Month: September 2021

Why we should switch off from GB News and watch more YouTube

How traditional media are copying their online challengers … Netflix buys Roald Dahl … and Nicky Minaj’s balls up I don’t know what you were doing between 1.45pm and 3pm on Saturday afternoon. But I can be pretty certain you weren’t watching GB News, the UK’s newish rightwing television news channel. That’s not because I …

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Facebook oversight board to review system that exempts elite users

The XCheck program allows some users to be ‘whitelisted’ or allowed to post material that violates the company’s policies Facebook’s semi-independent oversight board says it will review the company’s “XCheck” system, an internal program that has exempted high-profile users from some or all of its rules. The decision follows an investigation by the Wall Street …

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Internet freedom on the decline in US and globally, study finds

The study cited a lack of regulation in the domestic tech industry, and the rise of authoritarian agencies abroad Online freedom is continuing to decline globally, according to a new study, with governments increasingly cracking down on user speech and misinformation on the rise. The report from Freedom House, a Washington DC-based democracy advocacy group, …

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Activision Blizzard confirms SEC investigation into sexual misconduct allegations

World’s most high-profile video game companies says it is complying with subpoena sent to employees and executives Activision Blizzard has confirmed an investigation by US regulators following allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination at one of the world’s most high-profile video game companies. Related: Activision Blizzard scandal a ‘watershed moment’ for women in the gaming …

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Hungarian journalist’s phones infected with NSO Pegasus spyware

Hacks occurred in July 2021 while Dániel Németh was reporting on one of Viktor Orbán’s childhood friends Dániel Németh, a Budapest-based photojournalist, has tried to keep a low profile in his groundbreaking work investigating and documenting the luxury lifestyle of Hungary’s ruling elite. While his name is not well known, the 46-year-old has managed to …

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Electronic Arts completes $1.4bn deal to buy UK video games maker Playdemic

British company known for its Golf Clash franchise is latest to be snapped up by the California-based firm Electronic Arts has completed the $1.4bn (£1.04bn) deal to buy Playdemic, the mobile games maker known for its Golf Clash franchise, the latest British video games maker to be snapped up by the California-based giant. For EA, …

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The Lovers’ Guide at 30: did the bestselling video make Britain better in bed?

It featured an erect penis, and could be bought on the high street. The groundbreaking film changed attitudes to sex and censorship – paving the way to the Pornhub era The second sexual revolution began 30 years ago, on 23 September 1991, with the release of an educational videotape called The Lovers’ Guide. The revolution’s …

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Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

Tech companies poured $65m into lobbying in 2020 – but only 6% of their lobbying activity is targeted at climate policy The world’s biggest tech companies are coming out with bold commitments to tackle their climate impact but when it comes to using their corporate muscle to advocate for stronger climate policies, their engagement is …

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A billionaire wants to build a utopia in the US desert. Seems like this could go wrong | Jessa Crispin

The architects of the proposed 150,000-acre project are scouting the American south-west. They’re already predicting the first residents can move in by 2030 Welcome to Telosa, a $400bn “city of the future,” according to its founder, the billionaire Marc Lore. The city doesn’t exist yet, nor is it clear which state will house the experiment, …

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iOS 15 release: everything you need to know about Apple’s big update

Free software upgrades for iPhone, iPad and Watch improve notifications, Safari, FaceTime and more due for release Apple plans to release software updates for its iPhone, iPad and smartwatch on Monday, which will add new features for compatible devices. Announced at the firm’s developer conference in June, iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and WatchOS 8 bring …

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