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acegame 888 CHICAGO (AP) — In the days after the presidential election, Sadie Perez began carrying pepper spray with her around campus. Her mom also ordered her and her sister a self-defense kit that included keychain spikes, a hidden knife key and a personal alarm. It’s a response to an emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers who have seized on Republican Donald Trump ’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice” at women online and on college campuses. For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. “The fact that I feel like I have to carry around pepper spray like this is sad,” said Perez, a 19-year-old political science student in Wisconsin. “Women want and deserve to feel safe.” Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank focusing on polarization and extremism, said she had seen a “very large uptick in a number of types of misogynistic rhetoric immediately after the election,” including some “extremely violent misogyny.” “I think many progressive women have been shocked by how quickly and aggressively this rhetoric has gained traction,” she said. The phrase “Your body, my choice” has been largely attributed to a post on the social platform X from Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust-denying white nationalist and far-right internet personality who dined at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida two years ago. In statements responding to criticism of that event, Trump said he had “never met and knew nothing about” Fuentes before he arrived. Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law, said the phrase transforms the iconic abortion rights slogan into an attack on women’s right to autonomy and a personal threat. “The implication is that men should have control over or access to sex with women,” said Ziegler, a reproductive rights expert. Fuentes' post had 35 million views on X within 24 hours, according to a report by Frances-Wright's think tank, and the phrase spread rapidly to other social media platforms. Women on TikTok have reported seeing it inundate their comment sections. The slogan also has made its way offline with boys chanting it in middle schools or men directing it at women on college campuses, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue report and social media reports. One mother said her daughter heard the phrase on her college campus three times, the report said . School districts in Wisconsin and Minnesota have sent notices about the language to parents. T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase were pulled off Amazon. Perez said she has seen men respond to shared Snapchat stories for their college class with “Your body, my choice.” “It makes me feel disgusted and infringed upon,” she said. “... It feels like going backwards.” Misogynistic attacks have been part of the social media landscape for years. But Frances-Wright and others who track online extremism and disinformation said language glorifying violence against women or celebrating the possibility of their rights being stripped away has spiked since the election. Online declarations for women to “Get back in the kitchen” or to “Repeal the 19th,” a reference to the constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote, have spread rapidly. In the days surrounding the election, the extremism think tank found that the top 10 posts on X calling for repeal of the 19th Amendment received more than 4 million views collectively. A man holding a sign with the words “Women Are Property” sparked an outcry at Texas State University . The man was not a student, faculty or staff, and was escorted off campus, according to the university’s president . The university is “exploring potential legal responses,” he said. Anonymous rape threats have been left on the TikTok videos of women denouncing the election results. And on the far-flung reaches of the web, 4chan forums have called for “rape squads” and the adoption of policies in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian book and TV series depicting the dehumanization and brutalization of women. “What was scary here was how quickly this also manifested in offline threats,” Frances-Wright said, emphasizing that online discourse can have real-world impacts. Previous violent rhetoric on 4chan has been connected to racially motivated and antisemitic attacks, including a 2022 shooting by a white supremacist in Buffalo that killed 10 people . Anti-Asian hate incidents also rose as politicians, including Trump , used words such as “Chinese virus” to describe the COVID-19 pandemic. And Trump’s language targeting Muslims and immigrants in his first campaign correlated with spikes in hate speech and attacks on these groups, Frances-Wright said. The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism reported similar rhetoric, with “numerous violent misogynistic trends” gaining traction on right-wing platforms such 4chan and spreading to more mainstream ones such as X since the election. Throughout the presidential race, Trump’s campaign leaned on conservative podcasts and tailored messaging toward disaffected young men . As Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention over the summer, the song “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown blared from the speakers. One of several factors to his success this election was modestly boosting his support among men , a shift concentrated among younger voters, according to AP VoteCast, survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. But Trump also won support from 44% of women age 18 to 44, according to AP VoteCast. To some men, Trump's return to the White House is seen as a vindication, gender and politics experts said. For many young women, the election felt like a referendum on women’s rights and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris ’ loss felt like a rejection of their own rights and autonomy. “For some of these men, Trump’s victory represents a chance to reclaim a place in society that they think they are losing around these traditional gender roles,” Frances-Wright said. None of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump or anyone in his immediate orbit. But Trump has a long history of insulting women , and the spike in such language comes after he ran a campaign that was centered on masculinity and repeatedly attacked Harris over her race and gender . His allies and surrogates also used misogynistic language about Harris throughout the campaign. “With Trump’s victory, many of these men felt like they were heard, they were victorious. They feel that they have potentially a supporter in the White House,” said Dana Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics. Brown said some young men feel they’re victims of discrimination and have expressed mounting resentment for successes of the women’s rights movement, including #MeToo . The tension also has been influenced by socioeconomic struggles. As women become the majority on college campuses and many professional industries see increasing gender diversity, it has “led to young men scapegoating women and girls, falsely claiming it’s their fault they’re not getting into college anymore as opposed to looking inward,” Brown said. Perez, the political science student, said she and her sister have been leaning on each other, their mother and other women in their lives to feel safer amid the online vitriol. They text each other to make sure they got home safely. They have girls' nights to celebrate wins, including a female majority in student government at their campus in the University of Wisconsin system. “I want to encourage my friends and the women in my life to use their voices to call out this rhetoric and to not let fear take over,” she said. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Edesa Biotech Reports Fiscal Year 2024 Results

( MENAFN - GetNews) Industry status In recent years, with the continuous development of the aquatic industry, the breeding density has continued to increase, the breeding environment has deteriorated, and the breeding costs have continued to rise. Traditional breeding methods can no longer meet the development needs of aquaculture, and intelligent breeding facilities are imperative. Many aquatic companies have begun to explore the path of intelligent breeding, actively trying to use the help of Internet of Things technology to achieve functions such as water environment monitoring and remote control. Farmers can use computers at home to understand the situation of their ponds. They can not only grasp the changes in real-time water quality data, view videos, and monitor the on-site environment in real time; more importantly, once a problem is discovered, the oxygenation equipment in the pond can be remotely operated automatically and in a timely manner. This provides great convenience for farmers and achieves the effect of reducing costs and increasing efficiency. The entire transmission line online monitoring system consists of three parts: front-end monitoring device, full-network industrial wireless router, and remote monitoring center. 01Front-end monitoring device The front-end monitoring device includes cameras and various sensors. The 4-way cameras are connected to the router LAN port after being aggregated through the switch to monitor the surrounding environment of the breeding pond, personnel activities, pond water level, etc. In case of emergency, the on-site video can also be viewed remotely. Various sensors are connected to the router serial port through the 485 bus. 02 All-Network Industrial Wireless Router All-Network 4G wireless router, industrial-grade design, adaptable to harsh outdoor installation environments. It supports three networking methods: WAN, WIFI, and operator network. In this project, the public cellular network is used to provide a network for on-site equipment. At the same time, after networking, the serial port application will actively connect to the remote center to achieve serial port data transparent transmission. 03Remote Monitoring Center The remote monitoring center can realize functions such as water environment monitoring and remote control. It can monitor the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia nitrogen content, and water level in the breeding pond in real time and turn them into data that can be viewed at any time, providing farmers with real-time and scientific breeding basis and performing remote operations. At the same time, the on-site monitoring video can be viewed through the video cloud platform to discover safety hazards in a timely manner. Using technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, the aquaculture environment (such as water temperature, water quality, dissolved oxygen, pH value, etc.) is monitored in real time, and the aquaculture conditions are automatically adjusted according to preset parameters to ensure that aquatic organisms are in the best growth state. The entire aquaculture process can be traced to ensure the quality and safety of aquatic products. MENAFN17122024003238003268ID1109004741 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

AI-generated deepfake videos are a rapidly growing security concern, with recent reports showing 75 percent of organisations have experienced at least one deepfake-related incident within the last 12 months. Digital PR Agency , which represents the types of sectors that might be affected, has provided some advice to Digital Journal on how to spot deepfake videos. Verify the source and context Fake news spread more rapidly than true news on X (previously Twitter), a concerning trend given that nearly 30 percent of Americans rely on social media as a regular news source. Always examine the credibility of the sources behind the content you consume. Is this information coming from a reputable news outlet or a verified official account? If the source is unfamiliar or looks dubious, cross-check the content’s authenticity using reliable news organisations or fact-checking platforms like Google Fact Check Tools. Misinformation often plays on emotional triggers like fear, anger, or outrage to cloud your judgement. When you encounter content that provokes strong emotions, pause and re-assess to ensure you are not being used as a pawn in someone’s game. Observe facial expressions and movements Deepfakes often falter when trying to replicate the intricate details of facial expressions and natural movements. Key areas to scrutinise include microexpressions around the eyes and mouth. Look out for unnatural blinking patterns, disjointed eye movements, or jerky head motions, and check whether the facial expressions align with the conveyed emotions. Details like the uniformity of teeth, hair texture, and facial structure can also reveal deepfakes. A key giveaway is the shape of the face and ears – deepfakes often have slightly off measurements in these areas, with ears being particularly difficult to replicate. Pausing the video and examining the facial features can help you spot these irregularities. Use reverse image and video search tools Leverage reverse image and video search tools to trace the origins of visual content. Uploading an image to Google Reverse Image Search can help identify if it’s AI-generated, manipulated, or being used out of context. For videos, tools like InVID can dissect footage and check for any modifications or previous appearances. These searches allow you to find other copies of the image online, helping you verify its authenticity and uncover potential misuses. Look for digital artefacts and inconsistencies Deepfakes often reveal themselves through subtle digital flaws like blurriness or unnatural pixelation, especially around the edges of faces or objects. Pay attention to inconsistencies in lighting, shadows, reflections, or even an extra finger, that might indicate manipulation. Check for audio-visual synchronisation Spotting a deepfake often comes down to watching the lips closely. Our mouths form specific shapes when pronouncing certain letters, and these movements are tricky for AI to replicate accurately – nearly a third of deepfake videos struggle to match sounds like M, B and P. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.Eight fantastic farm shops in Essex to snap up tasty food from our countyNEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company’s president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to $13.7 billion in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.

Mark McGlone: Coach Brown deserves betterHere’s how to get the best deals on health insuranceNEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? Clearing the way for AI development A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company’s president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Easier energy for data centers Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. Changing the antitrust discussion “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Fending off the EU Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to $13.7 billion in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Making amends? Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.

Opinion Last year, I wrote a piece here on El Reg about being murdered by ChatGPT as an illustration of the potential harms through the misuse of large language models and other forms of AI. Since then, I have spoken at events across the globe on the ethical development and use of artificial intelligence – while still waiting for OpenAI to respond to my legal demands in relation to what I've alleged is the unlawful processing of my personal data in the training of their GPT models. In my earlier article , and my cease-and-desist letter to OpenAI, I stated that such models should be deleted. Essentially, global technology corporations have decided, rightly or wrongly, the law can be ignored in their pursuit of wealth and power. Household names and startups have, and still are, scraping the internet and media to train their models, typically without paying for it and while arguing they are doing nothing wrong. Unsurprisingly, a number of them have been fined or are settling out of court after being accused of breaking rules covering not just copyright but also online safety, privacy, and data protection. Big Tech has brought private litigation and watchdog scrutiny upon it, and potentially engendered new laws to fill in any regulatory gaps. But for them, it's just a cost of business. There's a principle in the legal world, in America at least, known as the "fruit of the poisonous tree," in which evidence is inadmissible if it was illegally obtained, simply put. That evidence cannot be used to an advantage. A similar line of thinking could apply to AI systems; illegally built LLMs perhaps ought to be deleted. Machine-learning companies are harvesting fruit from their poisonous trees, gorging themselves on those fruits, getting fat from them, and using their seeds to plant yet more poisonous trees. After careful consideration over the time between my previous piece here on El Reg and now, I have come to a different opinion with regards to the deletion of these fruits, however. Not because I believe I was wrong, but because of moral and ethical considerations due to the potential environmental impact. Research by RISE , a Swedish state owned research institute, states that OpenAI’s GPT-4 was trained with 1.7 trillion parameters using 13 trillion tokens, using 25,000 NVidia A100 GPUs costing $100 million and taking 100 days and using a whopping 50GWh of energy. That is a lot of energy; it’s roughly the equivalent power use of 4,500 homes over the same period. From a carbon emissions perspective, RICE state that such training (if trained in northern Sweden’s more environmentally friendly datacenters) is the equivalent of driving an average combustion-engine car around the Earth 300 times; if trained elsewhere, such as Germany, that impact increases 30 fold. And that's just one LLM version. In light of this information, I am forced to reconcile the ethical impact on the environment should such models be deleted under the "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine, and it is not something that can be reconciled as the environmental cost is too significant, in my view. So what can we do to ensure those who scrape the Web for commercial gain (in the case of training AI models) do not profit, do not gain an economic advantage, from such controversial activities? And furthermore, if disgorgement (through deletion) is not viable due to the consideration given above, how can we incentivize companies to treat people’s privacy and creative work with respect as well as being in line with the law when developing products and services? After all, if there is no meaningful consequence – as stated, today's monetary penalties are merely line items for these companies, which have more wealth than some nations, and as such are ineffectual as a deterrent – we will continue to see this behavior repeated ad infinitum which simply maintains the status quo and makes a mockery of the rule of law. It seems to me the only obvious solution here is to remove these models from the control of executives and put them into the public domain. Given they were trained on our data, it makes sense that it should be public commons – that way we all benefit from the processing of our data and the companies, particularly those found to have broken the law, see no benefit. The balance is returned, and we have a meaningful deterrent against those who seek to ignore their obligations to society. Under this solution, OpenAI, if found to have broken the law, would be forced to put its GPT models in the public domain and even banned from selling any services related to those models. This would result in a significant cost to OpenAI and its backers, which have spent billions developing these models and associated services. They would face a much higher risk of not being able to recover these costs through revenues, which in turn would force them to do more due diligence with regards to their legal obligations. If we then extend this model to online platforms that sell their users’ data to companies such as OpenAI - where they are banned from providing such access with the threat of disgorgement - they would also think twice before handing over personal data and intellectual property. If we remove the ability for organizations to profit from illegal behavior, while also recognizing the ethical issues of destroying the poisonous fruit, we might finally find ourselves in a situation where companies with immense power are forced to comply with their legal obligations simply as a matter of economics. Companies with immense power are forced to comply with their legal obligations simply as a matter of economics Of course, such a position is not without its challenges. Some businesses try to wriggle out of fines and other punishment by arguing they have no legal presence in the jurisdictions bringing down the hammer. We would likely see that happen with the proposed approach. For that purpose we need global cooperation between sovereign states to effectively enforce the law, and this could be done through treaties similar to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) that exist today. As for whether current laws have the powers to issue such penalties, that is debatable. Whereas Europe's GDPR, for example, afford data protection authorities general powers to ban processing of personal data (under Article 58(2)(f)) it doesn’t explicitly provide powers to force controllers to put the data into the public domainn. As such, any such effort would be challenged, and such challenges take many years to resolve through the courts, allowing the status quo to remain. However, the new big stick of the EU Commission is the Digital Markets Act (DMA) which has provisions included to allow the commission to extend the scope of DMA. But this would only apply to companies that are under the jurisdiction of the DMA, which is currently limited to just Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Booking, Bytedance, Meta, and Microsoft. We cannot allow Big Tech to continue to ignore our fundamental human rights We cannot allow Big Tech to continue to ignore our fundamental human rights. Had such an approach been taken 25 years ago in relation to privacy and data protection, arguably we would not have the situation we have to today, where some platforms routinely ignore their legal obligations at the detriment of society. Legislators did not understand the impact of weak laws or weak enforcement 25 years ago, but we have enough hindsight now to ensure we don’t make the same mistakes moving forward. The time to regulate unlawful AI training is now, and we must learn from mistakes past to ensure that we provide effective deterrents and consequences to such ubiquitous law breaking in the future. As such, I will be dedicating much of my lobbying time in Brussels moving forward, pushing this approach with a hope to amended or pass new legislation to grant such powers, because it is clear that without appropriate penalties to act as a deterrence, these companies will not self regulate or comply with their legal obligations, where the profits for unlawful business practices, far outweigh the consequences. ® Alexander Hanff is a computer scientist and leading privacy technologist who helped develop Europe's GDPR and ePrivacy rules.Are you tracking your health with a device? Here’s what could happen with the data

Zebra Technologies' chief accounting officer sells $75,979 in stockChristmas is a few days away, and it’s time to fill those stockings with thoughtful, delicious treats. If you’re shopping for the food lover in your life — or simply want to elevate your gift-giving game — consider these unique stocking stuffers from Winnipeg’s vibrant food scene. No stocking is complete without a bit of chocolate, and Winnipeg has some incredible options. One of my favourites is Decadence Chocolates, a locally owned artisan chocolate shop on Sherbrook Street. Their chocolate is absolutely delicious — every bite feels like a little luxury. I’m hooked on their festive holiday-shaped chocolates, and their bark, and don’t even get me started on their chocolate caramel popcorn with pretzels — it’s completely addicting! One of my favourite gift ideas they offer is the paint-and-decorate Christmas tree chocolate — it’s such a fun gift for kids. They even have fully vegan options and offer a 12-piece box of custom-printed chocolates featuring your own images. Visit decadencechocolates.ca to explore their incredible lineup of chocolates. For the cheese enthusiast, a visit to Cheesemongers Fromagerie on Corydon is an absolute must. Their curated selection of local and international cheeses is unmatched, and I can’t get enough of their truffle cheese — it’s out of this world! If you’re short on time, their pre-packaged gift sets are a lifesaver. And for last-minute hosting, their cheese boards are both stunning and delicious — always a show-stopper at my dinner parties! Small jars of jam make the perfect addition to any stocking! One of my favourite local picks is Fancy Infusions, a Winnipeg-based business known for their handcrafted pepper jellies and jams. They’ve perfected the balance of sweet and spice — a little naughty and nice for the holiday season. These jars are amazing for pairing with a cheese board, glazing meats, or spreading on toast. Honestly, I’ve been caught eating these jellies straight out of the jar with a spoon — it’s that good. With so many different flavour variations, there’s truly a jelly for everyone. You can visit their Facebook or Instagram page @fancyinfusions to find out where to pick up their delicious jellies. They’re a thoughtful gift that adds a local, tasty touch to your holiday stockings! Winnipeg’s food scene offers endless inspiration for filling stockings for the foodie lovers in your life. Here are a few more ideas: Flavoured Oils or Vinegars: Look for unique varieties like blood orange olive oil or balsamic vinegar infused with figs. Spices and Seasonings: Gift a blend of artisanal spices from local makers, perfect for home cooks to experiment with. Mini Bottles of Wine or Spirits: Bring some holiday cheer with a sip of locally crafted spirits, beer, or wine. To make your foodie stocking stuffers even more special, consider adding a handwritten recipe card featuring a dish that incorporates the ingredients you’re gifting. Pair a brie round with a recipe for baked brie with cranberry sauce — it’s my go-to holiday season appetizer. It’s quick, easy, and always a hit! Or include a holiday cocktail recipe with a mini bottle of spirits to inspire a celebratory toast. Whether it’s the indulgent chocolates from Decadence Chocolates, the gourmet cheeses from Cheesemongers Fromagerie, or the scrumptious jellies from Fancy Infusions, these thoughtful treats are sure to bring smiles and full bellies. Supporting local businesses while giving gifts that truly stand out — it’s a win-win this holiday season! And speaking of crowd-pleasing treats, this week’s recipe is a holiday essential that pairs perfectly with any festive meal. Creamy, dreamy, and full of flavour, these creamy mashed potatoes are sure to become a staple at your holiday table. Whether it’s the perfect gift or the perfect dish, this holiday season is all about sharing love — and great food. Happy Holidays from my family to yours! 5 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes, chopped 6 garlic cloves, minced Kosher salt 1/2 cup butter 1 cup heavy/whipping cream 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature Peel and Cut Potatoes: Peel the potatoes and cut them into uniform chunks, about 1 inch thick. Place the cut potatoes into a large stock pot filled with cold water. Boil the Potatoes: Once your potatoes are cut, make sure the water level is about 1 inch above the potatoes in the pot. Stir in the minced garlic, then turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add salt then reduce the heat to medium-high (or whatever setting keeps the boil going) and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until a knife easily slides into the middle of a potato. Carefully drain the water. Pan-Dry the Potatoes: Once you’ve drained the water, immediately return the potatoes to the hot stockpot and place it back on the burner over low heat. Using oven mitts, carefully grip the handles and gently shake the pot for about a minute to help release any remaining steam from the potatoes. Remove the pot from the heat. Prepare the Butter Mixture: While the potatoes are boiling, combine the butter, cream, and salt in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until the butter is melted, making sure the cream doesn’t come to a boil. Set it aside until you’re ready to use it. Mash the Potatoes: Use an old-school potato masher and work up some elbow grease to mash the potatoes until they’re completely smooth. Stir Everything Together: Pour half of the melted butter mixture over the potatoes and gently fold it in with a spatula until the potatoes absorb the liquid. Repeat with the remaining butter, then add the cream cheese, folding everything in until just combined. Season and Serve: Season with salt and pepper, add a pat of butter on top, and serve hot. For detailed instructions and the online recipe for this week’s Recipes of the Week, open your phone’s camera, scan the QR code, and follow the link. You can also find all recipes featured at cookingwithcassandra.com . — Cassandra Morris, food blogger and recipe developer at cookingwithcassandra.com , shares the best recipes, essential kitchen tips and spotlights locally owned restaurants and specialty food must-tries.

Injuries pile up, 49ers uncertain QB Brock Purdy can return Sunday

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index fell more than 100 points Friday, led by losses in base metal and telecom stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed ahead of next week's interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve. This week, the Bank of Canada announced another outsized interest rate cut of half a percentage point while also signalling it plans to slow the pace of cuts going forward. Allan Small, senior investment adviser at iA Private Wealth, said the central bank is juggling a lot of balls heading into the new year, including a faltering economy, a housing market that’s poised to heat up, and a U.S. Fed likely to cut much slower next year. “If (the Bank of Canada) continues to cut when the U.S. doesn’t, where does that leave our dollar?” asked Small. “They’re flying by the seat of their pants.” The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 136.41 points at 25,274.30. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 86.06 points at 43,828.06. The S&P 500 index was down 0.16 points at 6,051.09, while the Nasdaq composite was up 23.88 points at 19,926.72. The Fed has done a better job of tamping down inflation while not harming the economy too much, said Small. The Fed is expected to cut by a quarter-percentage point next week, and its path is clearer than the Bank of Canada’s, said Small. “I don’t think they have much room to cut more,” he said, noting this week saw U.S. inflation data tick up from the month before. “Most people think they’ll go 25 (basis points) and pause for a little while,” said Small. “Would I be surprised to see them not cut at all? No, but I think the market would take that negatively.” Heading into the last few weeks of the year, Small said if there’s a so-called Santa Claus rally, it may be more muted than usual. “It's quite possible we've taken some gains that we normally would have had in December, brought them forward into November, and now December might not be as strong as we normally see,” he said. On Wall St., the Nasdaq did a little better than its U.S. peers as semiconductor company Broadcom saw its stock gain more than 24 per cent after reporting earnings. “I think the commentary on the conference call really caused the stock to shoot up," said Small. The company gave a bright forecast for investors on the back of expected growth in artificial intelligence. This week, Broadcom and Apple also announced a deal to develop a chip for AI. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.27 cents US compared with 70.48 cents US on Thursday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.27 at US$71.29 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down 18 cents at US$3.28 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$33.60 at US$2,675.80 an ounce and the March copper contract was down five cents at US$4.15 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press