Month: July 2024
Meta to pay $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over facial recognition and photo tags
Image: The Verge
Texas announced a massive settlement with Meta over the use of facial recognition on Facebook, resolving a lawsuit filed in 2022 claiming that the “Tag Suggestions” feature on photos uploaded to Facebook violated the state’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier (CUBI) Act and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Meta has agreed to pay $1.4 billion over five years to settle the suit, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office said today.
It’s the largest settlement ever resulting from an action brought by a single state, according to Paxton. It’s also the first lawsuit and settlement under CUBI and serves as a warning to other companies in violation of the state’s privacy rights, he says.
“Any abuse of Texans’ sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law,” Paxton said in a press release.
At issue are suggestions Facebook made for tagging people on photos. “In 2011, Meta rolled out a new feature, initially called Tag Suggestions, that it claimed would improve the user experience by making it easier for users to ‘tag’ photographs with the names of people in the photo,” according to the press release.
That was two years after Texas passed the CUBI Act, which prohibits companies from capturing biometric data like face geometry without receiving prior informed consent. Facebook turned on tag suggestions automatically — “capturing and using the personal biometric data of millions of Texans without the authorization required by law,” the attorney general’s office says.
The suit initially sought $25,000 in civil penalties per CUBI violation plus an added $10,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, The Verge previously reported. Those penalties could have reached hundreds of billions of dollars, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2022.
The company did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement. In 2017, Facebook introduced an “on/off” control for tag suggestions, which it replaced with broader facial recognition settings in 2019. Then, it stopped automated facial tagging in photos in 2021.
“We are pleased to resolve this matter, and look forward to exploring future opportunities to deepen our business investments in Texas, including potentially developing data centers,” Meta spokesperson Christopher Sgro said in an email.
Image: The Verge
Texas announced a massive settlement with Meta over the use of facial recognition on Facebook, resolving a lawsuit filed in 2022 claiming that the “Tag Suggestions” feature on photos uploaded to Facebook violated the state’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier (CUBI) Act and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Meta has agreed to pay $1.4 billion over five years to settle the suit, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office said today.
It’s the largest settlement ever resulting from an action brought by a single state, according to Paxton. It’s also the first lawsuit and settlement under CUBI and serves as a warning to other companies in violation of the state’s privacy rights, he says.
“Any abuse of Texans’ sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law,” Paxton said in a press release.
At issue are suggestions Facebook made for tagging people on photos. “In 2011, Meta rolled out a new feature, initially called Tag Suggestions, that it claimed would improve the user experience by making it easier for users to ‘tag’ photographs with the names of people in the photo,” according to the press release.
That was two years after Texas passed the CUBI Act, which prohibits companies from capturing biometric data like face geometry without receiving prior informed consent. Facebook turned on tag suggestions automatically — “capturing and using the personal biometric data of millions of Texans without the authorization required by law,” the attorney general’s office says.
The suit initially sought $25,000 in civil penalties per CUBI violation plus an added $10,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, The Verge previously reported. Those penalties could have reached hundreds of billions of dollars, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2022.
The company did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement. In 2017, Facebook introduced an “on/off” control for tag suggestions, which it replaced with broader facial recognition settings in 2019. Then, it stopped automated facial tagging in photos in 2021.
“We are pleased to resolve this matter, and look forward to exploring future opportunities to deepen our business investments in Texas, including potentially developing data centers,” Meta spokesperson Christopher Sgro said in an email.
I really want to like Star Wars Outlaws
When I attended the first hands-off briefing for Star Wars Outlaws at Summer Game Fest 2023, I left Ubisoft’s demo room on a high, thinking this could be the piece of media that finally pulls me into the Star Wars universe. I loved the focus on a solo protagonist, Kay Vess, and her cute merqaal pet, Nix. I adored the fact that developers said the game would tell a cohesive, linear story, rather than throwing players into an unfocused open world and calling it AAA. I was eager to get my hands on it.
Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to access two different previews of Star Wars Outlaws, and my initial excitement has been tempered. It’s not completely extinguished, but the slices that I’ve played have reinforced a bloaty vibe underpinned by unclear navigation and generic combat. I still think Star Wars Outlaws is a pretty game with interesting character designs and environments, but I’m now less hopeful about everything else it’s offering — you know, the elements that haven’t been plucked directly out of the existing Star Wars universe.
Ubisoft
The sections I’ve played of Star Wars Outlaws span cosmic dogfights, parkour levels in metal-lined space stations and military bases, and stealth missions against roaming Stormtroopers and interstellar criminal factions. I also hopped on a speeder and had a great time flying over the dunes of Toshara with Nix on the back of my bike; one thing I’m definitely looking forward to in the full game is entering hovercraft races.
As for the bits I actually played, I would describe the overall theme as confusing. I encountered a head-scratching moment in the first minutes of my initial preview at Summer Game Fest 2024 in June: I crawled through a busted, rocky base and found myself at the mouth of a cliffside cave, the mountain too steep to climb down and the ground too far away for a leap of faith. I stood there and searched for an indication of where to go next, scanning the scenery from side to side and top to bottom, but nothing jumped out. So, I jumped.
This was the incorrect move, and I died and reset. After searching the edge of the cave for a few more minutes and second-guessing whether I was in the proper location, a Ubisoft spokesperson pointed out a strip of coiled metal high above my head — literally as far up as Kay’s field of view would go and blended in with the foliage. An inconspicuous white label identified it as an interactable object, but the entire thing was incredibly easy to miss. I pushed R3 on the controller and hooked onto it with my grappling gun, feeling incredibly dumb. Unfortunately, this was a repeated experience (and feeling) throughout the preview levels.
Engadget
One of the selling points of Star Wars Outlaws is its parkour-style mechanics, where Kay climbs metal grids, slides along shallow ledges by her fingertips and uses her grappling hook to swing across gaps. However, these mechanics are hit-or-miss, draining the flow from any attempted parkour action. The climbable grids are highlighted in a dull yellow that doesn’t exactly stand out against rusted metal walls, and even when Kay jumps directly to them, she sometimes fails to connect. This happened to me during both previews, in different sections of the game, and the second instance led me to think the grid wasn’t actually climbable at all. I wasted a good chunk of time farting around the affected area before considering another jump to the grid. It worked, but the loop left me frustrated.
I don’t mind some enmeshed, not-obvious traversal points in my games, but Star Wars Outlaws seems to take this idea too far.
Navigating the environments was also weirdly challenging. I got lost in multiple areas in my previews, even with a responsive HUD and highlighted objective markers on the screen the whole time. The little yellow indicator was difficult to follow through maze-like settlements filled with similar-looking stalls, stairwells and hallways, and tracking objectives only got harder once blaster fights broke out. I never want to wonder where the hell I’m supposed to be going in the middle of intense combat, but Star Wars Outlaws served up this situation multiple times.
Ubisoft
I enjoyed some sections of the game just fine, particularly the final mission that I played. On the icy planet Kijimi, I snuck into a protected, two-story ballroom on a mission to steal an object in the center of the space. Nix is always by Kay’s side and he can be instructed to collect shinies, flip switches, and distract or attack enemies, and I made him do all of these things during this mission. The stealth mechanics in Star Wars Outlaws are straightforward — crouch to be sneaky — and enemies are generally oblivious unless you’re directly in their line of sight. In rooms with two enemies, it’s best to send Nix after one guard while silently taking down the other, and then finish off the attacked, disoriented foe as Nix scurries away. I employed this tactic to great success, and even once a blaster battle broke out anyway, I had a good time lobbing grenades and landing headshots in this level.
My time on Kijimi gives me hope that maybe I just need a few uninterrupted hours with Star Wars Outlaws for the game to really click. I’m intrigued by its reputation system, where players can track their standing with various interstellar criminal networks, altering the level of access Kay will have with the associated areas and characters. Hacking doors and safes involves a screwdriver and a little rhythm game, and the process is satisfying every time. The speeder controls well and I’m stoked to try out some actual races once I practice a little more. Space battles are dizzying and perfectly serviceable. Nix is adorable in every situation. There’s plenty to look forward to here, but I can’t forget the frustration that’s seemingly built into the climbing mechanics, grappling hook and nav system.
Ubisoft
I’m concerned that Star Wars Outlaws has fallen victim to classic AAA bloat, offering a big universe of mediocre experiences, some of them half-functional and the rest lacking depth or innovation. In the game’s previews, there are hints that this is the case. As always though, I’m prepared to be surprised.
If I had advice for anyone interested in Star Wars Outlaws — and this still includes me, just barely — it would be this: Look up. Like way up.
Star Wars Outlaws will hit PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 30.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/i-really-want-to-like-star-wars-outlaws-160032476.html?src=rss
When I attended the first hands-off briefing for Star Wars Outlaws at Summer Game Fest 2023, I left Ubisoft’s demo room on a high, thinking this could be the piece of media that finally pulls me into the Star Wars universe. I loved the focus on a solo protagonist, Kay Vess, and her cute merqaal pet, Nix. I adored the fact that developers said the game would tell a cohesive, linear story, rather than throwing players into an unfocused open world and calling it AAA. I was eager to get my hands on it.
Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to access two different previews of Star Wars Outlaws, and my initial excitement has been tempered. It’s not completely extinguished, but the slices that I’ve played have reinforced a bloaty vibe underpinned by unclear navigation and generic combat. I still think Star Wars Outlaws is a pretty game with interesting character designs and environments, but I’m now less hopeful about everything else it’s offering — you know, the elements that haven’t been plucked directly out of the existing Star Wars universe.
The sections I’ve played of Star Wars Outlaws span cosmic dogfights, parkour levels in metal-lined space stations and military bases, and stealth missions against roaming Stormtroopers and interstellar criminal factions. I also hopped on a speeder and had a great time flying over the dunes of Toshara with Nix on the back of my bike; one thing I’m definitely looking forward to in the full game is entering hovercraft races.
As for the bits I actually played, I would describe the overall theme as confusing. I encountered a head-scratching moment in the first minutes of my initial preview at Summer Game Fest 2024 in June: I crawled through a busted, rocky base and found myself at the mouth of a cliffside cave, the mountain too steep to climb down and the ground too far away for a leap of faith. I stood there and searched for an indication of where to go next, scanning the scenery from side to side and top to bottom, but nothing jumped out. So, I jumped.
This was the incorrect move, and I died and reset. After searching the edge of the cave for a few more minutes and second-guessing whether I was in the proper location, a Ubisoft spokesperson pointed out a strip of coiled metal high above my head — literally as far up as Kay’s field of view would go and blended in with the foliage. An inconspicuous white label identified it as an interactable object, but the entire thing was incredibly easy to miss. I pushed R3 on the controller and hooked onto it with my grappling gun, feeling incredibly dumb. Unfortunately, this was a repeated experience (and feeling) throughout the preview levels.
One of the selling points of Star Wars Outlaws is its parkour-style mechanics, where Kay climbs metal grids, slides along shallow ledges by her fingertips and uses her grappling hook to swing across gaps. However, these mechanics are hit-or-miss, draining the flow from any attempted parkour action. The climbable grids are highlighted in a dull yellow that doesn’t exactly stand out against rusted metal walls, and even when Kay jumps directly to them, she sometimes fails to connect. This happened to me during both previews, in different sections of the game, and the second instance led me to think the grid wasn’t actually climbable at all. I wasted a good chunk of time farting around the affected area before considering another jump to the grid. It worked, but the loop left me frustrated.
I don’t mind some enmeshed, not-obvious traversal points in my games, but Star Wars Outlaws seems to take this idea too far.
Navigating the environments was also weirdly challenging. I got lost in multiple areas in my previews, even with a responsive HUD and highlighted objective markers on the screen the whole time. The little yellow indicator was difficult to follow through maze-like settlements filled with similar-looking stalls, stairwells and hallways, and tracking objectives only got harder once blaster fights broke out. I never want to wonder where the hell I’m supposed to be going in the middle of intense combat, but Star Wars Outlaws served up this situation multiple times.
I enjoyed some sections of the game just fine, particularly the final mission that I played. On the icy planet Kijimi, I snuck into a protected, two-story ballroom on a mission to steal an object in the center of the space. Nix is always by Kay’s side and he can be instructed to collect shinies, flip switches, and distract or attack enemies, and I made him do all of these things during this mission. The stealth mechanics in Star Wars Outlaws are straightforward — crouch to be sneaky — and enemies are generally oblivious unless you’re directly in their line of sight. In rooms with two enemies, it’s best to send Nix after one guard while silently taking down the other, and then finish off the attacked, disoriented foe as Nix scurries away. I employed this tactic to great success, and even once a blaster battle broke out anyway, I had a good time lobbing grenades and landing headshots in this level.
My time on Kijimi gives me hope that maybe I just need a few uninterrupted hours with Star Wars Outlaws for the game to really click. I’m intrigued by its reputation system, where players can track their standing with various interstellar criminal networks, altering the level of access Kay will have with the associated areas and characters. Hacking doors and safes involves a screwdriver and a little rhythm game, and the process is satisfying every time. The speeder controls well and I’m stoked to try out some actual races once I practice a little more. Space battles are dizzying and perfectly serviceable. Nix is adorable in every situation. There’s plenty to look forward to here, but I can’t forget the frustration that’s seemingly built into the climbing mechanics, grappling hook and nav system.
I’m concerned that Star Wars Outlaws has fallen victim to classic AAA bloat, offering a big universe of mediocre experiences, some of them half-functional and the rest lacking depth or innovation. In the game’s previews, there are hints that this is the case. As always though, I’m prepared to be surprised.
If I had advice for anyone interested in Star Wars Outlaws — and this still includes me, just barely — it would be this: Look up. Like way up.
Star Wars Outlaws will hit PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 30.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/i-really-want-to-like-star-wars-outlaws-160032476.html?src=rss
Rising Energy Costs Have Most Americans Concerned. Solar Panels Might Be the Answer
A recent CNET survey finds 78% of Americans are stressed about rising energy costs this summer. Experts say, solar panels can help you take control.
A recent CNET survey finds 78% of Americans are stressed about rising energy costs this summer. Experts say, solar panels can help you take control.
‘Star Wars Outlaws’ preview: Fine but forgettable
Mashable spent four hours previewing ‘Star Wars Outlaws,’ and found it to be a fairly standard video game in a Star Wars skin.
Previewing a video game prior to its release is a bit like dipping your fingers in cake batter. You can get a fair idea of the flavour, the ingredients, and what it’s aiming to be, but any impressions come with the caveat that it still hasn’t been baked.
Star Wars Outlaws is like a cake mix in a box. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. The beauty of a box mix is that it’s specifically designed to deliver enjoyable, commercially safe results without demanding much effort on your part. However, while pleasant enough, such confections are rarely memorable beyond the point of consumption.
If all you want is to turn your brain off and enjoy some fairly generic gameplay with a Star Wars skin, Star Wars Outlaws may have you covered. But if you were hoping for something richer with a bit more heart, you’ll have a better time if you readjust your expectations now.
Sneaking through Star Wars Outlaws
Credit: Ubisoft
Developed by Ubisoft Studio Massive Entertainment, Star Wars Outlaws follows Kay Vess, a space scoundrel whose creation was clearly inspired by her more famous predecessor Han Solo. Left with a bounty on her head after a job gone wrong, Kay assembles a team to pull off a massive heist in hopes of paying off the syndicate of space criminals pursuing her.
Mashable didn’t get quite that far in the four hours we spent previewing Star Wars Outlaws, which is set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Instead, we explored the savannah moon Toshara and snuck around the snowy planet of Kijimi largely solo — barring Kay’s furry, axolotl-like, alien pet Nix (and yes, you can pet the alien).
Stealth features significantly in Star Wars Outlaws‘ gameplay, befitting Kay’s occupation as a space thief. While my blaster was certainly required at times, I preferred and was largely encouraged to avoid battles where possible. Instead, I crouched behind boxes and crept outside of sight lines to pilfer equipment or information, accessing encrypted files via a Wordle-like symbol deduction minigame.
Stealth features significantly in ‘Star Wars Outlaws’ gameplay, befitting Kay’s occupation as a space thief.
Nix was invaluable to these criminal escapades, and a clear highlight of Star Wars Outlaws‘ gameplay. Capable of attacking or distracting enemies, stealing items, and even activating panels, Kay’s merqaal companion makes it much easier to sneak through areas undetected. I enjoyed sending Nix to latch onto peoples’ faces so I could knock them out without raising the alarm. He also seemed to have fair self-preservation instincts, so I never had to worry about his safety in a firefight.
My sneaky efforts were further assisted by my enemies’ frequently questionable peripheral vision, situational awareness, and ability to detect downed colleagues. This made covertly taking down enemies much easier than it could have been, making me feel relatively accomplished, though I got the impression that I wasn’t exactly contending with the brightest stars in the galaxy.
Into the air vent, flyboy
Credit: Ubisoft
I appreciated that Star Wars Outlaws sometimes offers multiple avenues through which you can achieve your set objective. For example, I could try to rustle up enough credits to pay for access to a restricted area, or simply find a way to sneak in. I initially went for the former, but the gambling mini-game cut me off after I’d only bet on a few space horse races, leaving me without enough for the buy-in on space cards.
Fortunately, I ended up finding a handy dandy Kay-sized air vent leading to the area, which allowed me to save my meagre stash of credits. You’ll likely spend a notable amount of time searching for and crawling through vents in Star Wars Outlaws, which are rather useful for infiltrating places you aren’t authorised to enter. Seasoned criminal organisations should really have tighter security.
Vents are also a good indicator that you’re probably going in the right direction. I had notable difficulty with navigation in Star Wars Outlaws‘ open world. Despite the direction markers at the top of the screen, there’s a relative lack of visual prompts, and it was often unclear exactly how to get where I needed to go. More than once I found myself wandering in circles. While Star Wars Outlaws does use colour to signify climbable surfaces, I found the slight yellow hue so subtle that it often blended with the rest of the scenery, especially when the lighting is also yellow. As a result it’s easy to miss areas you can climb, or erroneously attempt to climb surfaces that are merely decorative.
I further found the boundaries of where I was and wasn’t allowed to go weren’t always clear. Occasionally I found myself unceremoniously thrown out of areas with no warning, having wandered too close to its entrance guards. Not only was this annoying, it also cost me reputation points with the affronted criminal faction.
Star Wars Outlaws makes you the most important outlaw in the galaxy
Credit: Ubisoft
Though the Zerek Besh are Star Wars Outlaws‘ primary antagonists, Kay will also encounter other criminal organisations such as the Pyke Syndicate and Crimson Dawn. These space gangs do not get along, so you’ll have to balance your relationships. Taking on jobs, sharing information, and getting caught infiltrating gang territory can all impact your standing with each faction, and sometimes you’ll have to pick a side. This in turn affects your access to quests, areas, and gear from these syndicates.
Fortunately for you, it isn’t difficult to begin earning these criminals’ approval. There’s a lot of talk about suspicion and betrayal, yet everyone seems largely happy to trust Kay immediately. Maybe not with larger jobs, which you’ll only be able to access once you’ve built up a good reputation. Yet warring criminal factions will still entrust Kay with sensitive missions and confidential information despite her being a complete stranger.
The effect is jarring considering that almost everyone around you speaks as though you’re embroiled in an environment of deep suspicion. It feels distinctly like playing pretend, which doesn’t help with immersion.
Yet it all makes sense if you simply remind yourself: this is very clearly a video game, and Kay is very clearly the protagonist.
A flat Star Wars universe revolving around you
Credit: Ubisoft
The conceit of Star Wars Outlaws is that you are a criminal living on the fringes of polite society, taking what jobs you can. The Empire is a constant presence, but much in the same way the police are. Intergalactic battles, politics, and power struggles may be occurring, however they don’t concern you. You aren’t a Skywalker, or even a Solo. You’re a nobody.
Despite this, the game’s universe constantly reinforces that you, a penniless outlaw and rebel with a lowercase R, are in fact the main character and thus the most important person in the universe.
You aren’t a Skywalker, or even a Solo. You’re a nobody.
A mechanic you meet immediately after crash landing inexplicably forces his help on Kay despite her clear hostility toward him. A job broker singles her out and offers her work instantly. Non-player character conversations feel like little skits performed specifically for Kay to overhear, concerning either information specifically relevant to her, or quests she might elect to take up.
Star Wars Outlaws‘ dialogue frequently felt akin to the stories in mathematics problems, offering a thin veil of narrative to convey a new mechanic or quest. This isn’t uncommon in video games, however I found Star Wars Outlaws‘ stage curtains more sheer than expected or typical. Characters felt like tools for conveying quest information rather than living organisms, which wasn’t helped by the lack of realistic reasoning to their actions.
Meanwhile, enemies wandered around blankly repeating empty, rote lines such as “I can do more than this,” “What are we doing here?” and “The boss knows what is best for us.”
It made Star Wars Outlaws‘ world feel underbaked, especially when compared to more lifelike NPC interactions found in other modern games. Not every NPC needs a deep, rich backstory, but it would be great if they could at least vaguely pass for sentient.
Star Wars Outlaws‘ appeal lies in being able to explore the universe that so many have come to love since it was first introduced in 1977. Sadly, much of the world felt disappointingly flat. There were pockets of interest, such as in the fantastical yet vaguely familiar cantina food (I was amused to see comically oversized mangosteen in my ship’s kitchen). Yet all of the game’s elements failed to coalesce into an engaging, rich universe, feeling more like theatre staging.
I must also note that I was disappointed not to hear any jatz (or jizz) in the cantinas. Though the Mos Eisley Cantina’s band was an iconic part of A New Hope, Toshara’s denizens eschew live music in favour of an uninspiring jukebox. My fingers are crossed that the full release will include a few jatz tunes, but I’m not holding out hope.
Star Wars Outlaws is an empty playground in a galaxy far, far away
A good way to approach Star Wars Outlaws is to think of it as a Star Wars-themed amusement park filled with actors guiding you through a script that centres you as the hero, kind of what Disney’s Star Wars hotel intended (and failed) to be. Whether you enjoy yourself will depend on if you can turn off your brain and just lean into the fantasy.
Despite how obviously shallow it was, I still had an inoffensively pleasant four hours previewing Star Wars Outlaws. After all, you typically play a game to play a game. A box cake is still cake. Sometimes you’re just in the mood for empty calories. So as long as you aren’t expecting anything more, you’ll likely have an adequate, forgettable time exploring this galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars Outlaws arrives Aug. 30 on Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit: Your Cheat Sheet for a Smarter Home
CNET experts have put together guides, tips, lists and more to help you get started or expand on your smart home.
CNET experts have put together guides, tips, lists and more to help you get started or expand on your smart home.
Fitbit’s Ace LTE Smartwatch for Kids Turns Exercise Into Interactive Play
Designed with input from child psychologists and health experts, the Fitbit Ace LTE is tech that will inspire your kid to spend less time with screens–and help you keep them safe.
Designed with input from child psychologists and health experts, the Fitbit Ace LTE is tech that will inspire your kid to spend less time with screens–and help you keep them safe.
‘Futurama’ voice legends John DiMaggio and David Herman recreate iconic movie lines with their most popular characters
John DiMaggio and David Herman unleash their most famous ‘Futurama’ characters, like Bender and Wernstrom, to recreate iconic movie lines from Titanic and The Big Lebowski in ‘Say, Action!”
John DiMaggio and David Herman unleash their most famous ‘Futurama’ characters, like Bender and Wernstrom, to recreate iconic movie lines from Titanic and The Big Lebowski in ‘Say, Action!”
US claims TikTok sent user data on abortion and gun control to China
The U.S. Department of Justice has claimed that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have gathered “bulk” data on users’… Continue reading US claims TikTok sent user data on abortion and gun control to China
The post US claims TikTok sent user data on abortion and gun control to China appeared first on ReadWrite.
The U.S. Department of Justice has claimed that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have gathered “bulk” data on users’ views on gun control, abortion, and religion, and sent it to China. The information was reportedly collected through an internal communication tool called Lark.
In a filing from July 26, the Justice Department reported that since 2022, Lark had contained multiple internal search tools developed and operated by ByteDance engineers for scraping TikTok user data, including U.S. user data.
Lark is similar to internal messaging services such as Slack and Microsoft Teams. However, according to Techspot, it also gathers user data such as photos, country of residence, IP address and device, as well as user IDs.
The document stated that one of those tools “allowed ByteDance and TikTok employees in the United States and China to collect bulk user information based on the user’s content or expressions, including views on gun control, abortion, and religion.”
The Department also suggests that “significant amounts of restricted U.S. user data (including but not limited to personally identifiable information)” were shared over Lark.
“This resulted in certain sensitive U.S. person data being contained in Lark channels and, therefore, stored on Chinese servers and accessible to ByteDance employees located in China,” the DoJ added.
Another tool allegedly included policies that allowed the suppression of content on the platform based on the user’s use of certain words. Although some of these policies applied only to users based in China, others may have been used to target TikTok users outside of China.
Oracle’s scrutiny of TikTok user data
The filing also targets the American multinational tech firm Oracle over its attempted partnership with ByteDance under a “national security agreement” (NSA) that would ideally have TikTok operating under strict conditions.
The software company began reviewing TikTok’s source code in 2022, which contained two billion lines of code. That being said, it was estimated that reviewing it in its entirety would take three years, hence the proposal was rejected.
“But the source code is not static,” the document notes. “ByteDance regularly updates it to add and modify TikTok’s features. Even with Oracle’s considerable resources, perfect review would be an impossibility.”
The DoJ argued that tech providers would “lack insight into ByteDance’s communications with PRC officials, ByteDance’s use of US user data, and ByteDance’s other TikTok-related activities,” hence deeming the partnership “too great a risk.”
Our statement on the DOJ brief filed today:
“Nothing in this brief changes the fact that the Constitution is on our side. The TikTok ban would silence 170 million Americans’ voices, violating the First Amendment. As we’ve said before, the government has never put forth proof of…
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) July 27, 2024
TikTok rejected the claims in a post on X, stating: “Today, once again, the government is taking this unprecedented step while hiding behind secret information. We remain confident we will prevail in court.” ByteDance has filed a countersuit seeking to block the law that forces the video-sharing app to separate from the company by January 19 or face a ban.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is expected to hold oral arguments on the legal challenge on September 16.
Featured image: Ideogram
The post US claims TikTok sent user data on abortion and gun control to China appeared first on ReadWrite.