Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Google Expands AI-Powered Underage User Detection

2025-07-31

Google is expanding its AI-powered age estimation technology to US users to identify underage accounts. The system analyzes search history and YouTube viewing habits to estimate age. If a user is deemed under 18, restrictions are implemented, including limited YouTube recommendations, disabled Maps Timeline, no personalized ads, and blocked access to adult apps on the Play Store. Users can appeal misidentification by uploading ID. This move reflects a global push for stronger online child safety measures, with governments in the US and UK pressuring tech companies to enhance protections.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

Dropbox Kills Off Its Password Manager

2025-07-31

Dropbox is shutting down its password manager service by the end of October, prompting user backlash and criticism for its lack of consultation with paid subscribers. The company cites a focus on core product improvements as the reason. Launched in 2020, the password manager failed to gain significant traction in a competitive market. Dropbox's recent financial performance shows steady but slowing revenue growth, accompanied by several rounds of layoffs.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech service discontinuation

Google Leads the Charge: EU's AI Act Forces Big Tech to Adapt

2025-07-31

Facing tightening EU AI regulations, Google has proactively signed the EU's AI Code of Practice, aiming for a head start in navigating a complex legal landscape. Developed with input from over 1,000 stakeholders, the code offers AI firms more clarity. Google's commitment involves publishing training data summaries and disclosing model features to regulators, simplifying compliance. Companies not signing the code still face the stringent EU AI Act, with hefty fines for violations. This marks a significant shift in AI regulation and foreshadows major changes in the industry.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech AI Regulation

Musk's Boring Company to Build 10-Mile Loop in Nashville

2025-07-31

Elon Musk's The Boring Company plans to build a 10-mile underground loop connecting Nashville's downtown, convention center, and airport. Privately funded by the company and unnamed partners, the project aims for completion as early as fall 2026. While the Las Vegas project saw success, past ventures faced setbacks and safety concerns. The Nashville project's success remains uncertain, particularly regarding safety and construction speed.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech tunnel Nashville

Google Search Bug Used to Suppress News Article

2025-07-31

The Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) discovered that an article about a tech executive's campaign to stifle journalism had vanished from Google search results. Investigation revealed a bug in Google's 'Refresh Outdated Content' tool allowed manipulation of search results by altering URL capitalization, causing the article to be de-indexed. This method was used repeatedly to suppress information until FPF reported it to Google, leading to a swift fix. The incident raises concerns about transparency in Google's search algorithm and the potential for malicious use, highlighting the complexities of information manipulation.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech News Censorship Information Manipulation

Critical Vulnerability in Base44: Bypassing Authentication with Ease

2025-07-31

Wiz Research uncovered a critical vulnerability in Base44 (recently acquired by Wix), a popular vibe coding platform. Attackers could bypass authentication and access private applications and sensitive data using only a publicly available app_id. The vulnerability was remarkably easy to exploit and impacted enterprise applications including internal chatbots and automations. Wix quickly patched the vulnerability within 24 hours and confirmed no evidence of past abuse. This highlights the crucial need for strong security controls, such as authentication and secure API design, in AI-powered development platforms.

(www.wiz.io)

Tech Base44 Vulnerability

Negative Capacitance Breaks Through GaN Transistor Performance Barrier

2025-07-31

Scientists in California have discovered that integrating an electronic material exhibiting the unusual property of negative capacitance can help high-power gallium nitride (GaN) transistors overcome a performance bottleneck. Research suggests negative capacitance helps circumvent a physical limit that typically forces trade-offs between a transistor's performance in the 'on' and 'off' states. This research indicates that negative capacitance, extensively studied in silicon, may have broader applications than previously understood, potentially impacting GaN power electronics in 5G base stations and compact cellphone power adapters.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

Tech negative capacitance GaN transistor high-power electronics

Oxide Raises $100M Series B to Revolutionize On-Premises Cloud Computing

2025-07-31

Oxide, a cloud infrastructure company, announced a $100M Series B funding round led by USIT, with participation from existing investors. This brings Oxide's total funding to over $189M, solidifying its position as a leader in reimagining cloud computing hardware and software. Oxide is building an end-to-end solution for on-premises cloud computing, redesigning everything from the hardware to the software. Despite early market skepticism, Oxide's technical prowess and clear vision won over investors, leading to successful product launches and positive customer feedback. This funding will allow Oxide to scale its product offerings, manufacturing, system, and operations.

(oxide.computer)

Tech

Shorter Trains: A Cheap and Fast Way to Build Better Transit?

2025-07-31

This article argues that building shorter, more frequent trains is a cost-effective and time-efficient strategy for urban transit systems. Smaller stations drastically reduce construction costs and timelines. While individual train capacity is lower, increased frequency compensates. The author cites Vancouver Skytrain, London's DLR, and the Copenhagen Metro as successful examples, advocating for this approach in US and other city planning, particularly in Jersey City to boost its growth. The article cautions against building 'small trains' merely for the sake of it, emphasizing the importance of keeping the entire system small and simple to avoid costly mistakes.

(shakeddown.substack.com)

Tech light rail

Australian Rocket Crashes After 14 Seconds, Still Deemed a Success

2025-07-30

Australia's first attempt at an orbital launch from its own soil ended in a crash after just 14 seconds. The Eris rocket, developed by Gilmour Space Technologies, failed to reach orbit, but the company considers the launch a success due to the successful ignition and partial flight. This marks Australia's first orbital launch attempt in over 50 years and represents a significant step for the nation's burgeoning commercial space industry. Government funding has supported the project, aiming to boost Australia's space sector.

(apnews.com)

Tech Australian space program

Seattle's 8-Charger Nightmare: A Case Study in American Inefficiency

2025-07-30

A simple project to install eight electric vehicle charging stations in Seattle, initially slated for completion in March 2023, remains unfinished in July 2025. This article uses the project as a microcosm of American governmental inefficiency, highlighting bureaucratic red tape, vendor changes, and multiple redesigns as the culprits behind the delays. The author argues this inefficiency plagues both large-scale and small-scale infrastructure projects, hindering progress on climate change, housing, and economic growth. The inability to execute even such a basic undertaking points to a deeper systemic problem.

(www.brethorsting.com)

Tech

MIT's Atomic-Precision Double-Slit Experiment Proves Einstein Wrong (Again)

2025-07-30

MIT physicists have performed an idealized version of the double-slit experiment, demonstrating with atomic-level precision the wave-particle duality of light and proving Einstein incorrect on a key quantum scenario. Using individual atoms as slits and weak light beams, they controlled the information atoms received about the photon's path. The more path information obtained (particle-like behavior), the lower the interference pattern's visibility. This experiment eliminates extraneous factors from previous versions, clarifying the wave-particle duality and confirming quantum mechanical predictions. It's a stunningly precise confirmation of a fundamental quantum principle.

(news.mit.edu)

Tech double-slit experiment wave-particle duality

Reduced Antibiotic Use Linked to Rising Honeybee Death Rates in Canada

2025-07-30

A new study reveals a surprising finding: despite stricter regulations on antibiotics in Canadian beekeeping, honeybee death rates are climbing. Researchers discovered that reducing antibiotic use, contrary to expectations, led to a significant increase in overwintering mortality, suggesting a possible dependence on antibiotics. Air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide, was also identified as a contributing factor to colony loss. The study highlights the complex interplay between bee health, antibiotic use, and environmental factors, emphasizing the need for a 'One Health' approach incorporating antibiotic alternatives and addressing environmental pollutants to safeguard bee populations and global food security.

(news.uoguelph.ca)

Tech honeybee mortality

Trump Admin Seeks to Revoke Key Climate Change Finding

2025-07-30

The Trump administration proposed revoking the 2009 endangerment finding, which established that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, thus underpinning numerous climate regulations. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin claims this is the largest deregulation in US history, but environmental groups fiercely oppose it, arguing it ignores worsening climate disasters. The move could eliminate tailpipe emission limits and hamper future climate action, leading to likely legal challenges.

(apnews.com)

Tech

Saint Paul Hit by Crippling Cyberattack; National Guard Deployed

2025-07-30

Saint Paul, Minnesota's capital city, suffered a major cyberattack that disrupted online services, including online payments and some library and recreation center services. The attack, which lasted through the weekend, overwhelmed the city's and commercial cybersecurity firms' response capabilities. Governor Walz activated the National Guard's cybersecurity forces to assist in investigation and service restoration, ensuring the continuity of essential city services. This incident highlights the cybersecurity risks facing municipal infrastructure and the challenges of responding to large-scale cyberattacks.

(www.bleepingcomputer.com)

Tech National Guard

Apple's New Spam Filter: A $500M Headache for GOP Campaigns?

2025-07-30

Apple's iOS 16 update includes a new spam filter that automatically sorts texts from unknown numbers into a separate folder, raising concerns for US political campaigns. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) estimates this could cost them $25 million in lost revenue, with a potential $500 million loss across all GOP campaigns. Their concern stems from the fact that 70% of small-dollar donations come via text, and iPhones account for 60% of US mobile devices. While some view this as a privacy enhancement, the NRSC argues it disenfranchises voters and calls for a delay in the feature's rollout. Democrats, however, suggest the impact will primarily affect campaigns using deceptive fundraising tactics.

(www.businessinsider.com)

Tech text message filter political fundraising

Wyoming to Host Massive AI Data Center, Outpacing State's Total Household Energy Consumption

2025-07-30

Cheyenne, Wyoming will soon be home to a massive artificial intelligence data center. Initially consuming more electricity than all Wyoming households combined, the facility has the potential to expand fivefold. This joint venture between Tallgrass and Crusoe will start with 1.8 gigawatts of power, scalable to 10 gigawatts – enough to power a million homes. Wyoming, a major energy exporter, will supply the data center with power generated from natural gas and renewables. While data centers are energy intensive, using renewable sources mitigates climate impact. Though unconfirmed, the project is speculated to be related to OpenAI's 'Stargate' initiative, following the recent launch of a similarly massive OpenAI data center in Texas and plans for further expansion. The project's scale raises questions about potential increases in electricity bills for residents.

(apnews.com)

Tech

IndiGo's Near-Monopoly in India's Domestic Aviation Market

2025-07-30

India's domestic aviation market is dominated by IndiGo, holding a staggering 64.4% market share. This dominance, achieved through a decade of expansion and the struggles of competitors like SpiceJet and Air India, sees IndiGo holding a near-monopoly on 66% of its routes. Despite slowing demand and price pressures, IndiGo's low-cost model and international expansion strategy are strengthening its position. However, navigating reduced demand and pricing power from a near-monopolistic position presents significant challenges.

(indiadispatch.com)

Tech Indian Aviation Market Monopoly

Dropbox Password Manager Sunset: A Smooth Transition Guide

2025-07-30

Dropbox is sunsetting its password manager and recommends migrating to 1Password. This article details how to import data to 1Password or other providers, stressing data security throughout the process. It offers guidance for team administration and user notifications, assuring users their data remains secure during the transition and encouraging them to utilize other Dropbox security features.

(help.dropbox.com)

Tech

ACM's Transition to Full Open Access: A New Era for Computing Research

2025-07-30

ACM, a leader in computing research, is transitioning to a fully Open Access (OA) publishing model by the end of 2025. This significant move will make all ACM research freely available. The transition will be facilitated by ACM Open, a subscription model based on institutional publishing output, offering unlimited OA publishing and full access to the ACM Digital Library. This approach ensures sustainability while removing barriers to research and accelerating innovation. A Premium and Basic version of the ACM Digital Library will be offered starting in January 2026.

(www.acm.org)

Tech Computing Research

Unmasking I/Q Signals: The Mystery of Wireless Communication

2025-07-30

This article unveils the mystery behind I/Q signals, crucial in wireless communication but absent in traditional audio processing. It delves into the relationship between I/Q signals, sinusoidal waves, and the Fourier Transform. Using vector mathematics and the dot product, the article explains the orthogonality of I/Q signals and how they enable efficient modulation and demodulation. Finally, it clarifies why complex numbers are a more efficient way to represent I/Q signals in digital signal processing.

(wirelesspi.com)

Tech I/Q signals complex numbers

Stranded in Space: The Unexpected Health Toll of a Prolonged ISS Mission

2025-07-29

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are spending over 170 days on the International Space Station (ISS), far exceeding their original mission length. This article explores the various health impacts of prolonged space travel, including fluid redistribution causing swelling, vision impairment, bone loss, radiation exposure, and psychological challenges. A NASA study comparing astronaut Scott Kelly to his twin brother Mark, who remained on Earth, highlighted the effects of microgravity. Despite the challenges, the astronauts willingly endure these risks for the sake of space exploration, prompting ongoing NASA research for longer-duration missions.

(www.salon.com)

Tech

Wikipedia Fights Back Against UK's Online Safety Act

2025-07-29

The Wikimedia Foundation is legally challenging the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) Categorisation Regulations, arguing that they endanger Wikipedia and its volunteer contributors. The regulations risk classifying Wikipedia as a high-risk site, imposing stringent identity verification requirements that threaten contributor privacy and safety, and could cripple Wikipedia's operations. The Foundation contends this would severely impact global knowledge sharing and is urging the court to protect Wikipedia, a vital public resource. The case is supported by a UK-based volunteer contributor, highlighting the threat to free speech and knowledge sharing.

(wikimediafoundation.org)

Tech Freedom of Knowledge

Exploiting EOL Network Devices: A Junkyard Competition Win

2025-07-29

Researchers secured second place at DistrictCon's Junkyard competition by successfully exploiting two discontinued network devices: a Netgear WGR614v9 router and a BitDefender Box V1. Their exploit chains highlighted the persistent security risks of end-of-life (EOL) hardware, where unpatched vulnerabilities remain exploitable after manufacturer support ceases. The researchers detailed multiple vulnerabilities, including authentication bypasses, buffer overflows, and command injections, leading to remote root access on both devices. This research underscores the importance of considering manufacturer support lifecycles and community firmware options when selecting devices and highlights the ongoing security challenges posed by EOL IoT devices.

(blog.trailofbits.com)

Tech

EU Accuses Temu of Violating the Digital Services Act

2025-07-29

The European Commission has preliminarily found that Chinese e-commerce platform Temu is in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for failing to properly assess the risks of illegal products sold on its website. The investigation revealed a high risk of illegal products, such as dangerous toys and electronics, on Temu's platform, citing an inaccurate risk assessment from October 2024 and insufficient mitigation measures. The EU could impose a fine of up to 6% of Temu's global annual turnover. Temu stated it will continue cooperating with the European Commission. The EU is also investigating other suspected DSA violations by Temu, including the effectiveness of its mitigation measures, addictive design features, and data access.

(www.euronews.com)

Tech

Leverage Arbitrage Divergence: How Fast Actors Outpace Slow Systems

2025-07-29

This article explores the growing gap between the speed at which actors with different types of leverage (labor, capital, code) can change the world. Tech companies, wielding code leverage, rapidly alter societal norms, while slower-moving institutions struggle to adapt. This 'leverage arbitrage' leads to the over-exploitation of societal commons—democratic norms, social trust—and ultimately threatens civilizational stability. The solution, the author argues, lies in 'leverage literacy,' fostering organizations and decision-making processes that account for the diverse speeds of power dynamics to create a sustainable future.

(tushardadlani.com)

Tech leverage arbitrage institutional inertia

Blockchain: A Tech Utopia Illusion?

2025-07-29

Silicon Valley often presents technological solutions, such as blockchain, as neutral and universally beneficial. However, this article argues that definitions of "efficiency," "competition," and "security" are subjective and can even dismantle critical government infrastructure. Blockchain, a clunky database, fails to deliver on its promises of universality, instead serving primarily as a tool for unscrupulous individuals to profit, highlighting the emptiness of techno-solutionism.

(fintechdystopia.com)

Tech techno-solutionism

Denmark Revives Controversial Child Sexual Abuse Scanning Bill

2025-07-29

On its first day as EU President, Denmark has reintroduced a controversial bill aimed at scanning messaging services for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), dubbed 'Chat Control'. This proposal, which mandates scanning even encrypted chats, has failed to garner sufficient support since May 2022, raising concerns about privacy and the undermining of encryption. Denmark, a strong supporter, aims for adoption by October 14th, but details of compromises remain undisclosed. This move could significantly impact user privacy and data security, facing strong opposition from tech experts and privacy advocates.

(www.techradar.com)

Tech Child Sexual Abuse Material

Microsoft Edge Launches Copilot Mode: AI-Powered Browsing Reimagined

2025-07-29

Microsoft has released Copilot Mode for its Edge browser, an experimental feature leveraging AI to redefine web browsing. Copilot Mode integrates search, chat, and navigation into a single input box, understanding user intent for faster browsing. It analyzes context across open tabs, aiding in comparison, decision-making, and task completion. Copilot supports voice navigation and advanced actions (with user permission) accessing browser history and credentials for enhanced efficiency. Future improvements and features are planned, with the option to disable Copilot Mode in settings.

(blogs.windows.com)

Tech

Futurehome's Bait and Switch: Smart Home Devices Now Require Subscriptions

2025-07-29

Smart home company Futurehome is facing backlash after unexpectedly requiring a subscription for basic functionality of its previously one-time-purchase devices. Features like controlling devices, automations, and energy services now necessitate an annual 1,188 NOK (roughly $116.56) fee. This move has angered customers who feel deceived, as core functionality is now locked behind a paywall. While Futurehome claims the subscription covers server costs, users are frustrated by the loss of local control and the potential for future limitations on access, even to features that previously worked offline. The incident sparks a wider conversation about the sustainability and ethics of subscription-based models in the smart home market.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

Category: Tech