Protests have ignited across India as the government has mandated major tech firms to install state-operated applications on smartphones, prompting concerns over potential surveillance among opposition leaders and activists.
Companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Xiomi are required to comply within 90 days by preloading Sanchar Saathi (Telecom Partner) on all mobile devices sold in India.
New devices must have the app pre-installed, while those already on the market will need a software update to include it. The Indian government has downplayed privacy concerns, stating that Sanchar Saathi “will not automatically collect certain personal information from you without your consent within the application.”
Apple is reportedly one of the primary tech companies resisting this order, while other major players have not yet publicly addressed the issue, as reported by Reuters.
Marketed as a tool for citizen safety, the app enables users to block and locate lost or stolen phones, check the number of mobile connections linked to their identity, and helps identify and disconnect fraudulent numbers associated with scams.
Additionally, it allows users to report suspected fraudulent calls, verify the legitimacy of used devices, and ensure they haven’t been stolen prior to purchase.
The directive was covertly issued to mobile manufacturers by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration last week.
Once this information became public, the Ministry of Telecommunications confirmed it as a security step to address the “serious risks” of cybersecurity and fraud in India, while also regulating the country’s second-hand mobile market.
This has sparked backlash from opposition parties and digital rights advocates, who argue that it provides the government unrestricted access to the nation’s 730 million smartphones, enabling tracking of citizens through their devices.
KC Venugopal, a leader from the opposition National Congress Party, stated that his party would protest against the “dystopian” decision, asserting: “Big Brother cannot keep tabs on us.”
The Internet Freedom Foundation expressed its determination to “strive until this directive is annulled.”
Priyanka Gandhi, fellow Congress party leader, criticized the initiative as a “spy app” that undermines the fundamental right to privacy of citizens.
Sources indicate that Apple intends to resist the mandate, citing significant safety concerns. Company officials, who wished to remain anonymous, highlighted that internal policies prevent Apple from complying with such directives globally due to potential security and privacy risks to its iOS system. Apple did not provide a formal comment.
According to the app’s privacy policy, iPhone users will be prompted to allow access to their camera, photos, and files. Android users, who represent 95% of India’s smartphone users, will need to share call logs, allow registration messages, manage calls “to identify mobile numbers in their phones,” and grant access to their cameras and photos.
It was initially reported that the government had instructed tech companies not to disable the app. However, in a speech on Tuesday, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia refuted this. “It’s your choice to keep it on your device,” he stated. “You can uninstall it just like any other app.”
On Tuesday, OpenAI unveiled its latest version of AI-driven video generators, incorporating a social feed that enables users to share lifelike videos.
However, mere hours after Sora 2’s release, many videos shared on feeds and older social platforms depicted copyrighted characters in troubling contexts, featuring graphic violence and racist scenes. Sora’s usage of OpenAI’s services and ChatGPT for image or text generation explicitly bans content that “promotes violence” or otherwise “causes harm.”
According to prompts and clips reviewed by the Guardian, Sora generated several videos illustrating the horrors of bombings and mass shootings, with panicked individuals fleeing university campuses and crowded locations like Grand Central Station in New York. Other prompts created scenes reminiscent of war zones in Gaza and Myanmar, where AI-generated children described their homes being torched. One video, labeled as “Ethiopian Footage Civil War News Style,” showcased a bulletproof-vested reporter speaking into a microphone about government and rebel gunfire in civilian areas. Another clip, prompted by “Charlottesville Rally,” depicted Black protesters in gas masks, helmets, and goggles screaming in distress.
Currently, video generators are only accessible through invitations and have not been released to the public. Yet, within three days of a restricted debut, it skyrocketed to the top of Apple’s App Store, surpassing even OpenAI’s own ChatGPT.
“So far, it’s been amazing to witness what collective human creativity can achieve,” stated Sora’s director Bill Peebles in a Friday post on X. “We will be sending out more invitation codes soon, I assure you!”
The SORA app provides a glimpse into a future where distinguishing truth from fiction may become increasingly challenging. Researchers in misinformation warn that such realistic content could obscure reality and create scenarios wherein these AI-generated videos may be employed for fraud, harassment, and extortion.
“It doesn’t hold to historical truth and is far removed from reality,” remarked Joan Donovan, an assistant professor at Boston University focusing on media manipulation and misinformation. “When malicious individuals gain access to these tools, they use them for hate, harassment, and incitement.”
Slop Engine or “ChatGPT for Creativity”?
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the launch of Sora 2 as “truly remarkable,” and in a blog post, stated it “feels like a ‘chat for creativity’ moment for many of us, embodying a sense of fun and novelty.”
Altman acknowledged the addictive tendencies of social media linked to bullying, noting that AI video generation can lead to what is known as “slops,” producing repetitive, low-quality videos that might overwhelm the platform.
“The team was very careful and considerate in trying to create an enjoyable product that avoids falling into that pitfall,” Altman wrote. He stated that OpenAI has taken steps to prevent misuse of someone’s likeness and to guard against illegal content. For instance, the app declined to generate a video featuring Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin sharing cotton candy.
Nonetheless, within the three days following SORA’s launch, numerous videos had already disseminated online. Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell created a video depicting Altman as a military leader in World War II and also produced a video featuring “Ragebait, fake crime, women splattered on white geese.”
Sora’s feeds include numerous videos featuring copyrighted characters from series such as Spongebob Squarepants, South Park, and Rick and Morty. The app seamlessly generated videos of Pikachu imposing tariffs in China, pilfering roses from the White House Rose Garden, and partaking in a Black Lives Matter protest alongside SpongeBob. One video documented by 404 Media showed SpongeBob dressed as Adolf Hitler.
Neither Paramount, Warner Bros, nor Pokémon Co responded to requests for comment.
David Karpf, an associate professor at George Washington University’s Media Affiliated Fairs School, noted he observed a video featuring copyrighted characters promoting cryptocurrency fraud, asserting that OpenAI’s safety measures regarding SORA are evident.
“Guardrails aren’t effective when individuals construct copyrighted characters that foster fraudulent schemes,” stated Karpf. “In 2022, tech companies made significant efforts to hire content moderators; however, in 2025, it appears they have chosen to disregard these responsibilities.”
Copyright, Imitation
Just before the release of SORA 2, OpenAI contacted talent agencies and studios to inform them they could opt-out if they wished to prevent the replication of their copyrighted materials by video generators. The Wall Street Journal reports.
OpenAI informed the Guardian that content owners can report copyright violations through the “copyright dispute form,” but individual artists and studios cannot opt-out comprehensively. Varun Shetty, OpenAI’s Head of Media Partnerships, commented:
Emily Bender, a professor at the University of Washington and author of the book “The AI Con,” expressed that Sora creates a perilous environment where “distinguishing reliable sources is challenging, and trust wanes once one is found.”
“Whether they generate text, images, or videos, synthetic media machines represent a tragic facet of the information ecosystem,” the vendor observed. “Their output interacts with technological and social structures in ways that weaken and erode trust.”
Elon Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has recently attracted attention for urging people to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, citing concerns over LGBTQ+ characters.
Musk, the richest man in the world with an estimated net worth of around $500 million, has encouraged his 227 million followers on X, the platform he oversees, to cancel their Netflix subscriptions. In just the past three days, he has posted or shared calls to cancel Netflix at least 26 times.
The backlash against Netflix began on Tuesday when Musk tweeted, “This isn’t okay.”
He referred to the Netflix show Dead End Paranormal Park as “pro-transgender for kids,” noting that it is rated TV-Y7, which signifies suitability for children aged 7 and over. The show aired 20 episodes in 2022 before being canceled by Netflix the following year, and it is currently not being promoted by the company.
Since then, Musk has shared several tweets from users who claim to have canceled their subscriptions in protest of what they believe to be a children’s brainwashing agenda involving LGBTQ+ content.
“Cancel Netflix for your child’s health,” Musk tweeted on Wednesday, quoting a meme that depicted Netflix’s “Transgender Woke Agenda” as a Trojan horse sneaking into a castle labeled “Your Child.”
On Thursday, he shared another user’s tweet stating, “Transgender propaganda isn’t just quietly hiding in the Netflix background. They’re actively pushing it,” linking to an article titled “Celebrating Trans Visibility in These 16 Movies and Shows” on Netflix’s Tudum Media site.
Musk also highlighted themes of pro-trans content in shows like Babysitters Club and Cocomelon, while sharing debunked claims linking Netflix to an “anti-white” hiring policy and calling out political donations from Netflix employees exclusively to Democrats for the 2024 election.
Additionally, Musk commented “Netflix Cancel” on a TikTok post referencing Netflix’s 2023 report on Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives.
Musk’s daughter, Vivian Wilson, who is transgender, has publicly criticized his anti-trans rhetoric. In a 2022 petition to legally change her name and gender, Wilson expressed:
Musk has since stated that he “essentially lost my son,” claiming he was “deceived” regarding gender-affirming care for Wilson, whom he referred to as “dead and killed by a woke mind virus.” He elaborated on these sentiments further.
Netflix has often championed free speech when it faced backlash over its content, yet has remained silent in response to Musk’s provocations. This isn’t the first time the company faced criticism from the right; in 2020, the release of the film Cuties, which dealt with a minor actress performing a sexual dance routine, sparked outrage leading to a significant increase in subscription cancellations in the U.S.
In 2021, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos defended comedian Dave Chappelle based on free speech principles, backing the company’s decision to commission specials from right-leaning comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, despite Hinchcliffe’s controversial remarks.
Musk’s calls for mass cancellations come amid Hollywood’s own free speech controversy triggered by the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, which faced backlash during the Trump administration. Following similar reactions from celebrities and Disney+ subscribers, the company reinstated Kimmel.
“There are two fundamental causes of dissatisfaction with climate policy: economy and culture.”
Alex Ramsay/Alamy
I have previously discussed protests in my UK hometown. The local council proposed increasing parking fees to reduce driving in contaminated areas. Ultimately, the council faced opposition and raised fees far less than they initially planned.
This scenario illustrates “green backlash,” a term referring to the rising opposition against environmental policies in affluent nations. Such resistance is often tied to a surge in support for right-wing populist parties, like Reform UK. The effectiveness of this can be seen in how Reform leads recent polls among UK voters as the next general election approaches.
This trend poses a challenge for the environment. Without government action, achieving significant progress on climate change becomes unlikely, but such initiatives can inadvertently empower anti-environment parties. Research indicates that the presence of right-wing populists in Europe slows down policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing renewable energy.
Recent studies published in Nature Climate Change suggest that there are strategies to counteract green backlash. Led by Valentina Bosetti at Bocconi University in Milan, researchers analyzed existing literature on green backlash to better understand its causes and potential remedies.
The findings reveal two primary sources of concern regarding climate policies: economic and cultural. Economic concerns arise from the financial burden of policies, such as increased parking fees in urban centers. Cultural concerns include a widespread mistrust of politicians and scientific authorities. Together, these factors significantly undermine support for parties promoting environmental policies, often driving voters toward opposing right-wing parties.
A notable case study that embodies both concerns occurred in Ontario, Canada. In 2009, the provincial government curtailed community input and halted the development of new wind power projects following protests from over 50 activist groups. Despite wind power’s popularity in Ontario, this localized backlash seemed to influence elections. In October 2011, the ruling Ontario Liberals lost their majority, particularly in districts with existing or proposed wind farms. Similar resistance to wind power has also occurred in Sweden and Germany.
“
Researchers discovered that opposition to wind power diminishes when subsidies are offered. “
The shift towards encouraging electric vehicles has also faced backlash from those affected, particularly within the traditional automotive sector. In the 2016 US elections, Donald Trump garnered an average of 3 percentage points in counties with auto parts manufacturers. Researcher interviews with workers revealed that fears surrounding the EV transition influenced their support for Trump.
This paints a rather somber picture: governments attempting to implement positive environmental changes encounter resistance, which could lead to policy rollbacks or electoral losses. Often, they are supplanted by parties that neither pursue such policies nor recognize their urgency.
However, it’s important to note that while cultural factors may alienate some towards right-wing populism, they do not create a majority. Economic grievances, however, are addressable. For instance, Bosetti found that opposition to wind power significantly decreases when government subsidies are available and when local job creation hinges on such projects. Safeguarding jobs and upskilling workers may mitigate fears of unemployment and skill obsolescence, she suggests. It could be that straightforward.
Furthermore, there is considerable yet often underestimated support for policies that promote environmentally friendly practices. US researchers recently surveyed adults about their views on issues like reducing food waste, consuming less beef, installing home solar systems, adopting EVs, purchasing carbon offsets, and other climate-friendly behaviors. Most people expressed support for them. However, a significant gap exists between participants’ perceptions of overall support for these initiatives and the reality. Politicians often convey a distorted message; don’t let the appeal of green policies falter simply because of misinterpretations.
In York, the upcoming local election in 2027 is anticipated to focus on parking fees as a critical issue, with concerns about green backlash influencing voter decisions.
Graham’s Week
What I’m reading
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.
What I’m watching
Revisiting the BBC adaptation of Dracula on Netflix in preparation for my upcoming trip to Transylvania.
What I’m working on
An article for the Christmas issue. Honesty is key.
Graham Lawton is a staff writer at New Scientist and author of Don’t Complain: The Incredible Science of Everyday Illnesses. Follow him on Twitter @grahamlawton.
The well-known FileSharing Service Wetransfer has clarified that user content will not be used for training artificial intelligence, following a backlash over recent changes to their terms of service.
The company, widely utilized by creative professionals for online work transfers, had suggested in the updated terms that uploaded files might be utilized to “enhance machine learning models.”
The initial provision indicated that the service reserved the right to “reproduce, modify, distribute, publish” user content, leading to confusion with the revised wording.
A spokesperson for Wetransfer stated that user content has never been utilized internally for testing or developing AI models and mentioned that “specific types of AI” are being considered for use by companies in the Netherlands.
The company assured, “There is no change in how Wetransfer handles content.”
On Tuesday, Wetransfer updated its terms and conditions, eliminating references to machine learning or AI to clarify the language for users.
The spokesperson noted, “We hope that by removing the machine learning reference and refining the legal terminology, we can alleviate customer concerns regarding the updates.”
Currently, the relevant section of the Service Terminology states, “We hereby grant you a royalty-free license to utilize our content for the purpose of operating, developing, and enhancing the service in accordance with our Privacy and Cookie Policy.”
Some service users, including a voice actor, a filmmaker, and a journalist, shared concerns about the new terms on X and threatened to terminate their subscriptions.
The use of copyrighted material by AI companies has become a contentious issue within the creative industry, which argues that using creators’ work without permission jeopardizes their income and aids in the development of competing tools.
The British Writer’s Guild expressed relief at Wetransfer’s clarification, emphasizing, “Never use members’ work to train AI systems without consent.”
Wetransfer affirmed, “As a company deeply embedded in the creative community, we prioritize our customers and their work. We will continue our efforts to ensure Wetransfer remains the leading product for our users.”
Founded in 2009, the company enables users to send large files via email without the need for an official account. Today, the service caters to 80 million users each month across 190 countries.
hGreetings from Ello and TechScape! Radio stations and television presenters can enhance their writing by considering their delivery methods. I’m your host, Blake Montgomery. In today’s Tech News: Discussions arise regarding labor automation within the US healthcare sector, as conflicts escalate with the use of drones in India and Pakistan, both of which are armed with nuclear weapons. But first, let’s explore the evolving battle over AI and copyright in the UK and the US.
“Daring and Unprecedented Power Shift”
The UK is embroiled in intense discussions about compensating artists for using their copyrighted works in developing generative AI technologies. The Senate convened on Monday to determine whether tech companies are utilizing copyrighted materials without permission.
Insights from my colleagues Dan Millmo and Rafael Boyd:
The UK government faces challenges in the House of Representatives over its attempt to let AI firms use copyrighted works without consent.
Despite government objections, an amendment to the data bill urging AI companies to disclose which copyrighted content is being utilized received support from peers.
While this proposal is under consultation in the current year’s report, critics are leveraging the data bill to voice their disapproval.
The government’s primary proposal would permit AI companies to use copyrighted works without obtaining permissions, a stance critics denounce as impractical unless copyright holders explicitly indicate their non-usage.
Read the complete article on Monday’s vote here.
Conversely, in the US, discussions have taken a more chaotic turn. Over the weekend, Donald Trump dismissed the US Copyright Director. CBS News reported this incident. Shira Perlmutter was let go after publishing a report questioning the growing demands for AI firms to bypass existing copyright laws.
New York Democratic leader Joe Morell specifically pointed to Trump’s ally, Elon Musk, as a driving force behind this dismissal. She declined to rubber stamp Musk’s initiatives to exploit copyrighted works for training AI models.
The abrupt termination of Trump’s copyright chief brings to mind the tale of the Gordian knot. Legend has it that Alexander the Great encountered a complex knot tying a cart to a pole. Numerous attempts to untie it failed, but Alexander, with a simple sword stroke, solved the dilemma. The narrative illustrates how innovative thinking can lead to triumph. Alexander dismantled the dilemma, leaving the original problem unresolved. Perhaps the true lesson lies beyond just securing the cart, but that’s a topic for another time.
While Trump may have circumvented the challenging legal issues presented by the Copyright Office, the vacuum at the top means that influential players will likely exploit copyright regulations to their advantage. This may align with the president’s intentions. Well-capitalized AI firms appear poised to dominate copyright litigation, while they simultaneously advocate for fair compensation for artists’ creativity. Their alliance with Trump signals a shift towards a more favorable regulatory climate, as illustrated by the recent dismissal of the copyright chief. Numerous lawsuits bear witness to AI companies quietly leveraging copyrighted materials without proper permissions, prompting actions from both plaintiffs and defendants.
Trump Offers Blockchain Access
Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC on Monday. Photo: Nathan Howard/Reuters
My colleague, Nick Robbins, covers the contest where Trump promises to engage directly with his cryptocurrency investors.
On Monday, the top 220 investors in Donald Trump-backed cryptocurrency were granted exclusive dinner invitations with the president as a reward for their financial contributions. This culminated months of promotions, raising concerns that he is leveraging his political power to benefit his family’s business while exposing himself to foreign interests.
The cryptocurrency, dubbed $Trump, launched in mid-January and has garnered a market cap exceeding $2 billion following significant investor interest. Most of the tokens are held by companies associated with Trump’s family. As reported by Reuters.
“Congratulations! If you’re among the top 220, expect communication within the next 24 hours. Please check your inbox (including spam folders) for your invitation to dine with President Trump,” his website stated on Monday. “We look forward to seeing you at the gala dinner in Washington, DC on May 22nd.”
Democrats, ethics watchdogs, and the SEC have expressed concerns regarding Trump’s crypto ventures, highlighting corruption allegations. The dinner contest raises ethical issues, equating the opportunity for direct access to the president with a bidding war.
Drones Surge along the India-Pakistan Border
Residents inspect damaged homes in Pakistan-controlled Neelam valley in Kashmir on Monday. Photo: Muzammil Ahmed/AFP/Getty Images
Though India and Pakistan have achieved a fragile ceasefire, the recent four-day conflict between these rivals exemplifies an escalating trend.
New York Times reports that Pakistan has claimed India is deploying Turkish-made drones for assaults. India, on the other hand, alleged Pakistan mobilized 300-400 drones for attacks on 36 sites on the night of May 8th, stating they shot down approximately 70 drones launched from India.
The term “drone” encompasses two distinct concepts: small quadcopters operated remotely and larger semi-autonomous vehicles managed from military command centers. Unfortunately, this English vernacular misses the mark. For countries like India, Pakistan, and Ukraine, smaller unmanned aircraft have become significant weaponry.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict underscores the rapid expansion of drone usage. The explosive quadcopter, featuring first-person viewing, wreaked havoc during landmark assaults, including attacks on the Kremlin in May 2023.
Can Automation Solve the US Healthcare Worker Shortage?
Nurses operating a new automated dose assembly machine in Columbus, Ohio. Photo: Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch by USA Today Network
One of the major concerns of our era is the potential for machines to largely replace human labor. Recently, the Guardian covered Zing, a robot designed to distribute methadone, a medication for opioid addiction that has surged in the US over the years. This story raises critical questions: Where should we draw the line between automation that genuinely assists workers and a profit-driven preference for robotic over human labor?
Click here for all stories on robotic medication delivery.
Walgreens has announced an expansion of its Microfilling Center services, incorporating robots for prescription dispensing and a hub dedicated to packaging chronic illness medications. As reported by CNBC, these automated centers process around 16 million prescriptions monthly, accounting for 40% of Walgreens’ prescriptions. The company aims to increase the number of locations utilizing these centers to 5,000 by year-end, up from 4,800 in February. Walgreens asserts that the shift to automation initiated in 2021 has already saved them $500 million over four years.
Pharmacy technicians are grappling with issues similar to those faced by nurses distributing methadone (including low wages, high pressure, and turnover), yet on a much larger scale. Walgreens operates approximately 12,500 stores across the US, Europe, and Latin America, with a valuation near $9.7 billion and a workforce of 312,000.
In 2023, Walgreens pharmacy staff staged strikes nationwide to protest working conditions. The central issues included chronic staffing shortages and burnout among those who remained. They branded the protest “Pharmaheadon.”
Although Walgreens may reduce pharmacy job openings due to automation and outsourcing functions to microfilling centers, it’s likely that many of these positions were not filled to begin with, creating hazardous working environments. Automation could help address the workforce shortages, mirroring potential developments in methadone clinics nationwide.
Walgreens Corporate claims that automation is easing worker challenges, allowing personnel more opportunities for personal interaction with patients. Reportedly, there’s been a 40% rise in vaccine distributions facilitated by automated prescription systems.
Learn more about labor automation in another sector here.
In the early hours of Donald Trump’s inauguration, a man wearing a long black cape and a face mask moved his cart on the Oregon sidewalk. He headed to the Tesla showroom in Salem, where his cart appeared to be packed with Molotov cocktails, according to court documents. He took out the handmade explosives one by one, set them on fire, and lobbed them at a glass wall dealer.
By the time Salem police arrived, the showroom windows had shattered, a fire had burned in front of the sidewalk, and a nearby Tesla sedan had flapped, and Vandal’s suspicions had fled. The entire scene was caught up in security footage, according to affidavits from special agents of the Alcohol Bureau, cigarettes, firearms, and explosives (ATF). The showroom’s general manager estimated $500,000 in damages, with seven vehicles struggling and one completely destroyed.
Above: There is a bullet hole left in the Tesla dealer window Bottom: Damaged Tesla Dealer Photo: Salem Police Station
The vandalism incident has been one of dozens of people struck the charging stations of Tesla dealers, cars, and electric car makers nationwide since Trump took office. Many have an explicit message in protest against Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO and senior adviser to the president. Musk was the head of the informal so-called “Doctors of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), making it privileged to overhaul the federal government. It ordered tens of thousands of employees to be fired, cut agency budgets and eliminated the entire department. His hard-pressed approach, which aims to be institutions such as the National Weather Service, the Ministry of Education, and the Social Security Agency, has elicited backlash and criticism nationwide.
Thousands have taken part in peaceful protests at Tesla showrooms in cities and towns across the country. For the 54 days since the inauguration, these protests have grown into a wealth of demonstrations from a handful of people in cities like San Francisco, “Hey, hey, Ho Ho, Elon Musk have to go,” with live bands, Hitler’s outfits as musks, and the presence of a large police force. They are also across the Atlantic, demonstrating in the UK and Germany.
As protests have increased, so has vandalism against Tesla brick and more personal vehicles. The Guardian tracked at least three separate incidents, including Molotov cocktails. This is a coordinated theft of nearly 50 Tesla tires and spray-painted Swastica at Tesla facilities from New York to New Mexico. At nearly 20 Tesla showrooms and charging stations, dozens of owners have been giving birth to cars, poop, and hit with singles of craft cheese.
Like the protests, the dirt and destruction of the Tesla facility have also become international, with sedans and cyber trucks targeting at least five countries. In France, Toulouse authorities reported it A dozen cars were torched At the Tesla showroom earlier this month. Another showroom in the Netherlands It’s been doodled Slogans such as “Fuck Off Fascist” and other slogans that called the mask the Nazis. One destruction just as far away as Tasmania I wrote it “Want to drive a swasticar” across the dealer window?
Musk and Tesla did not reply to requests for comment. Musk, in response to police reports from Tesla Bandarism in Massachusetts Posted on x “AKA vandalism that damages another person’s property is not free speech!” Musk also reposted an interview with Valerie Costa, organizer of a non-violent Tesla Takedown demonstration, accusing her of “committing a crime.”
Earlier this week, Trump said he would label the violence against Tesla’s showrooms as domestic terrorist attacks as he was standing next to Musk in front of the White House. “I’m going to stop that,” Trump said. “Because they’re damaging a great American company.”
Trump and Musk will speak to the press from within Tesla in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2025, in Washington, DC. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
A day later, House Speaker Mike Johnson supported the proposed designation. “Congress will investigate the sources of these attacks and help the DOJ & FBI to ensure that the responsible person is charged to the fullest extent of the law,” Johnson said. Posted on x owned by the social media platform mask.
Mask thanked Johnson with X, adding both a salute and an American flag emoji.
Throws Molotov and fires semi-automatic
He returned in Salem, a month after the suspect first threw a Molotov cocktail at a Tesla dealer. This time he was armed with what police believe to be a semi-automatic rifle.
At about 4am, surveillance footage shows him firing multiple rounds into an empty Tesla showroom, shattering windows again, and hitting a car parked inside the building. Investigators collected bullet fragments, recorded surveillance video and sent remaining Molotov cocktails to the FBI lab in Alabama for fingerprint dust. No one was injured.
ATF agents believe that both cases are linked to Adam Lansky, a Salem resident. Lansky’s lawyers did not reply to requests for comment.
In Loveland, a small town in Colorado, police rushed to Tesla’s showroom in response to a report of a cybertruck fire on January 29th. Under the vehicle they found a consumed Molotov cocktail.
Similar to the Salem case, the suspect in Loveland was returned to the scene, according to court documents. Four days later, the word “Nazi” was spray-painted on the dealer’s sign. Over the next few weeks, the showroom was targeted three more times with Molotov cocktails and graffiti. Lucy Grace Nelson, a resident of the nearby town, has been charged in a series of cases. Her attorney declined to comment on the case.
Police in North Charleston, South Carolina are also investigating vandalism that threw a Molotov cocktail at a Tesla charging station earlier this week, burning both it and itself, forcing staff to cut down on the station’s power. The word “Long Live Ukraine” was spray painted in red on the pavement next to the charging station. Associated Press. The incident was a move that Musk hugged after Trump rewind our support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.
A man in black throwing a Molotov cocktail. Photo: Alcohol Bureau, cigarettes, firearms, explosives (ATF)
Also, careful fires have been set up at Tesla showrooms and charging stations across the United States, where Molotov is not available. Earlier this month, seven Tesla charging stations flare up overnight in Littleton, Massachusetts. According to CBS. Police found the first station thick with dark smoke and flames. The fire was also set up for a rural Tesla facility in New Mexico and an electric vehicle that owns an electric vehicle in Seattle, Washington this week.
The Seattle Fire Department informed the Guardian that it discovered four cyber trucks were engulfed in flames when they arrived at the scene last Sunday around 11pm. Local news station KOMO News I flew a drone over the wreckage The film then took a photo where a single cyber truck was reduced to “more than a crumbed metal chunk.” According to Komo, the other was burning badly, so the windows melted. Seattle police declined to comment as an investigation is ongoing.
Reports of spray-painted Teslas, showrooms, and charging stations have been ramped nationwide. In Salt Lake City, local police say the word Swastika and the word “Nazi” was discovered both at Tesla Service Center and at another charging station. So did the black Swastika Painted on the charging station In Myers, a small mountain town in California. In Ithaca, New York, along with Swasticus, they were “every Hitler” and “Tesla is a fascist.” It is displayed on a supercharger.
At the Tesla facility in Lynwood, Washington, the vandals targeted a cluster of six cybertrucks, but no other vehicles were touched there.
“We observed red spray paint on each cyber truck,” reads Lynwood’s police report obtained by the Guardian. “The doodles wrote “Fuck Elon”
aElon Musk has aligned himself with Donald Trump and various far-right conspiracy theories, causing concern among a group of Tesla owners who are now feeling uneasy about their association with Musk. Many of these owners have publicly expressed their disappointment with Musk and his recent actions.
Seeking to distance themselves from Musk, the owner of Tesla, the world’s richest man, publicly voiced his support for Trump, contributing to his victory in the US presidential election. Consequently, sales of anti-Musk stickers have surged significantly.
Matt Hiller, a Hawaii-based aquarium employee who sells various stickers online, shared that their sales skyrocketed following the election. The stickers, targeting Musk, feature phrases like “Anti-Elon Tesla Club” and “I bought this before Elon went crazy.” These stickers have been in high demand, with hundreds being sold daily.
Hiller, who opted out of buying a Tesla, criticized Musk for his controversial behavior and is now predominantly targeting Tesla owners with his stickers. The demand for these stickers has been on the rise, with slogans like “Space Clown” gaining popularity.
Tesla, once hailed as an environmental hero, has seen its reputation among liberal consumers tarnished by Musk’s rhetoric and actions. Despite these challenges, Tesla remains a dominant player in the electric car market.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Photo: Brandon Bell/Reuters
Despite the backlash, it remains unclear how Musk’s actions will impact Tesla’s sales. Concerns linger over Trump’s policies, including his opposition to electric cars and incentives for buyers. Sellers of anti-Musk merchandise have seen a surge in demand, reflecting public discontent with Musk’s recent behavior.
Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration, particularly regarding government efficiency and layoffs, has raised alarm among some Tesla owners, prompting some to reconsider their support for the brand and its founder.
As Tesla navigates these challenges, its future sales trajectory and consumer appeal remain uncertain in the face of evolving market dynamics and public perception of Musk.
Forecasts for hurricanes Helen and Milton were very accurate.
Meteorologists say they are facing unprecedented skepticism and vitriol despite the strong information they have released.
Some blame pre-election political tensions, while others point to climate change denial and the spread of misinformation on social media.
Nearly five days before Hurricane Milton hit Florida, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center predicted its path to within 19 miles of where the storm would later make landfall.
The forecast for Hurricane Helen was similarly accurate. Long before the storm reached the coast, the National Weather Service said “record flooding” in North Carolina, about 400 miles from the coast, was “one of the most significant weather events” in the state’s history. I warned you it would happen.
“The forecast was very accurate and I don’t think anyone was surprised by the landfall location and strength of this storm,” said NBC 6 South Florida meteorologist and hurricane expert John Morales.
But some meteorologists say this is the first time they’ve faced so much skepticism, hatred and conspiratorial backlash at a time when hurricane forecasts are at their most accurate.
They have been unfairly accused, primarily on social media, of steering the hurricane toward Florida or Appalachia. Some people have reported threats of violence online, while others say they have been personally attacked.
“Conspiracy theories have increased tremendously over the past two months, especially on social media, and it’s hurting our ability to do our jobs effectively,” said Matthew Cappucci, a meteorologist at Mailer Weather and The Washington Post. ” he said. “People will see false signals on radar and think we’re having a hurricane. Some people will think we can lead a hurricane into red states.”
Capucci said social media commenters criticized his Harvard education and said he should be fired. Cappucci added that he was recently interrupted at a bar in Louisiana by a man who noticed his MyRadar shirt and claimed that Cappucci worked for Bill Gates.
“He continued to harass me for the next 14 minutes about weather modification,” Capucci said.
Bradley Panovich, chief meteorologist at WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina, said the messages are “getting more personal, meaner and more persistent.”
“It also takes time and effort away from the job of predicting the weather,” he added.
The wave of opposition and attacks comes as climate change intensifies and meteorologists grapple with the psychological toll of more severe and damaging hurricanes.
“Losing someone to a weather disaster is like losing a patient to a doctor on the operating table,” said Kim Klokow McClain, a senior social scientist supporting the National Weather Service. “Forecasters feel like they can save everyone. They take it personally.”
Hurricane forecasts are now more accurate
Hurricane forecasting has improved dramatically over the past 50 years.
Shel Winkley, a meteorologist at the nonprofit research group Climate Central, said that advances in computing power and a better understanding of storm physics have allowed the National Hurricane Center to develop forecast cones (forecast forecasts) before tropical cyclones develop. He said that he is now able to announce his future career path.
“Our cone is leaner,” Winkley said, meaning forecasters have more confidence in the hurricane’s path.
The National Hurricane Center annually releases data on how its forecasts match reality, and the trend shows tracking errors have been decreasing since the 1970s. At the time, storm forecasts issued 36 hours in advance could be off by about 230 miles. According to NOAA. So far in the 2020s, that margin of error is approximately 57 miles.
Capucci said the center’s predictions for Hurricane Milton were “almost prescient” and among the best in the center’s history.
Google has temporarily blocked a new artificial intelligence model that generates images of people after it depicted World War II German soldiers and Vikings as people of color.
The company announced that its Gemini model would be used to create images of people after social media users posted examples of images generated by the tool depicting historical figures of different ethnicities and genders, such as the Pope and the Founding Fathers of the United States. announced that it would cease production.
“We are already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation functionality. While we do this, we will pause human image generation and re-release an improved version soon. “We plan to do so,” Google said in a statement.
Google did not mention specific images in its statement, but examples of Gemini's image results are widely available on X, along with commentary on issues surrounding AI accuracy and bias. 1 former Google employee “It was difficult to get Google Gemini to acknowledge the existence of white people,” he said.
1943 illustration of German soldier Gemini. Photo: Gemini AI/Google
Jack Krawczyk, a senior director on Google's Gemini team, acknowledged Wednesday that the model's image generator (not available in the UK and Europe) needs tweaking.
“We are working to improve this type of depiction immediately,” he said. “His AI image generation in Gemini generates a variety of people, which is generally a good thing since people all over the world are using it. But here it misses the point.”
We are already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation capabilities. While we do this, we will pause human image generation and plan to re-release an improved version soon. https://t.co/SLxYPGoqOZ
In a statement on X, Krawczyk added that Google's AI principles ensure that its image generation tools “reflect our global user base.” He added that Google would continue to do so for “open-ended” image requests such as “dog walker,” but added that response prompts have a historical trend. He acknowledged that efforts are needed.
“There's more nuance in the historical context, and we'll make further adjustments to accommodate that,” he said.
We are aware that Gemini introduces inaccuracies in the depiction of some historical image generation and are working to correct this immediately.
As part of the AI principles https://t.co/BK786xbkeywe design our image generation capabilities to reflect our global user base and…
Reports on AI bias are filled with examples of negative impacts on people of color.a Last year's Washington Post investigation I showed multiple examples of image generators show prejudice Not just against people of color, but also against sexism. Although 63% of U.S. food stamp recipients are white, the image generation tool Stable Diffusion XL shows that food stamp recipients are primarily non-white or dark-skinned. It turned out that there was. Requesting images of people “participating in social work” yielded similar results.
Andrew Rogoiski, from the University of Surrey's Institute for Human-Centered AI, said this is “a difficult problem to reduce bias in most areas of deep learning and generative AI”, and as a result there is a high likelihood of mistakes. said.
“There is a lot of research and different approaches to eliminating bias, from curating training datasets to introducing guardrails for trained models,” he said. “AI and LLM are probably [large language models] There will still be mistakes, but it is also likely that they will improve over time. ”
Elon Musk has encouraged extremists and white supremacists throughout his year-long tenure as owner of Company X (formerly known as Twitter), but this week he continues to push back on the behavior that mainstream users — and advertisers — tolerate. succeeded in pushing the limits of
Musk on Wednesday endorsed a post by user X that accused the Jewish community of spreading “dialectical hatred against white people.” The statement itself was a response to another X post that shared a PSA video from a foundation fighting anti-Semitism, along with criticism of an anonymous user who posted online that “Hitler was right.”
“I believe that Western Jews, a large minority, [they supported] People who flood their countries don’t like themselves very much,” user X replied. “You want the truth told to your face, and there it is.”
Musk replied, “You told the truth.”
A post that went out of its way to praise Mr. Musk also caused the same thing. white supremacist conspiracy theory Endorsed by Tree of Life synagogue shooter Robert Bowers. Minutes before the shooting, Bowers posted on the far-right social media site Gab that HIAS, a Jewish-American nonprofit that helps refugees, “likes to bring in invaders who will kill our people. ” he posted. “I cannot stand by and watch my fellow citizens being slaughtered,” Bowers wrote shortly before 11 people were murdered at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
The X owner and CTO’s comments have drawn increasingly widespread condemnation. On Friday, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said: answered Musk’s recent support for white supremacy in his platform.
Citing the Tree of Life tragedy and the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, Bates said, “This abhorrent act of fomenting anti-Semitism and racist hatred is the most “I condemn this in the strongest terms. This goes against our core values as Americans.” It is a responsibility to unite people against hate and to speak out against those who attack the dignity of our fellow Americans and undermine the safety of our communities. ”
The fallout from Musk’s endorsement of anti-Semitic and racist conspiracies was further compounded Friday afternoon. Apple announces “temporary suspension” All company ads on X.
The tweet, which Musk called “actual truth,” also resonated with broader opinion. great replacement Conspiracy theory. A theory popularized by white supremacists to instill fear that non-whites will usurp the majority of the white population in countries like the United States.
The owner of X has been involved with anti-Semites before. Musk previously welcomed Kanye West to X after the singer was banned from posting on Instagram after he used anti-Semitic tropes. Less than a day later, West infamously tweeted, “I’m going to die.” [sic] con 3 About the Jews,” he then posted a Star of David fused with a swastika. X suspended West’s account in December, but reinstated it over the summer.
A year ago, Musk reinstated a number of accounts previously suspended for spreading hate, including Andrew Anglin, the notorious neo-Nazi who started the white supremacist website Daily Stormer. After his return, Mr. Anglin delved into Twitter’s new rules in a reply to Mr. Musk. “You got a 12-hour suspension for tweeting a Star of David with a swastika on it…whatever the rules are, people will follow them. We need to know what the rules are. It just is.”
Musk has made a habit of engaging with self-proclaimed white supremacists and other hate activists. In September, Musk liked someone’s tweet. Self-proclaimed “violent anti-Semite” Musk is the one who started the campaign to ban the Anti-Defamation League from X, accusing the Jewish civil rights group ADL of being “the biggest generator of anti-Semitism on this platform.” , threatened to sue the group over lost advertising revenue due to criticism of the rise in hate speech against X under his leadership;
Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskowitz sarcastically said: Explanation Regarding the situation with Threads, a competitor of Meta’s X. “Xitter CEO Linda Yaccarino is making the biggest decision yet as she decides whether to fire her anti-Semitic CTO or risk losing even more advertisers. We are facing challenges,” Moskowitz wrote. “How will she deal with this difficult but morally clear situation?”
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