The deepfake ban is part of a broader set of policy changes meant to fight misinformation and election meddling. The new rules also make the company’s policy barring coordinated inauthentic activities “unambiguous.”
TikTok also says it’s expanding its work with outside fact-checkers ahead of the 2020 election, and that it will allow users to report election-related misinformation in its app. And the company is working with the Department of Homeland Security in order to combat foreign interference in the election.
Though Pappas writes that “TikTok isn’t the go-to app to follow news or politics,” the app has dealt with extremism, fringe conspiracy theories and other unsavory content.
Together, the updates are similar to steps other social media companies have taken to fight election meddling and disinformation campaigns. The changes may also help address some concerns around the app, which lawmakers have labeled a national security threat. Microsoft is currently in talks to buy TikTok from Chinese parent company ByteDance, after Donald Trump threatened to ban the app.
The Tech Transparency Project first noticed the bug and believes that it has been in effect since at least June. “What we’ve seen with the related hashtags with Biden is that there is so much vitriol, that it appears to be benefitting President Trump,” director of the Tech Transparency Project, Katie Paul, told Buzzfeedon Wednesday.
An Instagram spokesperson characterized the issue as a ‘bug’ and pointed out that other non-political hashtags such as #menshair and #artofdrinks were similarly impacted. “A technical error caused a number of hashtags to not show related hashtags,” the spokesperson said in a Tuesday statement. “We’ve disabled this feature while we investigate.”
The Biden campaign declined to comment however a spokesperson for the Trump campaign “lambasted the bug as an example of alleged bias against conservatives on social media platforms,” according to Buzzfeed.
This is far from the first time that conservatives have railed against what they perceive as bias, even when actively benefitting from it. Just last August Facebook commissioned a third-party audit of its platform in the wake of three years of congressional Republican baseless wingeing about how the social media company inherently promoted liberal content. This, of course despite the fact that the site’s Top 10 daily posts, as measured by Facebook itself, are overwhelmingly produced by fringe right-wing outlets like Ben Shapiro and Sean Hannity.
If you want to see how toxic the related hashtags feature can be, look how it spread conspiracy theory hashtags when associated with #ChrissyTeigen. This is what Instagram’s algorithm thinks people want to see. pic.twitter.com/CnoCA9CKKz
To be fair, however, Instagram’s recommendation algorithm is a bit garbage to start with. As Buzzfeed reporter Ryan Mac points out above, the platform routinely pops worrisome, conspiracy theory-related hashtags for searches of famous figures such as Chrissy Teigen.
Twitter acknowledged today that there was a security vulnerability in its Android app that would have exposed private data such as Direct Messages (via CNBC). The issue is now fixed and is related to an underlying Android OS security issue that only affects OS versions 8 and 9. According to Twitter, around 96 percent of people using Twitter for Android already have a security patch for this vulnerability. The company said it has not found any evidence that this security flaw was exploited, but it can’t be completely sure.
In order to ensure Android users are safe, Twitter has updated its Android app to ensure external apps can’t access its in-app data. In conjunction with that, it has also sent in-app notices to those affected, and required them to update their app to the latest version. It has also promised to identify “changes to our processes to better guard against issues like this.”
After that, as Android Policepointed out, things are unclear. The policy applies to “flagship models,” suggesting that entry-level devices like A-series phones will still only get two years of Android updates.
In any case, the shift brings Samsung’s flagships a bit more into line with Google, which offers Android updates on Pixels for at least three years from the release date. Samsung typically rolls out security patches beyond that two-year span of platform updates.
The latest approach means that fewer people might feel the need to update their phone after two years, which might hit Samsung in the pocket a bit. Still, it should come as some comfort for people about to shell out at least $999 on a new Galaxy handset that it’ll remain up-to-date (at least on a software basis) until 2023.
Another folding phone for Samsung, another round of potential problems to deal with. The company revealed the Galaxy Z Fold 2 today, which builds on plenty of the improvements we saw in the Galaxy Z Flip. In particular, Samsung paid close attention to the hinge, which is crucial to making these devices bend. The original Galaxy Fold was essentially a prototype that invited in a ton of dirt and debris into its hinge, so the company added a vacuum-inspired brush in the Z Flip’s hinge. That brush, dubbed the sweeper, makes a return in the new device.
Samsung
Samsung is positioning the brush as a self-cleaning feature in the Z Fold 2, whereas before it was more of a dirt blocker (even though the company never said the Z Flip was truly dust proof). It also revealed that the new brush will be 25 percent shorter than before. We don’t have the exact specs for the new device yet, but I’d wager that smaller size could help the Galaxy Z Fold 2 be a bit thinner than the Z Flip. I just hope Samsung managed to make the sweeper more effective — in its teardown of the Z Flip, iFixit still found plenty of dirt inside their phone.
To start with, you’ll be able to use Samsung’s UWB tech to share files with others who also have UWB tech. “By simply pointing Galaxy Note20 Ultra to other UWB equipped Galaxy devices, Nearby Share will automatically list the people you’re facing on to the top of your sharing panel,” Samsung said. From there, you’d be able to send photos, videos and other files over Bluetooth, WebRTC or peer-to-peer WiFi, whichever works best under the circumstances.
What’s more intriguing is what it’s capable of. “Future UWB functionality will also help you find things more accurately with AR technology and unlock your home as a digital key,” according to Samsung. As detailed by the FiRa Consortium that manages UWB, it could also indoor location tracking inside a mall, for instance. For now, it has limited use with Nearby Share, but it sounds like companies are just scratching the surface of UWB’s potential.
“Open” ANC sounds odd, and as you might expect, it doesn’t work as well as true wireless models with ear tips that create a seal. Based on my early tests, I can tell when ANC is active in the Galaxy Buds app, but the feature doesn’t do a lot to block out what’s going on around me. More often than not, I just take matters into my own hands with more volume. Not so good for your hearing though.
Gripes about noise cancellation aside, Samsung’s claims about these being its “most ergonomic earbuds yet” are mostly true. The lack of a tip on the buds makes them more comfortable. There’s not something crammed into your ear canal. And while I was skeptical about sound quality given the “open” design, the audio is respectable. However, the Galaxy Buds Live have way too much treble at high volumes. But overall, these do a decent job as an everyday audio accessory. Samsung says the new earbuds have larger 12mm speakers compared to the Galaxy Buds+ along with bass ducts to beam AKG sound into your ears.
Samsung
Touch controls are available on the outside and give you access to play/pause, skipping tacks and answering calls. Those core controls are mirrored on both sides. You also have the ability to turn the ANC on/off with a long press, or you can reassign that action for volume controls, Spotify (Samsung devices) or access to your voice assistant. Speaking of voice controls, the Galaxy Buds Live gives you always-on Bixby for the first time. Much like Apple does for AirPods, you don’t have to press a button to summon Samsung’s assistant. Simply speak your commands and Bixby will do its thing. And don’t worry, you can disable the no-touch access if you want to conserve some battery life.
For calls, Samsung says the Galaxy Buds Live’s three beam-forming microphones focus on your voice and reduce background clutter. The company explains that its technology automatically adjusts to keep the emphasis on your words rather than what’s going on around you. Of course, the actual results can vary greatly on true wireless earbuds, but we’ll be sure to put these claims to the test during our review.
Like the Galaxy Buds+, the Galaxy Buds Live will work with Samsung audio apps on both Android and iOS. This means that iPhone users will have access to most of the earbuds’ key features — besides always-on Bixby, of course. With the app, you can choose from a collection of audio presets, activate ANC, disable or customize touch controls, locate lost earbuds and more.
Samsung
In terms of battery life, Samsung promises eight hours with both ANC and always-on Bixby disabled (21 additional hours in the case). With just noise canceling mode on, that number is cut to six and a half hours. Add hands-free Bixby and you’re looking at six hours. A quick-charge feature will give you an hour of listening time in five minutes, and the Galaxy Buds Live case supports wireless charging with Qi-certified accessories. Yes, you can even charge it on the back of the new Note 20. We’ll put all of those figures to the test and offer our detailed impressions in a full review soon.
Lastly, the Galaxy Buds Live are IPX2 rated. That’s not very much protection from moisture — only certified to resist water droplets. It’s likely enough if you briefly get caught outside during a light drizzle and to protect the earbuds from semi-sweaty workouts. Anything else and you might be in trouble. But given the way these just sit on the outside of your ear, they’re probably not the best option for physical activity.
The Galaxy Buds Live will be available tomorrow, August 6th, for $169.99. You’ll be able to choose from bronze, white and black color options — whichever one matches your Samsung phone or smartwatch the best.
Samsung hasn’t been shy about the fact that it has a ton of devices to show us at its upcoming Unpacked event, and that day is finally here. You can get excited with senior mobile editor Chris Velazco and myself right here as we head over to YouTube for a real-time reaction stream with a post-show to share our thoughts (and insider info) after. Come watch with us! We’ll start the pre-show at 9:40AM ET and stick around for a bit after Samsung wraps its event. Despite the ton of spoilers that have already leaked, I’m sure we’ll still have a lot to discuss, so make sure you tune in!
Based on the sneaky silhouette that Samsung has shared, we can tell there will be at least a foldable, a Note phone, a watch and what looks like wireless earbuds. Thanks to the flood of leaks, we’re pretty sure we can expect these to be the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the Note 20, the Galaxy Buds Live and the Galaxy Watch 3. But Samsung might not go over every little detail in an event that’s probably going to happen at breakneck pace, so let us help you keep those specs in check and put everything in context. How will the new products compare against their predecessors? Have other companies already done this?
The other issue is “incorrect instrument panel control module software [that] can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle,” according to the NHTSA. The latter issue affects 500,000 vehicles, including all of the above except for 2018 Honda Odyssey vans.
The recall is expected to start in September, and you’ll need to fix the first issue around the backup camera by taking your vehicle to a dealer for reprogramming. However, the second problem can be fixed either by a dealer or an over-the-air software update. Honda recalled some 232,000 Accords and Insights in 2018 over a similar backup camera issue.
At long last, Epic Games is adding regular old cars to Fortnite. The aptly-named Joy Ride Update will introduce four vehicles — the Islander Prevalent sedan, Victory Motors Whiplash sports car, OG Bear pickup truck and Titano Mudflap six-wheeler — for you to cruise around the map with friends.” As long as the car isn’t booted, the keys are already in the ignition,” the development team explained in a blog post today. The cars appears to have gas tanks, so you’ll need to refill periodically — or carry spare gas cans — to stop your ride from screeching to an embarrassing halt.
These aren’t the first vehicles to grace Fortnite‘s ever-evolving map. The game has offered golf carts before, as well as planes, quad bikes, hoverboards, shopping carts, giant robots and more. Still, cars could add an extra dimension to the game’s currently waterlogged warfare. Fortnite is still massively popular, but it’s having to fend off an ever-growing number of competitors including Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, and PUBG. Ubisoft’s Hyper Scape, which is currently in open beta on PC, is also launching next week. New vehicles are unlikely to sway Fortnite sceptics, but it could persuade a few bored players from jumping to another title.
