The European Union’s new content Moderation Rules, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), have come into effect, leading to changes in how major tech companies operate. The legislation, which aims to protect users against harmful and illegal content, disinformation, and privacy violations, applies to 19 large online platforms with over 45 million users per month, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Google, YouTube, and more.
Companies like TikTok, Meta (formerly Facebook), Snapchat, and Google have already made changes to comply with the DSA. However, Amazon and Zalando have taken legal action against the EU, claiming they were unfairly added to the list.
Stress tests have been conducted to evaluate the platforms’ ability to detect and address systemic risks such as disinformation. The European Commission acknowledged that improvements are needed, and failure to comply with the DSA could result in fines of up to 6% of turnover and potential service suspension.
Some analysts have expressed concerns about the act’s potential impact on internet fragmentation and censorship. Mozilla and 66 civil organizations worldwide are urging the European Commission to ensure that the DSA upholds fundamental rights without stifling free speech.
Source: The Next Web, BBC, The Register
Department of Justice Accuses SpaceX of Discrimination
SpaceX, the satellite and rocket company owned by Elon Musk, is facing a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of discriminating against asylum recipients and refugees in its hiring practices. The DOJ claims that SpaceX falsely stated it could not hire individuals with asylum status due to export control laws.
The lawsuit points to online posts made by Elon Musk, where he stated that U.S. law required a green card for employment at SpaceX due to rockets being classified as advanced weapons technology. However, the alleged discrimination impacted a wide range of jobs, including rocket engineering, dishwashing, and cooking.
The DOJ is seeking fair consideration, back pay, policy changes, and civil penalties from SpaceX. The lawsuit aims to address the alleged violation of equal employment opportunity laws and protect the rights of asylum recipients and refugees.
Source: Reuters
Huawei and Ericsson Sign Cross Licensing Agreement
Chinese tech giant Huawei and Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson have signed a long-term Cross Licensing Agreement that encompasses essential patents for various cellular technologies, including 3G, 4G, and 5G. The agreement grants both parties global access to each other’s standardized technologies for network infrastructure and consumer devices.
This agreement aims to provide greater certainty and reduce the risk of disruptive patent disputes between Huawei and Ericsson, benefiting their customers and other companies worldwide. Huawei has invested significantly in 5G technologies, amassing over 6,500 related patents, potentially leading to a shift in the royalty payment dynamics between the two companies.
Source: The Register
Kroll Data Breach Exposes Personal Information
Risk and financial advisory solutions provider Kroll reported a data breach resulting from a sophisticated SIM swapping attack. An employee’s T-Mobile account was targeted, leading to the transfer of the employee’s phone number to the threat actor’s phone without authorization from Kroll. This enabled the attacker to access personal information of bankruptcy claimants related to BlockFi, FTX, and Genesis.
SIM swapping allows attackers to fraudulently activate a victim’s phone number, intercepting SMS messages and voice calls and potentially gaining access to online accounts. While Kroll took immediate steps to secure the affected accounts and notify impacted individuals, no evidence suggests that other systems or accounts were compromised.
Source: The Hacker News
Microsoft Introduces Open Book Certification Exams
Select Microsoft certification exams are now open book, allowing candidates to access Microsoft Learn, a portal containing product documentation, code fragments, and technical material during their exams. This change applies to role-based certifications, including Azure Administrator, Developer, Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer, Microsoft 365 Modern Desktop Administrator, and Enterprise Administrator.
Accessing material on the Microsoft Learn portal will not pause the exam timer or alter the test-taking experience. By mid-September 2023, this open book format will be available for all role-based and specialty exams in multiple languages.
Source: The Register
Museums Use Technology to Interact with Survivors
Museums focusing on racial violence and antisemitism are leveraging holograms, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality to allow visitors to have simulated conversations with Holocaust survivors and enslaved people. Examples include the Illinois museum, The Greenwood Rising History Center, and Alabama’s Legacy Museum.
These technological advancements aim to provide immersive experiences and a deeper understanding of historical events by engaging directly with survivors’ stories. Visitors can interact with virtual representations of survivors, posing questions and receiving personalized responses.
Sources: To be added after content moderation.
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