[ad_1] Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Viber were reportedly among the platforms blocked. Nine days later, it’s unclear if the restrictions helped curb violence or limit the spread of misinformation. Sri Lanka isn’t the only country to block social media in an attempt to squash unrest. It joins the likes of the Democratic Republic of Congo, […]
Category: Politics
Senators urge FAA to complete remote drone identification rules
[ad_1] The Senators want law enforcement to be able to quickly identify drones and respond to illegal or unauthorized activity. As the two note in a letter to US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 directed the FAA to issue regulations for the remote identification of drones […]
FCC plans broadband expansion to over 100,000 rural homes and businesses
[ad_1] The most recent round of rural broadband development comes just months after the FCC announced it would allocate an additional $67 million per year to rural broadband initiatives. Much of that funding is delivered through the Connect America Fund, which offers cash to encourage internet providers to ditch outdated legacy systems in favor of […]
Facebook awards grants for social media and elections research
[ad_1] While the projects are located all over the world and vary in their approach, they all align with the initiative’s wider goal: to find out how fake news on Facebook impacts voting behavior. One study by the National Chengchi University in Taiwan will look at how link sharing influences Taiwanese elections. Another project from […]
Colorado hopes to fine gas car drivers who park at EV stations
[ad_1] The measure has been introduced to the state Senate. If the bill passes the Senate and is signed into law, it could discourage “ICEing” campaigns where nogoodniks intentionally park gas cars (usually trucks and SUVs) at chargers to make life miserable for EV drivers. In the long run, it could also minimize crowding at […]
FBI, DHS task forces to address election security are now permanent
[ad_1] In response to questions after a speech Friday in front of the Council on Foreign Relations, FBI director Christopher Wray called Russian efforts using social media to influence elections in the US “pretty much a 365-days-a-year” threat. According to the New York Times, an unnamed senior official said that a Foreign Influence Task Force […]
Ford under criminal investigation for miscalculating vehicle emissions
[ad_1] In February, Ford launched its own investigation into emissions testing practices at the prompting of employees who noticed inconsistencies in results. The whistleblowers believe that Ford may have been miscalculating “road load,” or factors that affect a car while it is traveling. That includes aerodynamic drag and tire resistance. A lab test that doesn’t […]
The CIA is now on Instagram
[ad_1] Staged shots? Cheesy out-of-context quotes and props? Possible haircare sponcon? To the credit of America’s clandestine services, it obviously understands what Instagram is all about. According to CNET, the post also includes a few Easter eggs for CIA nerds, such as CIA Director Gina Haspel’s original agency badge and a notebook with the agency’s […]
San Francisco could be the first US city to ban facial recognition tech
[ad_1] The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on Tuesday to vote on, among other proposals, the Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance (SSSO), which was first introduced by District 3 Supervisor, Aaron Peskin. The ordinance seeks to impose strict limits on what forms of biometric data can be collected by the city’s various departments; how and […]
Nepal’s Supreme Court reverses national ban on ‘PUBG’
[ad_1] Nepal’s Supreme Court has lifted a ban on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Several lawyers petitioned against the block, arguing the constitution affords Nepalis the freedom to play the battle royale and that the government would have to prove the ban is justified. According to The Himalayan Times, the court determined the ban would impact residents’ freedoms […]