THEHACKCITY

FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in seven counts of conspiracy and fraud related to the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange he established. The judge handed down a sentence of 240 months for four charges and 60 months for two others, along with ordering Bankman-Fried to forfeit more than $11 billion, including property, as recommended by prosecutors. The judge's decision fell short of the 40 to 50 years requested by prosecutors, but exceeded the defense's plea for six and a half years, though it was notably less than the maximum sentence of 110 years. During the trial, it was revealed that Bankman-Fried was aware of the risks FTX faced, misused customer funds, and knowingly engaged in wrongful activities. He justified his actions by weighing the risk of getting caught against potential gains. The judge dismissed claims that customers would be reimbursed, highlighting that FTX customers suffered losses of $8 billio...

Starting from Monday, the messaging app Telegram will be temporarily suspended in Spain due to concerns raised by media companies. This decision comes from Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audencia Nacional, a court that handles important cases. Several media companies, such as Atresmedia, EGEDA, Mediaset, and Telefonica, filed complaints stating that Telegram was allowing users to share content without proper authorization. While these claims are under investigation, Judge Pedraz has agreed to block Telegram's services in Spain. It's stated that mobile operators will be responsible for enforcing this block. The order was issued because authorities in the Virgin Islands, where Telegram is registered, didn't respond to a court request made in July 2023. The court needed information to identify the individuals behind the accounts uploading copyrighted content. Due to the lack of cooperation, Judge Pedraz saw it necessary to take this "precautionary measure." However, so...

     According to a report by the Central News Agency Taiwan, Taiwan has officially labeled TikTok as a significant threat to national security, following in the footsteps of the United States, which recently passed a bill aimed at banning the Chinese-owned social media platform. Audrey Tang, Taiwan's Minister of Digital Affairs, stated that TikTok's connections with foreign adversaries are in line with the concerns raised by the United States regarding potential national security risks. In a recent statement, Tang emphasized that Taiwan has categorized TikTok as a "dangerous product." She explained that any product susceptible to control by foreign entities, whether directly or indirectly, poses a threat to national information and communication security, as per Taiwan's standards. This decision by Taiwan echoes similar actions taken in the United States. The recent bill passed by the US House of Representatives targeted ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, gi...

Spotify is stepping up its game by introducing music videos to its mobile and desktop apps in certain countries. This new feature seamlessly integrates music videos with the platform's extensive music library, allowing users to switch between audio and video content effortlessly. As of now, this update is in beta testing and is only available in 11 selected markets, excluding the U.S. The countries included in this initial rollout are Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, Poland, Philippines, Sweden, and the UK. Sten Garmark, Spotify’s VP Global Head of Consumer Experience, explained that these countries were chosen based on various factors such as market size and local content availability. The company plans to expand this feature to more countries in the future. To access music videos, users need an active premium subscription. Free users will still need to use YouTube to watch music videos. Here's how it works: instead of searching for music videos...

In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the significance of privacy rights concerning internet addresses. The court declared that police cannot simply obtain a suspect’s IP address without a court order, emphasizing the expectation of privacy that Canadian residents hold for such information. The court's decision stemmed from a case in 2017 involving Calgary police investigating fraudulent online activities at a liquor store. Initially, police demanded IP addresses from a credit card processor, which eventually led to obtaining subscriber information from Telus. This information was pivotal in making arrests and securing convictions in multiple offenses. Despite previous convictions, the accused contested the legality of obtaining IP addresses without proper authorization. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, asserted that IP addresses carry a reasonable expectation of privacy, necessitating judicial approval before access. The ruling emphasizes that obtaining jud...

Last month, Apple made a big announcement about removing Home Screen web apps in the European Union with the launch of iOS 17.4. But now, they've changed their minds. What are Home Screen web apps? Home Screen web apps, sometimes called progressive web apps or PWAs, are like mini-apps you can add to your phone's home screen from the web. They work just like regular apps but are based on web technology. Why the Change? At first, Apple said they had to remove Home Screen web apps to follow rules set by the Digital Markets Act in the EU. They were concerned about security and privacy with different web browsers. The Backtrack After facing criticism and concerns about limiting web app possibilities, Apple decided to keep Home Screen web apps in the EU. They realized people wanted to keep using them. What Does This Mean? Home Screen web apps will still work in the EU, just like before. They'll keep using WebKit, which is a tool for browsing the web, ensuring security and privacy...

Elon Musk is taking OpenAI to court today, claiming some pretty wild stuff. He says that GPT-4 is more than just smart; it's actually as smart as a human. He's basically saying that OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, isn't really a charity for the greater good of humanity like it claims. Instead, Musk thinks they're just another tech company trying to make a ton of money. And you know what? He might have a point there! But here's the thing: Musk isn't exactly the most reliable guy when it comes to these matters. His lawyers seem to think it's more profitable to file lawsuits than to stick to the facts. Let's break down the lawsuit. Musk says OpenAI breached a contract. But here's the kicker: there's no actual contract! Musk talks about a "Founding Agreement," but there's no solid proof of its existence. They're going off vibes from emails, which isn't exactly a legal foundation. Then there's this whole thing about an email excha...

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is making big changes to how it handles news content on its platform. It's planning to remove the news tab from Facebook in the U.S. and Australia by April 2024. This decision follows the discontinuation of Facebook News in the UK, Germany, and France last year. The number of people using Facebook News in Australia and the U.S. has dropped significantly, which influenced Meta's decision. The company wants to focus more on what users enjoy, like short-form videos, rather than news articles. News content makes up less than 3% of what people see on their Facebook feed, so most users might not even notice this change. Over time, publishers have also noticed less traffic coming from Facebook to their websites. This move is partly because of new regulations in countries like Australia and Canada, which require platforms like Facebook to pay online publishers for their content. Meta has decided not to invest in new news-related products and won't ...

In September 2023, WordPress.com quietly updated a developer page about accessing a "Firehose" of around a million daily WordPress posts, clarifying that these feeds are intended for search engines, AI products, and market intelligence providers. This change, which was not previously noted, has sparked discussion, especially after revelations that Automattic, the owner of WordPress.com and Tumblr, plans to share user data with OpenAI and Midjourney. The recent buzz surrounds questions about which WordPress blogs are included, data retroactivity for opt-outs, and the lack of transparency from Automattic. This company has been selling access to post data for years, including through the Jetpack plugin, but has recently announced exclusions for select AI partners. Automattic's deals with OpenAI and Midjourney are particularly contentious as they aim to enhance generative AI tools. This data sharing, facilitated by partners like SocialGist and DataStreamer, offers insights in...

Apple has made the decision to halt its highly anticipated "Project Titan," an initiative aimed at developing an electric car, as reported by Bloomberg. The company conveyed this internal announcement on Tuesday, indicating that a significant portion of the 2,000-person team involved in the project will transition their focus towards generative AI endeavors. Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, along with Kevin Lynch, a vice president overseeing the project, informed employees about the discontinuation of Project Titan, according to Bloomberg. The report further suggests that there will be layoffs, although the extent of the workforce affected remains unclear. Rumors surrounding Apple's pursuit of building its own electric vehicle have circulated for years, with recent speculation indicating ongoing efforts in the project. Wired disclosed earlier this month that Apple had logged over 45,000 miles in 2023 using its autonomous driving technology. Bloomberg, i...

In an expected turn of events for Byju’s, once India’s most valuable edtech startup, a coalition of investors voted to oust its founder and CEO, Byju Raveendran, during an emergency general meeting (EGM) held on Friday. Additionally, they lodged an oppression and management suit against the company's leadership to impede a recently launched rights issue, marking a surreal moment for the company. During the EGM, which concluded earlier today, a consortium of investors, including Prosus Ventures and Peak XV Partners, opted to instigate leadership changes within the startup. As per an investor source familiar with the matter, the participating shareholders, amassing over 60% ownership in Byju’s, also endorsed the restructuring of the company's board. However, two individuals close to Byju’s have contested this ownership percentage, though no official statement has been released by either side to confirm the figures. Raveendran and other board members were notably absent from the E...

Signal, the encrypted messaging service, is launching a new feature in the coming weeks: support for usernames. This beta feature allows users to establish unique usernames, enabling connections without divulging phone numbers. source: Signal Blog To create a username, navigate to your settings and select "Profile." Once you've chosen a unique username, generate a QR code or link to share with others. Recipients can connect by entering your username into the chat bar. Usernames can be changed at any time, though previous usernames may be claimed by others. Signal began testing usernames last fall. Unlike social media platforms, Signal usernames do not serve as logins or public handles. They offer a discreet means of communication without revealing personal phone numbers. While a phone number is required to register for Signal, sharing it is optional. Usernames remain private and do not appear on profiles or in chats unless shared explicitly. As Randall Sarafa, Signal'...