Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

The Twilight of Social Media: Algorithms, Fakes, and a Glimpse of Hope

2025-09-13

This article examines the current state and future of social media platforms. Overwhelmed by AI-generated spam, fake accounts, and the 'bot-girl economy', genuine human interaction is increasingly sidelined by algorithmic prioritization. Platforms, chasing engagement metrics, disregard authenticity and value, leading to declining user experience and engagement. The article suggests a future of decentralized, smaller-scale social media focusing on genuine interaction within niche communities. It advocates for a public-service model, algorithm transparency, and improved digital literacy to reshape the digital landscape.

(www.noemamag.com)

Tech

Trump Tariffs Brew a Coffee Price Storm

2025-09-13

US retail coffee prices surged nearly 21% year-over-year in August, the largest annual jump since October 1997. A key culprit? Trump-era tariffs on major coffee bean suppliers like Brazil, which faces a hefty 50% tariff. This, along with tariffs on Colombia and Vietnam, is forcing coffee companies to raise prices, hitting consumers hard. While some brands like Folgers have already implemented multiple price hikes, and French Truck Coffee added a surcharge, Starbucks claims its buying practices will delay the full impact until 2026.

(edition.cnn.com)

Tech coffee prices

California Broadband Bill Sparks Debate: Protecting Renters or Stifling Competition?

2025-09-13

A California bill (AB 1414) aimed at lowering broadband costs for renters has sparked controversy. Groups like the Real Estate Technology & Transformation Center (RETTC) oppose the bill, arguing it will raise costs, reduce investment, and widen the digital divide. They claim the bill's opt-out requirement will undermine the economics of bulk billing. However, supporters argue it promotes competition, particularly benefiting wireless or satellite providers as it avoids the need for wiring each building. While the bill may lower broadband costs for renters, a previous California bill pushing for significantly cheaper broadband plans was shelved after the Trump administration threatened to block broadband expansion funding.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech broadband access California broadband renter rights Broadband Access

Spotify Cracks Down on User Data Aggregator, Sparking Privacy Debate

2025-09-13

Spotify has shut down UnwrappedData.org for violating its developer terms by collecting, aggregating, and selling user data. Unwrapped argues it respects users' data portability rights, allowing them to access, control, and benefit from their listening history. They claim not to harm Spotify's business. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, while cautious about data dividend schemes, supports user data control. The dispute highlights the complexities of data ownership and user privacy.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech data portability

Intel's Xeon Architect Jumps Ship Amidst Executive Exodus

2025-09-13

Ronak Singhal, the chief architect behind Intel's Xeon line of server CPUs, is leaving the company after nearly 30 years. Singhal's contributions are significant, including core development roles in the Haswell and Broadwell architectures, and contributions to the Core and Atom processor families. While the Xeon division has faced stiff competition from AMD and Arm-based cloud CPUs in recent years, Singhal arguably leaves it in its most competitive position in years. However, his departure is just the latest in a string of high-profile exits from Intel's datacenter group, including several other executives and even the CEO, highlighting significant talent drain and intense industry competition.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech Executive Exodus

Memphis Disc Plant Employee Gets 57 Months for Stealing Pre-Release Movies

2025-09-13

Steven Hale, a former employee of a Memphis disc manufacturing company, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for stealing hundreds of pre-release DVDs and Blu-ray discs. The sentence stems largely from an unrelated firearm charge, with a concurrent 21-month sentence for copyright infringement. The stolen discs included high-profile titles like "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which appeared on pirate sites weeks before its official release, potentially linking Hale to the notorious piracy group EVO. While the prosecution argued Hale's actions caused tens of millions of dollars in damages, his guilty plea resulted in a less severe sentence than the maximum.

(torrentfreak.com)

Tech

US EV Sales Hit Record High in August, Tesla's Market Share Slides

2025-09-13

US electric vehicle sales reached a record high of 146,332 units in August, capturing 9.9% of the total market. With the federal EV tax credit set to expire soon, analysts predict Q3 2025 will be the strongest quarter ever for US EV sales. The average transaction price was $57,245, essentially flat year-over-year. While Tesla remains the market leader, its market share dropped to a record low of 38%, with sales down 6.7% year-over-year. Cox Automotive analysts attribute the sales surge to new product launches and motivated dealers.

(electrek.co)

Tech US Auto Market

ProtonMail Suspends Journalists' Accounts: Security or Censorship?

2025-09-13

ProtonMail, known for its commitment to user data privacy, faced backlash after suspending the accounts of two journalists reporting on a sophisticated cyberattack against South Korean government systems. While the accounts were eventually reinstated, ProtonMail's explanation remains vague. They claim to have received a warning from a security agency but refuse to name it, raising concerns about overcompliance with government requests and chilling effects on journalists and whistleblowers who rely on their service for secure communication.

(theintercept.com)

Tech

Synthetic Magnetic Fields Steer Light on a Chip for Faster Communications

2025-09-13

Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Sun Yat-Sen University have developed a method to generate pseudomagnetic fields in silicon photonic crystals, enabling precise control over light flow at telecommunication wavelengths. By systematically altering the symmetry of tiny repeating units, they can design pseudomagnetic fields with tailored spatial patterns. This has been demonstrated in compact devices like S-bend waveguides and power splitters, successfully transmitting a 140 Gbps data stream. This breakthrough opens new avenues for optical computing, quantum information, and advanced communication technologies.

(phys.org)

Tech photonic crystals pseudomagnetic fields

Slashing AWS Bandwidth Costs by 95%: The dm-cache Story

2025-09-13

Upsun dramatically reduced its AWS bandwidth costs by leveraging underutilized local SSD storage on its instances. Using Linux's dm-cache, they implemented a read cache for their Ceph-based network storage. By caching frequently accessed data blocks locally, they minimized costly inter-AZ traffic. Employing a write-through policy ensured data integrity, resulting in a 95% reduction in bandwidth costs, a 30x IOPS improvement, and significant performance gains for their e-commerce applications. The key was exploiting the locality of reference inherent in application I/O patterns.

(devcenter.upsun.com)

Tech bandwidth optimization

California Passes Controversial SB 79, Overriding Local Zoning for High-Density Housing

2025-09-13

California's Senate approved the controversial SB 79, a landmark housing bill that overrides local zoning laws to allow for significantly denser housing near transit hubs. The bill, which passed after intense debate and protests from some residents concerned about changes to single-family neighborhoods, permits buildings up to nine stories tall near major transit stops. While the Los Angeles City Council opposed the bill, support surged after a deal with the State Building and Construction Trades Council, which dropped its opposition in exchange for amendments ensuring union jobs on certain projects. The bill now heads to Governor Newsom's desk.

(www.latimes.com)

Tech

Possible New Moon Discovered Orbiting Distant Dwarf Planet Quaoar

2025-09-13

Astronomers have unexpectedly discovered a possible new celestial body orbiting the distant Kuiper Belt dwarf planet Quaoar. This icy, egg-shaped dwarf planet beyond Neptune is already known to possess two rings and a moon. The discovery stemmed from a stellar occultation event, revealing an extra 1.23-second blockage of starlight, suggesting a new satellite or a third ring. James Webb Space Telescope data lends credence to the satellite hypothesis. This finding adds to the mystery surrounding Quaoar, challenges our understanding of ring and moon formation, and offers new insights into planetary system formation in the distant reaches of the Milky Way.

(phys.org)

Tech Kuiper Belt moon

The Plight of the Pre-Modern Peasant: Land, Labor, and Exploitation

2025-09-13

This article, the third in a series, explores the realities of pre-modern peasant life. Previous installments assumed ideal conditions – abundant yields and infinite land – demonstrating sufficient production for comfortable subsistence and surplus. This piece revisits those assumptions, considering limited landholdings and capital. Even under ideal conditions, the study reveals peasant families lacked enough land to fully employ their labor. Average farm sizes were far smaller than model assumptions, with even wealthy peasants rarely owning sufficient acreage. This resulted in excess labor for limited land, hindering basic subsistence, let alone comfort. Survival necessitated strategies for accessing more land, such as sharecropping with wealthier farmers or landlords. However, such arrangements often involved exploitative terms, leaving landlords with the lion's share of the harvest. The article further analyzes the exploitation of peasant surplus labor through various means like conscription, forced labor, heavy taxation, and debt peonage, resulting in significantly higher labor demands and a drastically lower standard of living than in modern society.

(acoup.blog)

Tech pre-modern agriculture peasant life land tenure

The Smart Glasses Arms Race: Giants and Underdogs Clash

2025-09-12

The smart glasses market is heating up, with established giants like Ray-Ban and Google battling it out alongside a surprising number of startups. Big tech companies leverage their existing ecosystems and access to cutting-edge components, but smaller players are making their mark with innovative designs and features. From AI-powered glasses like Solos AirGo V2 and Xiaomi's AI Glasses to HTC's Vive Eagle, the diversity is remarkable. Beyond displayless options, HUD glasses like Even G1, Brilliant Labs Halo, and XRAI AR2 offer unique functionalities. While true consumer AR glasses remain scarce in the West, companies like RayNeo (with the X3 Pro) and Snap (with their upcoming Specs) are pushing the boundaries. This battle will define the future of wearable tech.

(www.uploadvr.com)

Tech

Gemma Project: Acknowledgements and Team Contributions

2025-09-12

The success of the Gemma project is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Gemma and Google Privacy teams. Special thanks are given to Peter Kairouz, Brendan McMahan, and Dan Ramage for blog post feedback; Mark Simborg and Kimberly Schwede for visualization assistance; and Google teams for algorithm design, infrastructure implementation, and production maintenance. The post also lists 20 individuals who directly contributed to the work.

(research.google)

Tech Gemma Project Google Privacy

Greenpeace's Nuclear Defeat: A Win for Climate Action?

2025-09-12

Two years ago, youth climate activists launched Dear Greenpeace to challenge the organization's anti-nuclear stance. Today, multiple European countries have abandoned or relaxed nuclear bans, and the European Court of Justice dismissed Austria's lawsuit against the EU's inclusion of nuclear energy in its sustainable finance taxonomy. Despite Greenpeace's continued opposition, this shift shows significant progress for science-based nuclear advocates, paving the way for a global clean energy transition.

(www.weplanet.org)

Tech

AI-Generated Synthetic Data Bypasses Ethics Reviews in Medical Research

2025-09-12

Medical researchers in Canada, the US, and Italy are using AI-generated synthetic data derived from real patient information in their experiments without ethics board approval. Institutions argue that since the synthetic data doesn't contain traceable patient information, it doesn't constitute human subject research under regulations like the US Common Rule. While accessing patient data to create the synthetic datasets requires ethics board approval, this is often waived due to low risk. This approach aims to protect patient privacy, accelerate research, and facilitate data sharing, but also raises ethical questions.

(www.nature.com)

Tech

Switzerland's Proposed Surveillance Law Sparks Exodus of Privacy Companies

2025-09-12

Switzerland is considering a controversial law requiring service providers with over 5,000 users to collect government-issued IDs, retain subscriber data for six months, and disable encryption. This has triggered outrage from privacy advocates globally, leading companies like Proton to relocate their infrastructure out of Switzerland to avoid what they call "mass surveillance." The law threatens online anonymity, impacting users worldwide. Critics compare it to similar legislation in Russia, raising serious concerns about Switzerland's commitment to digital freedoms.

(therecord.media)

Tech

UK-Ukraine Partnership to Deliver Thousands of Interceptor Missiles Monthly

2025-09-12

UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced "Project Octopus," a new partnership with Ukraine to deliver thousands of interceptor missiles monthly. Ukraine will share technology for a cost-effective interceptor drone proven highly effective against Russian-deployed Shahed drones. The UK will rapidly develop and mass-produce this drone, boosting Ukraine's defenses. This follows a £200 million investment by Ukrainian drone manufacturer UKRSPECSYSTEMS in two new UK facilities – the first major Ukrainian defense investment in the UK.

(www.shephardmedia.com)

Tech military cooperation drone technology

North Korean Hackers Steal Millions from US Companies Using Fake Identities

2025-09-12

The Department of Justice announced coordinated actions against the North Korean government's schemes to fund its regime through remote IT work for US companies. This involved indictments, arrests, searches of numerous 'laptop farms' across multiple states, and the seizure of financial accounts and fraudulent websites. North Korean actors, aided by individuals in other countries, used stolen and fake identities to obtain employment with over 100 US companies, stealing sensitive information including military technology and cryptocurrency. One scheme alone resulted in over $900,000 in stolen virtual currency. The actions highlight the threat of North Korea using cyber operations to evade sanctions and fund its weapons programs.

(www.justice.gov)

Tech

Ro Marine: A Norwegian Company at the Heart of a Global Maritime Insurance Fraud

2025-09-12

Norwegian company Ro Marine is at the center of a massive global maritime insurance fraud, with over 100 ships using forged insurance documents issued by the firm. Primarily serving Russian oil transport, the scheme facilitated sanctions evasion. The Russian owner, Andrey Mochalin, along with two Norwegians and a Bulgarian, face charges of document forgery and operating an insurance business without a permit. Investigations revealed Ro Marine deceived multiple countries, including Panama, using falsified credentials, severely undermining trust in the global shipping industry and even creating risks of military confrontation.

(www.nrk.no)

Tech international fraud maritime insurance

US Govt Cracks Down on Crypto Privacy, Bitcoin's Institutionalization Marches On

2025-09-12

The US Treasury and FinCEN are reportedly planning to outlaw CoinJoin, atomic swaps, and other Bitcoin privacy-enhancing techniques, drawing criticism for severely infringing on financial privacy. Simultaneously, Bitcoin is undergoing institutionalization, experiencing decreased volatility but also reduced upside potential. The article also briefly mentions a new bill for strategic Bitcoin reserves, an upcoming SEC crypto roundtable, and a proposal to use Bitcoin as a Martian trade standard.

(www.tftc.io)

Tech Bitcoin Privacy Institutional Investment

Michael Larabel: 20 Years of Linux Hardware Benchmarking

2025-09-12

Michael Larabel, founder and principal author of Phoronix.com, has dedicated over two decades to enhancing the Linux hardware experience since launching the site in 2004. He's penned over 20,000 articles covering Linux hardware support, performance, graphics drivers, and more. He's also the lead developer of prominent automated benchmarking software like the Phoronix Test Suite, Phoromatic, and OpenBenchmarking.org. His story is a testament to long-term commitment to open source and Linux.

(www.phoronix.com)

Tech

ICE Raid Delays Hyundai's EV Battery Plant Construction

2025-09-12

Construction of Hyundai's electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia has been delayed by at least two to three months following an ICE raid that detained 475 workers. The raid, which sparked outrage in South Korea, has prompted concerns about the impact on foreign investment in the US and the potential for further disruptions to other South Korean projects. The plant, a joint venture with LG Energy Solutions, is crucial for Hyundai's US vehicle production. The incident highlights the tension between immigration enforcement and attracting foreign investment for vital industries like electric vehicle manufacturing, potentially hindering the US's competitiveness in the global EV market.

(electrek.co)

Tech EV Battery Plant ICE Raid

AI Adoption Dips at Large US Firms: Is the Bubble Bursting?

2025-09-12

The AI industry has experienced rapid growth, but a new report reveals a decline in AI adoption among large US companies. The Census Bureau's bi-weekly Business Trends and Outlook survey shows a drop from 14% to 12% in AI adoption among firms with over 250 employees—the largest decrease since the survey began in 2023. This follows an MIT study finding that most corporate AI pilot programs failed to yield significant benefits. The trend fuels concerns about an impending AI bubble, suggesting AI might be less a vital corporate tool and more a trendy fad companies struggle to utilize effectively.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech corporate applications

Smartphone vs. Telescope: A Moon Photography Showdown

2025-09-12

The full moon is a captivating subject for photography, but how much difference does it make whether you use a smartphone or a telescope? This article compares images of the moon taken with a Samsung S25 smartphone and a Seestar S50 smart telescope. The smartphone surprisingly captured a clear image, showing major maria and craters. However, the telescope revealed significantly more detail, showcasing smaller craters and finer surface textures. This difference boils down to the telescope's superior light-gathering ability, stability, tracking, and dedicated optics. The conclusion? Smartphones make astrophotography accessible, but a telescope offers an unparalleled level of detail for those seeking a truly stunning image.

(www.4rknova.com)

Tech

Albania's AI Minister: Sun-Powered Anti-Corruption?

2025-09-12

Albania's new government is employing an AI-powered virtual minister named Diella (“sun” in Albanian) to oversee public procurement, aiming to combat widespread corruption. Previously a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, Diella will now manage government contracts with private companies. While intended to increase transparency and reduce graft, skepticism remains, with some fearing manipulation. Albania's EU accession bid is hampered by corruption, making the success of this AI initiative uncertain.

(www.straitstimes.com)

Tech anti-corruption public procurement

Roku's AI-Powered Ad Push: 100,000 Advertisers and Counting

2025-09-12

Roku is leveraging generative AI to dramatically expand its advertising reach, aiming to onboard 100,000 advertisers, a far cry from the current 200 top advertisers. This will fundamentally change the landscape of streaming ads, making them more similar to Instagram's diverse offerings. Roku's streaming service is booming, with viewing hours up 80% year-over-year, capturing over 20% of US TV viewership. To attract small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Roku is providing self-serve ad tools and AI-powered ad creation, but faces competition from other players in the space.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

Gmail Gets a Delivery Tab and Smarter Promotions

2025-09-12

Gmail is rolling out a major update, adding a dedicated "Purchases" tab to organize all your delivery emails in one place, accessible via the side menu on mobile and web. While the new tab centralizes deliveries, same-day packages will still appear as cards in your primary inbox with quick "See item" or "Track Package" buttons. Simultaneously, the Promotions tab is getting a 'Most Relevant' sorting option based on user interaction, plus timely nudges for expiring deals. These features will gradually roll out to personal Gmail accounts.

(www.engadget.com)

Tech Email Management

VMware's Decline? Gartner Predicts a Third of Workloads Will Migrate by 2028

2025-09-12

Gartner analyst Julia Palmer predicts that over one-third of workloads currently running on VMware will migrate to other platforms by 2028. Broadcom's revised VMware licensing program prevents hyperscalers from selling VMware subscriptions, pushing customers towards alternatives. Palmer advises cautious assessment and strategic migration choices, including Nutanix, public clouds, or Microsoft Azure Local, emphasizing application modernization. She cautions against cost-cutting as the sole migration driver and highlights the potential of VMware Cloud Foundation 9.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

Category: Tech