Month: November 2019
Tim Berners-Lee action plan to prevent ‘digital dystopia’
World wide web founder Sir Tim Berners-Lee has warned of a “digital dystopia” as he launches a global action plan aimed at tackling misuse of the web. The British computer scientist will unveil a string of standards in Berlin on Monday, over fears of ever-increasing online threats, such as election interference, harassment, invasion of privacy…
Three delays 5G network rollout
Three is delaying the rollout of its 5G service for an undisclosed amount of time, the network operator has announced. The firm said a number of issues, from acquiring the right planning permissions from landlords to arranging 5G equipment on masts, had forced it to push its original target “slightly behind”. Three became the third…
Sacha Baron Cohen: social media is ‘propaganda machine’
Speaking after accepting a leadership award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in New York, Ali G actor Sacha Baron Cohen accused internet companies of placing business success above the safety of their users. He claimed platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were allowing hateful content on their sites because it provoked a response and…
Tesla CyberTruck launch marred by ‘shatterproof’ windows breaking
The unveiling of Tesla’s first electric pickup vehicle, the Tesla CyberTruck, has been marred by its supposedly “shatterproof” windows breaking during a demonstration. The car firm unveiled its first electric pickup truck, known as CyberTruck, at an event in Los Angeles. Tesla says the vehicle has “more utility than a truck, with more performance than…
Snapchat adds Time Machine age-transforming feature
Snapchat is aiming to lure more users on to its photo-sharing app with its new Time Machine age-transforming filter. The Time Machine feature works as a slider, making faces appear younger from one end and older in the opposite direction. Platform owner Snap will be hoping to replicate previous successful filters such as gender swapping,…
1 in 3 homes ‘cannot access WiFi in every room’
WiFi “not-spots” – areas of the home where people are unable to connect to WiFi – affect a third of UK households, new research suggests. A survey by broadband provider Zen Internet found that 33% of UK households experience the signal blackspots, with 18% moving their router as a result in an attempt to receive…
Google to ban targeted ads based on political affiliation
Google will no longer allow voters to be targeted by advertisers based on their political affiliation, the company has announced. Election audience advertisements will now be limited to the general categories of age, gender and general location. The tech giant said that the changes would be implemented in order to improve voter confidence in digital…
Google Assistant can now book cinema tickets for you
The Google Assistant can help UK users find and book cinema tickets using only voice commands for the first time, the technology giant has announced. Google’s virtual assistant has been added to the Chrome web browser on Android smartphones and can now guide users through tasks with only minimal contact with their device required. The…
Actor Ralf Little suspended from Twitter for mocking Tories
Actor Ralf Little said he has been suspended from Twitter after changing his account to mimic the Conservative Party press office. The Tories came under fire for rebranding one of their official Twitter accounts as a “fact-checking service” during Tuesday night’s televised election debate. Twitter warned that a repeat of the incident would result in…
