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Facebook's owners have patented an AI tool that could continue posting on behalf of a user who has died. There's no sign it plans on using the technology but it has still raised some significant ethical questions. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, applied for the patent in 2023. It was finally granted in December and then spotted by Business Insider. (Source: businessinsider.com ) The patent covers a technology that would allow the company to simulate a user's activity when they are unable to post for an extended period. That could be because of illness, time away for work, ...view more

Microsoft has announced a significant security update for Windows 11, introducing new controls that mirror the permission systems on modern smartphones. The changes are designed to make the operating system "secure by default" by giving users more direct control over how applications access data and system resources. This change aims to address long-standing issues where applications can override system settings or install unwanted software without clear user approval. The new framework is built on two core components: "Windows Baseline Security Mode" and "User Transparency and Consent." A ' ...view more

Google has updated its policy on parental supervision for teenage users on a Family Account. It now requires parental approval before a 13-year-old can remove the supervision features from their account. Previously, the company's system would email children as they approached their 13th birthday. This email informed them of their new ability to "graduate" from parental oversight without needing permission. Parental Pushback Prompts Change The policy drew considerable criticism from parents and online safety advocates. A LinkedIn post describing the practice as "predatory ...view more

A healthcare giant has reached a $10.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit. Kaiser Permanente was accused of sending unsolicited, non-emergency text messages to people who had opted out of receiving them. The legal action claimed these automated messages violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This federal law places limits on unsolicited marketing calls and the deployment of automatic dialing systems. (Source: lifehacker.com ) The lawsuit called the messages an "invasion of privacy, harassment, aggravation and disruption of daily life." It said Kaiser had not taken ...view more

Google's AI Overviews are reportedly generating dangerously misleading health advice, causing alarm among health organizations. These AI-powered summaries of expert advice on websites have provided incorrect and sometimes harmful information for queries about critical health topics. Health charities in the UK have raised significant concerns about the potential for AI-generated search summaries to spread medical misinformation. They worry that this technology could undermine their carefully curated and expert-approved health guidance, which they have spent years developing and making ...view more

Microsoft has reportedly discontinued its telephone activation service for Windows. This change effectively eliminates the last official method for users to activate their operating system without an active Internet connection. For many years, phone activation served as a crucial alternative for users in areas with limited connectivity or for those installing Windows on machines that were not yet connected to a network. It was also a solution for people who either wanted or were required to run a computer without an Internet connection for security reasons (known as an "air gap" approach.) ...view more