Governments

Dan Goodin / Ars Technica: A report highlights security risks in Meeting Owl, a videoconference device used by governments and colleges, including exposure of its Pro users' data — No patch yet for easy-to-hack access point that leaks data and exposes networks to hacks. — The Meeting Owl Pro is a videoconference device … Dan Goodin / Ars Technica: A report highlights security risks in Meeting Owl, a videoconference device used by governments and colleges, including…

ExpressVPN on Thursday announced that it has removed its virtual private network (VPN) servers in India in response to the recent directions given by the government to make it mandatory for VPN service providers to keep user data for at least five years and share records with authorities when required. The British Virgin Islands-based company said that the directions, which were given by India's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and will come into force starting June 27, were "incompatible with the purpose of…

Nature: Experts say that governments should create bespoke IP law and an international treaty to protect AI-generated inventions, rather than rework old patent laws — The patent system assumes that inventors are human. Inventions devised by machines require their own intellectual property law and an international treaty. Nature: Experts say that governments should create bespoke IP law and an international treaty to protect AI-generated inventions, rather than rework old patent laws …

The global pandemic is not yet over. Public health experts suspect it will last at least another five years, but how this ongoing crisis plays out is ultimately up to us.A new report from the International Science Council (ISC), an international organization who's aim is to unite scientific bodies around the world, has laid out three scenarios that could occur by 2027.  The report was written by a panel of 20 experts on public health, virology, economics, behavioral science, ethics, and sociology.While their commentary…

Big Tech companies and the Chinese and US governments are embroiled in a complex relationship of harmony and conflict. We are all at the mercy of the outcome.“Simply put, they have too much power,” US Congressman David Cicilline said of American Big Tech in a 2020 congressional hearing. That same year the Chinese government announced new regulations forcing Chinese company Alibaba to cancel its affiliate Ant Group's listing on the stock market. China later ordered Ant Group's financial activities to be terminated, leaving…

Virtual private network (VPN) service providers are raising concerns over the government's order under which it directed them to keep user data for at least five years and share records with authorities when required. Some of the major VPN companies including NordVPN are set to leave the country if the government does not provide them the room to serve their customers in a private manner. At the same time, legal advocacy groups are suggesting the government remove the requirements violating user privacy.The order, which…

Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter hasn’t been finalized yet, but the world’s richest man is keeping busy by kicking around ideas for potential changes to the platform. His latest suggestion? Charging corporations and governments to tweet. “Ultimately, the downfall of the Freemasons was giving away their stonecutting services for nothing,” tweeted Musk. “Twitter will always be free for casual users, but maybe a slight cost for commercial/government users.” As is often the case with Musk, there’s no commitment to this…

I just bought a 2022 Jeep Wrangler. It weighs well over 5,000 pounds without passengers or cargo, is shaped like a filing cabinet, and as a result of the first two attributes gets truly terrible gas mileage. On the freeway, I’m lucky to return 20 mpg — well under the 2021 new car average of 25.7. But it’s fantastic, and I love it — particularly because the federal government gave me $7,500 to buy it. You may recognize that $7,500 figure is the same as the federal EV tax credit — it sure is. That’s because this…

While presenting the Union Budget 2022 this week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam announced the plans to set up an Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) promotion task force. It is aimed to “recommend ways to realise” the ability to create jobs and “build domestic capacity” for fulfilling the growing demand in India and around the globe, she noted. Stakeholders have welcomed the move and are looking forward to seeing the government's participation in growing the AVGC sector in the country.Sitharaman in…