BATTERYFORPC BLOG
YouTube to remove all anti-vaccine misinformation
YouTube has said it will remove content that spreads misinformation about all approved vaccines, expanding a ban on false claims about Covid-19 jabs. Videos that say approved vaccines are dangerous and cause autism, cancer or infertility are among those that will be taken down, the company said. The policy includes the termination of accounts of anti-vaccine influencers. Tech giants have been c ... Read more
2021-09-29 19:51:11
Cryptocurrency expert admits aiding North Korea
A cryptocurrency expert who gave a talk at a Pyongyang conference has admitted conspiring to help North Korea evade sanctions. Virgil Griffith, a former senior researcher with the Ethereum Foundation, pleaded guilty on Monday. The US Department of Justice said he had "jeopardised the national security of the United States" by undermining sanctions. His lawyer told the Wall Street Jour ... Read more
2021-09-28 19:51:06
Amazon announces Astro the home robot
Amazon is launching Astro, its first household robot, powered by its Alexa smart home technology. The company said it can be remote-controlled when not at home, to check on pets, people, or home security. It can also patrol a home automatically and send owners a notification if it detects something unusual. Amazon said it was more than "Alexa with wheels" and had been programmed with ... Read more
2021-09-28 19:50:36
Instagram for kids paused after backlash
Plans to make an "Instagram experience" for under-13s, dubbed Instagram Kids, have been paused. Facebook would use the time to listen to "parents, experts, policymakers and regulators", Instagram head Adam Mosseri wrote. It follows leaked internal research the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said showed Instagram was "toxic for teen girls". But in a recent blog, Facebook ... Read more
2021-09-27 20:02:18
Mr Goxx, the crypto-trading hamster beating human investors
Like many people, Mr Goxx is dabbling in cryptocurrency, hoping to strike it rich. He's notable for two reasons: first, he is making money, with his lifetime career performance up about 20% - beating many professional traders and funds. Second, Mr Goxx is a hamster. The business-minded rodent has a trading office attached to his regular cage. Every day, when he enters the office, a livestream s ... Read more
2021-09-27 20:01:40
German elections: Centre left take narrow lead in tight vote
Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are edging towards election victory, as projected results look increasingly bleak for the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Ms Merkel's successor, Armin Laschet, is still vowing to form a government, but his conservative CDU party has seen its worst performance in history. The SPD currently leads by a small margin, but results are not yet fi ... Read more
2021-09-26 20:04:57
Fuel supply: UK suspends competition law to get petrol to forecourts
The government is to suspend competition law to allow oil firms to target fuel deliveries at petrol stations following recent panic buying. Officials said the move would make it easier for companies to share information and prioritise parts of the country most at need. It follows days of long queues at the pumps, after fears of disruption to the fuel supply sparked panic buying. Ministers are a ... Read more
2021-09-26 20:00:54
Facebook Files: 5 things leaked documents reveal
This week, Facebook has faced a series of accusations about its internal workings, based on revelations in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere. Much of the information comes from Facebook's own internal documents, suggesting the company now has some whistle-blowers in its ranks. The documents will provide governments and regulators with plenty to pore over as they consider their next moves. H ... Read more
2021-09-24 20:30:55
China declares all crypto-currency transactions illegal
China's central bank has announced that all transactions of crypto-currencies are illegal, effectively banning digital tokens such as Bitcoin. "Virtual currency-related business activities are illegal financial activities," the People's Bank of China said, warning it "seriously endangers the safety of people's assets". China is one of the world's largest crypto-currency marke ... Read more
2021-09-24 20:30:12
EU rules to force USB-C chargers for all phones
Manufacturers will be forced to create a universal charging solution for phones and small electronic devices, under a new rule proposed by the European Commission (EC). The aim is to reduce waste by encouraging consumers to re-use existing chargers when buying a new device. All smartphones sold in the EU must have USB-C chargers, the proposal said. Apple has warned such a move would harm innova ... Read more
2021-09-23 20:23:10