Google

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/28035952

Israel’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip – aided by tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon – is fueling concerns over the normalization of mass civilian casualties and raising serious questions about the complicity of these firms in potential war crimes, according to a leading AI expert.

Multiple reports have confirmed that Israel has deployed AI models such as Lavender, Gospel, and Where’s Daddy? to conduct mass surveillance, identify targets, and direct strikes against tens of thousands of individuals in Gaza – often in their own homes – all with minimal human oversight.

Rights groups and experts say these systems have played a critical role in Israel’s incessant and apparently indiscriminate attacks, which have laid to waste massive swaths of the besieged enclave and killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/28035946

In mid-March, Google announced that it was paying the staggering sum of $32 billion for the acquisition of the Israeli cloud-computing security company Wiz. The acquisition, pending regulatory approval, will be the largest ever of an Israeli firm.

“Organizations of all sizes—from start-ups and large enterprises to governments and public sector organizations—can use Wiz to protect everything they build and run in the cloud,” Google said in a statement announcing the acquisition. The statement added that Wiz would join Google Cloud, but that the Tel Aviv-based company’s security services would still be available across other cloud platforms used by major firms, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud.

What was left unsaid in Google’s announcement, however, were the personal backgrounds of its four founders. The co-founders of Wiz—Yinon Costica, Assaf Rappaport, Ami Luttwak, and Roy Reznik—are all veterans of Unit 8200, the signals intelligence division of the Israeli military, which is playing a key role in helping to carry out Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/28293258

Note: Original report by Bloomberg, article by Reuters proxied by Neuters to bypass paywall.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20643795

It's early morning, and Zelda Montes walks briskly through the crisp New York air as they head to Google's headquarters on Manhattan’s 9th Avenue. Montes, who self-identifies as they, fumbles with their ID card at the entrance, blending in with the steady stream of Googlers swiping through the security barriers as if it were just another day at the office.

Armed with an oversized tote bag, Montes pulls back their purple hair and heads to the 13th-floor canteen to order their usual: a dirty chai and an egg, avocado, and cheese sandwich with a bowl of raspberries.

Their hands tremble slightly as they grip the coffee cup.

Locking eyes with two others, they get the signal that the coast is clear, head down to the entrance, and sit. The three Googlers unfurl their banners and begin chanting to demand that Google do one thing: Drop Project Nimbus.

But this will be the last time they sit inside Google's New York office as Googlers, as Google itself refers to its own employees. "Getting fired felt like a possibility but never a reality," remarked Montes, one of 50 employees fired by Google for staging a 10-hour sit-in at one of its American offices in April.

For the last three years, Montes has been one of several activists calling for Google to drop Project Nimbus, a partnership Google and Amazon have with the Israeli government reportedly worth $1.2bn.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/23752792

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/23752739

https://simonwillison.net/2024/Jul/9/hangout_servicesthunkjs/

said he was “shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments”, who have supported Israel. “War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies.”

I've tried multiple times, and I keep getting that message. Could someone explain why it's happening? Ironically, trying to google the answer got me nowhere.

Google has been notifying about its new policy about closing accounts it considers non active, after some period of "inactivity". I'm wondering if Thunderbird and K9 authentication through OAuth counts for Google to consider the account active... That, besides actively receiving/sending email through Thunderbird/K9.

Does anyone know?

Grettings !

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/[email protected]/t/132703

Swedish data protection authority (IMY) issued decisions against four companies and imposed a fine of 12 mio SEK (1 mio Euro) against Tele2 and 300.000 SEK against CDON

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/1252683

The European Commission has made a formal antitrust complaint against Google and its ad business. In a preliminary opinion, the regulator says Google has abused its dominant position in the digital advertising market. It says that forcing Google to sell off parts of its business may be the only remedy, if the company is found guilty of the charges.

source code: https://github.com/berthubert/googerteller

cross-posted from: https://poliverso.org/objects/0477a01e-5162-d01e-fdcd-2ff594512428

Italy's Antitrust authority opens probe into Google
Web giant defends itself over interoperability of data

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 14 - Italy's antitrust authority said Thursday that it has opened a probe into Google for allegedly abusing its dominant market position.
The watchdog said Google allegedly hampered the interoperability of data sharing on its platform with other platforms.
"These tools enable people to extract and transfer their data," Google said.
"These tools are designed to help people manage their personal information, and not give other companies or intermediaries access to more data to sell".
Last year the authority on fined Google and Apple 10 million euros each for two breaches of the consumer code, one for a lack of information and the other for aggressive practices linked to the acquisition and use of consumer data for commercial purposes. (ANSA).

www.ansa.it/english/news/2022/…

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/288296

https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/diversity/pride-2022/

https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-google-donated-tens-of-thousands-to-republicans-this-year-2021-4