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FTC seeks total ban on young users’ Meta data

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23 hours ago

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The Federal Trade Commission intensified its fight against the tech industry’s biggest companies on Wednesday when it decided to impose a so-called “total ban” on the collection of young people’s personal data by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

The commission wants to significantly expand the company’s record $5 billion consent from 2020 and said Meta has not fully met the legal obligations it has made to review its privacy practices to better protect its users.

The regulators also said that Meta misled parents about their ability to control who their children communicate with on its Messenger Kids app and misrepresented the access it gave some app developers to users’ personal data.

The proposed changes mark the third time the agency has taken action against the social media giant over privacy concerns.

“The company’s recklessness puts young users at risk,” Samuel Levin, director of the FTC Consumer Protection Bureau, said in a press statement. “Facebook must answer for its failures.”

The FTC’s administrative action, an agency internal procedure called an “order to show cause,” serves as a preliminary warning to the meta that regulators believe the company has violated a 2020 confidentiality agreement. The paper outlines the commission’s allegations against Meta, as well as proposed restrictions.

Meta, which has 30 days to contest an application that was not given prior notice of the FTC’s action.

Following Facebook’s response, the commission said it would consider the company’s arguments and make a decision. The Meta can then appeal the agency’s decision to a federal appeals court.

The FTC’s proposed changes will prevent Meta from profiting from the data it collects from users under 18 and will apply to Meta’s businesses, including Facebook, Instagram and Horizon Worlds, the company’s new virtual reality platform. Regulators want to prevent companies from monetizing this data even after those users turn 18.

This means that Meta may be prevented from using young people’s activity data to show them ads based on their behavior, or to sell them digital goods, such as virtual clothing for their avatars.

Whether the court will approve such changes is unknown. IN statement On Wednesday, Alvaro M. Bedoya, the commissioner who voted in favor of issuing the administrative order, said he had concerns about whether the agency’s proposal to limit the use of Meta young people’s data was sufficiently relevant to the original case.

In a statement, Meta called the FTC’s administrative warning a “political stunt” and said the company had implemented an “industry-leading” privacy program in accordance with an agreement with the FTC. The company vowed to fight the agency’s actions.

“Despite three years of continuous communication with the FTC regarding our agreement, they did not provide an opportunity to discuss this new, completely unprecedented theory,” Meta said in a statement.

Meta has already announced restrictions on targeting ads to users under the age of 18. In 2021, the company said that advertisers will be able to target ads based on the location, age, and gender of minors, but will no longer be able to target ads based on young people’s interests or activity on other websites. And this year, Meta said it would also stop targeting ads. depending on the gender of the minor.

The FTC’s aggressive action is the first time the commission has proposed such a blanket ban on data use to try to protect the privacy of minors online. And it comes amid the biggest government effort to isolate young Americans online since the 1990s, when the commercial internet was still in its infancy.

Fueled by growing concerns about depression in children and the role the online experience could play in exacerbating it, lawmakers in at least two dozen states have introduced bills over the past year that would require certain sites, such as social media, to ban or restrict young people. on their platforms. Regulators are also stepping up their efforts by imposing penalties on online services whose use or misuse of data could put children at risk.

Over the past few years, Meta has been accused by critics of recommending self-harm and extreme dieting content to teenage girls on Instagram, and of failing to adequately protect young users from child sexual exploitation.

The FTC case against the social media giant dates back more than a decade.

In 2011, the agency accused Facebook of deceiving users about privacy. In the agreement, Facebook agreed to implement a comprehensive privacy program, including agreeing not to misrepresent its privacy practices.

But after news reports surfaced in 2018 that voter profiling company Cambridge Analytica had collected data from millions of Facebook users without their knowledge, the Federal Trade Commission cracked down again.

In a consent order signed in 2020, Facebook agreed to restructure its privacy procedures and practices and allow an independent assessor to examine the effectiveness of the company’s privacy program. The company also paid a record $5 billion fine to settle the agency’s charges.

The FTC says Facebook has violated this agreement. In its executive order on Wednesday, the agency cited reports from a privacy assessor, noting that it found “gaps and weaknesses” in the Meta privacy program that require significant additional work.

Although most the report has been edited, it showed that the evaluator found issues with how Meta assessed privacy risks to user data and managed privacy incidents. He also cited Meta’s review of his data sharing arrangements with third parties.

The FTC crackdown on Meta is the latest signal that the agency is delivering on promises by Lina M. Khan, its chairman, to curb the power of the technology industry’s dominant companies. In December, the agency decided to stop consolidating video game makers when sued to try to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company behind the popular Call of Duty franchise.

The FTC has also become more aggressive on privacy regulation. Rather than simply trying to protect consumers from increasingly powerful surveillance tools, regulators are working to ban certain types of data collection and use they consider high-risk.

In December, the FTC accused Epic Games, the company behind the popular game Fornite, of illegally collecting data on children and putting them at risk by matching them with strangers and providing real-time chat. Epic agreed to pay a $520 million fine to settle these and other allegations. The settlement order also required Epic to disable live voice and text chat by default, the first time regulators have introduced such a remedy.

But the data restrictions the agency now wants to place on Meta go much further.

The FTC’s proposed changes would prevent Meta-owned sites and products from monetizing young people’s data. This will allow company platforms such as Horizon Worlds to collect and use information about minors only to provide services to users and for security purposes.

The FTC also wants to block Meta from releasing any new products or features until the company can show written confirmation from an independent privacy assessor that its privacy program is fully compliant with the 2020 consent order.

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TECH

Quordle Today: See every Quordle answer and clues for May 4th.

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24 hours ago

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May 4, 2023

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If Quordles today is too difficult, you have come to the right place for hints. Here are not just hints, but a whole Quordles solutions. Scroll to the bottom of this page and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Anyway, scroll down and you’ll get what you need.

What Quordles?

Quordles is a five letter word guessing game similar to wordle, except that each guess applies letters to four words at once. You get nine guesses instead of six to guess all four words correctly. Looks like a game of four wordle games at the same time, and that’s essentially what it is. But it’s not as intimate as it seems.

is Quordles harder than Wordle?

Yes, but not devilishly so.

where Quordles from?

amide wordle The boom of late 2021/early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free browser games with word guessing once a day, creator Freddy Meyer says he drew inspiration from one of the first major wordle variations, sit back – the one where you essentially play together wordles one day. He took things up a notch and released Quordle on January 30(will open in a new tab). Meyer’s creation was covered in Guardians(will open in a new tab) six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it’s attracting millions of users daily. Today Meyer earns modest income(will open in a new tab) from Patreon, where dedicated Quordles fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running.

How Quordles pronounced?

“Quordle”. It should rhyme with “Wordle” and definitely shouldn’t be pronounced exactly like “curdle”.

is Quordles strategy is different from wordle?

Yes and no

Your starting strategy should be the same as in the case wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite wordle foreword, there is no reason to change anything here. We offer something rich in vowels, with common letters like C, R and N. But you do it.

However, after the first guess, you will notice that the situation gets out of control if you play Quordles just like wordle.

What should I do in? Quordles what i don’t do in wordle?

Solution wordle The puzzle can cool down to a series of substitutions for a single letter. If you narrowed it down to “-IGHT” you could guess “POWER”, “NIGHT”, “LIGHT” and “VISION” and one of those would probably be the solution – though it’s also a known way to end up losing. V wordle, especially if you’re playing in “hard mode”. IN Quordleshowever, this one-letter sifting is a death trap, and it hints at an important strategic difference between wordle another Quordles: IN Quordlesyou can’t afford to waste guesswork unless you’re constantly removing as many letters as possible.

Guessing a completely random word that you already know is not a solution, just to rule out three or four possible letters that you haven’t tried yet is a desperate dead end move. wordle. IN Quordleshowever, it is a normal part of a player’s strategic toolkit.

Is there a way to get a response faster?

In my experience Quordles can be a slow game, sometimes taking longer than it takes to play wordle four times. But a kind of guessing can speed up the process. The following strategy also works with wordle if you only want the solution and don’t need to have the least possible guess:

Try starting with a set of words that has all the vowels (including Y) written on the board along with some other common letters. We were lucky with three words: “NOTES”, “ERDKY” and “BALL”. youtuber DougMansLand(will open in a new tab) suggests four words: “CANOE”, “SKIRT”, “REVERSE” and “FRIEND”.

Most of the alphabet has now been removed and you will only have one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases, you will have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without making any wrong guesses.

If the strategy doesn’t work and you’re still stuck, here are some tips:

Are there double or triple letters in today’s Quordles words?

No.

Are any rare letters used in today’s Quordles like Q or Z?

No.

What do today’s Quordles words begin with

B, S, F and P

What are the answers for today Quordles?

Are you sure you want to know?

There is still time to turn back.

Okay, you asked for it. Answers:

  1. BALER

  2. contempt

  3. foul-smelling

  4. INSERT

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals: Up To $1,000 Off At Samsung, Verizon And More

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1 day ago

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May 4, 2023

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Here at CNET we’ve been impressed Samsung’s previous generation of sleek foldable phones – and it’s only gotten better with its current iteration. Of the two new models Z-fold 4 is the largest, slightly larger than Z flip 4 – and it’s readily available from most major carriers and retailers. This hybrid device combines the portability of a phone with the display and power of a tablet, and with a range of deals and discounts currently available, you’ll have no problem getting this smart foldable device for less.

The Z Fold 4 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and 12GB of RAM. In addition, the book-like design of the foldable laptop has been redesigned with a thinner, stronger hinge and a lighter overall weight. There’s a 6.2-inch external AMOLED display and a 7.6-inch internal AMOLED display, both of which have a 120Hz refresh rate. There’s been a huge upgrade in the camera department, with the array now including a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has made it to our list Best Android Phones for 2023 as the best folding option on the market, but this kind of innovation doesn’t come cheap. Luckily, there are plenty of deals on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 right now, so you can get this powerful new Samsung phone for less. And if you prefer the smaller Z Flip 4, you can check out our roundup of all best deal on the same model.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 is slightly folded in the middle of the screen, like a book

Lisa Edichiko/CNET

What colors does the Galaxy Z Fold 4 come in?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is available in Gray Green, Phantom Black and Beige. There is also a burgundy model exclusive to the Samsung online store.

How much does the Galaxy Z Fold 4 cost?

The full retail price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,800. This gives you a base variant of 256 GB. US prices for each model are as follows:

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (256GB): $1,800
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (512GB): $1,920
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (1TB): $2,160

Be sure to check out all the Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals below to see how you can save on those retail prices.

fold4-thumbz

Look: Galaxy Z Fold 4 review: my favorite Android tablet

Best Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals

With the Galaxy Z Fold 4 now available for purchase for a few weeks, there are plenty of Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals to take advantage of. Below, we’ve rounded up the best Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals from carriers and retailers so you know the best place to buy yours.

We will continue to update this page as new offers become available, so stay tuned if your carrier or preferred seller is not listed below.

Samsung is offering up to $800 off your Galaxy Z Fold 4 when you trade in an eligible device, bringing the price of the 256GB model down to $1,000. Samsung even offers credit up to $500 for old or damaged devices.

For those looking to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4 right away, Amazon is offering some of the best no strings attached discounts available right now. You can save $400 on select color options on the 256GB model by dropping the price to $1,400. But you can opt for the 512GB model, which costs just $1,520 for certain color options, which will also save you $400 over the regular price.

Trade in your old phone to AT&T and get up to $800 off your Galaxy Z Fold 4. Devices eligible for the full discount include older models such as the Galaxy S9 or iPhone 8, so be sure to check the trade-in value, even if you think your existing phone might not cost that much. The credit is valid for 36 months and if you cancel the service before the 36 months are up, you will have to pay the rest. Also keep in mind that credits start within three bills and require you to pay all taxes and related fees at the retail price up front.

New customers can get up to $1,000 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 with a trade-in for some unlimited plans (or $800 for existing customers). Old and damaged phones are also accepted. New customers will also receive a free $200 Verizon gift card when they switch their existing number from another carrier. In addition, Verizon is offering some other perks, including a free Galaxy Watch 5 and a $490 discount on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE with purchase. Although you will also need a service plan for your new device in order to receive these offers. Verizon is also offering 50% off a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 headphones if you add them to your cart with this purchase.

T-Mobile is offering new subscribers the option to purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for as little as $1,000 with up to $800 credit on a qualifying Go5G Plus plan. Credits will apply for 24 months. If you don’t want or need a Go5G Plus plan, T-Mobile is also offering up to $601 off the new line of services on other eligible plans.

Best Buy is currently offering up to $500 on unlocked Z Fold 4 models. However, there are some discounts on carrier models as well. Verizon customers can save up to $1,000 with the right to exchange and activate a new line of service. And both new and existing T-Mobile customers can save up to $800 on an eligible exchange. There are no deals for AT&T customers, and Best Buy doesn’t seem to offer any models for this carrier. It’s also worth noting that these same deals are available for the Z Flip 4 as well.

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Scientists observe the elusive missing stage of the final stage of photosynthesis

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1 day ago

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May 4, 2023

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Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (along with collaborators from Sweden, Germany and the UK) shed new light at the end of photosynthesis. They observed in atomic detail how photosystem II, the protein complex of plants, undergoes a transformation that results in the loss of an extra oxygen atom. Scientists believe that the discovery will help create a roadmap for optimizing clean energy sources. “This will really change our understanding of photosystem II,” said Uwe Bergmann, a scientist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, co-author of the paper.

The researchers took “extremely high resolution images” of various steps in the process (at room temperature), giving them new insights into how and where oxygen is produced. Baseball can provide a simple (albeit somewhat forced) metaphor to illustrate this process. “The center cycles through four stable oxidation states, known as S0 to S3, when exposed to sunlight,” explains SLAC. “On the baseball field, S0 will be the start of the game when the home base player is ready to fight. S1-S3 will be the first, second and third place players.” Based on this metaphor, a batsman making contact to propel runners means a complex absorbing a photon of sunlight. “On hitting the fourth ball, the player slides into the house, scoring a run or, in the case of Photosystem II, releasing one molecule of breathable oxygen.” This is the last stage (S4, between the third base and the sliding house in our metaphor) that they first depicted, when two oxygen atoms join to release an oxygen molecule, revealing additional steps previously unseen.

The video below illustrates the process and the opening of the team.

“Most of the process of producing breathable oxygen happens in this last step,” said Vittal Jachandra, a Berkeley lab scientist and co-author of the paper. published in Nature. “But there are several things going on in different parts of Photosystem II, and they all need to converge at the end for the reaction to be successful. Just as in baseball, factors such as the location of the ball, the position of the basemen and fielders affect the moves a player takes to get to their base, the protein environment around the catalytic site affects how this reaction proceeds.

The researchers expect X-ray equipment upgrades later this year to shed more light on the process. It will use a repetition rate of up to a million pulses per second, compared to the 120 pulses per second used in this experiment. “With these updates, we will be able to collect data for several days in just a few hours,” Bergmann said. “We will also be able to use soft X-rays to better understand the chemical changes taking place in the system. These new possibilities will continue to advance our research and shed new light on photosynthesis.”

The team believes the results will help them “develop artificial photosynthetic systems that mimic photosynthesis to harvest natural sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into hydrogen and carbon-based fuels.” Jan Kern, another co-author and Berkeley Lab scientist, said: “The more we learn about how nature does it, the closer we get to using the same principles in human processes, including the ideas of artificial photosynthesis as a clean and sustainable source of energy. “.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team independently of our parent company. Some of our stories contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are current at the time of publication.

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