Apple plans to release an enhanced AirTag in 2025, featuring a next-generation UWB chip for triple the tracking range and improved security. This upgrade addresses past concerns about misuse and enhances the user experience, building upon existing features like the Find My app’s ability to share lost item locations.
Popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, launched a new wallpaper app called Panels, but it’s been met with criticism due to its high price, excessive permissions, and questionable value proposition. Users have expressed disappointment over the app’s features, raising concerns about privacy and lack of innovation. Brownlee has acknowledged the feedback and promised improvements, but the future of Panels remains uncertain.
Microsoft has re-evaluated its upcoming ‘Recall’ feature, initially met with criticism over privacy concerns. The feature, initially set to be enabled by default, will now be opt-in, requiring user activation and biometric authentication. Additionally, the database storing the feature’s screenshots will now be encrypted. These changes address fears that the feature could be exploited for data misuse.
Former Rajya Sabha member Pritish Nandy has expressed his frustration with the relentless spam calls he receives, despite being registered on the Do Not Disturb (DND) service. Despite his efforts to block numbers and enable DND, Nandy continues to be bombarded with marketing calls from various sources. This has prompted him to stop taking calls from unknown numbers altogether, even though he acknowledges that this decision may inconvenience those with urgent needs.
Windows 11’s AI integration, rumored to launch soon, named Recall, has raised privacy concerns due to its ability to record everything on a user’s screen. The privacy toggle feature allows users to turn off the recording, but it may be enabled by default. The specific name of the feature remains unclear, with rumors suggesting Recall AI or AI Explorer.
General Motors has announced the discontinuation of its OnStar Smart Driver program due to privacy violations and concerns about data sharing with third-party companies. The program, which provided users with driving-related data, has faced criticism for enrolling users without their knowledge and sharing their personal information with insurance companies. GM states that Smart Driver users will be unenrolled from the program, and the software will be removed from vehicles. The company is also working on enhanced privacy controls to improve transparency.
Worldcoin, a project that distributes free cryptocurrency in exchange for biometric data, is facing a shortage of orbs used for eye scans. However, the company behind Worldcoin, Tools for Humanity, views this shortage as a positive sign, indicating the popularity of the program. Over 10 million people in 160 countries have already scanned their eyes for Worldcoin. The program is not yet available in the U.S., leaving Americans to speculate about its potential implications. While privacy concerns remain, Worldcoin insists on prioritizing privacy and claims that intense skepticism is waning.
A call to action for female athletes to demand the NCAA Board of Governors repeal its policy allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. The author, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, highlights the exclusion, discrimination, and privacy concerns faced by female athletes due to the policy. She emphasizes the support of the American public and the critical need for the NCAA to protect the integrity of women’s sports.
President Biden has signed legislation that bans TikTok in the United States unless it is sold to an American company. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has responded by saying that the company will fight the ban in court, arguing that it violates the First Amendment. Chew claims that Congress is trying to suppress TikTok because it is a Chinese-owned company and that the ban is against the will of the American people.
In 2020, India’s government made the bold decision to ban TikTok, citing concerns over privacy and national security. The move was largely met with support from Indian citizens, who had been urging a boycott of Chinese goods following a deadly border conflict. TikTok’s hyperlocal content, which provided a unique glimpse into rural India, was a major draw for users. However, in the years since the ban, content creators and users have largely migrated to other platforms like Instagram. Despite the initial disruption, the transition has been relatively smooth for most. The ban has also raised questions about the potential national security risks posed by Chinese apps and the need for countries to assess their dependency on China.
