group of tech firms are expected to release their first mapping datasets.

"Immersive experiences, which understand and blend into your physical environment, are critical to the embodied internet of the future," said Erik Solem, engineering director of Maps at Meta Jan, in the press release.

WATCH|&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Google Chrome is most vulnerable browser in 2022

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"By delivering interoperable open map data, Overture provides the foundation for an open metaverse built by creators, developers, and businesses alike,” he added.

The Linux Foundation said that map data is used in applications for navigation, search, autonomous driving, games, logistics and more. The Overture map data will be provided as an open source, which will allow developers to not only use its data but also to build on it, said the Linux Foundation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The technological competitors of Google on Thursday announced a project which will be aimed at making data sets required for building map features available for free.

The technological competitors of Google on Thursday announced a project which will be aimed at making data sets required for building map features available for free. The world of online mapping is dominated by Alphabet-owned Google which provides its services to other platforms or companies and improves its other offerings like online advertising, using navigation and location capabilities. Creating ripples in the Google-dominated market, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, TomTom and Meta have introduced “Overture Maps Foundation”, which is aimed at providing comprehensive mapping data freely to anyone who may need it for use, said non-profit Linux Foundation, in a press release. ALSO READ| Google says it does not change search results amid Hong Kong anthem row "Mapping the physical environment and every community in the world, even as they grow and change, is a massively complex challenge that no one organization can manage," Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin said. "Industry needs to come together to do this for the benefit of all,” he added. The team of technological companies announced to work on Overture, did not include Google. However, it added that its goal is to increase membership for increasing the work’s progress. By mid-2023, the group of tech firms are expected to release their first mapping datasets. "Immersive experiences, which understand and blend into your physical environment, are critical to the embodied internet of the future," said Erik Solem, engineering director of Maps at Meta Jan, in the press release. WATCH| WION Fineprint: Google Chrome is most vulnerable browser in 2022 "By delivering interoperable open map data, Overture provides the foundation for an open metaverse built by creators, developers, and businesses alike,” he added. The Linux Foundation said that map data is used in applications for navigation, search, autonomous driving, games, logistics and more. The Overture map data will be provided as an open source, which will allow developers to not only use its data but also to build on it, said the Linux Foundation. (With inputs from agencies)

Google’s rival tech firms join hands to make comprehensive mapping data

Researchers have found that TikTok’s algorithms are promoting videos about suicide and eating disorders to vulnerable teens within minutes after creating an account, as concerns over the impact of social media on mental health rise.

The report, published by the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) on Wednesday, in its findings claimed that a new TikTok user was exposed to harmful content in less than three minutes after creating an account. While it takes about five more minutes to find content on eating disorders.

These tests were done across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia by creating eight accounts, where the minimum user age is 13.

These accounts liked content about body image and mental health, following which the app recommended videos about losing weight and self-harm, including ones featuring pictures of models and idealised body types, images of razor blades and discussions of suicide.

When the researchers created accounts with user names that suggested a particular vulnerability to eating disorders that included the words “lose weight” the accounts were fed even more harmful content.

“The results are every parent’s nightmare: young people’s feeds are bombarded with harmful, harrowing content that can have a significant cumulative impact on their understanding of the world around them, and their physical and mental health,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the CCDH, said in the report.

“It’s like being stuck in a hall of distorted mirrors where you’re constantly being told you’re ugly, you’re not good enough, maybe you should kill yourself,” Ahmed added.

The report was strongly criticised by TikTok, whose spokesperson termed it an inaccurate depiction of the viewing experience on the platform.

“This activity and resulting experience does not reflect genuine behaviour or viewing experiences of real people,” the TikTok spokesperson told CNN.

“We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need. We’re mindful that triggering content is unique to each individual and remain focused on fostering a safe and comfortable space for everyone, including people who choose to share their recovery journeys or educate others on these important topics.”

&nbsp;(With inputs from agencies)

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Researchers have found that TikTok’s algorithms are promoting videos about suicide and eating disorders to vulnerable teens within minutes after creating an account, as concerns over the impact of social media on mental health rise.

Researchers have found that TikTok’s algorithms are promoting videos about suicide and eating disorders to vulnerable teens within minutes after creating an account, as concerns over the impact of social media on mental health rise. The report, published by the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) on Wednesday, in its findings claimed that a new TikTok user was exposed to harmful content in less than three minutes after creating an account. While it takes about five more minutes to find content on eating disorders. These tests were done across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia by creating eight accounts, where the minimum user age is 13. These accounts liked content about body image and mental health, following which the app recommended videos about losing weight and self-harm, including ones featuring pictures of models and idealised body types, images of razor blades and discussions of suicide. When the researchers created accounts with user names that suggested a particular vulnerability to eating disorders that included the words “lose weight” the accounts were fed even more harmful content. “The results are every parent’s nightmare: young people’s feeds are bombarded with harmful, harrowing content that can have a significant cumulative impact on their understanding of the world around them, and their physical and mental health,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the CCDH, said in the report. “It’s like being stuck in a hall of distorted mirrors where you’re constantly being told you’re ugly, you’re not good enough, maybe you should kill yourself,” Ahmed added. The report was strongly criticised by TikTok, whose spokesperson termed it an inaccurate depiction of the viewing experience on the platform. “This activity and resulting experience does not reflect genuine behaviour or viewing experiences of real people,” the TikTok spokesperson told CNN. “We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need. We’re mindful that triggering content is unique to each individual and remain focused on fostering a safe and comfortable space for everyone, including people who choose to share their recovery journeys or educate others on these important topics.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

TikTok boosts harmful content on suicide, eating disorder within minutes of someone joining it: Study

The European Union on Friday (Dec 16) warned Elon Musk that his newly purchased microblogging site, Twitter may face sanctions under future media legislation.&nbsp;

Taking to Twitter EU&nbsp;commissioner Vera Jourova said, "News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying. EU’s Digital Services Act requires respect of media freedom and fundamental rights. This is reinforced under our <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MediaFreedomAct?src=hashtag_click" role="link">#MediaFreedomAct</a>. @elonmusk should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon."

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News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying. EU’s Digital Services Act requires respect of media freedom and fundamental rights. This is reinforced under our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MediaFreedomAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MediaFreedomAct</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon.
— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) <a href="https://twitter.com/VeraJourova/status/1603689440710369281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Twitter accounts of around half-a-dozen journalists from top media houses covering Technology were suspended&nbsp;without providing any explanation.

The journalists whose accounts were banned on Thursday are from CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Mashable, Substack, among others.

Apart from that the Twitter account of rival Mastodon was also suspended.

Though Twitter’s standard notice said that it “suspends accounts that violate the Twitter rules”, these journalists were known to be aggressively Elon Musk after he took over the microblogging site in October.

Many of these reporters had recently covered an ongoing dispute between Musk and a user who ran a series of accounts that use publicly available flight information to track the location of private jets, including the one used by Musk.

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so far, i’ve been able to confirm about half the accounts suspended posted links to the jet tracker thing in violation of the new doxx’ing policy. unclear just yet about the rest, but i think it’s safe to say the rule is for real. <a href="https://t.co/8MDCG19kNO">https://t.co/8MDCG19kNO</a>
— Mike Solana (@micsolana) <a href="https://twitter.com/micsolana/status/1603570995490455552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Responding the decision, Musk said, "They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service".

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They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1603587970832793600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The move drew wide condemnation from all corners, questioning&nbsp;Musk’s commitment to free speech. He had one time said that he hopes “that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-is-neglecting-tesla-says-analyst-543528">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-is-neglecting-tesla-says-analyst-543528">Elon Musk is 'neglecting Tesla,' says analyst&nbsp;</a>

The Washington Post’s Drew Harwell, one of the journalists whose Twitter account got suspended, told CNN that he was not intimated by the social media site why his account was barred.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-suspends-bot-account-that-was-tracking-elon-musks-private-jet-543127">Twitter suspends bot account that was tracking Elon Musk's private jet</a>

“Elon says he is a free speech champion and he is banning journalists for exercising free speech. I think that calls into question his commitment,” Harwell told CNN.

A spokesperson from the New York Times termed the bans “questionable and unfortunate”.

“Neither The Times nor Ryan have received any explanation about why this occurred. We hope that all of the journalists’ accounts are reinstated and that Twitter provides a satisfying explanation for this action.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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The European Union on Friday (Dec 16) warned Elon Musk that his newly purchased microblogging site, Twitter may face sanctions under future media legislation. Taking to Twitter EU commissioner Vera Jourova said, "News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying.

The European Union on Friday (Dec 16) warned Elon Musk that his newly purchased microblogging site, Twitter may face sanctions under future media legislation. Taking to Twitter EU commissioner Vera Jourova said, "News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying. EU’s Digital Services Act requires respect of media freedom and fundamental rights. This is reinforced under our #MediaFreedomAct. @elonmusk should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon." News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying. EU’s Digital Services Act requires respect of media freedom and fundamental rights. This is reinforced under our #MediaFreedomAct. @elonmusk should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon. — Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) December 16, 2022 × Twitter accounts of around half-a-dozen journalists from top media houses covering Technology were suspended without providing any explanation. The journalists whose accounts were banned on Thursday are from CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Mashable, Substack, among others. Apart from that the Twitter account of rival Mastodon was also suspended. Though Twitter’s standard notice said that it “suspends accounts that violate the Twitter rules”, these journalists were known to be aggressively Elon Musk after he took over the microblogging site in October. Many of these reporters had recently covered an ongoing dispute between Musk and a user who ran a series of accounts that use publicly available flight information to track the location of private jets, including the one used by Musk. so far, i’ve been able to confirm about half the accounts suspended posted links to the jet tracker thing in violation of the new doxx’ing policy. unclear just yet about the rest, but i think it’s safe to say the rule is for real. https://t.co/8MDCG19kNO — Mike Solana (@micsolana) December 16, 2022 × Responding the decision, Musk said, "They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service". They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2022 × The move drew wide condemnation from all corners, questioning Musk’s commitment to free speech. He had one time said that he hopes “that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.” Also read | Elon Musk is 'neglecting Tesla,' says analyst The Washington Post’s Drew Harwell, one of the journalists whose Twitter account got suspended, told CNN that he was not intimated by the social media site why his account was barred. Also read | Twitter suspends bot account that was tracking Elon Musk's private jet “Elon says he is a free speech champion and he is banning journalists for exercising free speech. I think that calls into question his commitment,” Harwell told CNN. A spokesperson from the New York Times termed the bans “questionable and unfortunate”. “Neither The Times nor Ryan have received any explanation about why this occurred. We hope that all of the journalists’ accounts are reinstated and that Twitter provides a satisfying explanation for this action.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

European Union warns Elon Musk after Twitter suspends accounts of over half-a-dozen journalists

More than 40 accounts of an Indian firm CyberRoot Risk Advisory were taken down by Meta for providing hacking-for-hire services on its social media platforms.

Apart from that, about 900 fake accounts operated from China by an unknown entity on Instagram and Facebook were also removed, Meta said in its Threat Report on the Surveillance-for-Hire Industry released on December 15.

The company said that these accounts indulged in collecting data of people in Myanmar, India, Taiwan, the US and China, including military personnel, pro-democracy activists, government employees, politicians and journalists.

"We removed a network of more than 40 accounts on Facebook and Instagram operated by an Indian firm called CyberRoot Risk Advisory Private. Rather than directly sharing malware on our apps, this group's activity manifested primarily in social engineering and phishing, often intended to trick people into giving up their credentials to various online accounts across the internet," the report said.

Meta said that CyberRoot created fake accounts based on fictitious personalities in a bid to deceive the people they targeted. These fake accounts impersonated journalists, business executives and media personalities.

They also sometimes created accounts resembling the targeted people’s families and friends to deceive people, the report said.

"They were focused on business executives, lawyers, doctors, activists, journalists and members of the clergy in countries like Kazakhstan, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Iceland," the report said.

The social media giant assured to weed out spyware vendors around the world, including in China, Russia, Israel, the US and India, who targeted people in about 200 countries and territories.

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More than 40 accounts of an Indian firm CyberRoot Risk Advisory were taken down by Meta for providing hacking-for-hire services on its social media platforms. Apart from that, about 900 fake accounts operated from China by an unknown entity on Instagram and Facebook were also removed, Meta said in its Threat Report on the Surveillance-for-Hire Industry released on December 15.

More than 40 accounts of an Indian firm CyberRoot Risk Advisory were taken down by Meta for providing hacking-for-hire services on its social media platforms. Apart from that, about 900 fake accounts operated from China by an unknown entity on Instagram and Facebook were also removed, Meta said in its Threat Report on the Surveillance-for-Hire Industry released on December 15. The company said that these accounts indulged in collecting data of people in Myanmar, India, Taiwan, the US and China, including military personnel, pro-democracy activists, government employees, politicians and journalists. "We removed a network of more than 40 accounts on Facebook and Instagram operated by an Indian firm called CyberRoot Risk Advisory Private. Rather than directly sharing malware on our apps, this group's activity manifested primarily in social engineering and phishing, often intended to trick people into giving up their credentials to various online accounts across the internet," the report said. Meta said that CyberRoot created fake accounts based on fictitious personalities in a bid to deceive the people they targeted. These fake accounts impersonated journalists, business executives and media personalities. They also sometimes created accounts resembling the targeted people’s families and friends to deceive people, the report said. "They were focused on business executives, lawyers, doctors, activists, journalists and members of the clergy in countries like Kazakhstan, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Iceland," the report said. The social media giant assured to weed out spyware vendors around the world, including in China, Russia, Israel, the US and India, who targeted people in about 200 countries and territories. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta takes down 40 fake accounts of Indian firm, 900 from China for phishing

TikTok is testing a new horizontal full-screen mode with selected users globally in what is being seen as a direct competition to YouTube. Users who will be able to access this feature will see a ''full screen'' button appearing on videos in their feed, a report by TechCrunch on Wednesday said. Upon clicking the button, the video will now change to a horizontal full screen.

It is not yet known when will this mode be available to all users or whether the company plans to even release it. If the feature is officially released, it may look different than the test product, the TechCrunch report said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;T<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/tiktok-boosts-harmful-contents-on-suicide-eating-disorder-within-minutes-finds-study-543640">ikTok boosts harmful contents on suicide, eating disorder within minutes, finds study</a>

Often TikTok creators will add a ''turn your phone'' message at the beginning of their videos so that viewers can enjoy the experience if the videos are recorded horizontally.

However with the horizontal full-screen mode, creators will no longer have to share the message, the report added.&nbsp;

Some people may welcome the new screen mode while others may not as TikTok has been known for popularising the vertical video format.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-third-of-users-regularly-get-their-news-from-tiktok-claims-new-study-528120">&nbsp;One-third of users regularly get their news from TikTok, claims new study</a>

TikTok's prominence in the online space continues to grow but the company has come under scrutiny from many countries including the United States.

On December 8, the video platform was sued by the US state of Indiana over child safety and security fears. According to the lawsuit, TikTok's algorithms served up "abundant content depicting alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; sexual content, nudity, and suggestive themes" to users who were as young as 13, news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

In a statement, Indiana's attorney general Todd Rokita said that the Tiktok app was a malicious and menacing threat unleased on the state's consumers &nbsp;"by a Chinese company that knows full well the harms it inflicts on users.''&nbsp; 
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TikTok is testing a new horizontal full-screen mode with selected users globally in what is being seen as a direct competition to YouTube. Users who will be able to access this feature will see a ''full screen'' button appearing on videos in their feed, a report by TechCrunch on Wednesday said.

TikTok is testing a new horizontal full-screen mode with selected users globally in what is being seen as a direct competition to YouTube. Users who will be able to access this feature will see a ''full screen'' button appearing on videos in their feed, a report by TechCrunch on Wednesday said. Upon clicking the button, the video will now change to a horizontal full screen. It is not yet known when will this mode be available to all users or whether the company plans to even release it. If the feature is officially released, it may look different than the test product, the TechCrunch report said. ALSO READ | TikTok boosts harmful contents on suicide, eating disorder within minutes, finds study Often TikTok creators will add a ''turn your phone'' message at the beginning of their videos so that viewers can enjoy the experience if the videos are recorded horizontally. However with the horizontal full-screen mode, creators will no longer have to share the message, the report added. Some people may welcome the new screen mode while others may not as TikTok has been known for popularising the vertical video format. ALSO READ | One-third of users regularly get their news from TikTok, claims new study TikTok's prominence in the online space continues to grow but the company has come under scrutiny from many countries including the United States. On December 8, the video platform was sued by the US state of Indiana over child safety and security fears. According to the lawsuit, TikTok's algorithms served up "abundant content depicting alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; sexual content, nudity, and suggestive themes" to users who were as young as 13, news agency AFP reported. In a statement, Indiana's attorney general Todd Rokita said that the Tiktok app was a malicious and menacing threat unleased on the state's consumers "by a Chinese company that knows full well the harms it inflicts on users.'' WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok testing new horizontal full-screen mode: Report

A San Francisco federal court found a former Twitter manager guilty of spying for Saudi Arabia and finally sentenced him to 3.5 years in&nbsp;prison.&nbsp;Ahmad Abouammo was employed by Twitter between 2013 and 2015, during which time he reportedly used his position as a media partnerships manager for the Middle East and North Africa to access personal information of users critical of the Saudi government and passed it to Saudi officials.

What did Abouammo do?

Abouammo reportedly received a $42,000 watch as a gift from a Saudi official, as well as two $100,000 wire transfers starting as early as 2014. In exchange, he looked up information on two Twitter users, including phone numbers and birth dates. After leaving the company in 2015, Abouammo continued to attempt to influence Twitter to verify Saudi accounts or remove posts highlighted by the Saudi government, according to testimony from an FBI agent in San Francisco court.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-want-antitrust-probe-into-elon-musks-alarming-steps-as-twitter-owner-535253">US lawmakers want antitrust probe into Elon Musk's 'alarming steps' as Twitter owner</a>

Prosecutors in the case&nbsp;had argued that Bader Al-Asaker, a close adviser to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, recruited Abouammo to use his insider knowledge to access Twitter accounts and dig up personal information about Saudi dissidents.

Those accounts allegedly included @mujtahidd, a pseudonym for a political agitator who gained millions of Twitter followers in the Arab Spring uprisings by accusing the Saudi royal family of corruption and other misdeeds.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eight-online-influencers-charged-with-stock-fraud-twitter-discord-used-to-manipulate-stocks-543286">Eight online influencers charged with stock fraud; Twitter &amp; Discord used to manipulate stocks</a>

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Abouammo was also convicted of wire fraud and honest services fraud, money laundering and a conspiracy charge.

Ali Alzabarah, a former colleague of Abouammo also accused of accessing Twitter accounts on behalf of Saudi Arabia, left the US before being charged. Al-Asaker, Saudi's crown prince and Twitter are not among the defendants.

Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Company, which is 16.9 per cent owned by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund are reportedly&nbsp;second largest investor in Twitter&nbsp;following Elon Musk’s takeover of the company. The US officials are reportedly contemplating an investigation to probe if users' data can be compromised by individuals based out of Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A San Francisco federal court found a former Twitter manager guilty of spying for Saudi Arabia and finally sentenced him to 3.5 years in prison. Ahmad Abouammo was employed by Twitter between 2013 and 2015, during which time he reportedly used his position as a media partnerships manager for the Middle East and North Africa to access personal information of users critical of the Saudi government and passed it to Saudi officials.

A San Francisco federal court found a former Twitter manager guilty of spying for Saudi Arabia and finally sentenced him to 3.5 years in prison. Ahmad Abouammo was employed by Twitter between 2013 and 2015, during which time he reportedly used his position as a media partnerships manager for the Middle East and North Africa to access personal information of users critical of the Saudi government and passed it to Saudi officials. What did Abouammo do? Abouammo reportedly received a $42,000 watch as a gift from a Saudi official, as well as two $100,000 wire transfers starting as early as 2014. In exchange, he looked up information on two Twitter users, including phone numbers and birth dates. After leaving the company in 2015, Abouammo continued to attempt to influence Twitter to verify Saudi accounts or remove posts highlighted by the Saudi government, according to testimony from an FBI agent in San Francisco court. ALSO READ | US lawmakers want antitrust probe into Elon Musk's 'alarming steps' as Twitter owner Prosecutors in the case had argued that Bader Al-Asaker, a close adviser to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, recruited Abouammo to use his insider knowledge to access Twitter accounts and dig up personal information about Saudi dissidents. Those accounts allegedly included @mujtahidd, a pseudonym for a political agitator who gained millions of Twitter followers in the Arab Spring uprisings by accusing the Saudi royal family of corruption and other misdeeds. WATCH | Eight online influencers charged with stock fraud; Twitter & Discord used to manipulate stocks × Abouammo was also convicted of wire fraud and honest services fraud, money laundering and a conspiracy charge. Ali Alzabarah, a former colleague of Abouammo also accused of accessing Twitter accounts on behalf of Saudi Arabia, left the US before being charged. Al-Asaker, Saudi's crown prince and Twitter are not among the defendants. Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Company, which is 16.9 per cent owned by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund are reportedly second largest investor in Twitter following Elon Musk’s takeover of the company. The US officials are reportedly contemplating an investigation to probe if users' data can be compromised by individuals based out of Saudi Arabia. (With inputs from agencies)

Ex-Twitter manager gets over 3 years in prison for spying for Saudi Arabia

A United States-based company called Omnilter has created software which uses artificial intelligence to monitor security cameras to spot an active shooter for potential gun violence before the trigger is pulled. The military-inspired AI technology reportedly works on real-time target recognition and threat classification.&nbsp;

In 2021, the US witnessed at least 61 active shooter incidents, said the FBI, which was the highest in the last two decades. Earlier this year at least two teachers and 19 children were killed when a shooter opened fire in a school in Uvalde, Texas, making the incident one of the deadliest school shootings that the country has seen in the last 10 years.&nbsp;

According to the company’s CEO, Dave Fraser, the AI-monitored security cameras can help detect a potential gun violence threat which would give people some time to prepare and take action by locking the doors and contacting the police with “rich information”, he said in an interview with Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-us-gun-violence-kills-more-children-than-vehicular-accidents-causes-109-deaths-everyday-473362">In US, gun violence kills more children than vehicular accidents, causes 109 deaths everyday</a>

He noted how in a number of active shooter situations the assailants are visible on security cameras for seconds or even minutes. Fraser also gave the example of the Parkland high school shooting, where 17 people were killed in 2018 and said that the shooter was seen preparing for the attack near one of the stairwells.&nbsp;

According to the US bureau of labour statistics, there are more than 70 million security cameras across the country. However, less than one per cent are actively monitored, said Fraser, therefore, the software does the monitoring 24 hours, seven days a week and is always on alert. According to the company’s website, the software uses a “multi-dimensional process” to assess, detect, and analyse an active shooter in “fractions of a second”.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/parkland-shooting-verdict-florida-jury-spares-capital-punishment-525290">Parkland Shooting Verdict: Florida jury spares capital punishment</a>

The AI detects “handguns and rifles by essentially taking the place of a human being. By watching the video feeds,” said the Omnilert CEO to NBC’s News4. He added that subsequently, the information is passed on to an assigned operator who confirms the threat and initiates a safety plan.&nbsp;

Notably, he also claims that the AI can identify the difference between a potential shooter and an officer who is walking in with a weapon and said that the technology is not simply recognising guns but, “it actually needs to identify that there's a threat,” said the media report. Once the threat is detected the system sends images of the shooter as well as their exact location.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/americas-gun-culture-kills-hundreds-every-day-is-2nd-amendment-worth-the-lives-lost-heres-the-data-482632">America's gun culture kills hundreds every day. Is 2nd amendment worth the lives lost? Here's the data</a>

However, the President of National School Safety and Security Services, Kenneth Trump, told Reuters that while technology could be useful their first and best line of defence in active shooter situations should be well-trained teachers and students.&nbsp;

He added that there is a skewed focus on “target hardening” and people investing more in technology as opposed to staff training, prevention, and recognising the warning signs, and unless that happens problems will continue.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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A United States-based company called Omnilter has created software which uses artificial intelligence to monitor security cameras to spot an active shooter for potential gun violence before the trigger is pulled.

A United States-based company called Omnilter has created software which uses artificial intelligence to monitor security cameras to spot an active shooter for potential gun violence before the trigger is pulled. The military-inspired AI technology reportedly works on real-time target recognition and threat classification. In 2021, the US witnessed at least 61 active shooter incidents, said the FBI, which was the highest in the last two decades. Earlier this year at least two teachers and 19 children were killed when a shooter opened fire in a school in Uvalde, Texas, making the incident one of the deadliest school shootings that the country has seen in the last 10 years. According to the company’s CEO, Dave Fraser, the AI-monitored security cameras can help detect a potential gun violence threat which would give people some time to prepare and take action by locking the doors and contacting the police with “rich information”, he said in an interview with Reuters. ALSO READ | In US, gun violence kills more children than vehicular accidents, causes 109 deaths everyday He noted how in a number of active shooter situations the assailants are visible on security cameras for seconds or even minutes. Fraser also gave the example of the Parkland high school shooting, where 17 people were killed in 2018 and said that the shooter was seen preparing for the attack near one of the stairwells. According to the US bureau of labour statistics, there are more than 70 million security cameras across the country. However, less than one per cent are actively monitored, said Fraser, therefore, the software does the monitoring 24 hours, seven days a week and is always on alert. According to the company’s website, the software uses a “multi-dimensional process” to assess, detect, and analyse an active shooter in “fractions of a second”. ALSO WATCH | Parkland Shooting Verdict: Florida jury spares capital punishment The AI detects “handguns and rifles by essentially taking the place of a human being. By watching the video feeds,” said the Omnilert CEO to NBC’s News4. He added that subsequently, the information is passed on to an assigned operator who confirms the threat and initiates a safety plan. Notably, he also claims that the AI can identify the difference between a potential shooter and an officer who is walking in with a weapon and said that the technology is not simply recognising guns but, “it actually needs to identify that there's a threat,” said the media report. Once the threat is detected the system sends images of the shooter as well as their exact location. ALSO READ | America's gun culture kills hundreds every day. Is 2nd amendment worth the lives lost? Here's the data However, the President of National School Safety and Security Services, Kenneth Trump, told Reuters that while technology could be useful their first and best line of defence in active shooter situations should be well-trained teachers and students. He added that there is a skewed focus on “target hardening” and people investing more in technology as opposed to staff training, prevention, and recognising the warning signs, and unless that happens problems will continue. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US-based company creates AI to detect potential gun violence, spot active shooters

Meta Platforms enabled violent and hateful posts from Ethiopia to flourish on Facebook that further inflamed the country's bloody civil war, accused a new lawsuit filed against Mark Zuckerberg-owned technology conglomerate.

The lawsuit was filed in Kenya on Tuesday by two Ethiopian researchers and Kenyan rights group the Katiba Institute. The lawsuit against Meta alleged that Facebook's recommendations systems amplified violent posts in Ethiopia, including various posts of violent natures that preceded the murder of the father of one of the researchers.

The lawsuit described Facebook posts published in October 2021 that used ethnic slurs to refer to the father of plaintiff Abrham Meareg.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ethiopias-pm-vows-to-ensure-peace-in-tigray-pledges-to-honestly-implement-ceasefire-534652">Ethiopia's PM vows to ensure peace in Tigray, pledges to 'honestly' implement ceasefire</a>

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The posts shared the elderly&nbsp;man's address and called for his death. Abrham Mearag, one of the plaintiffs,&nbsp;reported them to Facebook, but the company declined to remove them promptly or in some cases at all, the lawsuit alleged.

Lawsuit demands $2 billion in ‘restitution funds’

It further said that the company failed to exercise reasonable care in training its algorithms to identify dangerous posts and in hiring staff to police the content for the languages covered by its Nairobi-based regional moderation hub.

Meta spokesperson Erin McPike said that hate speech and incitement to violence were against the rules of Facebook and Instagram.

"We invest heavily in teams and technology to help us find and remove this content," McPike added. "We employ staff with local knowledge and expertise and continue to develop our capabilities to catch violating content in the most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia."

The plaintiffs have reportedly asked a Nairobi court to order Meta to take "emergency steps to demote violent content" by increasing moderation staff in Nairobi and creating "restitution funds of about $2 billion for victims of violence incited on Facebook".&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-military-gains-control-of-strategic-city-in-tigray-amid-ongoing-conflict-526458">Ethiopian military gains control of strategic city in Tigray amid ongoing conflict</a>

Meta has faced similar accusations related to the promotion of ethnic violence on its platforms, including in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Cambodia. The company has acknowledged being "too slow" to act in Myanmar and other conflicts.

The US government estimated that as many as 500,000 people have been killed in the conflict that erupted in 2020 between Ethiopian government and rebels from the northern Tigray region.

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Meta Platforms enabled violent and hateful posts from Ethiopia to flourish on Facebook that further inflamed the country's bloody civil war, accused a new lawsuit filed against Mark Zuckerberg-owned technology conglomerate.

Meta Platforms enabled violent and hateful posts from Ethiopia to flourish on Facebook that further inflamed the country's bloody civil war, accused a new lawsuit filed against Mark Zuckerberg-owned technology conglomerate. The lawsuit was filed in Kenya on Tuesday by two Ethiopian researchers and Kenyan rights group the Katiba Institute. The lawsuit against Meta alleged that Facebook's recommendations systems amplified violent posts in Ethiopia, including various posts of violent natures that preceded the murder of the father of one of the researchers. The lawsuit described Facebook posts published in October 2021 that used ethnic slurs to refer to the father of plaintiff Abrham Meareg. WATCH | Ethiopia's PM vows to ensure peace in Tigray, pledges to 'honestly' implement ceasefire × The posts shared the elderly man's address and called for his death. Abrham Mearag, one of the plaintiffs, reported them to Facebook, but the company declined to remove them promptly or in some cases at all, the lawsuit alleged. Lawsuit demands $2 billion in ‘restitution funds’ It further said that the company failed to exercise reasonable care in training its algorithms to identify dangerous posts and in hiring staff to police the content for the languages covered by its Nairobi-based regional moderation hub. Meta spokesperson Erin McPike said that hate speech and incitement to violence were against the rules of Facebook and Instagram. "We invest heavily in teams and technology to help us find and remove this content," McPike added. "We employ staff with local knowledge and expertise and continue to develop our capabilities to catch violating content in the most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia." The plaintiffs have reportedly asked a Nairobi court to order Meta to take "emergency steps to demote violent content" by increasing moderation staff in Nairobi and creating "restitution funds of about $2 billion for victims of violence incited on Facebook". ALSO READ | Ethiopian military gains control of strategic city in Tigray amid ongoing conflict Meta has faced similar accusations related to the promotion of ethnic violence on its platforms, including in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Cambodia. The company has acknowledged being "too slow" to act in Myanmar and other conflicts. The US government estimated that as many as 500,000 people have been killed in the conflict that erupted in 2020 between Ethiopian government and rebels from the northern Tigray region. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ethiopia civil war: Meta sued for $2 billion over 'hateful content'

Apple has finally caught up with India's fifth generation leap of smartphone connectivity. On Tuesday, the company announced that it has enabled 5G cellular support for new iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone SE and iPhone 12 lineups in India.

How to access 5G on Apple iPhone?

Apple is supporting 5G connection on its iPhone 12 devices or later, with Reliance Jio and Airtel cellular connections. The company identifies both Airtel and Reliance Jio as its "carrier partners" in India. Users need to update their device to iOS 16.2. The update also comes with other myriad of features, such as improved encryption for iCloud data, live activities on the Home Screen, and a new karaoke feature for Apple Music .

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-government-pressing-mobile-manufacturers-to-release-5g-updates-524464">Indian government pressing mobile manufacturers to release 5G updates</a>

Last month, Apple enabled 5G in India in the iOS 16 Beta software programme week for a selected few iPhone users in the country on a trial basis. The selected few users with Airtel and Reliance Jio connections were able to try out the 5G.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/5g-in-india-all-important-questions-answered-tech-it-out-500193">5G in India: All important questions answered | Tech It Out</a>

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Apple worked closely with its "carrier partners in India to bring the best 5G experience to iPhone users as soon as network validation and testing for quality and performance is completed".

India's 5G rollout and Apple's software upgrades

India is rolling out 5G in a phased manner, starting with key metro cities. Smartphone majors, including Apple, Samsung and Oneplus-owner BBK Electronics, are working towards ensuring the availability of 5G on their devices.

Apple said that iPhone users will be able to experience "super-fast downloads and uploads, better streaming, and real-time connectivity with 5G to help them stay in touch, share, and enjoy the content".&nbsp;

The support for 5G on iPhone has now extended to over 250 carrier partners in over 70 markets around the world, with expanded support for standalone networks.

As more and more smartphone majors prioritise software upgrades, early adoption of 5G in India in underway.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Apple has finally caught up with India's fifth generation leap of smartphone connectivity. On Tuesday, the company announced that it has enabled 5G cellular support for new iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone SE and iPhone 12 lineups in India.

Apple has finally caught up with India's fifth generation leap of smartphone connectivity. On Tuesday, the company announced that it has enabled 5G cellular support for new iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone SE and iPhone 12 lineups in India. How to access 5G on Apple iPhone? Apple is supporting 5G connection on its iPhone 12 devices or later, with Reliance Jio and Airtel cellular connections. The company identifies both Airtel and Reliance Jio as its "carrier partners" in India. Users need to update their device to iOS 16.2. The update also comes with other myriad of features, such as improved encryption for iCloud data, live activities on the Home Screen, and a new karaoke feature for Apple Music . ALSO READ | Indian government pressing mobile manufacturers to release 5G updates Last month, Apple enabled 5G in India in the iOS 16 Beta software programme week for a selected few iPhone users in the country on a trial basis. The selected few users with Airtel and Reliance Jio connections were able to try out the 5G. WATCH | 5G in India: All important questions answered | Tech It Out × Apple worked closely with its "carrier partners in India to bring the best 5G experience to iPhone users as soon as network validation and testing for quality and performance is completed". India's 5G rollout and Apple's software upgrades India is rolling out 5G in a phased manner, starting with key metro cities. Smartphone majors, including Apple, Samsung and Oneplus-owner BBK Electronics, are working towards ensuring the availability of 5G on their devices. Apple said that iPhone users will be able to experience "super-fast downloads and uploads, better streaming, and real-time connectivity with 5G to help them stay in touch, share, and enjoy the content". The support for 5G on iPhone has now extended to over 250 carrier partners in over 70 markets around the world, with expanded support for standalone networks. As more and more smartphone majors prioritise software upgrades, early adoption of 5G in India in underway. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Apple rolls out 5G for iPhone 12 and above models in India

Apple will soon allow alternative app stores on its devices. The move is part of Apple's sweeping overhaul aimed at complying with strict European Union requirements that will be implemented in 2024. The company is reportedly aiming for the changes to be ready as part of an update to next year’s iOS 17, which would be in line with the compliance requirements.

Apple's software engineering and services employees are reportedly engaged in a major push to open up "key elements of Apple's platforms", Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.&nbsp;

What is Apple's play store-related overhaul all about?

Apple's customers will now be able to download third-party softwares to their iPhones and iPads without using the company's app store. This will mean a move away from Apple's restrictions related to downloading the apps only from its app store and the &nbsp;up to 30 per cent commission it imposes on payments.

Why is Apple allowing alternative app stores?

The move is in response to the European Union laws that aim to give a level-playing field for third-party developers. Regulators and software maker firms have complained in the past that Apple and Google, two of the world's biggest smartphone app store providers, overwhelmingly dominate their position as gatekeepers.

Where in the world users will be able to use alternative app stores?

Currently, the development is limited for the Apple users in Europe. However, if similar laws to give level-playing fields to all software maker firms are passed elsewhere in the world, it could be marked as a significant precedent.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/will-apple-switch-to-wireless-charging-in-eu-522423">Will Apple switch to wireless charging in EU?</a>

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Since in Europe, Apple will no more be able to claim up to 30 per cent commission from in-app payments, the shares of online dating app Bumble went up by 8.6 per cent, audio streaming service Spotify's shares climbed up to 9.7 per cent -- meaning that investors heaved a breath of sigh due to impending break from Apple's hefty commissions.&nbsp;

Apple generated about $95 billion in revenue from Europe during fiscal 2022. That revenue base is expected to take a hit when it makes the changes.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/digital-markets-act-european-parliament-ratifies-landmark-tech-laws-494751">Digital Markets Act: European Parliament ratifies landmark tech laws</a>

The main new European law, the Digital Markets Act, will come into effect in the coming months. However, companies aren’t required to comply with all of the rules until 2024.

The laws apply to technology companies with market valuations of at least €75 billion ($80 billion) and a minimum of 45 million monthly users within the EU.

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Apple will soon allow alternative app stores on its devices. The move is part of Apple's sweeping overhaul aimed at complying with strict European Union requirements that will be implemented in 2024.

Apple will soon allow alternative app stores on its devices. The move is part of Apple's sweeping overhaul aimed at complying with strict European Union requirements that will be implemented in 2024. The company is reportedly aiming for the changes to be ready as part of an update to next year’s iOS 17, which would be in line with the compliance requirements. Apple's software engineering and services employees are reportedly engaged in a major push to open up "key elements of Apple's platforms", Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. What is Apple's play store-related overhaul all about? Apple's customers will now be able to download third-party softwares to their iPhones and iPads without using the company's app store. This will mean a move away from Apple's restrictions related to downloading the apps only from its app store and the up to 30 per cent commission it imposes on payments. Why is Apple allowing alternative app stores? The move is in response to the European Union laws that aim to give a level-playing field for third-party developers. Regulators and software maker firms have complained in the past that Apple and Google, two of the world's biggest smartphone app store providers, overwhelmingly dominate their position as gatekeepers. Where in the world users will be able to use alternative app stores? Currently, the development is limited for the Apple users in Europe. However, if similar laws to give level-playing fields to all software maker firms are passed elsewhere in the world, it could be marked as a significant precedent. WATCH | Will Apple switch to wireless charging in EU? × Since in Europe, Apple will no more be able to claim up to 30 per cent commission from in-app payments, the shares of online dating app Bumble went up by 8.6 per cent, audio streaming service Spotify's shares climbed up to 9.7 per cent -- meaning that investors heaved a breath of sigh due to impending break from Apple's hefty commissions. Apple generated about $95 billion in revenue from Europe during fiscal 2022. That revenue base is expected to take a hit when it makes the changes. ALSO READ | Digital Markets Act: European Parliament ratifies landmark tech laws The main new European law, the Digital Markets Act, will come into effect in the coming months. However, companies aren’t required to comply with all of the rules until 2024. The laws apply to technology companies with market valuations of at least €75 billion ($80 billion) and a minimum of 45 million monthly users within the EU. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Apple to allow third-party app stores in response to new EU laws

Smart speakers are certainly a boon. They help us navigate technology with ease, act&nbsp;as a home assistant and turn&nbsp;out as a friend in lonely times.&nbsp;

New research from Ofcom has revealed that these smart devices can help users feel less lonely and also help disabled people feel more independent.

Watch |&nbsp;Alexa for Animals: Tech is helping humans understand the animal kingdom

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The UK Office of communications or Ofcom did an in-depth survey involving 100 smart speaker owners and 15 non-owners. They found that a large number of survey participants reported that the speakers acted as a "companion" with whom they can talk.

"Some described their speaker as being like a companion, particularly if they lived alone. They felt it was good for combatting loneliness and liked the fact they could talk to their speakers," said Ofcom on its website.

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“Alexa, will it be a white Christmas?” 
Our new research looked at how people feel about smart speakers. They told us smart speakers help them... 
 
🧑‍🤝‍🧑Combat loneliness 
👂 Find new radio stations 
🔔 Get instant news 
 
Read more here 🔽<a href="https://t.co/CKJC8M70MG">https://t.co/CKJC8M70MG</a>
— Ofcom (@Ofcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ofcom/status/1602604709864513536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The organisation found that during the pandemic, smart speaker ownership in the UK&nbsp; households doubled from 22 per cent in 2020 to 39 per cent in 2022.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/amazons-alexa-to-mimic-anyones-voice-to-make-memories-last-490797">Amazon’s Alexa may soon mimic anyone’s voice to ‘make memories last’</a>

A key finding is that these speakers helped disabled people be more independent. Users reported that the device had a significant impact on their lives, giving them a greater sense of independence and "helping them manage – and even improve – their conditions and abilities."

"It really is the difference between maintaining independence around the house... my carers don’t have to keep getting up every five minutes. Like this evening, I was able to just ask it to put these lights on. Years ago, before I had that facility... I would have had to ask people to do things manually," said one such user.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/girl-sharing-name-with-amazons-alexa-faces-teasing-parents-change-her-name-512098">Girl sharing name with Amazon's 'Alexa' faces teasing, parents change her name</a>

However, on the flip side people who don't own the smart devices said that they view smart speakers as a luxury or they just didn't understand the point of owning one. A few were even worried about being spied on, as many controversy theories claim these devices can "listen in".

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Smart speakers are certainly a boon. They help us navigate technology with ease, act as a home assistant and turn out as a friend in lonely times. New research from Ofcom has revealed that these smart devices can help users feel less lonely and also help disabled people feel more independent.

Smart speakers are certainly a boon. They help us navigate technology with ease, act as a home assistant and turn out as a friend in lonely times. New research from Ofcom has revealed that these smart devices can help users feel less lonely and also help disabled people feel more independent. Watch | Alexa for Animals: Tech is helping humans understand the animal kingdom The UK Office of communications or Ofcom did an in-depth survey involving 100 smart speaker owners and 15 non-owners. They found that a large number of survey participants reported that the speakers acted as a "companion" with whom they can talk. "Some described their speaker as being like a companion, particularly if they lived alone. They felt it was good for combatting loneliness and liked the fact they could talk to their speakers," said Ofcom on its website. “Alexa, will it be a white Christmas?” Our new research looked at how people feel about smart speakers. They told us smart speakers help them... 🧑‍🤝‍🧑Combat loneliness 👂 Find new radio stations 🔔 Get instant news Read more here 🔽https://t.co/CKJC8M70MG — Ofcom (@Ofcom) December 13, 2022 × The organisation found that during the pandemic, smart speaker ownership in the UK households doubled from 22 per cent in 2020 to 39 per cent in 2022. Also read | Amazon’s Alexa may soon mimic anyone’s voice to ‘make memories last’ A key finding is that these speakers helped disabled people be more independent. Users reported that the device had a significant impact on their lives, giving them a greater sense of independence and "helping them manage – and even improve – their conditions and abilities." "It really is the difference between maintaining independence around the house... my carers don’t have to keep getting up every five minutes. Like this evening, I was able to just ask it to put these lights on. Years ago, before I had that facility... I would have had to ask people to do things manually," said one such user. Also read | Girl sharing name with Amazon's 'Alexa' faces teasing, parents change her name However, on the flip side people who don't own the smart devices said that they view smart speakers as a luxury or they just didn't understand the point of owning one. A few were even worried about being spied on, as many controversy theories claim these devices can "listen in". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Alexa, Siri are helping users battle loneliness, making disabled people more independent: Survey

The most reliable method to test a rocket or an aerospace vehicle is by launching or flying it. However, if one is to design an all-new aerospace vehicle and intends to validate the newly-developed prototype, the preliminary step would be to test it in a wind tunnel. A large tube with air flowing through it can be used to replicate the interaction between the air and an object flying through the air, such is the working principle of a wind tunnel.&nbsp;

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently conducted the maiden blow-down test of their all-new wind tunnel, installed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The Trisonic Wind tunnel, as it is known, facilitates testing under three conditions - subsonic (below the speed of the sound), at the speed of sound and supersonic (faster than the speed of sound). The tunnel measures 160 metres in length and has a maximum cross-section of 5.4 metres.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/isro-successfully-tests-cryogenic-engine-with-higher-thrust-will-boost-lift-capacity-of-lvm3-rocket-532862">ISRO successfully tests Cryogenic engine with higher thrust, will boost lift capacity of LVM3 rocket</a>

ISRO has said that this tunnel is a system to aid the aerodynamic design of rockets and re-entry spacecraft by characterising a scaled model by evaluating forces, moments, load distribution, unsteady pressures, acoustic levels etc. The tunnel has an overall length of about 160m and a maximum cross-section of 5.4m. The tunnel can be used for testing various space vehicles in three flight regimes - below the speed of sound, at the speed of sound and above the speed of sound: hence the name Trisonic Wind Tunnel. 
 
The tunnel can simulate flight conditions from 0.2 times the speed of sound (68 m/s) to 4 times the speed of sound (1360 m/s).&nbsp;

<img alt="Trisonic wind tunnel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e7c73a3-cbbb-456e-9adc-16c79c578558" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20%2820%29.png" />

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-heaviest-rocket-to-have-maiden-commercial-flight-on-oct-23rd-36-satellites-to-be-launched-525422">ISRO to launch 36 'OneWeb' satellites in maiden commercial flight of GSLV Mk III</a>

The wind tunnel moves air around an object, making it seem as if the object is flying. However, the object is held in a stationary and steady manner. The object could be a sub-component, a scale model of the aerospace vehicle or a full-sized vehicle. As the tunnel is in operation, special equipment can be used to study the various forces that are acting upon the test object.

It is known that the Indian space agency is working on a manned spaceflight programme, on a test vehicle (RLV-TD) that can be launched like a rocket and land like a plane and also various heavy-lift rockets for future use. Every new concept and design being developed by the Indian space agency can now be validated at the new wind tunnel and thereby be fine-tuned further.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The most reliable method to test a rocket or an aerospace vehicle is by launching or flying it. However, if one is to design an all-new aerospace vehicle and intends to validate the newly-developed prototype, the preliminary step would be to test it in a wind tunnel.

The most reliable method to test a rocket or an aerospace vehicle is by launching or flying it. However, if one is to design an all-new aerospace vehicle and intends to validate the newly-developed prototype, the preliminary step would be to test it in a wind tunnel. A large tube with air flowing through it can be used to replicate the interaction between the air and an object flying through the air, such is the working principle of a wind tunnel. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently conducted the maiden blow-down test of their all-new wind tunnel, installed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The Trisonic Wind tunnel, as it is known, facilitates testing under three conditions - subsonic (below the speed of the sound), at the speed of sound and supersonic (faster than the speed of sound). The tunnel measures 160 metres in length and has a maximum cross-section of 5.4 metres. Also read | ISRO successfully tests Cryogenic engine with higher thrust, will boost lift capacity of LVM3 rocket ISRO has said that this tunnel is a system to aid the aerodynamic design of rockets and re-entry spacecraft by characterising a scaled model by evaluating forces, moments, load distribution, unsteady pressures, acoustic levels etc. The tunnel has an overall length of about 160m and a maximum cross-section of 5.4m. The tunnel can be used for testing various space vehicles in three flight regimes - below the speed of sound, at the speed of sound and above the speed of sound: hence the name Trisonic Wind Tunnel. The tunnel can simulate flight conditions from 0.2 times the speed of sound (68 m/s) to 4 times the speed of sound (1360 m/s). Also read | ISRO to launch 36 'OneWeb' satellites in maiden commercial flight of GSLV Mk III The wind tunnel moves air around an object, making it seem as if the object is flying. However, the object is held in a stationary and steady manner. The object could be a sub-component, a scale model of the aerospace vehicle or a full-sized vehicle. As the tunnel is in operation, special equipment can be used to study the various forces that are acting upon the test object. It is known that the Indian space agency is working on a manned spaceflight programme, on a test vehicle (RLV-TD) that can be launched like a rocket and land like a plane and also various heavy-lift rockets for future use. Every new concept and design being developed by the Indian space agency can now be validated at the new wind tunnel and thereby be fine-tuned further. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

160-metre trisonic wind tunnel to help ISRO test, validate future space vehicle designs

As part of a 10-year business contract to move the London Stock Exchange Group's data infrastructure into the cloud, Microsoft will purchase a four per cent equity stake in the exchange operator as announced on Monday. As a requirement of the agreement, LSEG has committed to spending a minimum of $2.8 billion with Microsoft on cloud-related services throughout the partnership's duration.

The digital migration of LSEG's technological infrastructure and Refinitiv platforms onto the Microsoft Cloud, according to Microsoft, will constitute the cornerstone of the relationship.

“The initial focus will be on delivering interoperability between LSEG Workspace and Microsoft Teams, Excel and PowerPoint with other Microsoft applications and a new version of LSEG’s Workspace,” the U.S. company said. LSEG shares were up four&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in early trade.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-chrome-introduces-password-less-authentication-heres-how-it-works-542134">Google Chrome introduces passwordless authentication. Here's how it works</a>

Refinitiv was acquired by LSEG for $27 billion from a Blackstone and Thomson Reuters consortium, making the exchange the second-largest provider of financial data behind Bloomberg LP.

Since the conclusion of its acquisition of Refinitiv in January 2021, LSEG has made "excellent progress" on its programme for the delivery of its cloud-based data platform, according to a statement.

The exchange operator announced that Microsoft will purchase LSEG shares from the Blackstone/Thomson Reuters Consortium.

Following the Refinitiv transaction, Thomson Reuters, which owns Reuters News, has a tiny ownership interest in LSEG.

The closing of Microsoft's acquisition is anticipated for the first quarter of 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As part of a 10-year business contract to move the London Stock Exchange Group's data infrastructure into the cloud, Microsoft will purchase a four per cent equity stake in the exchange operator as announced on Monday.

As part of a 10-year business contract to move the London Stock Exchange Group's data infrastructure into the cloud, Microsoft will purchase a four per cent equity stake in the exchange operator as announced on Monday. As a requirement of the agreement, LSEG has committed to spending a minimum of $2.8 billion with Microsoft on cloud-related services throughout the partnership's duration. The digital migration of LSEG's technological infrastructure and Refinitiv platforms onto the Microsoft Cloud, according to Microsoft, will constitute the cornerstone of the relationship. “The initial focus will be on delivering interoperability between LSEG Workspace and Microsoft Teams, Excel and PowerPoint with other Microsoft applications and a new version of LSEG’s Workspace,” the U.S. company said. LSEG shares were up four per cent in early trade. Also read | Google Chrome introduces passwordless authentication. Here's how it works Refinitiv was acquired by LSEG for $27 billion from a Blackstone and Thomson Reuters consortium, making the exchange the second-largest provider of financial data behind Bloomberg LP. Since the conclusion of its acquisition of Refinitiv in January 2021, LSEG has made "excellent progress" on its programme for the delivery of its cloud-based data platform, according to a statement. The exchange operator announced that Microsoft will purchase LSEG shares from the Blackstone/Thomson Reuters Consortium. Following the Refinitiv transaction, Thomson Reuters, which owns Reuters News, has a tiny ownership interest in LSEG. The closing of Microsoft's acquisition is anticipated for the first quarter of 2023. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Microsoft plans to buy four per cent stake in London Stock Exchange

Over the past week or so, if you have seen your social media being flooded with pictures of your friends being turned into vibrant artwork, you are not alone. The app behind these "magic avatars" is the artificial intelligence-powered photo-editing app called Lensa AI. Meanwhile, many have raised concerns about digital privacy, in the addition to the actual price you will pay for these portraits.&nbsp;

What is Lensa AI and how does it work?

The United States-based company, Prisma Labs, created the Lensa AI, which has been around for almost four years and uses artificial intelligence to generate “Magic Avatars” of one's images including it being re-imagined as, anime characters or celestial beings. The app available for users on iPhone and Android lets the user upload an image and then turns them into an avatar.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-says-working-on-twitter-update-that-lets-users-know-if-they-are-shadow-banned-541530">Musk says Twitter working on software update that will let users know if they are ‘shadow-banned’</a>

The app uses a technology called stable diffusion which is essentially where the AI, trained with billions of images and mixes them together to create new ones. Notably, the current app is able to produce more impressive and varied results than its predecessor which went viral back in 2016 for&nbsp;creating&nbsp;images taken by the smartphone into paintings.&nbsp;

According to a report by Sensor Tower, over four million people across the world have downloaded the app in the first five days of this month and spent nearly $8 million creating different avatars of themselves. While some filters are free there are some others which fall under the “premium” category.&nbsp;

Once uploaded, the user can select a category for the type of image and filter they want for their selfie and in about half an hour one can see what they would look like as an anime character or as an animated version of themselves against different backgrounds. The app offers a one-week free trial with limited filters after which the users can opt for a year-long subscription to the app which costs $35.99.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/science-fiction-becomes-real-researchers-simulate-a-baby-wormhole-540288">Science fiction becomes real! Researchers simulate a 'baby' wormhole</a>

However, in addition to the subscription fee, people also need to pay to generate these “magical avatars” where one can get 50 avatars for $3.99, 100 for $5.99, or 200 for $7.99. Notably, these prices have increased over the week seemingly due to the rise in the popularity of the app. Lensa AI can be used to edit photos like retouching the skin or blurring backgrounds, and also can be used to edit videos.&nbsp; 
 
What are some of the concerns raised about the app?

Since the app has gained popularity, it has also been subjected to greater scrutiny about issues ranging from the terms of service and privacy-related concerns to&nbsp;the platform being used to generate non-consensual NSFW images.&nbsp; 
 
AI can be tricked into creating NSFW images

A report by TechCrunch outlines how it was “way too easy” to use the platform to “generate non-consensual soft porn”. The small experiment by the tech website used two sets of images, on one hand, they had 15 photos of a well-known actor and on the other, “based on the same 15 photos, but with an additional set of five photos added of the same actor’s face, Photoshopped onto topless models.”&nbsp; 
 
The avatars shown after using the first set of images were what Lensa would typically create, however, with images of the second set “AI takes those Photoshopped images as permission to go wild, and it appears it disables an NSFW filter,” said the report. It added that out of the 100-image set at least 11 were “topless photos of higher quality” than the poorly edited topless photos which were given to the AI as a reference.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/is-it-true-google-techie-claims-ai-chatbot-can-think-like-a-human-being-gets-placed-on-leave-487709">&nbsp;Is it true? Google techie claims AI chatbot can think like a human being, gets placed on leave</a>

Therefore, highlights the repercussions of what the report describes as an “ethical nightmare”, given that it can create, “near-photorealistic AI-generated art images by the hundreds without any tools other than a smartphone, an app and a few dollars.” Furthermore, a person should not be able to create problematic images with just a handful of another person’s pictures.&nbsp;

Reportedly, AI art generators are already creating thousands of pornographic images including the unfettered proliferation of other so-called “deepfake” platforms that present governments and other institutions with an unprecedented and significant problem. However, once the findings of this report were submitted to the company, Prisma Lab’s CEO and co-founder Andrey Usoltsev told TechCrunch that it is a breach of their terms of use.&nbsp; 
 
“The way (TechCrunch’s) experiment was structured points out that such creations can’t be produced accidentally. The images are the result of intentional misconduct on the app,” said the CEO in an emailed statement. It added that the generation and distribution of such content may incur legal actions as both the US and UK have an act which makes “an act of sharing of explicit content and imagery generated without consent as a crime.”&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinese-students-invent-invisibility-cloak-that-hides-humans-from-security-cameras-541831">Chinese students invent ‘invisibility cloak’ that hides humans from security cameras</a>

Over-sexualised&nbsp;avatars created for some female users

Similar to an experiment done by TechCrunch, when the author of a report by CNN, Zoe Sottile, used Lensa, said that even though all the images she uploaded were “fully-clothed and mostly close-ups of my face”, the app created avatars with “implied or actual nudity.”

However, she was not the only one, Olivia Snow, a research fellow at UCLA's centre for critical internet inquiry, also told CNN that the app returned nude images in her likeness even when she submitted pictures of herself as a child. Snow also spoke about how the app could be used for “revenge porn” and these incidents are a sign of a “complete lack of content moderation” on such apps.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/do-robots-have-feelings-google-engineer-says-its-ai-sentient-487726">Do robots have feelings? Google engineer says its AI 'Sentient'</a>

Meanwhile, some Black users said that the app makes their images “whitewashed” or paler in comparison to their actual skin tone, said the report. However, some women have reportedly also pointed out how Lensa is creating avatars with noticeably larger breasts which could be attributed to the AI taking cues from anime where this imagery is common, said a report by the Indian Express.&nbsp;

Furthermore, a writer and fat rights activist, Aubrey Gordon, took to her Instagram and posted 10 Lensa-generated images which she said made her look thinner than actually is. “Lensa is really working overtime to make AI me into a thin person, despite some truly glorious double chin source material”, she said in the caption.&nbsp;

Why are the artists upset?

Since the app uses Stable Diffusion which is a deep-learning model artists are unable to opt-in or opt-out of their work being used as a part of Lensa’s data set to train its AI algorithm. Some have even taken to social media and pointed out that several Lensa-generated images have their signatures on the images which the artists did not consent to.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-chatgpt-an-ai-chatbot-that-have-taken-internet-by-storm-can-it-replace-humans-540182">What is ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that has taken internet by storm? Can it replace humans?</a>

However, Prisma Labs has since taken to Twitter to explain the AI’s process and argued, “The AI learns to recognize the connections between the images and their descriptions, not the artworks. This way the model develops operational principles that can be applied to content generation. Hence the outputs can't be described as exact replicas of any particular artwork.”&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Seeing plenty of thoughts online about the future of digital art in connection with AI generations, we decided to share some information on how AI generates images and why it will not replace digital artists. 🧵🧵🧵
— Prisma Labs (@PrismaAI) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrismaAI/status/1600136437759807489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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It added, “As cinema didn't kill theater and accounting software hasn't eradicated the profession, AI won't replace artists but can become a great assisting tool.”&nbsp;

Security concerns

Several reports have also raised concerns about the company’s privacy policy, which indicates that the images uploaded by a user will be used to train Lensa’s algorithms further. Therefore, in this case, you are not only actually paying for the app, but you are also paying with your data to improve the app’s technology.&nbsp;

This is also a reminder to always read the terms and conditions because by agreeing to terms of service you are granting Prisma labs, “a perpetual, revocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferable, sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from and transfer your User Content, without any additional compensation to you and always subject to your additional explicit consent for such use where required by applicable law and as stated in our Privacy Policy.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-chrome-introduces-password-less-authentication-heres-how-it-works-542134">Google Chrome introduces passwordless authentication. Here's how it works</a>

They are also explicit about utilising the user data to teach its AI as another part of the terms of service states, “We use your photos and videos to train our algorithms to perform better and show you better results. We have a legitimate interest to do so, and we do our best to minimise the data that we receive and not to override the rights and freedoms of the users in this regard.”&nbsp;

However, the CEO and co-founder of Prisma Labs has told WIRED that it is working to update its privacy policy and said, “Lensa uses a copy of the Stable Diffusion model and teaches it to recognize the face on the uploaded images in each particular case. This means there is a separate model for each individual user. The user’s photos are deleted from our servers as soon as the avatars are generated. The servers are located in the US.”

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-the-most-common-passwords-of-2022-534838">WION Fineprint | The most common passwords of 2022</a>

However, the report also said that any user can opt out of that data collection by contacting the company at privacy@lensa-ai.com and if you are still concerned about the app collecting your data, delete the app afterwards and, “Control the settings, delete after use, and exercise any and all rights that they offer you,” said Ben Winters, an expert on the AI and human rights projects to the WIRED.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Over the past week or so, if you have seen your social media being flooded with pictures of your friends being turned into vibrant artwork, you are not alone. The app behind these "magic avatars" is the artificial intelligence-powered photo-editing app called Lensa AI.

Over the past week or so, if you have seen your social media being flooded with pictures of your friends being turned into vibrant artwork, you are not alone. The app behind these "magic avatars" is the artificial intelligence-powered photo-editing app called Lensa AI. Meanwhile, many have raised concerns about digital privacy, in the addition to the actual price you will pay for these portraits. What is Lensa AI and how does it work? The United States-based company, Prisma Labs, created the Lensa AI, which has been around for almost four years and uses artificial intelligence to generate “Magic Avatars” of one's images including it being re-imagined as, anime characters or celestial beings. The app available for users on iPhone and Android lets the user upload an image and then turns them into an avatar. ALSO READ | Musk says Twitter working on software update that will let users know if they are ‘shadow-banned’ The app uses a technology called stable diffusion which is essentially where the AI, trained with billions of images and mixes them together to create new ones. Notably, the current app is able to produce more impressive and varied results than its predecessor which went viral back in 2016 for creating images taken by the smartphone into paintings. According to a report by Sensor Tower, over four million people across the world have downloaded the app in the first five days of this month and spent nearly $8 million creating different avatars of themselves. While some filters are free there are some others which fall under the “premium” category. Once uploaded, the user can select a category for the type of image and filter they want for their selfie and in about half an hour one can see what they would look like as an anime character or as an animated version of themselves against different backgrounds. The app offers a one-week free trial with limited filters after which the users can opt for a year-long subscription to the app which costs $35.99. ALSO READ | Science fiction becomes real! Researchers simulate a 'baby' wormhole However, in addition to the subscription fee, people also need to pay to generate these “magical avatars” where one can get 50 avatars for $3.99, 100 for $5.99, or 200 for $7.99. Notably, these prices have increased over the week seemingly due to the rise in the popularity of the app. Lensa AI can be used to edit photos like retouching the skin or blurring backgrounds, and also can be used to edit videos. What are some of the concerns raised about the app? Since the app has gained popularity, it has also been subjected to greater scrutiny about issues ranging from the terms of service and privacy-related concerns to the platform being used to generate non-consensual NSFW images. AI can be tricked into creating NSFW images A report by TechCrunch outlines how it was “way too easy” to use the platform to “generate non-consensual soft porn”. The small experiment by the tech website used two sets of images, on one hand, they had 15 photos of a well-known actor and on the other, “based on the same 15 photos, but with an additional set of five photos added of the same actor’s face, Photoshopped onto topless models.” The avatars shown after using the first set of images were what Lensa would typically create, however, with images of the second set “AI takes those Photoshopped images as permission to go wild, and it appears it disables an NSFW filter,” said the report. It added that out of the 100-image set at least 11 were “topless photos of higher quality” than the poorly edited topless photos which were given to the AI as a reference. ALSO READ | Is it true? Google techie claims AI chatbot can think like a human being, gets placed on leave Therefore, highlights the repercussions of what the report describes as an “ethical nightmare”, given that it can create, “near-photorealistic AI-generated art images by the hundreds without any tools other than a smartphone, an app and a few dollars.” Furthermore, a person should not be able to create problematic images with just a handful of another person’s pictures. Reportedly, AI art generators are already creating thousands of pornographic images including the unfettered proliferation of other so-called “deepfake” platforms that present governments and other institutions with an unprecedented and significant problem. However, once the findings of this report were submitted to the company, Prisma Lab’s CEO and co-founder Andrey Usoltsev told TechCrunch that it is a breach of their terms of use. “The way (TechCrunch’s) experiment was structured points out that such creations can’t be produced accidentally. The images are the result of intentional misconduct on the app,” said the CEO in an emailed statement. It added that the generation and distribution of such content may incur legal actions as both the US and UK have an act which makes “an act of sharing of explicit content and imagery generated without consent as a crime.” ALSO READ | Chinese students invent ‘invisibility cloak’ that hides humans from security cameras Over-sexualised avatars created for some female users Similar to an experiment done by TechCrunch, when the author of a report by CNN, Zoe Sottile, used Lensa, said that even though all the images she uploaded were “fully-clothed and mostly close-ups of my face”, the app created avatars with “implied or actual nudity.” However, she was not the only one, Olivia Snow, a research fellow at UCLA's centre for critical internet inquiry, also told CNN that the app returned nude images in her likeness even when she submitted pictures of herself as a child. Snow also spoke about how the app could be used for “revenge porn” and these incidents are a sign of a “complete lack of content moderation” on such apps. ALSO WATCH | Do robots have feelings? Google engineer says its AI 'Sentient' Meanwhile, some Black users said that the app makes their images “whitewashed” or paler in comparison to their actual skin tone, said the report. However, some women have reportedly also pointed out how Lensa is creating avatars with noticeably larger breasts which could be attributed to the AI taking cues from anime where this imagery is common, said a report by the Indian Express. Furthermore, a writer and fat rights activist, Aubrey Gordon, took to her Instagram and posted 10 Lensa-generated images which she said made her look thinner than actually is. “Lensa is really working overtime to make AI me into a thin person, despite some truly glorious double chin source material”, she said in the caption. Why are the artists upset? Since the app uses Stable Diffusion which is a deep-learning model artists are unable to opt-in or opt-out of their work being used as a part of Lensa’s data set to train its AI algorithm. Some have even taken to social media and pointed out that several Lensa-generated images have their signatures on the images which the artists did not consent to. ALSO READ | What is ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that has taken internet by storm? Can it replace humans? However, Prisma Labs has since taken to Twitter to explain the AI’s process and argued, “The AI learns to recognize the connections between the images and their descriptions, not the artworks. This way the model develops operational principles that can be applied to content generation. Hence the outputs can't be described as exact replicas of any particular artwork.” Seeing plenty of thoughts online about the future of digital art in connection with AI generations, we decided to share some information on how AI generates images and why it will not replace digital artists. 🧵🧵🧵 — Prisma Labs (@PrismaAI) December 6, 2022 × It added, “As cinema didn't kill theater and accounting software hasn't eradicated the profession, AI won't replace artists but can become a great assisting tool.” Security concerns Several reports have also raised concerns about the company’s privacy policy, which indicates that the images uploaded by a user will be used to train Lensa’s algorithms further. Therefore, in this case, you are not only actually paying for the app, but you are also paying with your data to improve the app’s technology. This is also a reminder to always read the terms and conditions because by agreeing to terms of service you are granting Prisma labs, “a perpetual, revocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferable, sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from and transfer your User Content, without any additional compensation to you and always subject to your additional explicit consent for such use where required by applicable law and as stated in our Privacy Policy.” ALSO READ | Google Chrome introduces passwordless authentication. Here's how it works They are also explicit about utilising the user data to teach its AI as another part of the terms of service states, “We use your photos and videos to train our algorithms to perform better and show you better results. We have a legitimate interest to do so, and we do our best to minimise the data that we receive and not to override the rights and freedoms of the users in this regard.” However, the CEO and co-founder of Prisma Labs has told WIRED that it is working to update its privacy policy and said, “Lensa uses a copy of the Stable Diffusion model and teaches it to recognize the face on the uploaded images in each particular case. This means there is a separate model for each individual user. The user’s photos are deleted from our servers as soon as the avatars are generated. The servers are located in the US.” ALSO WATCH | WION Fineprint | The most common passwords of 2022 However, the report also said that any user can opt out of that data collection by contacting the company at privacy@lensa-ai.com and if you are still concerned about the app collecting your data, delete the app afterwards and, “Control the settings, delete after use, and exercise any and all rights that they offer you,” said Ben Winters, an expert on the AI and human rights projects to the WIRED. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: What is Lensa AI and should we be concerned about it?

Google Chrome has announced that it will soon be introducing passwordless login. The popular browser will now use&nbsp;biometric sensors such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, PIN, or pattern for authentication purposes.&nbsp;

If you are someone who finds it difficult to remember passwords, and so you end up using the same one for every single account, you're not alone.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | The most common passwords of 2022

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-the-most-common-passwords-of-2022-534838/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As per a SpyCloud analysis of 1.7 billion username and password combinations, &nbsp;64 per cent of the people use the same password exposed in one breach for other accounts.&nbsp;

In the digital world, we're a part of, we have an endless number of accounts, from social media to banking everything needs a password, and to remember the seemingly hundreds of passwords is difficult, to say the least.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/thiefs-can-use-thermal-camera-and-ai-to-crack-your-password-heres-how-524376">Thieves can use thermal camera and AI to crack your password. Here's how</a>

The worst part is even then your accounts aren't really safe. The year 2022 saw an exponential rise in the number of hacking and data pishing incidents.

As per reports, over 15 billion credentials have been exposed to the dark web, and about 54 per cent of these led to credential theft. Passwords just aren't cutting it anymore.

This has led to a number of platforms, and service providers moving towards passwordless authentication. Now Google chrome has joined the foray.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/iphones-crash-detection-feature-assumes-woman-enjoying-rollercoaster-has-been-in-crash-calls-911-524339" hreflang="en">iPhone's crash detection feature assumes woman enjoying rollercoaster has been in crash, calls 911</a>

In March of this year, Microsoft, Okta, LastPass and Google announced that they were moving towards easy passwordless logins as part of the FIDO alliance.&nbsp;

With Google Chrome's new passwordless feature users will now be able to create passkeys to log into their android devices.

As per Venture Beat the "move toward passwordless authentication is a recognition of password-based security’s fundamental ineffectiveness."

Google in its announcement blog said that passkeys are a significantly safer replacement for passwords and other phishable authentication factors.&nbsp;

"They cannot be reused, don't leak in server breaches, and protect users from phishing attacks. Passkeys are built on industry standards and work across different operating systems and browser ecosystems, and can be used for both websites and apps," it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Google Chrome has announced that it will soon be introducing passwordless login. The popular browser will now use biometric sensors such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, PIN, or pattern for authentication purposes.

Google Chrome has announced that it will soon be introducing passwordless login. The popular browser will now use biometric sensors such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, PIN, or pattern for authentication purposes. If you are someone who finds it difficult to remember passwords, and so you end up using the same one for every single account, you're not alone. Watch | WION Fineprint | The most common passwords of 2022 As per a SpyCloud analysis of 1.7 billion username and password combinations, 64 per cent of the people use the same password exposed in one breach for other accounts. In the digital world, we're a part of, we have an endless number of accounts, from social media to banking everything needs a password, and to remember the seemingly hundreds of passwords is difficult, to say the least. Also read | Thieves can use thermal camera and AI to crack your password. Here's how The worst part is even then your accounts aren't really safe. The year 2022 saw an exponential rise in the number of hacking and data pishing incidents. As per reports, over 15 billion credentials have been exposed to the dark web, and about 54 per cent of these led to credential theft. Passwords just aren't cutting it anymore. This has led to a number of platforms, and service providers moving towards passwordless authentication. Now Google chrome has joined the foray. Also read | iPhone's crash detection feature assumes woman enjoying rollercoaster has been in crash, calls 911 In March of this year, Microsoft, Okta, LastPass and Google announced that they were moving towards easy passwordless logins as part of the FIDO alliance. With Google Chrome's new passwordless feature users will now be able to create passkeys to log into their android devices. As per Venture Beat the "move toward passwordless authentication is a recognition of password-based security’s fundamental ineffectiveness." Google in its announcement blog said that passkeys are a significantly safer replacement for passwords and other phishable authentication factors. "They cannot be reused, don't leak in server breaches, and protect users from phishing attacks. Passkeys are built on industry standards and work across different operating systems and browser ecosystems, and can be used for both websites and apps," it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Google Chrome introduces passwordless authentication. Here's how it works

Downdectecto, an outage monitoring website on Saturday (Dec 10) on Twitter reported that Google's email service Gmail was down for several users. It stated&nbsp;that users were facing problems with the email service since 9:12 am.&nbsp;

The Tweet read, "User reports indicate Gmail is having problems since 9:12 AM EST. http://downdetector.com/status/gmail/&nbsp;RT if you're also having problems #Gmaildown."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-shuts-google-hangouts-to-prompt-users-to-use-chat-says-its-a-better-option-530469">Also read |&nbsp;Google shuts Google Hangouts to prompt users to use Chat, says it's a better option</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
User reports indicate Gmail is having problems since 9:12 AM EST. <a href="https://t.co/EsWw2oLYjH">https://t.co/EsWw2oLYjH</a> RT if you're also having problems <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gmaildown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gmaildown</a>
— Downdetector (@downdetector) <a href="https://twitter.com/downdetector/status/1601580653056860165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Users reported that both desktop and mobile applications were impacted, as many users worldwide reported the outage and undeliverable emails, ANI reported.&nbsp;

The monitoring website noted an increase in the number of outage cases reported by the users over the past 24 hours. The number of cases increased to 327 by 8:39 pm.&nbsp;

After many hours, it seems the app is back on track.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/the-google-paradox-why-indias-162mn-fine-on-search-giant-is-flawed-by-misplaced-priorities-527335">Also read |&nbsp;The Google Paradox: Why India's $162mn fine on search giant is flawed by misplaced priorities</a>

The news soon went viral making users complain and post memes making fun of the incident.&nbsp;

One user said, "When doesn't @gmail have problems.....especially all the SPAMMERS/SCAMMERS using @ gmail dot com with a lot of letters/numbers combo before the @ sign."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Gmail is down, it's not just you. This includes Google Workspace accounts. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gmaildown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gmaildown</a> 
 
(Please acknowledge the problem on your status page <a href="https://twitter.com/GoogleWorkspace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoogleWorkspace</a>!) 
 
From the admin console email logs: <a href="https://t.co/k3AtzoMy6F">pic.twitter.com/k3AtzoMy6F</a>
— Baptiste Laget (@baptistelaget) <a href="https://twitter.com/baptistelaget/status/1601592995941584900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Waiting for my email to be sent via Gmail. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GmailDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GmailDown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gmaildown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gmaildown</a> <a href="https://t.co/8yXPKOqruj">pic.twitter.com/8yXPKOqruj</a>
— Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) <a href="https://twitter.com/DoctorrSays/status/1601598225596944387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gmaildown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gmaildown</a> 
 
Calling my friends to check if Gmail is working or not <a href="https://t.co/ML0juNjLlm">pic.twitter.com/ML0juNjLlm</a>
— Mohammad Aarif (@aareif) <a href="https://twitter.com/aareif/status/1601604944519626753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Another user said, "Looks like Gmail is down worldwide. I'm not receiving any emails now either. Reading many reports on Twitter."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Downdectecto, an outage monitoring website on Saturday (Dec 10) on Twitter reported that Google's email service Gmail was down for several users. It stated that users were facing problems with the email service since 9:12 am.

Downdectecto, an outage monitoring website on Saturday (Dec 10) on Twitter reported that Google's email service Gmail was down for several users. It stated that users were facing problems with the email service since 9:12 am. The Tweet read, "User reports indicate Gmail is having problems since 9:12 AM EST. http://downdetector.com/status/gmail/ RT if you're also having problems #Gmaildown." Also read | Google shuts Google Hangouts to prompt users to use Chat, says it's a better option User reports indicate Gmail is having problems since 9:12 AM EST. https://t.co/EsWw2oLYjH RT if you're also having problems #Gmaildown — Downdetector (@downdetector) December 10, 2022 × Users reported that both desktop and mobile applications were impacted, as many users worldwide reported the outage and undeliverable emails, ANI reported. The monitoring website noted an increase in the number of outage cases reported by the users over the past 24 hours. The number of cases increased to 327 by 8:39 pm. After many hours, it seems the app is back on track. Also read | The Google Paradox: Why India's $162mn fine on search giant is flawed by misplaced priorities The news soon went viral making users complain and post memes making fun of the incident. One user said, "When doesn't @gmail have problems.....especially all the SPAMMERS/SCAMMERS using @ gmail dot com with a lot of letters/numbers combo before the @ sign." Gmail is down, it's not just you. This includes Google Workspace accounts. #gmaildown (Please acknowledge the problem on your status page @GoogleWorkspace!) From the admin console email logs: pic.twitter.com/k3AtzoMy6F — Baptiste Laget (@baptistelaget) December 10, 2022 × Waiting for my email to be sent via Gmail. #GmailDown #gmaildown pic.twitter.com/8yXPKOqruj — Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) December 10, 2022 × #gmaildown Calling my friends to check if Gmail is working or not pic.twitter.com/ML0juNjLlm — Mohammad Aarif (@aareif) December 10, 2022 × Another user said, "Looks like Gmail is down worldwide. I'm not receiving any emails now either. Reading many reports on Twitter." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘When doesn’t Gmail have problems’: Google’s mail service down for users across globe, netizens shares memes

Elon Musk said that Twitter is working on a software update that will let&nbsp;users know if their account has been “shadow-banned”, the reason for it and how to appeal.&nbsp;Twitter is "working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadow-banned, the reason why and how to appeal (sic)," Musk&nbsp;tweeted on Friday.

Shadow-banned is a practice that typically makes posts invisible to other users or makes a user’s profile hard to find without your knowledge.

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Twitter is working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadowbanned, the reason why and how to appeal
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1601042125130371072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The topic rose to prominence after a report in 2018 that Twitter secretly shadow-bans Republicans—a claim denied by the firm's co-founder and then-CEO Jack Dorsey.

Recently, Instagram also rolled out a similar feature with its latest update, letting user’s know if they are blocked from recommendations.

The announcement made by Musk comes hours after the second instalment of Twitter Files was released, in which it came to the fore that the employees of the microblogging site used the "Visibility Filtering" tool, which is just another term for shadow-banning, on some users, who identify themselves as conservatives or right-leaning.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-second-installment-of-twitter-files-reveals-how-right-wing-users-were-targeted-541462">Shadowban, secret blacklist: Musk reveals second part of Twitter Files</a>

In this second part, journalist Bari Weiss revealed that "teams of Twitter employees build blacklists, prevent disfavoured tweets from trending, and actively limit the visibility of entire accounts or even trending topics—all in secret, without informing users."

Among the accounts that were shadow-banned include popular right-wing talk show host Dan Bongino, conservative activist&nbsp;Charlie Kirk, and Stanford professor Dr Jay Bhattacharya, who expressed doubts about feasibility of the COVID-19 lockdown.

It comes amidst the exodus of advertisers who have been fleeing the platform since Musk took over due to concerns over policy changes and the reinstatement of banned accounts.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Elon Musk said that Twitter is working on a software update that will let users know if their account has been “shadow-banned”, the reason for it and how to appeal.

Elon Musk said that Twitter is working on a software update that will let users know if their account has been “shadow-banned”, the reason for it and how to appeal. Twitter is "working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadow-banned, the reason why and how to appeal (sic)," Musk tweeted on Friday. Shadow-banned is a practice that typically makes posts invisible to other users or makes a user’s profile hard to find without your knowledge. Twitter is working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadowbanned, the reason why and how to appeal — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2022 × The topic rose to prominence after a report in 2018 that Twitter secretly shadow-bans Republicans—a claim denied by the firm's co-founder and then-CEO Jack Dorsey. Recently, Instagram also rolled out a similar feature with its latest update, letting user’s know if they are blocked from recommendations. The announcement made by Musk comes hours after the second instalment of Twitter Files was released, in which it came to the fore that the employees of the microblogging site used the "Visibility Filtering" tool, which is just another term for shadow-banning, on some users, who identify themselves as conservatives or right-leaning. Also read | Shadowban, secret blacklist: Musk reveals second part of Twitter Files In this second part, journalist Bari Weiss revealed that "teams of Twitter employees build blacklists, prevent disfavoured tweets from trending, and actively limit the visibility of entire accounts or even trending topics—all in secret, without informing users." Among the accounts that were shadow-banned include popular right-wing talk show host Dan Bongino, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and Stanford professor Dr Jay Bhattacharya, who expressed doubts about feasibility of the COVID-19 lockdown. It comes amidst the exodus of advertisers who have been fleeing the platform since Musk took over due to concerns over policy changes and the reinstatement of banned accounts. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Musk says Twitter working on software update that will let users know if they are ‘shadow-banned’

Apple will soon roll out a slew of security features and add-ups to ensure that users lock down photos and notes stored on their iCloud service and require a security key when logging in from a new device, the company said on Wednesday. The Cupertino-based tech giant will soon allow users to choose to further enhance the security of the data backed up to their iCloud using end-to-end encryption.&nbsp;

This means that no one else but the user will be able to access that information.

The upcoming security features are aimed to secure the iCloud data of individuals most prone to hacking attempts, such as celebrities, activists, journalists, politicians and similar high-profile individuals.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/mr-headsets-apples-next-big-thing-set-to-entail-extended-reality-experience-539337">MR headsets, Apple's 'next big thing', set to entail extended reality experience</a>

Apple said that there have been increasingly more attempts at hacking iCloud servers or iMessage exchanges but so far there have been no breaches as such.&nbsp;

On iMessage, conversations between users with new Contact Key Verification would receive automated alerts about unrecognised devices. Users can verify the conversations manually by matching up security codes.&nbsp;

Advanced Data Protection for users in the US

An Advanced Data Protection mode, which the iPhone maker is set to roll out by the end of the year, will enable users in the US further increase the security of their iCloud accounts. However, once a user turns on Advanced Data Protection mode, Apple will not be able to help users recover photos, notes, voice memos and about 21 other types of data in case they forget their password.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-business-news-apple-drops-plan-to-boost-production-reports-520422">WION Business News | Apple drops plan to boost production</a>

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The change will not cover all data. Contacts, calendar information, and email will not be encrypted and users will have to voluntarily opt into the feature. The encryption key, or the code used to gain access to that secure data, will be stored on the device.&nbsp;

Apple plans to roll it out globally next year.&nbsp;

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Apple will soon roll out a slew of security features and add-ups to ensure that users lock down photos and notes stored on their iCloud service and require a security key when logging in from a new device, the company said on Wednesday.

Apple will soon roll out a slew of security features and add-ups to ensure that users lock down photos and notes stored on their iCloud service and require a security key when logging in from a new device, the company said on Wednesday. The Cupertino-based tech giant will soon allow users to choose to further enhance the security of the data backed up to their iCloud using end-to-end encryption. This means that no one else but the user will be able to access that information. The upcoming security features are aimed to secure the iCloud data of individuals most prone to hacking attempts, such as celebrities, activists, journalists, politicians and similar high-profile individuals. ALSO READ | MR headsets, Apple's 'next big thing', set to entail extended reality experience Apple said that there have been increasingly more attempts at hacking iCloud servers or iMessage exchanges but so far there have been no breaches as such. On iMessage, conversations between users with new Contact Key Verification would receive automated alerts about unrecognised devices. Users can verify the conversations manually by matching up security codes. Advanced Data Protection for users in the US An Advanced Data Protection mode, which the iPhone maker is set to roll out by the end of the year, will enable users in the US further increase the security of their iCloud accounts. However, once a user turns on Advanced Data Protection mode, Apple will not be able to help users recover photos, notes, voice memos and about 21 other types of data in case they forget their password. WATCH | WION Business News | Apple drops plan to boost production × The change will not cover all data. Contacts, calendar information, and email will not be encrypted and users will have to voluntarily opt into the feature. The encryption key, or the code used to gain access to that secure data, will be stored on the device. Apple plans to roll it out globally next year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Apple announces iCloud encryption in latest security revamp to secure iCloud data from hacking

A national security deal between TikTok and the Biden administration, which was expected to be sealed around the year-end, has been delayed further and increased worry over the issue of popular applications posing national security concerns, as per the US media reports citing officials.

The review has been extended amid various concerns which include how algorithm-related information will be shared by TikTok and the amount of trust Washington would need to have in the company, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

TikTok has not been approached by US officials lately with the additional demands to address the concerns raised recently, leaving the forward path unclear.

A spokeswoman of TikTok said that they are looking forward to a “timely conclusion to our agreement with the U.S. government, much of which we have already started implementing in earnest so that we can put these concerns to rest.”

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-to-be-a-digital-nomad-in-spain-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-540620">Want to be a digital nomad in Spain? Here's everything you need to know</a>

She added that no unmet, remaining concerns have been raised by the government with the company. The Committee on Foreign Investment, which is a secretive panel of the government to review business deals related to security concerns, is leading the negotiations from the US side.

The talks were aimed at reducing the influence of the Chinese government on the operations in the US, without severing Chinese ties with TikTok completely. It has been agreed by both sides that Oracle Corp will be used to store the data collected by TikTok on US users.

TikTok has stated that it plans to delete private data on US users from its data centres in Singapore and Virginia as it will be storing the complete data with Oracle cloud infrastructure.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A national security deal between TikTok and the Biden administration, which was expected to be sealed around the year-end, has been delayed further and increased worry over the issue of popular applications posing national security concerns, as per the US media reports citing officials.

A national security deal between TikTok and the Biden administration, which was expected to be sealed around the year-end, has been delayed further and increased worry over the issue of popular applications posing national security concerns, as per the US media reports citing officials. The review has been extended amid various concerns which include how algorithm-related information will be shared by TikTok and the amount of trust Washington would need to have in the company, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. TikTok has not been approached by US officials lately with the additional demands to address the concerns raised recently, leaving the forward path unclear. A spokeswoman of TikTok said that they are looking forward to a “timely conclusion to our agreement with the U.S. government, much of which we have already started implementing in earnest so that we can put these concerns to rest.” ALSO READ| Want to be a digital nomad in Spain? Here's everything you need to know She added that no unmet, remaining concerns have been raised by the government with the company. The Committee on Foreign Investment, which is a secretive panel of the government to review business deals related to security concerns, is leading the negotiations from the US side. The talks were aimed at reducing the influence of the Chinese government on the operations in the US, without severing Chinese ties with TikTok completely. It has been agreed by both sides that Oracle Corp will be used to store the data collected by TikTok on US users. TikTok has stated that it plans to delete private data on US users from its data centres in Singapore and Virginia as it will be storing the complete data with Oracle cloud infrastructure. (With inputs from agencies)

TikTok-US govt deal delayed further amid worry over national security risks: Report

The US auto safety regulator has opened probes into 1.72 million Honda vehicles, 230,000 Jeeps and 390,077 Ram trucks over alleged safety concerns.&nbsp;The action by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) comes amidst reports of loss of power for more than 1.7 million US 2018-2022 model year Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles, reports Reuters news agency.

It is said that a few drivers lost power while speeding on the highway, while others found differential seal leaks resulting in rear differential lock-up as the cause.

Some reports allege the rear lock-up caused the driveshaft to fracture while the vehicle was in motion resulting in the vehicle being towed.

Apart from Honda, around 390,000&nbsp;of Ram pickup trucks belonging to the 2017-2018 model are also under the lens of the US regulator after reports claiming intermittent or permanent loss of braking performance.

But there are reports that replacing the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) module and Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) corrected the issue.

Whereas, Jeep Compass SUV users reported loss of power while driving that was accompanied by a high coolant temperature message appearing on the vehicle dashboard. The US agency is looking to probe 230,000 2019-2020 model year.

The regulator said that it will initiate its preliminary probe before the automakers are asked to recall their vehicles.

Spokespersons of Honda and Stellantis NV, the parent company of Jeep and Ram, said they are cooperating with the investigations.

Even though several flaws were reported, there have been no cases of crashes or injuries to date.

The NHTSA has decided whether to upgrade each probe to an engineering analysis before it could demand a total recall.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US auto safety regulator has opened probes into 1.72 million Honda vehicles, 230,000 Jeeps and 390,077 Ram trucks over alleged safety concerns. The action by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) comes amidst reports of loss of power for more than 1.

The US auto safety regulator has opened probes into 1.72 million Honda vehicles, 230,000 Jeeps and 390,077 Ram trucks over alleged safety concerns. The action by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) comes amidst reports of loss of power for more than 1.7 million US 2018-2022 model year Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles, reports Reuters news agency. It is said that a few drivers lost power while speeding on the highway, while others found differential seal leaks resulting in rear differential lock-up as the cause. Some reports allege the rear lock-up caused the driveshaft to fracture while the vehicle was in motion resulting in the vehicle being towed. Apart from Honda, around 390,000 of Ram pickup trucks belonging to the 2017-2018 model are also under the lens of the US regulator after reports claiming intermittent or permanent loss of braking performance. But there are reports that replacing the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) module and Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) corrected the issue. Whereas, Jeep Compass SUV users reported loss of power while driving that was accompanied by a high coolant temperature message appearing on the vehicle dashboard. The US agency is looking to probe 230,000 2019-2020 model year. The regulator said that it will initiate its preliminary probe before the automakers are asked to recall their vehicles. Spokespersons of Honda and Stellantis NV, the parent company of Jeep and Ram, said they are cooperating with the investigations. Even though several flaws were reported, there have been no cases of crashes or injuries to date. The NHTSA has decided whether to upgrade each probe to an engineering analysis before it could demand a total recall. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US auto safety regulator initiates probes into Honda, Jeep, Ram vehicles over safety issues

Call of Duty gained a fresh lease of life on Wednesday after Microsoft&nbsp;entered into a 10-year commitment to bring the gaming title&nbsp;to Nintendo platforms, the chief executive officer of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, said in a post on Twitter on Wednesday. The development will bring the popular gaming title from Activision Blizzard to Nintento game consoles.

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I'm also pleased to confirm that Microsoft has committed to continue to offer Call of Duty on <a href="https://twitter.com/Steam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Steam</a> simultaneously to Xbox after we have closed the merger with Activision Blizzard King. <a href="https://twitter.com/ATVI_AB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATVI_AB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/valvesoftware?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ValveSoftware</a>
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The announcement comes after Microsoft’s planned $69 billion acquisition of the “Call of Duty” maker raised concern among regulators that the deal could stifle competition, with rival Sony Group Corp criticising the deal and even calling for a regulatory veto.

WATCH -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-uk-watchdog-pauses-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-516596">Gravitas: UK watchdog pauses Microsoft's acquisition of Activision</a>

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Microsoft President Brad Smith tweeted: "Our acquisition will bring Call of Duty to more gamers and more platforms than ever before … Any day @Sony wants to sit down and talk, we’ll be happy to hammer out a 10-year deal for PlayStation as well."

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Our acquisition will bring Call of Duty to more gamers and more platforms than ever before. That's good for competition and good for consumers. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/Nintendo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nintendo</a>. Any day <a href="https://twitter.com/Sony?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sony</a> wants to sit down and talk, we'll be happy to hammer out a 10-year deal for PlayStation as well. <a href="https://t.co/m1IQxdeo6n">https://t.co/m1IQxdeo6n</a>
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Earlier this year, Sony’s gaming chief Jim Ryan called an offer by Microsoft to keep the “Call of Duty” series on PlayStation for three years after the current agreement “inadequate”.

“I think this is an attempt by Microsoft to pressure Sony into signing a deal with Activision and to make it easier for Microsoft to finish and close the deal with Activision,” said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy.

"It’s basically good PR for Microsoft."

Microsoft competes with Sony and Nintendo in the global video game industry, which saw strong growth in recent years with people spending more time at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. The inquisition of the popular first-person shooter series

(With inputs from agencies)

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Call of Duty gained a fresh lease of life on Wednesday after Microsoft entered into a 10-year commitment to bring the gaming title to Nintendo platforms, the chief executive officer of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, said in a post on Twitter on Wednesday.

Call of Duty gained a fresh lease of life on Wednesday after Microsoft entered into a 10-year commitment to bring the gaming title to Nintendo platforms, the chief executive officer of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, said in a post on Twitter on Wednesday. The development will bring the popular gaming title from Activision Blizzard to Nintento game consoles. I'm also pleased to confirm that Microsoft has committed to continue to offer Call of Duty on @Steam simultaneously to Xbox after we have closed the merger with Activision Blizzard King. @ATVI_AB @ValveSoftware — Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) December 7, 2022 × The announcement comes after Microsoft’s planned $69 billion acquisition of the “Call of Duty” maker raised concern among regulators that the deal could stifle competition, with rival Sony Group Corp criticising the deal and even calling for a regulatory veto. WATCH - Gravitas: UK watchdog pauses Microsoft's acquisition of Activision × Microsoft President Brad Smith tweeted: "Our acquisition will bring Call of Duty to more gamers and more platforms than ever before … Any day @Sony wants to sit down and talk, we’ll be happy to hammer out a 10-year deal for PlayStation as well." Our acquisition will bring Call of Duty to more gamers and more platforms than ever before. That's good for competition and good for consumers. Thank you @Nintendo. Any day @Sony wants to sit down and talk, we'll be happy to hammer out a 10-year deal for PlayStation as well. https://t.co/m1IQxdeo6n — Brad Smith (@BradSmi) December 7, 2022 × Earlier this year, Sony’s gaming chief Jim Ryan called an offer by Microsoft to keep the “Call of Duty” series on PlayStation for three years after the current agreement “inadequate”. “I think this is an attempt by Microsoft to pressure Sony into signing a deal with Activision and to make it easier for Microsoft to finish and close the deal with Activision,” said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy. "It’s basically good PR for Microsoft." Microsoft competes with Sony and Nintendo in the global video game industry, which saw strong growth in recent years with people spending more time at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. The inquisition of the popular first-person shooter series (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Microsoft finalises 10-year deal for bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo platform

In a series of decisions, European Union’s privacy regulators have said that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms’ Inc should not require users to agree to personalised advertisements based on their digital activity, said a report by the Wall Street Journal. This could affect the company’s access to sell such ads which also reportedly contribute a significant amount to Meta’s revenue.&nbsp;

The personalised advertisements in question are the ones that the social media platforms show tp their users based on their activity, clicks and what they watch within Meta’s own apps. Notably, Meta users can opt out of ads based on their activity on other websites and apps, a provision that has been in place for years but is not applicable for ads data based on user activity on its own platforms.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-parent-meta-threatens-to-remove-news-from-platform-if-us-passes-media-bill-540386">Facebook parent Meta threatens to remove news from platform if US passes media bill</a>

This comes after the European Union privacy regulators approved a series of decisions, in line with their privacy laws, which cannot be evaded by Meta using their terms of service as a justification, said a person familiar with the matter to the WSJ. However, the board’s ruling which was approved on Monday has not been made public yet.&nbsp;

According to the report, if users are allowed to opt out of such targeted ads, platforms like Facebook and Instagram would have less access to user information which is used to build these ads, and people close to the company say these ads contribute significantly to the platforms’ revenue.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-and-eu-held-meet-to-resolve-trade-tensions-between-them-540647">U.S. and EU held meet to resolve trade tensions between them</a>

Notably, the EU does not plan on directly ordering Meta to change its advertising practices, as it plans to call upon Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DCP) to issue public orders and levy significant fines which would be in line with its decision, said the WSJ report, citing people familiar with the matter. Ireland is also home to Meta’s headquarters in the 27-country bloc. &nbsp;

However, Meta can appeal the potential Irish as well as the EU decision which would at least lead to suspension of the potentially lengthy litigation, but if it is upheld the company would have to make changes to its practices.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-warns-one-million-users-about-potential-data-leak-through-malicious-apps-523435">Meta warns one million users about potential data leak through malicious apps</a>

Meta’s spokesperson told the WSJ, that EU law could allow for other legal justifications for its advertising practices and that it is too early to speculate since this is not the final decision. “We’ve engaged fully with the DPC on their inquiries and will continue to engage with them as they finalise their decision,” said the spokesperson. &nbsp; 
 
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In a series of decisions, European Union’s privacy regulators have said that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms’ Inc should not require users to agree to personalised advertisements based on their digital activity, said a report by the Wall Street Journal.

In a series of decisions, European Union’s privacy regulators have said that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms’ Inc should not require users to agree to personalised advertisements based on their digital activity, said a report by the Wall Street Journal. This could affect the company’s access to sell such ads which also reportedly contribute a significant amount to Meta’s revenue. The personalised advertisements in question are the ones that the social media platforms show tp their users based on their activity, clicks and what they watch within Meta’s own apps. Notably, Meta users can opt out of ads based on their activity on other websites and apps, a provision that has been in place for years but is not applicable for ads data based on user activity on its own platforms. ALSO READ | Facebook parent Meta threatens to remove news from platform if US passes media bill This comes after the European Union privacy regulators approved a series of decisions, in line with their privacy laws, which cannot be evaded by Meta using their terms of service as a justification, said a person familiar with the matter to the WSJ. However, the board’s ruling which was approved on Monday has not been made public yet. According to the report, if users are allowed to opt out of such targeted ads, platforms like Facebook and Instagram would have less access to user information which is used to build these ads, and people close to the company say these ads contribute significantly to the platforms’ revenue. ALSO WATCH | U.S. and EU held meet to resolve trade tensions between them Notably, the EU does not plan on directly ordering Meta to change its advertising practices, as it plans to call upon Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DCP) to issue public orders and levy significant fines which would be in line with its decision, said the WSJ report, citing people familiar with the matter. Ireland is also home to Meta’s headquarters in the 27-country bloc. However, Meta can appeal the potential Irish as well as the EU decision which would at least lead to suspension of the potentially lengthy litigation, but if it is upheld the company would have to make changes to its practices. ALSO READ | Meta warns one million users about potential data leak through malicious apps Meta’s spokesperson told the WSJ, that EU law could allow for other legal justifications for its advertising practices and that it is too early to speculate since this is not the final decision. “We’ve engaged fully with the DPC on their inquiries and will continue to engage with them as they finalise their decision,” said the spokesperson. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Meta’s targeted advertisements could face restrictions in the EU: Report

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