Lithuanian government warns about secret censorship features in Xiaomi phones - The Record
The NSA and CIA Use Ad Blockers Because Online Advertising Is So Dangerous
The news highlights the continued risk from the online advertising ecosystem. Some hackers leverage how adverts are delivered to send target devices malware. Data brokers and potentially intelligence agencies can leverage the ecosystem to gather information on devices and by extension people, sometimes including their physical location. The IC taking steps to protect itself from the dangers of the advertising ecosystem shows just how malicious it can be.
Apple and Google Remove ‘Navalny’ Voting App in Russia - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/17/world/europe/russia-navalny-app-election.html
The app, created by allies of the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, vanished from online stores, reflecting a new level of pressure against U.S. technology companies in the country.
Friday’s move could embolden the Kremlin as well as governments elsewhere in the world to use the threat of prosecuting employees to gain leverage against the companies. It presents a test of Silicon Valley ideals around free expression and an open internet, balanced not only against profit but against the safety of their workers.
Facebook Employees Flag Drug Cartels and Human Traffickers. The Company’s Response Is Weak, Documents Show. - WSJ
How Facebook Hobbled Mark Zuckerberg’s Bid to Get America Vaccinated - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-vaccinated-11631880296
Company documents show antivaccine activists undermined the CEO’s ambition to support the rollout by flooding the site and using Facebook’s own tools to sow doubt about the Covid-19 vaccine
Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchases, rules judge in Epic v. Apple - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store
In short, iOS apps must be allowed to direct users to payment options beyond those offered by Apple. The injunction is scheduled to take effect in 90 days — on December 9th — unless it is enjoined by a higher court.
Toyota pauses Paralympics self-driving buses after one hits visually impaired athlete - Self-driving cars - The Guardian
Japan’s Aramitsu Kitazono was left with cuts and bruises after being hit by the e-Palette vehicle at the athletes’ village