The Guardian · 10 Jun, 06:00
A Chinese activist in the UK, Apple Peiqing Ni, was targeted with deepfake posts on X, portraying her in a negative light, but the platform's automated systems ruled that the posts did not breach its rules on harassment or violent speech.
Apple Peiqing Ni, a 27-year-old Chinese activist in the UK, was targeted with 12 deepfake posts on X, a platform owned by Elon Musk. The posts, which included fake photographs and videos, portrayed Ni as a sexually promiscuous drug addict and claimed she had been physically attacked while protesting. Ni reported the posts to X, but the platform's automated systems ruled that they did not breach its rules on harassment or violent speech. A follow-up complaint to X's support service was also rejected.
Why it matters: The incident raises questions about X's internal systems and its ability to protect users from harassment, particularly those who are critical of the Chinese government. The case highlights concerns about the platform's handling of deepfake content and its impact on individuals, such as Ni, who are advocating for human rights and free speech.
12 (number of deepfake posts), 27 (Ni's age), 2019 (year Ni moved to the UK), 4 June (date of Tiananmen massacre commemoration)
I feel like they're doing some kind of profiling of me … Every time I go out, I feel like I might be followed or watched. And I actually think that might be the case.
The Guardian · 10 Jun, 05:39
The US launched strikes against Iran in response to the downing of a US army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran denied. Iran retaliated with strikes on US and allied targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The US launched strikes against Iran on Tuesday evening after accusing Tehran of downing a US army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran denied responsibility for the downing of the helicopter, but later launched retaliatory strikes on US and allied targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The US strikes were directed at radar and air defence facilities along the Strait of Hormuz, according to US media. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they had targeted US bases and facilities with long-range missiles.
Why it matters: The escalation of violence between the US and Iran threatens to destabilize the region and undermine the fragile ceasefire agreed upon in April. The conflict has already had significant economic impacts, including rising energy prices and food costs. The situation is precarious, with both sides signalling a desire to avoid full-scale war, but also vowing to respond to aggression.
2: The number of crew members rescued from the downed helicopter. 5: The number of missiles intercepted and shot down by Jordan's armed forces. 24ft: The length of the unmanned drone boat used in the rescue operation. 7.3-metre: The length of the Corsair drone boat used in the rescue operation.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said: 'We will leave no attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe.'
The Guardian · 10 Jun, 05:00
A majority of voters in Makerfield say they would be less likely to vote for a politician who has posted offensive content on social media. The polling also found strong support for water renationalisation, a wealth tax, and capping political donations.
A poll of 518 voters in the Makerfield constituency found that 55% would be less likely to vote for a politician who has posted offensive content online. The polling also found that 72% of residents surveyed wanted water companies to be returned to public ownership, and 54% supported introducing a new 'wealth tax' on assets over £10m to fund the NHS, schools and other public services.
Why it matters: The polling results are significant as they show that voters in Makerfield hold strong views on economic fairness and accountability, and that these views cut across traditional party lines. The results may influence the outcome of the byelection on 18 June, where Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate, has been criticised for past online posts.
55% of voters would be less likely to vote for a politician who has posted offensive content online, 72% support water renationalisation, 54% support a wealth tax, 518 voters surveyed, byelection on 18 June.
Makerfield is a microcosm for how many voters across the country are feeling right now. They are crying out for change and back big, bold moves to make our country fairer, build better public services and ease the cost of living for us all. - Veronica Hawking, campaigns director at 38 Degrees
Ars Technica · 9 Jun, 19:20
Anthropic has released its new AI model, Claude Fable 5, with safeguards to prevent it from answering queries on sensitive topics like cybersecurity, biology, and chemistry. The model is designed to funnel queries on these topics to an earlier model and warn users when this happens.
Anthropic has publicly released Claude Fable 5, its first 'Mythos-class' model that surpasses its previous frontier Opus models in overall capabilities. However, the model's launch comes with safeguards designed to prevent it from answering queries on topics like cybersecurity, biology, and chemistry, where the company has worried about its potential impact to 'uplift' malicious actors. Fable 5 operates on the same underlying model as Mythos 5, but with stricter safeguards to prevent harm. The model will funnel queries on sensitive topics to the earlier Claude Opus 4.8 model and warn users when this happens.
Why it matters: This is significant because Anthropic is taking steps to prevent its AI model from being used for malicious purposes. The company's concerns about the potential impact of its model on cybersecurity, biology, and chemistry are valid, and the safeguards in place aim to mitigate these risks. By limiting access to sensitive information, Anthropic is demonstrating a commitment to responsible AI development.
less than 5% (false positives in testing)
Ars Technica · 9 Jun, 20:35
Researchers have identified three key vital signs that make up the 'urban pulse' of a city, which can be used to measure urban metabolic activity and inform public policy around urban planning. This 'urban pulse' can help understand the dynamics within an urban area and influence both top-down policy decisions and bottom-up decisions from everyday people.
A new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that cities have an 'urban pulse', an indication of urban metabolic activity that can be measured. The authors, including Zhe Zhu of the University of Connecticut, adopted a broad definition of urbanization that features concurrent change in at least six dimensions, including demography, economy, infrastructure, environment, governance, and culture. They identified three key vital signs that make up the urban pulse, although the specific vital signs are not mentioned in the article.
Why it matters: Understanding the urban pulse can help inform future public policy around urban planning and influence both top-down policy decisions from governments and bottom-up decisions from everyday people navigating their cities. This can be useful for tasks such as house-hunting or scouting potential locations for a new business.
“For decades, we had just been capturing the outcome of urbanization—a house that’s been built, or a road expansion,” “But you don’t really see the dynamics within an urban area. This is going to be a very impactful tool influencing not only top-down policy decisions from governments but also bottom-up decisions from everyday people navigating their cities.” - Zhe Zhu
Ars Technica · 9 Jun, 21:05
Starlink has introduced a $10 monthly hardware rental fee, shifting away from its previous practice of selling hardware for a one-time charge.
Starlink has started charging a $10 monthly rental fee for its hardware, which includes a terminal to receive satellite signals and a router. This change means customers no longer pay an upfront hardware cost. The monthly kit fee is in addition to the Internet service prices, which were recently raised by $5 to $10 per month.
Why it matters: This change marks a significant shift in Starlink's business model, aligning it more closely with traditional cable and telecom companies that often charge monthly rental fees for equipment. This move may impact customers' overall cost of using Starlink's services.
$10 (monthly hardware rental fee), $55-$130 (monthly Internet service prices), $199 (one-time professional-installation fee)
NPR News · 10 Jun, 04:08
Summary not available.
NPR News · 10 Jun, 04:01
Summary not available.
NPR News · 10 Jun, 01:21
Summary not available.