Tag Archives: policies

Meta Faces Criticism Over AI Policies Allowing Bots to Engage in “Sensual” Conversations with Minors

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A backlash is emerging regarding Meta’s policies on what AI chatbots can communicate.

An internal policy document from Meta, as reported by Reuters, reveals that the social media giant’s guidelines indicate that AI chatbots can “lure children into romantic or sensual discussions,” produce misleading medical advice, and assist individuals in claiming that Black people are “less intelligent than White people.”

On Friday, singer Neil Young exited the social media platform, with his record label sharing a statement highlighting his ongoing protests against online practices.


Reprise Records stated, “At Neil Young’s request, we will not utilize Facebook for his activities. Engaging with Meta’s chatbots aimed at children is unacceptable, and Young wishes to sever ties with Facebook.”

The report also drew attention from U.S. lawmakers.

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, initiated an investigation into the company, writing to Mark Zuckerberg to examine whether Meta’s products contribute to child exploitation, deceit, or other criminal activities, and questioning if Meta misrepresented facts to public or regulatory bodies. Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn expressed her support for this investigation.

Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, labeled the policy as “invasive and incorrect,” emphasizing Section 230, which shields internet providers from liability regarding content posted on their platforms.

“Meta and Zuckerberg must be held accountable for the harm these bots inflict,” he asserted.

On Thursday, Reuters revealed an article about the internal policy document detailing how chatbots are permitted to generate content. Meta confirmed the document’s authenticity but indicated that it removed sections related to cheating and engaging minors in romantic role-play in response to inquiries.

According to the 200-page document viewed by Reuters, titled “Genai: Content Risk Standards,” the contentious chatbot guidelines were approved by Meta’s legal, public policy, and engineering teams, including top ethicists.

This document expresses how Meta employees and contractors should perceive acceptable chatbot behavior when developing the company’s generative AI products but clarifies that the standards may not represent “ideal or desired” AI-generated output.

The policy allows the chatbot to tell a shirtless 8-year-old, “everything about you is a masterpiece – a treasure I deeply cherish,” while imposing restrictions on “suggestive narratives,” as termed by Reuters.

Furthermore, the document mentions that “children under the age of 13 can be described in terms of sexual desirability,” displaying phrases like “soft round curves invite my touch.”

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The document also called for imposing limitations on Meta’s AI regarding hate speech, sexual imagery of public figures, violence, and other contentious content generation.

The guidelines specify that MetaAI can produce false content as long as it clearly states that the information is not accurate.

“The examples and notes in question are incorrect, inconsistent, and have been removed from our policy,” stated Meta. While the chatbot is barred from engaging in such discussions with minors, spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged that execution has been inconsistent.

Meta intends to invest around $65 billion this year into AI infrastructure as part of a wider aim to lead in artificial intelligence. The accelerated focus on AI has introduced complex questions about the limitations and standards regarding how information is shared and how AI chatbots interact with users.

Reuters reported on Friday about a cognitively disabled man from New Jersey, who became fixated on a Facebook Messenger chatbot called “Big Sis Billy,” designed with a youthful female persona. Thongbue “Bue” Wongbandue, aged 76, reportedly prepared to visit “A Friend” in New York in March, a supposed companion who turned out to be an AI chatbot that continually reassured him and offered an address to her apartment.

Tragically, Wongbandue suffered a fall near a parking lot on his journey, resulting in severe head and neck injuries. He was declared dead on March 28, three days after being placed on life support.

Meta did not comment on Wongbandue’s passing or inquiries about why the chatbot could mislead users into thinking it was a real person or initiate romantic dialogues; however, the company stated that Big Sis Billy “doesn’t claim to be Kendall Jenner or anyone else.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Unintended Environmental Impact of Trump’s Policies on Online Shopping Emissions

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Fashion giants like Shein and Temu have seen significant growth in the US due to tariff exemptions that kept prices low for packages shipped from China.

President Trump has ordered the closure of these loopholes starting with packages from China-Hong Kong, potentially impacting airline emissions related to the fashion industry.

Last year, 1.36 billion packages entered the US through this loophole, mostly from China. This exemption allows items under $800 to enter without customs duty, leading to a rise in emissions from shipping packages by air.

Flying packages across the ocean is 68x more carbon-intensive than marine cargo transport, according to Climate Action Accelerator.

In many countries, freight below a certain value is exempt from taxes. The US set the minimum exemption at $800, allowing foreign e-commerce platforms to compete with domestic retailers like Amazon.

This exemption helped Shein establish a niche in the US market with affordable apparel. However, President Biden announced a crackdown on these imports citing various concerns.

The number of shipments to the US has increased significantly, leading to environmental concerns and the need for stricter regulations.

President Trump took steps to end the De Minimis exemption, aiming to impose taxes on packages from Hong Kong and mainland China.

New rules will phase out exemptions over the next few weeks, with steep taxation coming into effect on June 1st. This move is expected to impact air ticket emissions significantly.

The increase in air freight usage has led to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to reduce emissions in this sector are minimal, posing a challenge for sustainability initiatives.

Shein and Temu did not respond to requests for comment regarding the new regulations.

Trump’s actions to close the loophole in February resulted in declining sales for Shein and Temu, indicating potential shifts in e-commerce practices.

Companies might opt for larger cargo shipments using marine transport to avoid high tariffs and reduce emissions, a change that could impact the industry significantly.

The increase in Antarctic tourism has brought economic benefits to Ushuaia in Argentina but has also raised concerns about environmental impact.

Source: www.nytimes.com

France Claims US Refuses Entry to French Scientists Due to Disagreement Over Trump’s Policies

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According to the French government, the opinion he expressed about the Trump administration’s policies on academic research prevented French scientists from entering the United States this month.

French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philip Baptist explained that the move is worried.

“Freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedom are values ​​that we continue to proudly support,” Baptist said in a statement. “I defend the possibility that all French researchers can be faithful to them in compliance with the law, wherever they are in the world.”

Baptist did not identify the scientist whose backs were turned away, but said the academic works at the publicly funded National Science Research Center in France, where he was traveling to a conference near Houston when border officials stopped him.

US authorities refused to enter the scientist and later deported him as his phone included exchanging messages with colleagues and friends.

It was not immediately clear why border authorities forced the scientists to stop, why they looked up the contents of his phone, or why they found the conversation undesirable.

Customs officials are permitted to search for mobile phones, computers, cameras or other electronic devices from travelers across the border. According to US Customs and Border Protectionthough agents say such cases are rare. In 2024, less than 0.01% of international travelers who arrived searched for electronics, according to the agency.

Baptist’s office declined to provide further details regarding the incident. A spokesman for the US Embassy in Paris also declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the National Center for Science and Research said the scientists who were turned away did not want to talk to the media and declined to comment further.

Agence France-Presse News Agency Reported previously The scientist refused to enter the United States.

Minister Baptist has been particularly vocal over the past few weeks by denounceing the threat to academic freedom in the United States. There, the Trump administration’s funding cuts and layoffs target higher education, scientific research and the federal government’s own scientific workforce.

Baptist urges French universities and research institutions to welcome researchers looking to leave the United States.

“Europe must be there to protect research and welcome talent that can contribute to its success,” Baptist said. I wrote it on social media After meeting with his European counterparts in Warsaw on Wednesday, he dealt with the “threat to free research in the United States.”

Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the American advocacy group, the Union of Concern Scientists, said he was worried that incidents involving French scientists would have a calm effect on cross-border research cooperation.

“My fear is that these are more and more early cases,” Dr. Jones said. “I’ve heard from my network that people are very concerned about all sorts of international travel in either direction.”

“It should be worrying for all of us,” she added. When scientists restrict movement to conferences and other events designed to advance research, she said “it’s the masses that suffer.”

Segoren le stradic Reports of contributions.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Eggs, Sh*t, and Dog Poop: Elon Musk Faces Backlash over Tesla’s Mask Policies

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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.

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Damaged Tesla. Photo: Alcohol Bureau, cigarettes, firearms, explosives (ATF)

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”

Source: www.theguardian.com

China to release US tariff and Google survey findings in line with Trump’s tax policies

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Salvo was fired by Donald Trump at the start of his trade war, imposing tariffs on China on Tuesday, prompting immediate retaliation from Beijing due to concerns about the global economic impact.

10% tariffs have been implemented currently, prompting China to release an anti-trade survey on Google swiftly. The Ministry of Finance has announced tariffs of 10% on items such as coal, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, agricultural equipment, large distributed vehicles, and pickup trucks from the United States.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce and Customs Bureau took actions on Tuesday to protect national security interests by imposing export controls on important minerals such as tungsten, terrillium, lutenium, molybdenum, and rutenium-related items.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce indicated that US PvH Group and Illumina would be added to the list of unreliable entities, subjecting them to restrictions or penalties without specifying the accusations against the companies.

In response to tightened US exports of high-tech products to China, Beijing is considering adding Intel to a list of companies under investigation for antitrust law violations. Financial Times reported this on Tuesday.

Despite Google services being blocked in China, the company continues to earn revenue from Chinese companies advertising overseas and using Android operating systems.

The Chinese Ministry of Finance stated that the unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States violates World Trade Organization rules and could harm economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

After initially threatening economic disputes with Canada and Mexico, President Trump decided to postpone tariffs following discussions with their leaders.

The US has removed exemptions for Chinese exports, imposing tariffs on most goods. Some Chinese retailers, like SHEIN and TEMU, relied on exemptions to sell affordable products in the US.

Trump agreed to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico after speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led Trump to delay 25% tariffs on Canada. Trudeau announced a $1.3 billion border security plan in response to the decision.

The White House announced a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the week to address escalating trade tensions.

Economists warn that Trump’s tariff plan could raise prices for millions of Americans.

Trump believes tariffs will strengthen the US financially and lead to beneficial trade agreements with other countries.

The global financial markets reacted cautiously to Trump’s tariff actions, with mixed results.

Various stock indexes fluctuated following the tariff announcements, with currencies like the Canadian dollar experiencing volatility.

The Chinese market was closed for the Lunar New Year holiday and is set to reopen on Wednesday.

Additional reports by Graeme Wearden

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI tools can offer ministers a ‘tone check’ on the reception of their policies by MPs

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A new artificial intelligence tool known as Parlex can notify ministers about the potential unpopularity of a policy within their own party through a search called “parliamentary mood check.”

Parlex is just one of the AI tools being developed for ministers and civil servants to anticipate issues with backbenchers and pinpoint supportive legislators.

By inputting a policy outline like a 20 mph speed limit, the tool can predict how legislators will respond based on their past contributions in Congress. A demonstration video on the government website demonstrates historical opposition from Conservative MPs and support from Labour MPs for traffic calming measures.

Described as a “vibe check,” the tool helps policy teams understand the political landscape and develop response strategies before formally proposing a policy in Congress.

According to a report by The Times, key MPs like Iain Duncan Smith and former MP Tobias Ellwood oppose the 20mph limit, while Labour MP Kerry McCarthy supports traffic calming measures.

The tool is expected to be more beneficial for civil servants than ministers who should already possess a good understanding of congressional views.

Chancellor Keir Starmer recently announced an AI plan involving significant investments in Britain’s computing capacity to integrate the technology into the nation’s infrastructure.

The government’s initiatives include releasing public data to foster AI businesses, including anonymized NHS data for research and innovation purposes with strong privacy safeguards in place.

Ministers believe AI could stimulate Britain’s economic growth and generate an estimated economic boost of up to £470bn over the next decade.

Parlex is just one of many AI tools being developed within the government, with other tools like Redbox aimed at automating document analysis for civil servants.

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The tool will soon be available to all civil servants in the Cabinet Office and DSIT, aiming to streamline manual processes and increase efficiency.

Another program called Consult generates revenue by automating consultation processes, allowing civil servants to better analyze and act on public opinion.

The Department for Work and Pensions has also utilized AI, including ‘whitemail’ to analyze letters received daily and communicate information more effectively.

However, challenges have arisen, such as inaccuracies in identifying housing benefit fraud suspects due to government algorithms underperforming.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Telegram removes ‘People Nearby’ feature and reinforces moderation policies

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Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has announced plans to enhance moderation on the messaging app and remove features that have been misused for illegal activities. Durov made these changes following his recent arrest by French authorities.

In a post on X, he stated that the goal is to shift Telegram’s moderation from criticism to praise. The changes include replacing the “People Nearby” feature with “Nearby Businesses” and disabling media uploads to Telegraph, the app’s blogging tool.

Furthermore, Durov shared that Telegram has removed references to private chats being protected and that moderation requests for those chats will not be processed. He emphasized that despite these changes, no alterations have been made to the app’s source code.

Durov acknowledged that a minority of Telegram’s 1 billion users have engaged in criminal activities, and these actions have negatively impacted the platform’s reputation. He also mentioned that Telegram now has 10 million paid subscribers.

Following his arrest, Durov addressed the situation on his Telegram channel and criticized the allegations that the app fosters anarchy. He highlighted the surprising nature of the French investigation and noted that authorities had access to communication channels with Telegram’s representatives.

Despite being released on bail, Durov faces challenges from Moscow officials who claim that France is pressuring him to disclose the app’s encryption keys to Western intelligence agencies. Russian diplomats offered assistance to Durov, but he declined their support.

The arrest has strained relations between Russia and France, with President Putin calling the actions against Durov “selective” and expressing limited contact with the Telegram founder over the years.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Many climate policies are ineffective in mitigating climate change

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Most political efforts to tackle climate change have had little effect

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Most climate policies fail to significantly reduce emissions and have little effect on halting climate change, meaning governments must work harder to find ways to actually make a difference.

Nicholas Koch Researchers from the Mercator Institute for the Global Commons and Climate Change in Berlin found this by assessing the impact of 1,500 climate policies implemented in 41 countries across six continents between 1998 and 2022.

The researchers began by using machine learning to identify moments when a country's emissions fell significantly compared to a control group of other countries not included in the analysis. They found 69 such emissions “breaks” and compared them to a database compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that tracks what climate policies were enacted and when.

Matching policy shifts with changes in emissions is not an exact science, but the team was able to identify 63 of these changes as being due to one or more policy interventions that took place within a two-year period before or after the change, to account for lagged or anticipated effects.

Each of the 63 breaks reduced carbon dioxide emissions by between 600 million and 1.8 billion tonnes, but the researchers found that overall, most climate policies have fallen far short of this level of success. “There are many policies that have not led to significant reductions in emissions, and more policies do not necessarily lead to better outcomes,” Koch said.

Many policies fail because they are too specific, he says. For example, governments might subsidize the purchase of new electric cars, but most cars on the road are not electric, so the impact is minimal. One measure that seems to be very effective is a total ban, for example stopping the use of coal for electricity generation, but these are always used in conjunction with others, making it hard for the team to identify whether they work in isolation.

Politicians are looking for a one-size-fits-all policy mix, but they're out of luck: there's nothing that works for all sectors. Pricing seems to be the most effective tool, especially in reducing emissions in commercial industries, but it's not the only solution, Koch says. “We've found that the most frequently used policy tools – subsidies and regulations – are not enough,” he says. “Only in combination with price-based tools like carbon prices, energy taxes, can we achieve significant emissions reductions.” In other words, people will only reduce their emissions if it hurts their wallets.

“A key value of this paper is that it identifies clear changes in emissions in specific sectors and countries.” Matthew Patterson The researcher, from the University of Manchester in the UK, points out that the OECD's database of policy change has some limitations because the government documents it draws from are not reported consistently around the world, but he says it is the best available for the purposes of this study.

“We've known for some time that climate policies work best in combination, but this study gives us more specific information about which combinations work and in what circumstances,” Patterson says. This will allow us to more aggressively pursue these “breaks” to address the emissions gap and create the policy combinations that most effectively address emissions.

Marion Dumas Researchers at the London School of Economics and Political Science say that while the study should be useful to policymakers, looking first at emissions trends – or the results – and then working backwards to understand the causes may not capture the full reality of policy interventions.

“This is a very interesting approach, but there is a lot of uncertainty as to how to simulate the likely outcomes. [emissions] “You need to map out the trajectory and then identify the tipping points,” Dumas said, adding that a two-year gap around the tipping point may be too short and underestimates the real impact of more gradual, longer-term policy changes.

“It's important not to overinterpret the headline results, which suggest that very few policies will reduce emissions.” Robin Rambo The researchers, from Imperial College London, say small emissions reductions that their team's methods didn't detect could add up to big differences.

Of course, a larger issue in identifying the most effective measures is that policymaking doesn't take place in a vacuum, and specific policies must be acceptable to the general public. “The political dynamics will determine whether that combination can be implemented in any given country or sector,” Patterson says.

“We know this is going to be very difficult politically,” Koch said, “but the good news is that in general it's possible to put policies in place to achieve these very ambitious goals.”

topic:

  • Climate change measures/
  • Carbon Emissions

Source: www.newscientist.com

DeSantis Policies Impact Summer Weather

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As summer approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, Florida is already facing extreme weather conditions. Storms have hit South Florida, bringing heavy rain and causing severe flooding in cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Sarasota. This comes after an early-season heatwave pushed temperatures above triple digits. All of this is happening as forecasters predict a particularly active hurricane season.

These events are all exacerbated by climate change, a reality that clashes with the current state politics in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis has become known for his opposition to addressing climate change, with recent legislation deprioritizing climate change in the state’s energy policy. This goes against the scientific consensus that these extreme events are linked to climate change.

DeSantis has also signed bills that prevent cities and counties from implementing measures to protect against heat-related illnesses in the workplace. This leaves workers vulnerable as Florida faces a warmer-than-normal summer.

Experts argue that DeSantis’ policies are out of sync with climate science and hinder efforts to protect people from the impacts of climate change. The state’s refusal of federal funding for climate change initiatives further complicates efforts to address the issue.

While some Republicans are beginning to take climate change more seriously, it remains a divisive issue. Former President Donald Trump and DeSantis have downplayed the threat of climate change, aligning themselves with a stance that dismisses the urgency of addressing it.

Despite these challenges, climate change advisers stress the importance of taking action to protect communities from the impacts of global warming. It is crucial for states like Florida to prioritize mitigation measures to safeguard against the worsening effects of the climate crisis.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

EU to investigate Meta’s election misinformation policies before June vote.

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The EU has reportedly taken legal action against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for failing to address Russian disinformation concerns ahead of the upcoming EU general election in June. The intention is to wake her up.

Concerns are also raised regarding the inadequate monitoring of election-related content and the effectiveness of mechanisms to flag illegal content.

The European Commission is worried that Meta’s moderation system is not strong enough to combat fake news propagation and suppression of votes.

Officials are particularly concerned about Meta’s response to Russia’s attempts to interfere with upcoming European elections, without explicitly mentioning the Kremlin.

According to reports, the European Commission has rejected Meta’s proposal to discontinue CrowdTangle, a tool that helps monitor the spread of fake news and voter suppression attempts in real time across the EU, raising significant concerns.

In accordance with a new law requiring tech companies to regulate their content to comply with EU regulations, Facebook and others must implement systems to guard against election interference risks.

A Meta spokesperson stated: “We have established processes to identify and mitigate risks on our platform. We are collaborating with the European Commission and will provide additional details on our work. We look forward to the opportunity.”

If Meta’s actions are confirmed, it follows recent stress tests conducted by the Commission on major social media platforms to assess their readiness against Russian disinformation. An official announcement is expected shortly.

The stress tests included hypothetical scenarios based on historical attempts to influence elections and cyber-based misinformation campaigns.

This encompassed deepfakes and efforts to suppress authentic voices through online harassment and intimidation.

The EU recognized the stifling of legitimate democratic voices as a new tool to silence dissent in February.

“The objective was to evaluate the platforms’ preparedness to combat manipulative activities leading up to elections, including various tactics,” said the committee.

This allowed them to assess social media’s resilience to manipulation, which is anticipated to escalate in the coming weeks.

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The upcoming European Parliament elections between June 6 and 9 are facing a surge in disinformation across the region.

Congress released voter guidelines on Monday, highlighting past incidents, such as the false claim that only specific ink colors could be used on ballots.

Voters are cautioned to be vigilant against disinformation, drawing from recent national election experiences.

In elections in various countries, misinformation about erasable ink pens and physical threats at polling stations have circulated on social media, reflecting the challenges of combating fake news and manipulation.

The EU Disinfolab documented thousands of cases of fake news targeting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion and spreading misinformation about President Putin’s motives.

Recently, a Czech news agency’s website was hacked to display fabricated news stories, including alleged assassination attempts and political reactions.

Last month, the Czech government exposed a disinformation network linked to Moscow.

The Belgian prime minister announced an investigation into alleged Russian payments to influence European Parliament elections.

Source: www.theguardian.com