Amazon bans police use of facial recognition technology for a year
12 June 2020 |
9:07 am
Rights groups and researchers have long criticized Amazon's facial recognition software, saying it incorrectly identifies people with darker skin. The decision also came amid widespread anti-police brutality protests.
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16 Oct
Caltech researchers have built a bipedal robot that combines walking with flying to create a new type of locomotion, which makes it more agile and capable of complex movements.
Part walking robot, part flying drone, the LEONARDO (short for LEgs ONboARD drOne, or LEO for short) can walk on a tightrope like tightrope walkers, jump, and even skateboard. Developed by a team from Caltech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST), LEO is the first robot to uses multi-jointed legs and propeller-based thrusters to achieve a good degree of control over its balance.
12 Oct
Researchers in California unveiled a bipedal robot on Wednesday that combines walking with flying to create a new type of locomotion, allowing it to jump, skateboard and walk on a slackline.
The robot, named LEONARDO or LEO for short, was developed by a team at the California Institute of Technology's Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies. Researchers said LEO is the first robot to use multi-joint legs and propeller-based thrusters to enable it to balance and carry out complex movements.
17 Oct
Birds chirp near a river in the Ecuadorian jungle, five hours from the capital Quito, as Gregorio Mirabal expresses fear for the 500 tribes that often act as guardians of the Amazon rainforest and who face attacks, and even death, as a result.
14 Oct
Star Trek actor William Shatner and his crewmates -- Chris Boshuizen, Audrey Powers, and Glen de Vries -- train ahead of their trip to the edge of space.
18 Oct
The US is leading a two-day, 30-country meeting to discuss the growing threat of ransomware and other cybercrime. Russia, which has often been implicated in cyberattacks, is conspicuously absent.
17 Oct
Togolese women say they are pushing back against sexist cyberstalking more than ever. We also report on women construction workers who are helping to change the landscape of the Central African Republic. And Leptis Magna was once one of the most beautiful towns in the Roman Empire, but the Libyan ruins are now on UNESCO’s list of heritage sites in danger.
18 Oct
Moscow subway users have started buying tickets using facial recognition technology. Authorities claim queues at ticket counters will be greatly shortened with the system dubbed "Face Pay". This move, however, is already sparking controversy since facial recognition has been used in the past for repressive purposes. In this edition, we explore these technologies that are being deployed in smart cities around the world and whether this means the end of anonymity in public places.
4 days ago
Tired of seeing the lush Amazon destroyed over many years, Brazilian street artist Mundano decided to let nature speak for itself: he has painted a giant mural in Sao Paolo using ashes he collected from the scorched rainforest.
2 days ago
A robotic dog stole the limelight at the Milipol defence and security trade fair near Paris on Tuesday. The 22nd edition of Milipol Paris takes place from Oct. 19 to 22 and plays host to dozens of countries, including Israel, United States and Switzerland. The robotic dog costs "under $1 million", according to Ghost Robotics special projects head Tom Jacobs. He adds that the technology that has advanced in the past few years has enabled the robot dog to keep its balance in difficult terrain
4 days ago
Ugandan schoolchildren have been unable to attend school due to the government's COVID-19 safety restrictions. But luckily for some, a neighborhood mother passionate about IT and coding gives lessons off a porch.
21 Oct
Images of 'TRUTH Social', a social network the former US president Donald Trump says he plans to launch. It's the latest push to reclaim his online influence after he was banned from Twitter and Facebook in the wake of the violent Capitol insurrection.
15 hours ago
Twitter buys out group chat app Sphere
Latest
2 hours ago
Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.
5 hours ago
Amid dire warnings that time is quickly running out, delegates in Glasgow are set to make further binding pledges to radically reduce emissions. But without the funds to help countries adapt, they won't be much use.
5 hours ago
Several people were killed and at least 140 injured in clashes between soldiers and protesters after Sudan's military seized power. The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis.
5 hours ago
Military vehicles patrol a street in Khartoum as Sudan's top general declares a state of emergency, dissolves the authorities leading the country's democratic transition, and announces the formation of a new government. Soldiers have also detained civilian leaders in what activists denounce as a "coup".
6 hours ago
Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said on Tuesday (October 26) that the military agreed to a number of initiatives suggested by prime minister Abdalla Hamdok but civilian forces refused to engage in any dialogue.
Speaking at his first news conference since he announced Monday's takeover, Burhan defended the army's seizure of power, saying he had ousted the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to avoid civil war.
Soldiers arrested the prime minister and other members of his cabinet on Monday (October 25), and hours later Burhan appeared on TV to announce the dissolution of the Sovereign Council, a body set up to share power between the military and civilians.
7 hours ago
It has been two and half years since Sudanese protesters peacefully overthrew their dictator Omar al-Bashir in a jubilant moment for Sudan. But the path to democracy has not run smoothly. Infighting has plagued the country's joint military-civilian coalition and steep price rises have shaken people's faith in their leaders. For weeks, rumours had swirled of a coup d'état. This Monday morning, it happened: Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was arrested and military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appeared on television, declaring a state of emergency and dissolving the country's ruling body. Is this the death knell for Sudan's revolution? Or will the military's actions breathe new life into the protest movement?