New data privacy laws will let Brits erase childhood social posts

The UK’s Data Protection Act began looking long in the tooth some time ago. It was introduced in 1998 when the internet was a very different place, after all, and today the government has published more details on the upcoming Data Protection Bill, which will update laws to ensure they’re fit for the hyper-connected era. Delivering on a Conservative Party manifesto pledge, the bill will introduce a new right for people to instruct social networks to delete anything they posted before the age of 18.

This has been called the “right to innocence,” and will mean you can more easily purge social media activity that’s embarrassing or no longer reflects you as an adult. The power is part of a bigger expansion of existing “right to be forgotten” laws. Currently, you can only request that personal information be deleted — removed from Google search results, for example — if it causes significant distress, such as details of a petty crime you committed as a kid that are still following you decades later.

This right will be extended to any personal data you deem irrelevant or outdated, giving you much more control over your digital footprint. The definition of ‘personal data’ is also being widened to include IP addresses, internet cookies and DNA. The Data Protection Bill should also cut down on how much data you are producing and companies are collecting in the first place.

The bill introduces the concept of “privacy by default and design.” The idea is that online services like social networks mustn’t assume consent and enable the strictest privacy settings as a matter of course. Instead of having to dig through menus and opt-out of data collection schemes, or finding out after the fact you agreed to something undesirable buried in complex terms and conditions, you are offered the right to privacy “by default.” In other words, companies must be transparent about collecting and processing data, and get your explicit consent to do so.

In a similar vein, social networks will be required to seek the consent of parents/guardians before allowing anyone under the age of 13 to register an account, and make the process of withdrawing that consent simple. New rules also mean an individual can ask any company what data they hold on them and be provided that information free of charge. Where the automated processing of data builds a personal profile — such as a credit rating, for instance — people will be entitled to request that the data be reviewed by a human.

While it’s still unclear how this will work exactly, the Data Protection Bill introduces a requirement for “data portability.” This will mean companies have to create mechanisms by which you can ‘export’ all your personal data so you can use it elsewhere. Say you wanted to swap email provider. In that example, Yahoo will have to let you transfer all your emails, contacts and such to another service like Gmail — kind of how it’s pretty easy to move bookmarks between browsers.

The same will be true for cloud storage services, or fitness tracking apps that record heart rate data. Again, this concept hasn’t been fully fleshed out, but the idea is you shouldn’t be locked into using a specific service just because you’ve built up a data history with that service. By making it easy to move your data elsewhere, companies will be put under greater competitive pressure to retain users and customers by building the best or most affordable services.

As businesses will have all these new rules to play by, so will the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have to provide greater oversight. There’s a new requirement for companies processing large volumes of personal data to notify the ICO of any breach within 72 hours. Any business that doesn’t adhere to the tighter data protection laws could also face much higher penalties. The ICO can currently issue a maximum fine of £500,000. The Data Protection Bill raises that up to £17 million, or 4 percent of global turnover. A new offence will also be introduced in order to punish those “intentionally or recklessly re-identifying individuals from anonymised or pseudonymised data.”

While the Data Protection Bill is specific to UK law, it’s mostly intended to reflect the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was approved last year and comes into force in May 2018. The UK is still an EU member state at this point, of course; but post-Brexit, the new Data Protection Act will ensure our laws are on par with the rest of Europe. Having the same privacy standards across the region means there shouldn’t be any barriers to the movement of data, whether that be between businesses, services or law enforcement agencies.

Via: BBC

Source: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (1), (2) (PDF)

Slooh’s stargazing telescope livestreams now free to view

If you enjoy watching nature livestreams (and let’s face it, who hasn’t put on a panda cam at least one or twice while toiling away), then you may love today’s announcement. Slooh, an online astronomy community that has a network of telescopes, is now making virtual viewing free.

Slooh’s aim is to bring outer space to your fingertips; it owns two telescopes in Chile and seven in the Canary Islands. It allows its paid members to book time to control these telescopes. You can secure 5 reservations per month (5–10 minutes in length) for $5 per month or an unlimited number of reservations for $25 per month. Other Slooh members can sit back and watch online, but until today, they were required to pay for the privilege. Now the organization has opened up viewing for free; all you have to do is register to view live streams of outer space.

Right now, some of Slooh’s telescopes are offline due to dust in the air, and obviously when it’s daylight at a telescope’s location, it will be dormant. To join Slooh’s community, you can register on their website. You’ll be taken to a payment page, which offers a 30-day trial of the $5/month tier, but you can move ahead with a free account by clicking the “Continue Exploring the Community” option. You can’t control the telescopes, and the number of photos you’ll be able to take is limited, but hey, it’s hard to complain about a free account.

Via: The Verge

Netflix acquires Mark Millar’s comics publishing house (updated)

Mark Millar is a well-known name in the world of comics, which is why today’s announcement is such a big deal. Netflix has revealed that it’s acquired Millarworld, Millar’s comic book empire, and will be creating original movies and TV shows from the content. It’s Netflix’s first acquisition.

The terms of the deal haven’t yet been disclosed, but presumably Millar and his wife, Lucy Millar (who co-runs Millarworld), will be involved in production. Kingsman, Kick-Ass and Wanted have already been turned into feature films (the second Kingsman movie releases on September 22), so it’s unclear how the deal will treat these existing properties.

Note that this doesn’t include Millar’s seminal work at Marvel, including storylines such as Old Man Logan, Civil War and The Ultimates, or at DC Comics. These remain the property of the comic book companies. This deal covers only Millar’s creator-owned work.

Netflix has been identifying less as a streaming service and more as a powerhouse for TV and movie production, and adding Mark Millar’s properties (and his name, which is arguably more valuable) to their roster is no small achievement. Millar has penned some now-classic comics, and it will be interesting to see what Netflix does with them. All in all, it’s a pretty good time to be a comics fan with a Netflix subscription.

Update: According to a statement from Mark Millar on the Millarworld forums, the Netflix deal does not include the Kingsman or Kick-Ass properties: “Kingsman and Kick-Ass have unique Hollywood deals elsewhere and aren’t a part of this particular acquisition, but those two fine men are toasting us in spirit from London and California respectively.” The headline of this post has been updated to reflect the clarification.

Dreams were how we got started. pic.twitter.com/5w2DOVykji

— Netflix US (@netflix) August 7, 2017

Source: Netflix

Vizio adds Amazon Video to its list of SmartCast TV apps

Earlier this week, we reported that Vizio was finally integrating Smart TV apps directly into its displays; previously, owners of these Vizio models used an included Android tablet to download apps and cast to their TV. Now, Vizio has announced another app will be added to its onboard SmartCast TV platform: Amazon Video.

If you aren’t planning on buying a new Vizio set with the software already installed, owners of 2017 models will receive the updated platform in a software update. It’s rolling out now to P and M series Ultra HD displays; E series TVs will be updated sometime later this year.

As a Vizio TV owner, I actually find the tablet/cast option much more convenient than using onboard services. However, Vizio must have come to the conclusion that their sets were less competitive (despite the attractive pricing) than competitors’ because of these missing integrations. It’s always nice to see manufacturers adding, rather than taking away, features at the same price point. While I won’t be using this, it’s likely that there are at least a few Vizio users out there excited by this development.

Source: Vizio

‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ add-on ‘The Frozen Wilds’ lands November 7th

Guerilla Games still isn’t saying much about what Horizon Zero Dawn’s upcoming The Frozen Wilds expansion will contain, but at least you know when you’ll get your hands on it. The studio has revealed that its big DLC will arrive on November 7th — appropriately, just ahead of winter. You’ll hear more about Frozen Wilds closer to launch, but the company is teasing “new, highly lethal machines” for Aloy to fight in addition to the namesake tundra and a fresh story. All we know for sure: if Guerrilla can maintain the production quality from the base game, you’ll have something to look forward to in several weeks.

Source: PlayStation Blog

Apple Joins Instagram to Share ‘Shot on iPhone’ Photos From Users Around the World

Apple has officially joined Instagram.

The company opened the followable account @Apple today that will exclusively feature curated photos and videos from iPhone users around the world, according to Mashable. The report said Apple won’t share any ads or marketing on the account, which has already quickly amassed thousands of followers.

Apple’s presence on Instagram had been limited to ads, without a followable account, and an @AppleMusic account. Apple has traditionally shied away from social networks, with blank accounts on Facebook and Twitter that, for now, exist to serve ads. The company also runs @AppleSupport on Twitter.

A look through the lens of iPhone users around the world. Tag #ShotoniPhone to take part. – Words and images by @koci, @itsreuben, @danilo, @_xst, @subwayhands, @marcelonava, @brockdavis, @lanadeathray, @thesdcowgirl, @inomad, @_yaisyusman_, @dawn_denfeld, @pauloctavious, @jeremysnell, @laurazazanis, @ryanpernofski, @abstractconformity, @mirafilm, @joez19, @daniil, @oli_op, @fotombo, @j9ryl, @tertiusalio, @maggiefortsonphoto, @trevorpaulhus, @rodrigomartinezfotos, @louiegraphy, @vmiura, @lfleischer, @vasjenkatro, @stevenxuex, @ianteraoka, @easonhsiung, @omidscheybani, @tamon_, @jaywilliamsphotography, @holephoto, @bigheadtaco, @mamacaxx

A post shared by apple (@apple) on Aug 7, 2017 at 5:15am PDT

Apple tells Instagram followers to use the hashtag #ShotoniPhone for a chance to have their photos and videos shared in one of the galleries.

Tags: Instagram, Shot on iPhone
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France and Germany Prepare Crackdown on Tax Loopholes With Tech Companies Like Apple in Sights

France and Germany are looking to stop tech companies like Apple from exploiting tax loopholes in their respective countries. The loopholes are said to have allowed Apple to “minimize taxes and grab market share” at the expense of Europe-based companies.

France will draft and propose a list of “simpler rules” that will be aimed at creating a “real taxation” law for non-European companies, which also include Amazon and Facebook (via Bloomberg).

The new rules will be looked at in September during a meeting of European Union officials, which French finance minister Bruno Le Maire hopes will help speed up Europe-wide initiatives related to properly taxing international companies. Germany is said to be looking into similar proposals following its national election on September 24.

French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the leaders behind the tax crackdown on international tech companies, with a goal of bringing a more unified corporate tax system across the nineteen euro area states.

The clampdown on tech firms is part of President Emmanuel Macron’s muscular approach to ensuring a level playing field, after seeing first hand during his election campaign how French firms struggle to compete with countries where taxes and social security payments are lower.

“Europe must learn to defend its economic interest much more firmly — China does it, the U.S. does it,” French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said. “You cannot take the benefit of doing business in France or in Europe without paying the taxes that other companies — French or European companies — are paying.”

In similar news, last year the European Commission ruled that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland and ordered the company to pay $14.5 billion in back taxes. Apple admitted that it expects the case to continue for several years, and eventually appealed the decision in December of 2016 by arguing the European Commission made “fundamental errors” in its ruling.

If the new crackdown on tax loopholes goes into effect, Apple could potentially face more tax avoidance charges, which company CEO Tim Cook called “total political crap” in the wake of the Ireland-related ruling. In an open letter around the same time, Cook said that Apple has become “the largest taxpayer in the world,” stating that the company “follows the law and we pay all the taxes we owe.” He called the European Commission’s ruling an “effort to rewrite Apple’s history in Europe,” and said that any claim that Ireland gave Apple a “special deal” on taxes “has no basis in fact or in law.”

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: France, Germany, tax
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Samsung boss may face 12 years in prison over bribery charges

After being charged back in February (and a month’s stint in jail), Samsung’s acting head Lee Jae-yong could now face up to twelve further years in prison over his role in a corruption scandal that forced South Korea’s president out of office. Prosecutors are looking for a heavy sentence as Samsung’s involvement points to the connections and corruption between South Korea’s government and its powerful (often family-controlled) companies. As The Guardian notes, Samsung’s total revenues (it’s not just an electronics firm), are almost a fifth of the country’s GDP.

Lee is officially Samsung’s vice-president but has run the company since his father, and company president, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack a few years ago. The vice-president told the court: “I have never asked anyone, including the president, for anything for the company or my personal gain.”
He said the trial had been “unjust”, but added that as Samsung grew bigger and more powerful, “the stricter and higher the expectations [were] from the public and society”.

Lee allegedly offered $38m (£29m) in bribes to four foundations, which were setup to support then-President Park’s policy initiatives. After this, Lee then allegedly moved to gain government approval for a $8 billion merger of two different Samsung companies in 2015 — one that was opposed by many shareholders, but was passed due to support from the government’s national pension fund. The court will deliver its verdict in a few weeks, on August 25th.

Source: The Guardian

Sylvania HomeKit-Equipped Multicolor Bluetooth Smart Bulb Now Available for Pre-Order

LEDVANCE’s HomeKit-compatible Sylvania Smart A19 Full Color LED Bulb is now available for pre-order, with deliveries expected to start in September.

First introduced late last year, Sylvania’s new bulb connects to a HomeKit setup over Bluetooth, so no hub or WiFi connection is necessary. It’s a multicolored bulb, so it can be set to several different shades of white or a range of different colors, much like the well-known Philips Hue color bulbs.

We were able to go hands-on with the Sylvania Smart Bulb ahead of its launch, and it works well. As with any HomeKit product, setup takes just a couple of minutes and is as simple as screwing the bulb into a lamp. It’s about as bright as a Hue bulb and the color can be adjusted through the Home app. Color wise, its range is similar to the Hue, though some of the shades are not quite as deep (especially greens and purples).

The benefit to the Sylvania bulb is its ability to connect over Bluetooth, alleviating the need for a hub. Early on, Bluetooth HomeKit products were slow and prone to not working, but those issues have long since been worked out. The Sylvania bulb responds quickly and works anywhere in the house. It also works when away from home if there’s an Apple TV or an iPad to serve as a home hub.

Like all HomeKit-equipped products, the new Sylvania bulb responds to Siri commands and can be used with scenes and timers for automation.

“Our approach is unique in the Smart industry because we focus on delivering quality lighting products first and only then adding Smart functionality second. Our customers expect their Smart lighting to not only work with the latest and greatest technology ecosystems, but to look good while doing it,” added Ganick. “Our products combine over a century of lighting expertise with our forward-thinking, high tech mentality. That’s why they aren’t just Smart, they are SYLVANIA SMART+.”

The Sylvania Smart A19 Full Color LED Bulb can be pre-ordered from Amazon for $44.99.

Later this year, LEDVANCE plans to release an Indoor Full Color Flex Strip, an A19 Soft White Light Bulb, and a Plug, all of which will be HomeKit compatible and will be available at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

Tags: HomeKit, Sylvania
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Potential ‘Copper Gold’ iPhone 8 Color Depicted in New Images

In July, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made the claim that the OLED iPhone 8 will come in fewer color options than LCD models of the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, in a bid by Apple to maintain the iPhone 8’s “boutique image.” Kuo never made it clear exactly how many colorways that might entail, and a few new images today provide a glimpse into one potential possibility, although their credibility remains uncertain.

Shared on the popular Chinese microblogging site Weibo (via MyDrivers), three new images depict three separate models of the iPhone 8. One is the expected black version, another is white, and the last is what’s described as a “champagne gold” option that’s said to be “closer in copper” in its color. The new colorway is also visually similar to current rose gold iPhones.

Due to the nearly bezel-less design of the iPhone 8, an all-black iPhone would provide an even more seamless blending into the device’s OLED screen. For this reason, black iPhone 8 components have been spotted more frequently in the supply chain, suggesting Apple might only release the device in black, or at least in shades of black. A white or gold-type version would have bezels that more directly clash with the OLED display, particularly when it’s turned off.

While the images provide an interesting look at a potential new iPhone 8 color, their veracity remains in question. Besides the vertical dual-lens rear camera and slightly elongated lock button, they don’t show any other sides of the iPhone 8 that would support previous rumors. There’s also no indication as to whether they are components directly taken from the supply chain, or if they are dummy models made by non-Apple suppliers based on recent rumors.

In separate color-related iPhone 8 news, leaker Benjamin Geskin last month claimed that Apple will make the OLED iPhone 8 available in four colorways, with a “mirror” shade pitched as the new option. Although the recently released HomePod firmware has yet to hint at any iPhone 8 color details, it’s provided information on a wealth of other topics, including the general design of the new smartphone and advanced facial recognition features.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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