Meta has been discovered to be storing dormant facial recognition code in over 50 million phones through its companion app designed for Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses. This feature, known internally as NameTag, has the ability to match captured faces against a biometric gallery on the device, contradicting Meta’s previous statements about abandoning such technology after facing significant lawsuits related to biometric privacy.
In another development, xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, is facing a lawsuit regarding deepfake images created by its AI tool, Grok. The company is pushing for the plaintiffs to reveal their identities, which they argue could expose them to harassment and doxing. The plaintiffs have expressed their willingness to drop the lawsuit rather than risk such consequences.
Google has introduced a new Android feature to combat AI-driven impersonation scams which allows for a cryptographic verification of the caller, flagging potentially dangerous calls. This feature operates only when both the caller and receiver are using Google Dialer, limiting its effectiveness across platforms.
The Manhattan Institute is attempting to push legislation that would categorize minor offenses related to protests as felonies, branding this initiative as "civil terrorism." This is part of a broader conservative push in the U.S. regarding civil liberties and law enforcement tactics.
Research has unveiled a novel attack method named FROST, which exploits timing discrepancies in browser performance to fingerprint tabs and applications on devices. Though concerning, there is currently no evidence that this method has been leveraged for malicious purposes.
Additionally, a report revealed a troubling trend of crypto-funded peptide sales coming from Chinese labs, which have transitioned from selling fentanyl to these largely unregulated supplements, highlighting the intersection of illegal drug trade and cryptocurrency.
Moreover, hackers found a vulnerability in Meta’s AI support system, which allowed them to commandeer high-profile Instagram accounts by merely requesting access through the AI feature. This incident underscores the risks inherent in delegating security responsibilities to AI systems.
As technology firms evolve, the balance of security, privacy, and civil rights continues to be a focal point in both legislative and technological landscapes. For detailed insights on these stories, visit the relevant sources:
