Only 17% of users have access to a ‘truly free internet’, study claims
Only 17% of internet users have access to a truly free internet, according to the Atlas VPN team based on data from Freedom House. Generally, conditions online for human rights have deteriorated for the 13th year, with the highest declines occurring in Iran, followed by the Philippines, Belarus, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. Internet users in…
UK tries to agree statement for AI summit, world’s largest offshore windfarm opens
Rishi Sunak’s advisers are trying to thrash out an agreement among world leaders on a statement warning about the risks of artificial intelligence as they finalise the agenda for the AI safety summit next month. Downing Street officials have been touring the world talking to their counterparts from China to the EU and the US as…
Three quarters of mobile apps harvesting personal data unnecessarily, claims study
Nearly 87% of Android apps and 60% of Apple’s iOS versions seek access to personal mobile data unrelated to their performance Bumble is the UK’s most intrusive popular app, collecting 44% more data than it needs to work and requesting the most permissions to access device features Fellow dating app Tinder and social media favourite…
Google invests in Oxa driverless cars, deepfake videos of Sir Keir Starmer emerge
Google has taken a 3.5pc stake in Oxa, an Oxford University spin-out Google has invested in one of Britain’s most promising driverless car companies in a further bet on the technology that the internet giant has already put billions into. The US company has taken a 3.5pc stake in Oxa, an Oxford…
Cyber resilience: How to prevent a Hack of The Hague
Hack The Hague. Image: Holland Park Media International conflict and humanitarian disasters have combined to make The Hague a growing target for cybercriminals. But the Dutch city is now fighting back against the hackers. Chris Price reports. Regarded as the international city of peace and justice for the last 100 years,…
Illegal streamers targeted in ad campaign, £22,000 Tesla Model 2 expected for 2025
People in the UK who illegally stream movies, sport and TV shows online are being warned they risk having their bank accounts emptied or their identities stolen. A major new awareness campaign has just been launched to highlight the various dangers associated with using illicit streaming services to watch paid-for content. Called BeStreamWise, it features a website (bestreamwise.com),…
UK data watchdog issues Snapchat with enforcement notice over AI chatbot
Snapchat owner Snap Inc could face a huge fine after the UK data watchdog, the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office), issued it with a preliminary enforcement notice over its alleged failure to assess privacy risks posed by its 'My AI' artificial intelligence chatbot. The preliminary notice sets out the steps which the Commissioner may require, subject…
Deepfakes could help in training videos, University of Bath study claims
Watching a training video featuring a deepfake version of yourself, rather than a clip featuring somebody else, makes learning faster, easier and more fun, according to new research led by the REVEAL research centre at the University of Bath. This finding was seen over two separate experiments, one exploring fitness training and another involving public speaking. Dr Christof…
BYD ATTO 3 named Electric Car of the Year by News UK
News UK has awarded Chinese EV, BYD ATTO 3, the title of Electric Car of the Year in its Motor Awards. It was selected for this award following a rigorous evaluation process by the expert panel of automotive journalists from The Sun, The Sunday Times, Driving.co.uk and The Times Luxx magazine The panel evaluated numerous electric vehicles…
UK cloud computing in competition probe, Tesla set to lose EV crown to BYD?
The UK's cloud computing market is to face a competition probe over concerns it is being dominated by Amazon and Microsoft. Media watchdog Ofcom said the two make up 70-80% of the sector in the UK, while closest rival Google has 5-10%. Ofcom had said in April it was worried a lack of competition made…
