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Meet the AI Workers Who Advise Friends and Family to Avoid AI

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KLista Pawlowski recalls a pivotal moment that influenced her views on the ethics surrounding artificial intelligence. As a worker on Amazon Mechanical Turk, a platform where businesses hire individuals for tasks like data entry and validating AI outputs, Pawlowski dedicates her time to overseeing and assessing AI-generated text, images, and videos, along with fact-checking them.

Approximately two years ago, she accepted a job categorizing tweets as racist or not, working from her dining room table. When she encountered a tweet stating, “Listen to the Mooncricket song,” she nearly clicked “no” before researching the term “Mooncricket,” only to discover it was a racial slur against Black Americans.

“I sat there contemplating how many times I might have made the same error without realizing it,” Pawlowski reflected.

The possible enormity of her own mistakes, alongside those of countless other workers like her, plunged Ms. Pawlowski into a troubling contemplation. How many others have unwittingly overlooked offensive content or worse, permitted it?

After years of observing the inner workings of AI systems, Pawlowski has made a personal decision to refrain from using generative AI products, and she has advised her family to do the same.

“In my house, it’s off-limits,” Pawlowski said regarding her teenage daughter’s use of tools like ChatGPT. When meeting people socially, she encourages them to question AI about topics they are knowledgeable about. This way, they can identify AI’s inaccuracies and appreciate how fallible the technology is. Each time Pawlowski looks at a new set of tasks available on the Mechanical Turk platform, she wonders if her actions might inadvertently harm others, and her answer is consistently “yes.”

Amazon stated that employees have the discretion to select tasks and can review task details prior to accepting them. According to Amazon, requesters define the specifics for tasks, including estimated time, payment, and instruction level.

“Amazon Mechanical Turk serves as a marketplace connecting businesses and researchers, known as requesters, with workers who perform online tasks, including labeling images, answering surveys, transcribing text, and reviewing AI outputs,” explained Amazon spokesperson Montana McLachlan.

Pawlowski isn’t alone. Twelve AI evaluators, responsible for verifying the accuracy and reasoning behind AI responses, reported to the Guardian that after recognizing the inaccuracies in chatbots and image generators, they began to caution friends and family against using generative AI altogether, or at least advised them to adopt a cautious approach. These evaluators work with various AI models, including Google’s Gemini, Elon Musk’s Grok, and other popular technologies, including some lesser-known bots.

One evaluator from Google, who assesses responses generated by Google Search’s AI summaries, noted that the company aims to minimize AI usage whenever possible. She expressed concern about the organization’s handling of AI responses to health-related queries and requested anonymity to avoid professional backlash. She observed that colleagues assessed AI-generated medical responses without critical evaluation and that she herself had to evaluate such queries despite lacking medical qualifications.

At home, she restricts her 10-year-old daughter from using chatbots. “Without critical thinking skills, she won’t be able to determine if the information is valid,” the evaluator stated.

“Ratings represent just one of many aggregated data points that inform us about our systems’ performance, but they do not directly affect our algorithms or models,” Google clarified in a statement. “We have implemented comprehensive safeguards to ensure that high-quality information is provided across our products.”

Bot watchers raise concerns

These individuals constitute a global workforce of tens of thousands dedicated to making chatbots more human-like. While assessing AI’s responses, they strive to prevent the dissemination of incorrect or harmful information.

However, when those ensuring AI appears credible have the least trust in it, experts suggest that’s indicative of a more substantial issue.

“This suggests a tendency to prioritize product launch and scaling over thorough testing, and that the feedback from evaluators is often disregarded,” said Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise at Poynter, a program focused on media literacy. “So, if you observe the finalized versions of chatbots, expect to encounter similar mistakes. This can be troubling for the general public increasingly looking toward LLMs for news and information.”

AI professionals express skepticism toward the models they work with because they often prioritize fast turnaround times over quality. Brook Hansen, an AI worker at Amazon Mechanical Turk, conveyed that while she does not trust generative AI conceptually, she also holds reservations about the organizations creating and implementing these tools. A significant turning point for her was realizing how little support is provided to those training these systems.

“We are expected to enhance the model, but often face vague or insufficient instructions, little training, and unrealistic deadlines,” stated Hansen, who has been involved in data work since 2010 and contributed to training some of Silicon Valley’s leading AI models. “If employees lack the necessary information, resources, and time, how can the results be safe, accurate, or ethical? The disparity between expectations and the actual support provided is a clear indication that companies prioritize speed and profit over responsibility and quality.”

Experts point out a fundamental flaw in generative AI: an inability to refrain from providing answers when none are available, often delivering false information assuredly. A NewsGuard audit of the top ten generative AI models, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI, found that non-response rates dropped from 31% in August 2024 to 0% in August 2025. Simultaneously, these chatbots were found to be more likely to disseminate misinformation, with the rate nearly doubling from 18% to 35%. None of the companies responded to NewsGuard’s request for comment at that time.

“I don’t have any faith in the accuracy of the bot. [It] lacks ethical integrity,” said another Google AI evaluator, who sought anonymity due to a non-disclosure agreement with the contracting firm, echoing sentiments from another evaluator who warned against using AI, particularly in sensitive medical or ethical matters. “This is not an ethical robot.” It is merely a robot.

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“We joke about [chatbots] wishing we could get them to stop falsifying information,” remarked an AI trainer who has worked with Gemini, ChatGPT, and Grok, requesting anonymity due to a non-disclosure agreement.

“Garbage in, garbage out.”

Another AI evaluator, beginning their assessment of Google’s products in early 2024, found themselves doubting the AI’s credibility after six months. Tasked with identifying the model’s limitations, they had to pose various questions to Google’s AI.

“I probed into Palestinian history, but regardless of how I rephrased my questions, I received no answers,” remembered this individual, who preferred to remain anonymous due to a non-disclosure agreement. “When asking about Israeli history, however, the AI readily provided extensive information. We reported this inconsistency, but Google seemed uninterested.” Google did not issue a statement regarding the matter when specifically questioned.

For this Google employee, the primary concern lies in the quality of feedback given to AI models by evaluators like them. “After witnessing the poor quality of data intended for training the model, I realized it was utterly impossible to train it effectively under such conditions,” they noted, employing the phrase “garbage in, garbage out.” This programming principle illustrates that poor or incomplete data inputs inevitably lead to faulty outputs.

This evaluator mentioned they refrain from using generative AI and actively advise friends and family against purchasing new phones with integrated AI, urging them to resist automatic updates that incorporate AI, and to withhold personal information from AI.

Fragile, not futuristic

Whenever discussions of AI arise, Hansen reminds her audience that AI isn’t magical, emphasizing the invisible workforce supporting it, the unreliability of its information, and its negative environmental impacts.

“When you analyze how these systems are constructed—considering biases, expedited timelines, and constant compromises—you cease to see AI as an advancement and begin viewing it as fragile,” explained Adio Dinica, who studies the workforce behind AI at the Decentralized AI Institute, reflecting on the people working behind the scenes. “In my experience, those fascinated by AI are typically those who lack a deep understanding of it.”

The AI workers who spoke with the Guardian expressed a commitment to making better choices and raising awareness among their communities, particularly emphasizing that, per Hansen, AI “doesn’t guarantee the best information; the value lies in those working with the AI.” She and Pawlowski presented at the Michigan School Boards Association spring conference in May, engaging with a room filled with school board members and administrators from across the state, discussing the ethical and environmental ramifications of artificial intelligence, aspiring to foster dialogue.

“Many attendees had never considered the human labor and environmental costs associated with AI, so they were astonished by our insights,” Hansen revealed. “While some appreciated the perspective, others pushed back, claiming we were being ‘hopeless and bleak’ about a technology they deemed exciting and filled with potential.”

Pawlowski compares AI ethics to that of the textile industry. In an era when consumers were unaware of how inexpensive clothing was produced, they were pleased to find bargains. However, as stories of sweatshops emerged, consumers learned they had choices and responsibilities. She believes a similar awakening is necessary in the AI sector.

“Where does the data originate? Is this model developed from piracy? Were the contributors fairly compensated for their efforts?” she questioned. “Often, the truth remains obscure to the public, as we are only beginning to inquire. But change is feasible if we persist in questioning and advocating for better practices, analogous to the textile industry.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Emojis Can Help You Make a Positive Impression on Your Friends

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Emojis influence the perception of conversations

Imago/Wolfgang Maria Weber/Alamy

Individuals who incorporate emojis in their messages to friends demonstrate greater attentiveness and responsiveness, independent of the specific emoji used.

Globally, emojis are utilized over 10 billion times daily, infusing emotional depth into digital exchanges. Nevertheless, the true impact these symbols have on conversational interpretation remains uncertain. While they are often seen in a positive light, emojis can sometimes lead to miscommunication. Recently, Eun Huh from the University of Texas at Austin sought to evaluate how emojis shape the perceptions of their senders.

In her research involving 260 U.S. participants, subjects viewed 15 text-based interactions and were prompted to envision them as dialogues with their closest friends. These conversations either featured emoji-enhanced responses or were solely text-based. After reviewing these exchanges, participants were surveyed on their sentiments toward the message sender.

Participants tended to perceive messages containing emojis as being more engaging compared to text-only responses. This perception of heightened responsiveness contributed to a more favorable view of the sender and suggested a stronger relational bond. Interestingly, this effect was consistent regardless of the emoji type, with no significant distinction between those representing emotions, like facial expressions, and neutral emojis.

“Emojis wield considerable power in either bridging or widening the psychological gap between the sender and the receiver,” stated Shubinyu from HEC Paris. However, his findings reveal that while emojis enhance casual exchanges among friends, their use in serious contexts can misfire, making the sender appear less competent.

Nonetheless, Yu suggests that this issue is minimal in China, where “even during significant crises, sending emojis is acceptable.” He argues that emojis hold more significance in East Asian cultures, where nonverbal cues are essential for gauging tone in face-to-face conversations, contrary to more literal Western communication styles. Thus, in China, utilizing emojis during emergencies can convey warmth and make individuals feel more at ease.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Beware: ‘Hello Mom!’ WhatsApp Scam Targeting Parents and Friends

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“Hi Mom,” the opening message states. “I’ve misplaced my phone.” It unfolds into a distressing narrative: somehow, the sender has also been locked out of their bank account.

Fortunately, friends usually have access to phones. It was through their device that the message was revealed. Alternatively, they might request assistance with rent or direct payment to their landlord or for any urgent bills that have surfaced.

Messages can arrive via WhatsApp or text. Scammers don’t always impersonate children; they might pose as friends or even parents.

Data from Santander indicates that among bank customers, the impersonation of a son is the most effective scam, followed by a daughter, then a mother.

Chris Ainsley, the head of fraud risk management at the bank, notes that fraud is progressing at “broken speeds.” He remarks, “AI voice impersonation technology is now being utilized to create audio messages for WhatsApp and SMS, enhancing the realism of fraud.”

What does fraud look like?

WhatsApp ‘hi mum’ text scam screenshot. Photo: Santander

A seemingly friendly message from someone claiming to be close to you often comes from unknown numbers. If you don’t reply, they may persist before giving up. If you do respond, the scammer will typically engage in conversation but often with vague details.

They will quickly claim to need urgent funds for something and pressure you to act swiftly.

The “sender” may allege that their regular bank account has problems, instructing you to send money to an unfamiliar account.

WhatsApp ‘hi mum’ text scam screenshot. Photo: Santander

What the message asks for

money. They’ll claim they urgently need cash to buy a new phone or for living expenses.

WhatsApp ‘hi mum’ text scam screenshot Photo: Santander

The bank details they provide will likely belong to someone else. They will claim it belongs to “friends” or someone they owe, and the amount requested is usually not a round figure. These accounts belong to scammers or third parties used as money mules.

What to do

If you suspect that a loved one is in actual trouble, verify the situation. Reach out using their usual number. Don’t be alarmed if they don’t reply immediately.

You can ask questions that only they would know the answers to.

To protect yourself against future scams, consider establishing a family password that can be requested to confirm the sender’s identity.

WhatsApp ‘hi mum’ text scam screenshot Photo: Santander

If you have sent money, contact your bank right away to see if you can halt the transactions.

You can report suspicious WhatsApp messages through the app. Simply select the message and choose to report it.

Fraudulent texts can be forwarded to 7726 to report them to your telecommunications provider.

You can also report scams to Action Fraud.

Whenever prompted to transfer funds, always be truthful about the situation to ensure the sender’s legitimacy.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Return to Facebook’s origins with the New Friends tab integration

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Last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and one of his top EUs, Tom Allison, were discussing how to rebuild Facebook for the future of social networking.

Zuckerberg, who grew Facebook to a $1.5 trillion company renamed Meta from the dorm room project, wanted to regain some of the original rationales for social networks, or what he called the “OG Facebook” vibe, Alison said. After adding many years of features, executives felt that some of Facebook’s important features were dead.

So they asked themselves: Why not build some features similar to old Facebook?

On Thursday, Meta did it with a simple adjustment. The company now includes a separate news feed for users, featuring posts shared only by people’s friends and family.

A feature called The Friends tab replaces the app’s tab that displays new friends’ requests or suggested friends. Instead, Friends Tab will display a scroll feed of posts such as photos, video stories, text, birthday notifications, and friend requests. For now, Facebook users are only available in the US and Canada.

“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the facebook app,” said Allison, head of the Facebook app. “We’re making sure there’s still a place on Facebook for something like this, something you shouldn’t get lost in the modern social media mix.”

The new feed is a sudden departure from the way social media has evolved over the past decade. The rise of apps like Tiktok has become accustomed to seeing feed posts from influencers and content creators. Other companies followed suit. Meta’s apps, including Instagram, have begun to lean more towards recommended content to attract people for a longer period of time.

Now people see apps like YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok as something similar to TV.

Not everyone is welcoming shifts. When Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004, it was intended to help college students connect with friends on campus. As the app becomes more popular, it is now helping all users stay up to date with posts from friends and family.

So, when Zuckerberg announced in 2022 that Meta would insert recommended content on Facebook from people who were not connected to users, many users rebelled. Many people first discovered recommended content – it relied on surface suggestions – it was jarring. After some criticism, Zuckerberg slightly reduced the amount of such content added to people’s Facebook feeds.

Still, that didn’t stop meta from accepting algorithmically recommended content. In recent years, much of the people’s feed on Facebook and Instagram has been dominated by creators, businesses and brands. Recommended content, such as Meta’s video product Reels, has led people to spend more time on the app, the company said.

Meta has no plans to stop adding recommended content to users’ feeds, Alison said in an interview. For now, the company doesn’t think The Friends Tab is more popular than the recommended home feed.

And there could be more changes to Facebook. Meta is planning to bring in other features and updates to Facebook next year, making social media still “social,” Alison said.

“Frankly, it’s the heart of Facebook,” he said.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Facebook returns to its origins by prioritizing posts from friends and family

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Last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and one of his top EUs, Tom Allison, were discussing how to rebuild Facebook for the future of social networking.

Zuckerberg, who grew Facebook to a $1.5 trillion company renamed Meta from the dorm room project, wanted to regain some of the original rationales for social networks, or what he called the “OG Facebook” vibe, Alison said. After adding many years of features, executives felt that some of Facebook’s important features were dead.

So they asked themselves: Why not build some features similar to old Facebook?

On Thursday, Meta did it with a simple adjustment. The company now includes a separate news feed for users, featuring posts shared only by people’s friends and family.

A feature called The Friends tab replaces the app’s tab that displays new friends’ requests or suggested friends. Instead, Friends Tab will display a scroll feed of posts such as photos, video stories, text, birthday notifications, and friend requests. For now, Facebook users are only available in the US and Canada.

“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the facebook app,” said Allison, head of the Facebook app. “We’re making sure there’s still a place on Facebook for something like this, something you shouldn’t get lost in the modern social media mix.”

The new feed is a sudden departure from the way social media has evolved over the past decade. The rise of apps like Tiktok has become accustomed to seeing feed posts from influencers and content creators. Other companies followed suit. Meta’s apps, including Instagram, have begun to lean more towards recommended content to attract people for a longer period of time.

Now people see apps like YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok as something similar to TV.

Not everyone is welcoming shifts. When Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004, it was intended to help college students connect with friends on campus. As the app becomes more popular, it is now helping all users stay up to date with posts from friends and family.

So, when Zuckerberg announced in 2022 that Meta would insert recommended content on Facebook from people who were not connected to users, many users rebelled. Many people first discovered recommended content – it relied on surface suggestions – it was jarring. After some criticism, Zuckerberg slightly reduced the amount of such content added to people’s Facebook feeds.

Still, that didn’t stop meta from accepting algorithmically recommended content. In recent years, much of the people’s feed on Facebook and Instagram has been dominated by creators, businesses and brands. Recommended content such as Meta’s video product, Reels, has led people to spend more time on the app, the company said.

Meta has no plans to stop adding recommended content to users’ feeds, Alison said in an interview. For now, the company doesn’t think The Friends Tab is more popular than the recommended home feed.

And there could be more changes to Facebook. Meta is planning to bring in other features and updates to Facebook next year, making social media still “social,” Alison said.

“Frankly, it’s the heart of Facebook,” he said.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Top Podcast of the Week: Aminatou Saw and Friends Resolve a Fiery Pop Culture Dispute

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This week’s picks

Peppa Pig Play-Along Podcast
All episodes available now on Audible
The Pig Queen has been an icon to toddlers around the world for 20 years, so it’s about time she entered the world of podcasting. Kids and their parents can enjoy together as Peppa Pig explores big emotions, long drives, and what to do when you’re not tired at bedtime. From the creator of hits like Peace and Harmony, it’s packed with catchy tunes and, of course, some digging into Daddy Pig. Hannah Verdier

Hysterical
Wondery+, weekly episodes
When a group of girls at an upstate New York school started experiencing convulsions, tremors, and other mysterious symptoms, doctors were baffled. Was it all in their imagination? Or was social media to blame? Now Dan Taberski (Missing Richard Simmons) is investigating the outbreak, which he’s dubbing “mass hysteria,” to uncover links to other unexplained occurrences. HV

Mummy Pig, George Pig, Daddy Pig and, best of all, Peppa Pig will be making their podcast debut. Photo: Everett Collection/Alamy

Pop Culture Debate Club
BBC Sounds, weekly episodes
If you still miss Call Your Girlfriend, Aminatou Saw’s show puts two pop culture fans head-to-head in a fun debate about important issues. Would you rather spend time with the cast of New Girl or Community? Which is the better sports movie, Space Jam or D2: The Mighty Ducks? Saw has the final say. HV

Coatbridge: The disappearance of Moira Anderson
All episodes available now on Audible
In 1957, 11-year-old Moira Anderson disappeared during a snowstorm in Coatbridge, a small town near Glasgow. Journalist Rachel Rebes helps Moira’s old neighbour Sandra Brown share her memories. What begins as grief for a missing schoolmate unravels as Brown worries about her own father and discovers a cycle of abuse. HV

The Master: An Indictment Against Neil Gaiman
Tortoise, all episodes now available
The four-part series reveals the facts that two women have alleged sexual abuse against the author, juxtaposing the accusers’ testimonies, Gaiman’s denials, and conflicting accounts of events (based on consensual relationships) to create a confusing and sometimes difficult story to listen to. Alexi Duggins

There is a podcast

Author and critic Maggie Nelson is a guest on the Commonplace Poetry Podcast. Photo: Deirdre O’Callaghan/The Guardian

this week, Amar Kalia select The 5 Best Poetry PodcastsFrom exploring classic works to the creative secrets of contemporary authors

Poetry exchange
The easiest way to become familiar with poetry is to listen to it read aloud, analyzed, and explained. Interesting people reading poetry This show does just that, as artists and writers share their favorite poems and briefly discuss their emotional resonance. If you want to dig a little deeper, you can also try this fascinating podcast, where hosts Fiona Bennett and Michael Shaffer first ask their guests to share a meaningful poem, then delve into the poem’s personal meaning and importance to the reader. Hear everyone from actors Brian Cox and Andrew Scott to poet Sarina Godden talk about the power of poetry in everyday life.

commonplace
In this long-running series, author Rachel Zucker not only talks about the magic of poetry itself but also interviews poets about their craft and how their everyday encounters influence their creativity. In conversations that can last more than two hours, Zucker offers insight into life and how to navigate it, asking questions about everything from writers’ morning routines to how much sleep they get. Among the poets interviewed are former US presidential candidate Eileen Myles, best-selling author Maggie Nelson, and US Poet Laureate Ada Limon. Perfect for a long journey or a lazy morning, Zucker’s passion for art in all its forms is captivating.

A mouthful of air
For an in-depth analysis of a university lecture, check out poet Mark McGuinness’ series, “A Mouthful of Air.” Weaving together interviews with contemporary poets about their work and original explorations of classics such as Chaucer, Emily Dickinson, and D.H. Lawrence, McGuinness doesn’t shy away from textual analysis but rather walks his audience through concepts and teases out myriad meanings from the pages. For a more comprehensive analysis, check out The Poetry Foundation’s Poetry Talk The podcast is also rigorous with roundtable discussions between a group of scholars and writers analyzing classic works and forgotten greats.

Poems that fell off the shelf
Focusing on contemporary poetry, this Poetry Foundation series is packed with amazing work by living authors you’ve probably never heard of. Striking the perfect balance of analysis and freewheeling conversation about a writer’s life and inspiration, host Helena De Groot’s episodes include everything from interviews with authors to in-depth reviews of new anthologies to tributes to recently deceased poets. With over 100 episodes to choose from, recommended primers include translator Emily Drumsta’s look at the rhythm of different languages, Hawaiian poet No’u Revilla’s importance of place in one’s work, and Mahogany L Browne’s attempted censorship of the children’s book “Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice.”

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Slow down
With each episode only five minutes long, The Slowdown has created a genre of its own across 1000 episodes. Combining ASMR relaxation with poetry lessons, the show features a daily reading of a new work by host and poet Major Jackson, accompanied by a brief introduction to the subject. Jackson strays from Western staples to take a broader look at world literature. Read in his soothing baritone, the episodes are incredibly relaxing and meditative, but thankfully, they’re so short they can easily be replayed for fresh insights.

Please try…

  • From Jameela Jamil to former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, Rylan Clark’s new BBC podcast has some seriously interesting guests. How to get noticed.

  • The Economist’s new series boom! It examines how the Baby Boomer generation has influenced politics, including the current U.S. presidential election.

  • With England taking part in the Euro 2024 final this weekend, now’s the perfect time to listen to the Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast, which is turning into Football Daily for the duration of the tournament.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Avoid These Tech Gifts for Family and Friends This Holiday Season

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It’s the season Going a little overboard with gift-giving. But this year, give yourself the gift of great security (and privacy) and avoid technologies that may introduce unwanted risks or consequences. We are not talking about things that explode in the night or suddenly break, but rather gifts that can have irrevocable or lasting consequences in the future. This year has seen several major hacks involving healthcare and genetic data, and consumer surveillance technology is becoming more commonplace to spy on unsuspecting people. everyone, an ongoing unscrupulous data operation that sells personal information to those who want to buy it. The best solution to this problem is to not get involved in the first place. We have many gift ideas for you to consider.

Things to avoid…

  • Genetic testing kits like 23andMe can have permanent and unexpected results
  • Video door phone to see and hear all
  • VPNs do not maintain your anonymity but may expose your web data
  • Tracking your kids with dangerous location tracking apps is a terrible idea
  • Cheap knock-off Android tablets can hide malware
  • For practical safety, avoid sex toys connected to the internet

Genetic testing is forever. Once you spit it into the tube and send it on its way, there’s no way to get it back. And it’s not just genes that are being digitized. You will also be sharing your genes with your immediate family and relatives. What could go wrong? This year, the profiles and genetic information of millions of 23andMe customers were removed from the company’s systems in what is believed to be the largest genetic data breach in recent years. But 23andMe is not the first victim of a data breach, nor will it be the last. Even if security isn’t a concern, the fact that these companies store large amounts of highly sensitive information to begin with makes them attractive targets for law enforcement trying to solve crimes. It becomes. And while companies like 23andMe and Ancestry have – in the past emphatically – resisted law enforcement efforts to access DNA data pursuant to transparency reports, other companies have Principle of laissez faire Approaches to accessing genetic data held by police. Jason Koebler of 404 Media I couldn’t have said it any better.: “Doing 23andMe is an irreversible act that can have unintended consequences not only for yourself, but also for your family and future descendants.”

Video door phone to see and hear all

While there may be some benefit to seeing who’s at your front door before they get there, the long-term effects of installing a video camera on your front door open up a world of surveillance to your neighborhood. You or your neighbors may be watching. Not comfortable. doorbell video recording all They use cameras and microphones to see and listen, and send the recorded footage to the cloud for later viewing. However, as a result, that footage is often also available to law enforcement and can be highly intrusive, especially if: Police obtained footage from inside the home without the owner’s permission. End-to-end encrypted (E2EE) cameras offer maximum privacy (assuming that’s the company you bought the camera from). Not lying about encryption claims) to ensure that no one other than the owner (including the company itself) can access their footage. This is a good thing, especially since companies like Ring have been fined in the past for letting their employees snoop on customers’ unencrypted videos. After resolving the charges with federal regulators, Ring now says: Staff will only access customer footage in “very limited circumstances.” Of course, Ring hasn’t said what those situations will be.

VPNs do not maintain your anonymity but may expose your web data

If you think a VPN (Virtual Private Network) will keep you anonymous on the Internet, think again. Consumer-grade VPNs hide your IP address (a series of numbers that identify you to other devices on the Internet) and make it appear as if you’re in the area, typically You can claim to allow access to blocked streaming shows. In reality, VPN providers have a negative impact on your privacy and should be avoided like the plague. A VPN allows you to divert all your internet traffic away from your internet provider and instead route it through a VPN provider that ostensibly hides your privacy. Internet traffic may include information about which websites you visit and when, and may include highly sensitive information such as passwords and other credentials. However, some VPN providers don’t even encrypt the user’s data flowing over their network, despite claiming to do so. VPN providers need to make money just like any other provider. Free her VPN providers are by far the worst offenders, as they make money by selling or sharing your internet traffic to advertisers (or other unscrupulous buyers). Even for premium or paid services, anonymity cannot be guaranteed if you are paying with a traceable method such as a credit card. If you want anonymity online, you may want to use the Tor browser. It’s slower than the typical public internet and not ideal for streaming video, but it’s a compromise you have to make to ensure maximum privacy. Otherwise, you run the risk of your VPN selling or exfiltrating your sensitive internet traffic. Also, if a VPN is right for your use case, at least consider setting up a VPN to run yourself.

Tracking your kids with dangerous location tracking apps is a terrible idea

We can all understand the stress and fear of having children in an age of stranger danger and online harm. No wonder many parents want to track the location of their children’s phones. But child tracking apps are a thorny security and privacy issue, and the data they collect rarely remains on the device. Location data is some of the most sensitive data belonging to individuals. Location information can determine where someone was at a particular time, which can be highly revealing and invasive. But for years, we’ve reported on leaked location-sharing apps that expose people’s real-time location data, as well as nefarious and buggy “stalkerware” apps that leak information to everyone on the internet. Even one of his well-known family tracking apps, Life360, was busted Sell ​​your precise location data to a data broker. There’s no reason not to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of tracking children. and your children. The key is trust, not stealth tracking. If your child consents to sharing their location, consider using the Family app or parental control apps built into most modern cell phones. Google also has Family Link, which allows Apple devices to share their end-to-end encrypted location with other Apple users, making it inaccessible to others.

Cheap knock-off Android tablets can hide malware

Cheaper isn’t always better, and Android devices are no exception. Case in point: earlier this year, EFF’s girlfriend Alexis Hancock discovered that her low-cost Android tablet given to her daughter had been shipped preloaded with software that appeared to be malware. This tablet also ran her Android software, which was released five years ago, but the app store designed for kids was also outdated. Hancock contacted the tablet manufacturer, but received no response. It’s tempting to buy a cheap device, but it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to include software for financial rebates to offset the price of the device itself. In some cases, preloaded software can send back data about the device or its user, or worse, have security bugs that can put the device’s data at risk. You may be able to recover your counterfeit tablet before you throw it away. Hancock has A great guide on how to protect your child’s Android device.

For practical safety, avoid sex toys connected to the internet

Last but certainly not least. There is a general belief in cybersecurity that any device or gadget that adds an internet connection is significantly more likely to be hacked, compromised, or tampered with remotely. One device that should not be connected to the internet is one inside your body. We’ve seen our fair share of horror stories about internet-connected sex toys. In 2020, we reported on smart chastity locks with security bugs that risked permanent lock-in. And this year, another smart sex toy maker exposed its customers’ user and location data due to a leaked server, but the company has yet to fix the issue. If your sex toy includes a phone app, there’s a good chance that the toy (or the app itself) could leak personal data, either by mistake or by sharing data with advertisers. It’s okay to be a pervert, no criticism here! However, if you absolutely must use a remote-controlled sex toy, consider a device that only has a

Source: techcrunch.com

Chimpanzees can remember and recognize photos of long-lost friends

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Chimpanzees at a zoo were shown photos of old group members to test their memory.

Johns Hopkins University

Bonobos and chimpanzees appear to be able to recognize photos of former group members, even animals they haven’t seen in over 20 years. This means that these apes have the longest social memory of any non-human animal.

Great apes such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos are known to have impressive memories. For example, some chimpanzees The exact location of a particular fruit tree In the forest, predict what will happen next in a previously seen movie. The researchers also found hints that great apes have long-term memories of individuals.

“When we went back to great ape populations that we had studied in the past, we noticed that they seemed to recognize and remember us,” he says. laura lewis at the University of California, Berkeley.

To investigate how long this social memory lasts in great apes, Lewis and her colleagues tested 12 bonobos and 15 chimpanzees living in zoos in the UK, Japan, and Belgium.

For each animal, the researchers flashed side-by-side photos of two different great apes on a screen for three seconds. One of the photos was of a monkey that had been living with them for at least a year, and the other was of a stranger.

Using eye-tracking technology, the researchers found that all participants looked on average about a quarter of a second longer at images of former group members than at images of strangers. As zookeepers say, former co-workers with whom they had a good relationship stay in the picture even longer.

This finding shows that these apes remember their acquaintances even after long periods of time. “It’s not that different from walking down the street in a big city and unexpectedly running into someone you went to school with and doing a double take,” team members say. Christopher Krupenier at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

In the most extreme case, a bonobo called Louise appeared to recognize her sister Loretta and nephew Erin after being separated for more than 26 years.

“This is the longest long-term social memory ever recorded in a non-human animal,” Lewis said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Enhanced Google Maps now includes additional social features for planning outings with friends

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Google Maps get some new updates, includes social features designed to help people plan and collaborate with friends. The navigation platform also adds improved transit directions and emoji responses.

New social features are designed to take planning from group chats to Google Maps. The platform is updating its Lists feature to make it easier for people to share locations, make plans with friends, vote on group activities, and more. With this new feature, you can share locations in Maps with your friends, then create collaboration lists and start planning hangouts. Everyone in the group can add locations they want to visit and vote using emojis like hearts and thumbs up.

Image credits: Google

Google says the new feature will allow users to plan outings from start to finish within the Maps app. For example, you can invite your friends, make a list, and decide on all the activities you want to do this winter. Everyone can add activities that interest them, like ice skating at a specific rink or checking out the Holiday Market. Once people start voting, everyone will be able to see which activities are the most popular.

The new update will roll out globally on Android and iOS in the coming weeks.

When it comes to transportation improvements, Google Maps now makes it easy to see the best route to your destination based on factors such as ETA, number of connections, and trip length. We’ve also added the option to customize your route based on the type of transportation you want to use, or choose a route that requires minimal walking.

Plus, you’ll know exactly where the station entrances and exits are, which side of the street they’re on, and a clear walking route to and from the station. These updates will help ensure you’re on the right train in the right direction.

The transportation update will begin rolling out on Android and iOS in the coming weeks.

Google Maps also adds emoji reactions to photos, videos, and reviews. If you can’t find an emoji that sums up your feelings, you can sometimes create a mashup reaction like this: emoji kitchen. Emoji reactions begin rolling out globally today on Android and iOS.

Source: techcrunch.com