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☆ Kate’s doctored photo raises concerns about tools that let everyone easily edit images
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Brian Fung | Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Although celebrities have altered photos with editing tools for years, images taken of the royal family have a historical importance and are expected to be authentic. The use of image editing to present a false narrative goes back almost to the dawn of photography itself. Image tools with generative AI will allow so much more than photo manipulation because people will be able to create images from completely new scenarios. As AI images hit the mainstream, it will open up more discussions around transparency and the need to regulate usage so news outlets and the public can better spot AI-generated and augmented images, he said. Although AI image watermarks already being implemented on certain platforms, mandating that will be a challenge, Hayden said.

Persons: Catherine , Princess of Wales, Wales, Kate, ”, Princess of, Prince Louis, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Princess, Google’s, Ramesh Raskar, who’s, Raskar, Reece Hayden, Hayden Organizations: CNN, Kensington Palace, Agence France, Presse, Reuters, Associated Press, Adobe, Google, MIT Media, Apple, Facebook, ABI Research Locations: Princess of Wales, Kensington

☆ AI is not ready for primetime
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, have been alleged to violate copyright. That’s not stopping Big Tech companies and AI firms, which continue to hook consumers and businesses on new features and capabilities. “Access to major generative AI systems in widespread use is controlled by a few companies,” said Venkatasubramanian, noting that these systems easily make errors and can produce damaging content. He believes bolder reforms may be necessary too, such as taxing AI companies to fund social safety nets. For now, current day generative AI users must understand the limitations and challenges of using products that are still quite far from where they need to be.

Persons: ”, Taylor Swift, Joe Biden, Mandel Ngan, That’s, OpenAI, Elon Musk, Elon Musk Gonzalo Fuentes, ” Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Venkatasubramanian, ” Arvind Narayanan, CNN he’s, Narayanan, “, ChatGPT, Bard –, haven’t, ” Gemini, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN, Chamber, Getty, Big Tech, Microsoft, Google, Reuters, Brown University, “, White, Office of Science, Technology, Management, Executive, Princeton, “ Tech Locations: Washington ,, AFP, New Hampshire

☆ Wait, is America actually banning TikTok now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington CNN —House lawmakers are moving with dizzying speed with a plan that could ban TikTok from the United States. But could a TikTok ban really happen? A man walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing. They allege TikTok poses a national security threat because the Chinese government could use its intelligence laws against ByteDance, forcing it to hand over the data of US TikTok users. By that precedent, it would be unconstitutional for the government to ban TikTok even if it were blatantly a direct mouthpiece for the Chinese government, Jaffer said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Greg Baker, Biden, —, “, ” TikTok, Donald Trump, Trump, ByteDance, Mark Zuckerberg, TikTok, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, ” Biden, Joint Base Andrews, it’s, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, ”, Jenna Leventoff, Ken White, Brown White, Osborn, White, It’s, Jameel Jaffer, Jaffer Organizations: Washington CNN —, White, Biden —, Apple, Google, House Energy, Commerce, Trump, Facebook, Republican, Biden, Wisconsin Republican, Joint Base, Senate, CNN, American Civil Liberties Union, Columbia University Locations: United States, China, ByteDance, Beijing, AFP, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Washington

☆ Apple backs down against ‘Fortnite"-maker Epic Games amid EU investigation threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Apple relenting means Epic will be able to bring “Fortnite” back to iPhones in Europe, Epic said in a blog post. “Apple has told us and committed to the European Commission that they will reinstate our developer account. Apple said it reached the decision “following conversations with Epic” in which Epic committed to following Apple’s new EU-focused policies. “Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program,” Apple said in a statement. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney wrote back to Apple promising to abide by its terms, but Apple rescinded the developer account anyway.

Persons: “, Fortnite, Fortnite ”, Apple, ” Apple, Thierry Breton, Tim Sweeney, ” Organizations: CNN, Apple, European Union, European Commission, Markets, Apple Developer, EU Locations: Europe, iPhones, pushback

☆ Premarket stocks: Why another unexpectedly hot jobs report could derail markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Wall Street was taken aback by the US labor market’s resilience in January. Another unexpectedly hot report could shake things up again. The January jobs report showed that the US economy added a stunning 353,000 jobs that month and the unemployment rate stayed at 3.7%. The new EU regulations force sweeping changes on some of the world’s most widely used tech products, including Apple’s app store, Google search and messaging platforms, including Meta’s WhatsApp. The broad obligations apply only to the EU, which could leave tech users in the United States and other markets looking longingly at some of the features Big Tech is rolling out in response to the European directive.

Persons: Jerome Powell, he’s, “, ” Powell, Bonnie Cash, —, ’ ”, BeiChen Lin, It’s, Loretta Mester, ”, José Torres, Meta’s, Brian Fung, Apple, Bing, Read, Elisabeth Buchwald, NYCB, Steven Mnuchin’s, Alessandro DiNello, ” Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal, Financial, Capitol, Reuters, Traders, Russell Investments, ” Cleveland Federal, CNBC, Market, Interactive Brokers, Apple, Google, Union citizens, Big Tech, New York Community Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, Liberty Strategic Capital Locations: New York, Washington ,, United States, NYCB, Silicon

☆ Sweeping EU rules for tech giants take effect today. Here’s what’s changing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The new EU regulations force sweeping changes on some of the world’s most widely used tech products, including Apple’s app store, Google search and messaging platforms, including Meta’s WhatsApp. Its broad obligations affect six of the world’s largest tech companies: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. While the law could increase demand for tech companies to extend EU-specific features to other markets, few platforms have shown signs they plan to do so. Tech pushes backBut some tech companies have pushed back on the DMA, warning that it could lead to unintended consequences. “The changes the DMA requires will inevitably cause a gap” between EU users’ security and the security Apple users enjoy outside the EU, it added.

Persons: Meta’s, Apple, Bing, Elon Musk’s, “ Fortnite, ”, Agustin Reyna, “, Apple’s, ” Apple, Reyna, ” BEUC, Tim Sweeney, Meta —, Daniel Friedlaender, CCIA, Friedlaender, Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: Washington CNN, Apple, Google, Union citizens, Big Tech, Spotify, Netflix, Digital Markets, Meta, Microsoft, European Commission, EU, YouTube, Epic, Consumer, Tech, Games, CNN, Computer, Communications Industry Association Locations: United States, Europe

☆ TikTok: House panel unanimously approves bill that could ban app from US app stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

If enacted, the bill would give ByteDance 165 days, or a little more than five months, to sell TikTok. The legislation also has the support of the White House and House Speaker Mike Johnson. House lawmakers voted unanimously in the same session Thursday to advance a second bill, one that would limit US companies’ ability to sell Americans’ personal information to foreign adversaries. Speaking to reporters on the Capitol steps Thursday, Gallagher rejected characterizations of the bill as a TikTok ban. A legislative factsheet from the sponsors of the House bill claims the proposal does not censor speech.

Persons: ”, TikTok, Shou Chew, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Frank Pallone, “, ” Pallone, Shou Zi Chew, Jose Luis Magana, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, Gallagher, “ It’s, Dan Crenshaw, It’s, ” Crenshaw, snoop, ByteDance, Trump, Tom Williams, —, “ We’re, Jenna Leventoff, Stephanie Joyce, ” CNN’s Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona Organizations: Washington CNN, TikTok, House Energy, Commerce, Apple, Google, “, Washington Republican, New, New Jersey Rep, Capitol, Wisconsin Republican, Illinois Democratic Rep, White, Senate, Democratic, Washington, CNN, Chinese Communist Party, Texas Republican, Oracle, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, Computer and Communications Industry Association, Foreign Locations: China, New Jersey, Washington, United States, Beijing, State, Rayburn, Montana

☆ Google employee charged with stealing AI trade secrets
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A Google employee was charged Tuesday with stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets from the tech giant while secretly working with two Chinese-based companies in the AI industry. Linwei Ding, who also goes by Leon Ding, is charged with four counts of theft of trade secrets. As part of his responsibilities at Google, prosecutors say, Ding helped to develop the software deployed in Google’s supercomputing data centers. Ding was a junior employee, Google spokesperson José Castañeda told CNN, and the company monitors file transfers to cloud storage platforms including Google Drive and Dropbox. “We have strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets,” Castañeda said.

Persons: Linwei Ding, Leon Ding, “, General Merrick Garland, ” Ding, Ding, ”, José Castañeda, ” Castañeda Organizations: CNN, Google, supercomputing, Justice Department, FBI Locations: America, California, China, United States

☆ Elon Musk’s X must face copyright infringement suit by music publishers, federal judge says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The decision exposes X, formerly Twitter, to claims that it gave paying “verified” subscribers more leeway than non-paying users to illegally share copyrighted music. The lawsuit, filed last June by the National Music Publishers’ Association — whose members include Universal, Sony and Warner Music Group — also claims that X delayed responding to copyright infringement notices and didn’t take enough “reasonable steps” to combat repeat offenders. But she threw out claims by music publishers that X was directly responsible for stealing artists’ intellectual property. Most large social media platforms, such as TikTok, pay licensing fees to music publishers in exchange for giving users the ability to share songs on the websites. In the case against X, music publishers cited more than 1,700 songs whose copyright X has allegedly infringed, including hits such as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” featuring Bruno Mars.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, National Music Publishers ’ Association —, Warner Music Group —, Aleta Trauger, X, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey’s, Mark Ronson’s, ”, Bruno Mars, “, ” Trauger Organizations: New, New York CNN, Elon, National Music Publishers ’ Association, Universal, Sony, Warner Music Group, X Corp, Court, Middle, Middle District of, CNN Locations: New York, TikTok, Rhianna, Funk, Middle District, Middle District of Tennessee

☆ Biden administration sanctions makers of commercial spyware used to surveil US
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Bad actors have used commercial spyware to target at least 50 US government officials, the Biden administration said last year as it unveiled an executive order banning federal agencies from using the technology. In 2021, the US government said NSO Group’s spyware had been used against roughly a dozen State Department employees serving in Africa. The US government has sought to build international support for curbing the use of commercial spyware, and last month, it announced visa restrictions for anyone seeking to enter the United States who has been involved in the commercial spyware industry. The use of commercial spyware “has been linked to arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in the most egregious of cases,” the State Department said at the time. On Tuesday, the Biden administration vowed to watch closely for signs that Intellexa may seek to circumvent the sanctions.

Persons: Washington CNN —, ”, Tal Jonathan Dilian, Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou, Côte, Biden, Oregon Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, Treasury Department, Intellexa Consortium, US, Google, Pegasus, Intellexa, Amnesty International, State Department, Commerce Department, Oregon Democratic Locations: Egypt, Armenia, Greece, Madagascar, Côte d’Ivoire, Serbia, Spain, Indonesia, Africa, States

☆ Former Twitter execs sue Elon Musk over severance payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —A group of former Twitter executives sued Elon Musk on Monday in a bid to recover more than $128 million in severance that they allege Musk has not paid since he acquired the company, now called X, more than a year ago. The executives include former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, former CFO Ned Segal, former Chief Legal Officer Vijaya Gadde and former General Counsel Sean Edgett — all of whom were fired within hours after Musk took control of Twitter. Monday’s lawsuit is just the latest legal action brought by former Twitter employees related to Musk’s acquisition. The company has also been accused of failing to pay annual bonuses to employees laid off after Musk’s takeover. Musk and X have also faced lawsuits from vendors, landlords and business partners who claim the company has failed to pay what they are owed.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Parag Agrawal, Ned Segal, Vijaya Gadde, Sean Edgett —, “, ”, Agrawal, Gadde, Segal Organizations: New, New York CNN, Twitter, Court, Northern, Northern District of Locations: New York, Northern District, Northern District of California, Delaware

☆ Federal judge mocks Elon Musk’s X lawsuit targeting hate speech researchers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A high-profile lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s X targeting hate speech researchers appeared to stumble on Thursday as a federal judge sounded a skeptical note on many of the lawsuit’s allegations, suggesting that the company formerly known as Twitter hasn’t done enough to establish its claims. The judge in the case signaled he may toss out X’s claims but appeared undecided on whether to let the company amend and refile the suit. X has also blamed CCDH’s reports, which showcase the prevalence of hate speech on the platform, for amplifying brand safety concerns and driving advertisers away from the site. “You could have brought a defamation case; you didn’t bring a defamation case,” Breyer told X attorney Jonathan Hawk. Elon Musk, owner of X, attends the Viva Technology conference at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, France, June 16, 2023.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, X, CCDH, CCDH’s, Charles Breyer, ” Breyer, Jonathan Hawk, Elon Musk, Porte, Gonzalo Fuentes, Breyer, Hawk, “, ” Hawk, I’ve, John Quinn Organizations: CNN, Center, Twitter, Nazi, Viva Technology, Porte de, CCDH Locations: San Francisco federal, Paris, France

☆ Meta accused of ‘massive, illegal’ data collection operation by European consumer rights groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —European consumer rights groups have accused Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, of carrying out a “massive” and “illegal” operation of collecting data from hundreds of millions of users in the region. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), an umbrella body for 45 consumer groups, said eight of the groups were filing complaints with their respective national data protection authorities Thursday. The company’s practices, the groups argue, breach parts of the European Union’s signature data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR. Several days later, Meta launched a subscription service allowing its European users to pay up to €12.99 ($14) a month to use ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram. The organization filed a complaint with European consumer protection authorities in November, arguing that this “pay-or-consent” approach was an example of an unfair and “aggressive” commercial practice prohibited under EU law.

Persons: Meta, “, Ursula Pachl, Brian Fung Organizations: London CNN, Facebook, European Consumer Organisation, General Data, CNN, Meta Locations: Europe, United States

☆ Here’s why a SCOTUS ruling on social media rules matters to so many people
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It’s obvious enough that the legislation would affect those social media giants, who are challenging the laws’ constitutionality through industry trade associations. But in scrutinizing the laws’ scope and First Amendment impacts, justices from both sides of the ideological spectrum worried Monday that the legislation’s effects could spill far beyond major social media platforms. “We’re talking about the classic social media platforms, but it looks to me like it could cover Uber. Social media applications are seen on an iPhone in this photo illustration taken on 10 November, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty ImagesThat law permits social media users to try to sue platforms for violations.

Persons: CNN — Uber, —, Henry Whitaker, “, ”, Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor, Whitaker, Jaap Arriens, ” Whitaker, Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, “ I’m, ” Jackson, Uber, Aaron Nielson, Barrett, ” Sotomayor, ” Nielson, ” Chris Marchese, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Neilson, ” Barrett, you’ve, Elena Kagan, you’re, Kagan Organizations: CNN, Facebook, YouTube, Web, LinkedIn, NetChoice Litigation, AFP, Getty, Texans, PayPal Locations: Texas, Florida, Warsaw, Poland, ” Texas, ”, Washington , DC, AFP, El Paso

☆ Supreme Court hears landmark cases that could upend what we see on social media
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

More than a dozen Republican attorneys general have argued to the court that social media should be treated like traditional utilities such as the landline telephone network. The tech industry, meanwhile, argues that social media companies have First Amendment rights to make editorial decisions about what to show. Whitaker said Florida’s law is limited by its definition of social media companies, which focuses on large platforms. “We’re talking about the classic social media platforms, but it looks to me like it could cover Uber. Whitaker said social media platforms had opaque algorithms that prevent users from fully understanding how content curation happens.

Persons: “, Blair Levin, ” Levin, Henry Whitaker, Sonia Sotomayor, Sotomayor, Whitaker, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amy Coney Barrett, ” Barrett, Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh zeroed, Kavanaugh Organizations: Washington CNN, Facebook, YouTube, New, Research, LinkedIn, Web Locations: Texas, Florida

☆ You may lose access to your Netflix account if you’re paying through Apple
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Netflix wants its customers to stop paying for its streaming subscription through Apple’s App Store. Members billed through Apple may soon be prompted to change their payment plan, a new addition to Netflix’s help site reads. Netflix stopped accepting Apple payments for new and rejoining customers in 2018, but Netflix’s policy change means existing customers who had been grandfathered into paying through Apple will now have to make the switch. Previously, Apple had prohibited many iOS apps from skirting the 30% charge by accepting payments outside of Apple’s proprietary payment system. Apple’s in-app purchase fees have been the subject of ire from app developers for years.

Persons: Apple, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Apple, Spotify, Epic Games Locations: United States, Canada

☆ Premarket stocks: Why you can feel good about your job prospects for a while longer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A cyclical slowdown has to come unless you’re in the camp that thinks structural growth of the economy has risen dramatically. We don’t think that’s the case. Do you think that’s the case? The jobs market is a byproduct of GDP growth. I think that this should make people feel a little bit better about the prospects for the year.

Persons: Bell, Satyam Panday, It’s, we’ve, that’s, Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s, Buffett, Munger, ”, Charlie, Berkshire Hathaway, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Satyam, Federal Reserve, Berkshire Hathaway, Investors, Oracle, “, Berkshire, US, Facebook, YouTube Locations: New York, Real, Berkshire, Omaha, “ Berkshire, The Omaha , Nebraska, Texas, Florida

Here are the key takeaways from the courtroom:How far does the First Amendment reach when it comes to social media? Online platforms engage in censorship when they silence certain users’ speech, the states argued to the court. In fact, the tech industry argued, government requirements that social media not moderate content would violate the platforms’ own First Amendment freedoms from government meddling. Section 230 features prominently in argumentsOne question kept coming up during the arguments, just as it has in lower courts: What these state laws could mean for Americans’ overall ability to sue social media companies over content moderation. The state laws explicitly allow users to sue tech platforms for alleged censorship.

Persons: Donald Trump, Samuel Alito, Biden, ” Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, ’, ” Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, Elon Musk, ” Kagan, –, – that’s, Kagan, Uber, you’re, Amy Coney Barrett, ” Organizations: CNN, Meta, ”, X, Elon, YouTube, Communications Locations: Texas, Florida

☆ US Supreme Court prepares to hear landmark social media cases
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Monday’s Supreme Court showdown in NetChoice v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice will determine whether states can forbid social media companies from blocking or removing user content that goes against platform rules. The Florida and Texas laws are broadly written, but officials from both states say the laws will keep social media sites from unfairly silencing conservatives. Social media platforms have insisted for years that they don’t discriminate against right-wing speech. It also allows individual social media users to sue platforms if they believe they have been unfairly censored or “deplatformed.”Florida Gov. The NetChoice cases reflect a deep divide in how many people see social media.

Persons: Paxton, Moody, Ron DeSantis, Florida’s, Carl Juste, Greg Abbott, Donald Trump, Biden, David Paul Morris, “, ”, ” David Greene Organizations: Washington CNN, Facebook, YouTube, Social, Gov, Florida Gov, Miami Herald, Texas ’, Circuit, Republican, Texas, Bloomberg, Getty, Frontier Foundation, EFF, CNN, Freedom, Press Locations: Texas, Florida, . Texas, NetChoice, Miami, Walnut Creek , California

☆ Florida House passes legislation that would prohibit kids under 16 from having certain social media accounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Sara Smart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Florida House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit anyone under 16 in the state from holding accounts with certain social media platforms. HB1, or Online Protections for Minors, would require some social media platforms to verify the age of account holders, prohibit kids under 16 from creating a new account, and terminate the accounts of anyone they believe to be under 16. The bill’s description of social media platforms that would fall under the requirements appears to be wide-ranging. Ohio’s legislation would have required social media platforms to obtain parental consent before creating accounts for children under age 16. And it highlights the many legal hurdles facing calls to ban social media for young Americans.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Bill, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Algenon Marbley, Marbley, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN, Republican, Senate Locations: Florida, Ohio

CNN —Tens of thousands of Americans had trouble making phone calls, sending texts, reaching emergency services or even accessing the internet on Thursday because of a nearly 12-hour AT&T network outage. The alarm over an outage of a major cell network that at one point affected more than 70,000 customers is understandable. AT&T finally restored wireless service to all customers by around 3 pm ET, and the company said it was “sincerely” sorry to customers. But starting early Thursday morning, thousands of AT&T customers began reporting issues calling, texting and accessing the internet on their mobile devices. At one point, more than 74,000 AT&T customers reported outages on digital-service tracking site DownDetector.

Persons: logins —, hasn’t, John Kirby, ” Kirby, “ Organizations: CNN, Verizon, Mobile, New York Police, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Bureau, FCC, FBI, National Security, T, ” Telecom, Dow Jones Locations: United States

☆ Don’t ‘surreptitiously’ use Americans’ data to train AI, FTC warns businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —US companies may find themselves under federal scrutiny if they “quietly” try to funnel customers’ personal information into training artificial intelligence models, the government warned this week. The warning by the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s top privacy and consumer protection agency, highlights the enormous value of Americans’ personal data. “You may have heard that ‘data is the new oil,’” the agency said, referencing an adage describing the way personal information is a critical input powering the machinery of Big Tech. “There is perhaps no data refinery as large-capacity and as data-hungry as AI.”Many companies disclose how they use customer or user information in their privacy policies. But simply updating a privacy policy to say that a company will now use personal data collected for other purposes to train AI isn’t transparent enough and could violate the law, the FTC said.

Persons: “, Gary Gensler Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Netflix, Big Tech, FTC, Securities and Exchange Commission

☆ AI could disrupt the 2024 US presidential election. What’s Congress doing about it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But with just nine months until Americans head to the ballot box, there are few signs Congress is ready to pass any meaningful legislation on AI. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesSchumer has previously said that with the election nearing, he may seek to fast-track a bill that focuses specifically on AI and election security. Nothing looks likely to move.”Initial momentum on AI regulationFor months, Congress has focused on getting up to speed on the basics of AI. Still other ideas would require “high-risk” AI models to register for a government license, or create a dedicated new federal agency to oversee AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, “, Schumer, Sen, Todd Young, Martin Heinrich, Michael Rounds, Alex Wong, New Mexico Democratic Sen, South Dakota Republican Sen, Mike Rounds, Indiana Republican Sen, didn’t, Paul Gallant, Cowen, ”, Gallant, we’re, Sam Altman, Altman, Heinrich, Rounds, Young, Julia Nikhinson, Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang, Mike Johnson, Marcus Molinaro, Johnson, Drake, Tom Hanks, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Hakeem Jeffries, Don Beyer, it’ll, Alan Davidson, Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, ” Davidson, —, Sarah Myers West Organizations: Washington CNN, mayoral, U.S, Senate, Capitol, Artificial Intelligence, “, CNN, New, New Mexico Democratic, South Dakota Republican, Indiana Republican, Cowen Inc, United, International Atomic Energy Agency, Intelligence, Reuters, Google, Nvidia, New York Republican, The Washington Post, Commerce, Tennessee Republican, ITI, Virginia Democratic Rep, State of, Republican, House Energy, European Union, EU, Congress, Commerce Department, White House, Privacy, Technology, Democrats, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Washington ,, New Mexico, South, Washington , U.S, Washington

☆ Billions in AI patents get new guidelines as regulators regroup
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But how will patent protections apply to inventions made with the help of AI tools, particularly generative AI? In connection with training an AI system, what level of planning will be required? “A natural person who only presents a problem to an AI system may not be a proper inventor” of something, the USPTO said. In that case, the USPTO had rejected the patent applications of an inventor who had given his AI system sole credit for the inventions. The inventorship guidelines will help everyone understand the boundaries of patent protections as AI is increasingly used in the inventive process.

Persons: ”, Jamie Nafziger, Dorsey, Whitney, Thaler, Vidal, Ryan McCarthy, Hall, It’s, Estill, John Bergmayer Organizations: CNN, Office, Biden, White, USPTO

☆ Don’t let AI hype lead you into illegal ‘AI-washing,’ SEC chair warns companies and investment advisers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Publicly traded companies that misleadingly or untruthfully promote their use of artificial intelligence risk engaging in “AI-washing” that can harm investors and run afoul of US securities law, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a speech on Tuesday. They also shouldn’t lie about whether they use an AI model or how they use AI in specific applications, Gensler added. One would be the intentional use of AI to facilitate securities fraud, Gensler said Tuesday. The SEC could target those who deploy AI in ways that create reckless or knowing disregard for the risks to investors, Gensler said. He said the SEC could also investigate those who place fake orders in violation of securities law, or investment advisers who place their own interests ahead of their clients’.

Persons: Gary Gensler, “ We’ve, ” Gensler, Gensler, Alvaro Bedoya Organizations: Washington CNN, Securities and Exchange Commission, Publicly, SEC, Yale Law School, Federal Trade Commission

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