Author: KS

U.S. Government’s Family Separation Policy Continues


The U.S. government is still taking children from their parents after they cross the border. Since the supposed end of family separation — in the summer of 2018, after a federal judge’s injunction and President Donald Trump’s executive order reversing the deeply controversial policy — more than 1,100 children have been taken from their parents, according to the government’s own data. There may be more, since that data has been plagued by bad record keeping and inconsistencies. The government alleges that separations now only happen when a parent has a criminal history or is unfit to care for a child, but an ongoing lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union argues that the current policy still violates the rights of children and families. Border Patrol agents, untrained in child welfare, make decisions that some parents are unfit to stay with their children based solely on brief interactions with them while they are held in custody.

Source: U.S. Government’s Family Separation Policy Continues

Revolving Door Revolves Some More: Head Of Copyright Office Leaves To Join MPAA | Techdirt

This is all perfectly legal, but given some of the many questions people have raised over the years about why the Copyright Office frequently appears to be more an arm of Hollywood, rather than the American public (as is supposed to be the case), this move should raise a few more eyebrows. It won’t, of course. This is just how things are done.But even Hollywood folks should be concerned about this. For all the laughable claims it makes about how we need more “respect” for copyright, the one doing the most to undermine that respect is Hollywood itself, with such a blatant display of “soft corruption.” No one actually believes the Copyright Office has any of the public’s interests in mind, when the head of the office is simultaneously lining up her next job directly with Hollywood’s biggest lobbyist.

Source: Revolving Door Revolves Some More: Head Of Copyright Office Leaves To Join MPAA | Techdirt

Disney’s Decision Not To Renew SecuROM License Bricks ‘Tron: Evolution’ | Techdirt

Back in 2010, Disney released the game Tron: Evolution. The game was laced with SecuROM and suffered many of the same problems as previously described. As an example of how you don’t really own what you buy anymore, the game simply bricked when Disney decided not to renew its SaaS subscription for SecuROM software.

Source: Disney’s Decision Not To Renew SecuROM License Bricks ‘Tron: Evolution’ | Techdirt

ICE Says Students Duped By Its Fake College Sting Should Have Known It Was A Sting | Techdirt

For most of the past year, ICE’s fake college sting has resulted in a long string of arrests, but not very many prosecutions.The sting involved a fictitious university set up by ICE to ensnare foreigners seeking to extend their US stays by complying with the law. That’s the underlying truth that was dismantled by ICE’s fiction. Visitors on student visas are allowed to stay in the country as long as they continue their studies.

Source: ICE Says Students Duped By Its Fake College Sting Should Have Known It Was A Sting | Techdirt

Want To See Pete Davidson Do Standup? There’s An NDA You Have To Sign First… | Techdirt

Whatever you do, never tweet at a Pete Davidson comedy show. The “Saturday Night Live” cast member has recently been doling out non-disclosure agreements before each of his recent comedy shows.Most recently, fans attending Davidson’s standup at the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco were asked to sign a lengthy contract that forbade them from tweeting or instagramming any opinions about the performance.

Source: Want To See Pete Davidson Do Standup? There’s An NDA You Have To Sign First… | Techdirt

Amazon’s Ring Planned Neighborhood “Watch Lists” Built on Facial Recognition

RING, AMAZON’S CRIMEFIGHTING surveillance camera division, has crafted plans to use facial recognition software and its ever-expanding network of home security cameras to create AI-enabled neighborhood “watch lists,” according to internal documents reviewed by The Intercept.The planning materials envision a seamless system whereby a Ring owner would be automatically alerted when an individual deemed “suspicious” was captured in their camera’s frame, something described as a “suspicious activity prompt.”It’s unclear who would have access to these neighborhood watch lists, if implemented, or how exactly they would be compiled, but the documents refer repeatedly to law enforcement, and Ring has forged partnerships with police departments throughout the U.S., raising the possibility that the lists could be used to aid local authorities. The documents indicate that the lists would be available in Ring’s Neighbors app, through which Ring camera owners discuss potential porch and garage security threats with others nearby.

Source: Amazon’s Ring Planned Neighborhood “Watch Lists” Built on Facial Recognition

Report: Sacklers using fake doctors, false marketing to sell OxyContin in China | Ars Technica

As Purdue files for bankruptcy, business in China is ramping up.

Source: Report: Sacklers using fake doctors, false marketing to sell OxyContin in China | Ars Technica

Nobel Prize Organization Is Engaged in Genocide Denialism

“The Swedish Academy believes that in an open society there must be room for different opinions about authors and that there must be space for different reasonable interpretations of their literay [sic] works,” the letter said. It was signed by Anders Olsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Literature, and dated November 15; news of it began circulating on social media two days ago. “We strive for respectful interchange notwithstanding sharply diverging views in important matters,” the letter added.In this instance, the important matter is genocide, and the diverging view is that it did not happen. The letter has a tragicomic aspect too — the world’s most famous literary group was unable to properly spell the word “literary.”

Source: Nobel Prize Organization Is Engaged in Genocide Denialism

‘Royalty-Free’ Music Supplied By YouTube Results in Mass Video Demonetization – TorrentFreak

A YouTuber who used a royalty-free track supplied by YouTube itself has had all of his videos copyright claimed by companies including SonyATV and Warner Chappell. According to the music outfits, Matt Lownes’ use the use of the track ‘Dreams’ by Joakim Karud means that they are now entitled to all of his revenue.

Source: ‘Royalty-Free’ Music Supplied By YouTube Results in Mass Video Demonetization – TorrentFreak

Company That Acquired ‘Copyright Troll’ Warns ISPs & VPN Providers – TorrentFreak

American Films Inc, a company that ‘acquired’ the US operations of notorious ‘copyright troll’ outfit GuardaLey earlier this year, says it has made a new acquisition. With the addition of “strategic data company” Maker Data Services LLC, the company hopes to help Hollywood bring lawsuits against ISPs and VPN providers.

Source: Company That Acquired ‘Copyright Troll’ Warns ISPs & VPN Providers – TorrentFreak