theverge--2020-05-07--Facebook’s independent oversight board could be overwhelmed by the challenge

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Today let ’ s talk about Facebook ’ s independent Oversight Board , which just announced its co-chairs and initial membership .
The board will allow Facebook and Instagram users to appeal when they believe that their posts have been removed in error , and upon request will issue advisory opinions to the company on emerging policy questions .
The scope of the work is expected to expand over time — within months of launching , for example , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posts should come down as well as which ones stay up .
( To lots of people , myself included , the latter feels like a more urgent problem . )
Facebook handpicked the inaugural members , who will serve three-year terms , but over time the board will pick its own members .
The company placed $ 130 million in an irrevocable trust to fund the board ’ s operations , and it has promised not to meddle .
After the announcement of the members this morning , I heard three main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Do the announced board members share any particular philosophy ?
And can any of this possibly work ?
Let ’ s take them in order .
How did we get here ?
I like to say that people basically all have the same policy when it comes to content moderation : take down the bad posts , and leave up the good ones .
The trouble comes when people disagree about which posts are good and which posts are bad , and resolving those disputes in a manner that is principled , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social network that has ever attempted the feat .
The problems tend to get harder as you grow , and so Facebook — with 2.37 billion monthly users — arguably has the hardest moderation challenge of all .
Not that you should pity Facebook : the company has always taken growth much more seriously than the problems that come with it , and its investment in content moderation came only after a series of company-shaking scandals .
But questions about how Facebook should handle tricky questions of moderation are almost as old as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queens forced to use their real names ; the moms suspended over breastfeeding photos ; the historians censored after publishing famous but disturbing photos ; the lynch mobs organizing on WhatsApp in India ; the Myanmar government promoting genocide .
In some cases the policy decision was clear but badly enforced ; in other cases the policy lines remain blurry and uncomfortable .
The most controversial cases go to the company ’ s CEO , Mark Zuckerberg , who owns the majority of Facebook through its dual-class stock structure .
The benefit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perspective , is that it allows Zuckerberg to take principled stands without worrying that his board will get mad and fire him .
( The decision not to fact-check speech in political ads , which has generated considerable furor , was a Zuckerberg call . )
The drawback is that the design of Facebook effectively puts the responsibility for policing the speech of 2.37 billion people into the hands of one person .
And given that a great deal of global political discourse now takes place on Facebook ’ s servers , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As I wrote here last year : In 2018 Zuckerberg floated the idea of creating an independent oversight board for Facebook that would weigh in on these and other issues as they arise .
Within a few months , the company began to lay the ground work , consulting with experts from civil society and holding a series of mock content-moderation trials around the world .
Last June the board unveiled its charter ; in December , Facebook said it had set aside $ 130 million to fund the board ’ s operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in devolving some of the power accumulated by a tech giant back to its own user base .
And if it proves to be effective , it could serve as a new model for self-regulation of big platforms at a time when government efforts at regulation seem to have fallen into cautious paralysis , at least in the United States .
Do the announced board members share any particular philosophy ?
Say hello to the inaugural four co-leaders of the Oversight Board : Catalina Botero-Marino , Jamal Greene , Michael W. McConnell and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : a former special rapporteur on freedom of expression at the Organization of the American States ; a law professor at Columbia ; a law professor at Stanford ; and a former prime minister of Denmark .
They wrote an op-ed to introduce themselves in the New York Times , and they described their philosophy this way : Over the past several months , I had the chance to talk with several Facebook executives about their selection process for board members .
The principle that came up more than any other was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recall , gave a speech on the subject last year advocating for an internet that preserves the maximum amount of open discourse .
It ’ s no accident that the first batch of Oversight Board members have sworn fealty to free expression — or that their first task will be to weigh in on posts that Facebook removed in error , unjustly limiting the free expression of the company ’ s users .
If you ’ re the sort of person who is generally more mad about posts that Facebook left up rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you may be disappointed with the board ’ s early days .
The company has told me that the board will begin considering removals within a few months of launch .
We ’ ll see .
There are 16 more announced members , with 20 more to come .
The initial group boasts impressive CVs , along with solid diversity of gender , race , and geography .
( The board , which will hear cases in panels , has committed to include at least one member from the region where each case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vocal critics of Facebook on the board — better luck next time , Kara Swisher — but the board was never designed to be a referendum on Facebook itself .
Can any of this possibly work ?
Well , people have takes .
Several of the announced board members wrote posts , either on Twitter or on Medium , expressing their optimism .
Alan Rusbridger , a former editor of The Guardian who will join the board , said he relished the chance to be a check on Facebook ’ s power : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has followed the board ’ s development closely , called the announced members “ an impressive group with incredible credentials on human rights , freedom of expression , and adjudication .
But perhaps most importantly for the future of the board , this initial group have skills in institution building and establishing procedure in the rule of law.
” So what are the concerns ?
One is that Facebook will ignore the board ’ s opinions , which will not be legally binding .
My read : unlikely , since the entire point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new body to blame for unpopular decisions .
In practice , most users may continue to blast Facebook whenever a moderation decision goes against them .
( After all , the board will only hear a tiny fraction of cases . )
But Facebook is counting on the board reversing its decisions , because doing so is the only thing that can give the board legitimacy and give the company some distance from the thorniest cases .
So I ’ m optimistic Facebook will do as the board advises — but then again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how long Facebook ’ s promises of independence lasted .
( About five years , as it turned out . )
Another concern , raised by the disinformation researcher Nina Jankowicz , is that the board ’ s sights are trained on the wrong place .
While members ponder speech , she argues , the bigger issue is reach — and on the decisions made opaquely by algorithms on which content to promote and what to bury .
I think the board has to start somewhere , but I agree that Facebook ought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machinations of its machine-learning systems as it is to the decisions of its human moderators .
A third concern is that the Oversight Board will expand to do moderation for YouTube , Twitter , and other social networks .
Daphne Keller , platform regulation director at the Stanford Cyber Policy Center , worries about “ big and small platforms converging on a single rule set , ” robbing us of the benefits that come with competition and a more diverse set of viewpoints around moderation .
She tells Issie Lapowsky at Protocol : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move more and more of the internet toward one single set of rules , that ’ s a real loss.
” I ’ m most sympathetic to concerns that the board ’ s lofty intentions will be overwhelmed by the sheer size of the task .
As Sarah Frier notes , board members are committing to an average of just 15 hours a month on the project .
David Kaye , the United Nations ’ special rapporteur on free expression , frames the issue this way : Alex Stamos , Facebook ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that problem looks from the inside .
“ Law professors love to come up with really thoughtful , complicated mental tests to distinguish between lawful and unlawful , and they are used to making arguments to highly educated and experienced appellate judges , ” he tweeted .
“ This kind of thoughtful argumentation is common inside of FB ’ s policy team until it breaks upon the rocks of reality , which is that any hard speech decision has to be made by machines overseen by humans who can apply 30-60 seconds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a judge with weeks.
” I think the board can do meaningful work even if it only tackles the highest profile cases — just as the US Supreme Court has vast influence even though it only hears a relative handful of cases each year .
But by dint of its global scale Facebook ’ s task is in many ways larger and more complicated than the Supreme Court ’ s .
Independent though it may be , the board has to rely on Facebook to design its workflows and apply its decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell whether it will come to be seen as effective , or even legitimate .
But it seems clear that for as much work as has gone into building the board so far , what follows will make the picking of board members look like the easy part .
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms .
Trending up : Twitter is stepping up its fight against 5G coronavirus conspiracy theories in the UK .
Now , users who tweet about the 5G conspiracy theory will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technology .
( The Telegraph ) Trending up : Google committed another $ 50 million to COVID-19 relief efforts .
The company ’ s charitable arm , Google.org , had already committed $ 50 million at the start of the pandemic .
Trending up : Google and the Gates Foundation are teaming up on a new initiative to bring real-time digital payments to developing countries .
Their aim is to develop a free , open-source digital payments platform for nations and central banks .
( David Z. Morris / Fortune ) Total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,220,200 Total deaths in the US : At least 72,300 Total test results ( positive and negative ) in New York : 1,028,899 Total test results ( positive and negative ) in New Jersey : 287,623 Data from The New York Times .
Test data from The COVID Tracking Project .
⭐ Stories about coronavirus mutations aren ’ t necessarily what they seem .
Right now , there ’ s no clear evidence that the virus has evolved into significantly different forms — and there probably won ’ t be for months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Health officials need better ways of countering misinformation online .
The posts that reach people on Facebook and YouTube aren ’ t those with the most reliable information , they ’ re the ones that get the most likes .
The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control haven ’ t adapted to the way information now circulates , this misinformation researcher argues .
( Renée DiResta / The Atlantic ) How a lack of information on Google ( a “ data void ” ) can erode trust during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my favorite subjects and something that too few people understand ; read this illustrative account of how a recent void on Google reshaped perception .
( Francesca Tripodi / Wired ) Americans are split on whether the government should be allowed to use location data to track the spread of COVID-19 .
Almost half of US adults say the practice is at least somewhat unacceptable .
As a reminder , Apple and Google ’ s collaborative API will record users ’ proximity to one another but not their location .
( Pew Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has hired contractors with no experience to find respirators and masks , even agreeing to a 350 percent markup from the manufacturer ’ s list price .
While waiting for the protective equipment to arrive , 20 VA staff have died of COVID-19 .
( J. David McSwane / ProPublica ) How the internet kept running even as society closed down around it , and internet usage spiked amid the pandemic .
( Charles Fishman / The Atlantic ) As employees continue to work remotely , companies are using software to track their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not related to work .
( Adam Satariano / The New York Times ) Zoom announced Lieutenant General H.R .
McMaster is joining the board as an independent director .
The company also hired Josh Kallmer as its head of global public policy .
Three women are suing the anonymous secret app Whisper for exposing 900 million user records .
The exposed data didn ’ t include peoples ’ names , but had other identifying information like age , ethnicity , gender , hometown , and any membership in groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confessions .
( Robert Burnson / Bloomberg ) ⭐ The Libra Association , the group behind the proposed digital currency invented by Facebook , named former US Treasury Department official Stuart Levey as its first CEO .
Levey has the daunting task of working with global regulators to push the project forward .
Here ’ s Kurt Wagner at Bloomberg : Airbnb is laying off a quarter of its staff .
It ’ s one of the largest layoffs that Silicon Valley has seen since the Covid-19 pandemic struck .
Brian Chesky , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the company ’ s revenue would be halved and that it would terminate about 1,900 of its 7,500 employees .
( Theodore Schleifer / Recode ) Magic Leap is in talks to secure funding from a health care company , according to emails CEO Rony Abovitz sent to staff .
The money could save the startup from making further cuts to its already diminished workforce .
( Alex Heath / The Information ) “ Adopt a high school senior ” Facebook groups have proliferated as the school year comes to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in graduation ceremonies .
Group members “ adopt ” students in the comments , sending along baskets , gift cards , and presents in congratulations .
( Terry Nguyen / Vox ) The pandemic has accelerated major changes in the way porn is produced and distributed .
OnlyFans has become particularly popular , with subscriptions up 50 percent in April .
But the porn industry ’ s future continues to be uncertain .
( Otillia Steadman / BuzzFeed ) How “ Karen ” became a coronavirus villain .
During the pandemic , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call out a vocal minority of middle-aged white women who are opposed to social distancing , out of either ignorance or ruthless self-interest .
( Kaitlyn Tiffany / The Atlantic ) YouTube creators said that ad rates fell as much as 30 percent in April .
But longer-term sponsorship deals have proven more resilient .
( Nick Bastone / The Information ) TikTok is leveraging its massive audience to draw A-list celebrities to the platform as users stay stuck at home during the pandemic .
The Hype House , where a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being shopped around for a possible reality show .
It ’ s being pitched as a modern-day Mickey Mouse Club .
( Natalie Jarvey / The Hollywood Reporter ) Spotify is now testing video podcasts in its app , starting with YouTube stars Zane Hijazi and Heath Hussar .
The global test , which allows the creators to upload their recorded video footage to the app , will show up for 50 percent of the show ’ s Spotify podcast listeners .
( Ashley Carman / The Verge ) Epic ’ s Fortnite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , making it one of the most popular games ever made .
( Nick Statt / The Verge ) Twitch updated its channel pages .
Now streamers will have way more control over what their channel looks like when it ’ s offline , with a more customizable home page , channel trailers , and more .
( Bijan Stephen / The Verge ) Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine .
Watch Daniel Radcliffe , Stephen Fry , and Eddie Redmayne read chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be available for free on harrypotterathome.com , and the audio is accessible exclusively on Spotify .
Watch a new trailer for The Last of Us : Part II , one of the year ’ s most anticipated video games .
Send us tips , comments , questions , and your Oversight Board nominations : casey @ theverge.com and zoe @ theverge.com .

Today let’s talk about Facebook’s independent Oversight Board, which just announced its co-chairs and initial membership. The board will allow Facebook and Instagram users to appeal when they believe that their posts have been removed in error, and upon request will issue advisory opinions to the company on emerging policy questions.
The scope of the work is expected to expand over time — within months of launching, for example, the board is expected to rule on which posts should come down as well as which ones stay up. (To lots of people, myself included, the latter feels like a more urgent problem.) Facebook handpicked the inaugural members, who will serve three-year terms, but over time the board will pick its own members. The company placed $130 million in an irrevocable trust to fund the board’s operations, and it has promised not to meddle.
After the announcement of the members this morning, I heard three main questions: how did we get here? Do the announced board members share any particular philosophy? And can any of this possibly work?
Let’s take them in order.
How did we get here?
I like to say that people basically all have the same policy when it comes to content moderation: take down the bad posts, and leave up the good ones. The trouble comes when people disagree about which posts are good and which posts are bad, and resolving those disputes in a manner that is principled, timely, and consistent has bedeviled every social network that has ever attempted the feat. The problems tend to get harder as you grow, and so Facebook — with 2.37 billion monthly users — arguably has the hardest moderation challenge of all.
Not that you should pity Facebook: the company has always taken growth much more seriously than the problems that come with it, and its investment in content moderation came only after a series of company-shaking scandals. But questions about how Facebook should handle tricky questions of moderation are almost as old as the company.
There were the drag queens forced to use their real names; the moms suspended over breastfeeding photos; the historians censored after publishing famous but disturbing photos; the lynch mobs organizing on WhatsApp in India; the Myanmar government promoting genocide. In some cases the policy decision was clear but badly enforced; in other cases the policy lines remain blurry and uncomfortable.
The most controversial cases go to the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who owns the majority of Facebook through its dual-class stock structure. The benefit of this system, from Facebook’s perspective, is that it allows Zuckerberg to take principled stands without worrying that his board will get mad and fire him. (The decision not to fact-check speech in political ads, which has generated considerable furor, was a Zuckerberg call.)
The drawback is that the design of Facebook effectively puts the responsibility for policing the speech of 2.37 billion people into the hands of one person. And given that a great deal of global political discourse now takes place on Facebook’s servers, that’s a cause for concern. As I wrote here last year:
Facebook and its moderators currently police the boundaries of speech on an enormous portion of the internet. And for those who feel that the company made the wrong decision about a post, there has historically been very little recourse. You could fill out a little text box and pray, but you were unlikely to ever receive much more than an automated message in response. The system might work in the majority of cases, but it never felt particularly just — which is to say, open and accountable.
In 2018 Zuckerberg floated the idea of creating an independent oversight board for Facebook that would weigh in on these and other issues as they arise. Within a few months, the company began to lay the ground work, consulting with experts from civil society and holding a series of mock content-moderation trials around the world. Last June the board unveiled its charter; in December, Facebook said it had set aside $130 million to fund the board’s operations.
It’s an unprecedented experiment in devolving some of the power accumulated by a tech giant back to its own user base. And if it proves to be effective, it could serve as a new model for self-regulation of big platforms at a time when government efforts at regulation seem to have fallen into cautious paralysis, at least in the United States.
Do the announced board members share any particular philosophy?
Say hello to the inaugural four co-leaders of the Oversight Board: Catalina Botero-Marino, Jamal Greene, Michael W. McConnell and Helle Thorning-Schmidt. They are, respectively: a former special rapporteur on freedom of expression at the Organization of the American States; a law professor at Columbia; a law professor at Stanford; and a former prime minister of Denmark.
They wrote an op-ed to introduce themselves in the New York Times, and they described their philosophy this way:
The board members come from different professional, cultural and religious backgrounds and have various political viewpoints. Some of us have been publicly critical of Facebook; some of us haven’t. But all of us have training and experience that can help the board in considering the most significant content decisions facing online communities. We are all independent of Facebook. And we are all committed to freedom of expression within the framework of international norms of human rights. We will make decisions based on those principles and on the effects on Facebook users and society, without regard to the economic, political or reputational interests of the company.
Over the past several months, I had the chance to talk with several Facebook executives about their selection process for board members. The principle that came up more than any other was “free expression.” Zuckerberg, you may recall, gave a speech on the subject last year advocating for an internet that preserves the maximum amount of open discourse. It’s no accident that the first batch of Oversight Board members have sworn fealty to free expression — or that their first task will be to weigh in on posts that Facebook removed in error, unjustly limiting the free expression of the company’s users.
If you’re the sort of person who is generally more mad about posts that Facebook left up rather than posts that Facebook took down, you may be disappointed with the board’s early days. The company has told me that the board will begin considering removals within a few months of launch. We’ll see.
There are 16 more announced members, with 20 more to come. The initial group boasts impressive CVs, along with solid diversity of gender, race, and geography. (The board, which will hear cases in panels, has committed to include at least one member from the region where each case originated.) There are no particularly vocal critics of Facebook on the board — better luck next time, Kara Swisher — but the board was never designed to be a referendum on Facebook itself.
Can any of this possibly work?
Well, people have takes. Several of the announced board members wrote posts, either on Twitter or on Medium, expressing their optimism. Alan Rusbridger, a former editor of The Guardian who will join the board, said he relished the chance to be a check on Facebook’s power:
Facebook is an entity that defies description. It is a friend of the otherwise voiceless — but also an enabler of darkness. It brings harmony to some, discord to many. It promotes order and amplifies anarchy. It employs many brilliant engineers but has — too slowly — recognized that the multiple challenges it faces involve the realms of philosophy, ethics, journalism, religion, geography, and human rights. And it makes a whole lot of money, and a whole lot of enemies, while doing this. To address this, it needs independent, external oversight.
Kate Klonick, a law professor who has followed the board’s development closely, called the announced members “an impressive group with incredible credentials on human rights, freedom of expression, and adjudication. But perhaps most importantly for the future of the board, this initial group have skills in institution building and establishing procedure in the rule of law.”
So what are the concerns? One is that Facebook will ignore the board’s opinions, which will not be legally binding. My read: unlikely, since the entire point of the board is to create a new body to blame for unpopular decisions. In practice, most users may continue to blast Facebook whenever a moderation decision goes against them. (After all, the board will only hear a tiny fraction of cases.) But Facebook is counting on the board reversing its decisions, because doing so is the only thing that can give the board legitimacy and give the company some distance from the thorniest cases. So I’m optimistic Facebook will do as the board advises — but then again, ask Brian Acton or Kevin Systrom how long Facebook’s promises of independence lasted. (About five years, as it turned out.)
Another concern, raised by the disinformation researcher Nina Jankowicz, is that the board’s sights are trained on the wrong place. While members ponder speech, she argues, the bigger issue is reach — and on the decisions made opaquely by algorithms on which content to promote and what to bury. I think the board has to start somewhere, but I agree that Facebook ought to be just as accountable to the machinations of its machine-learning systems as it is to the decisions of its human moderators.
A third concern is that the Oversight Board will expand to do moderation for YouTube, Twitter, and other social networks. Daphne Keller, platform regulation director at the Stanford Cyber Policy Center, worries about “big and small platforms converging on a single rule set,” robbing us of the benefits that come with competition and a more diverse set of viewpoints around moderation. She tells Issie Lapowsky at Protocol: “If this becomes a mechanism to move more and more of the internet toward one single set of rules, that’s a real loss.”
I’m most sympathetic to concerns that the board’s lofty intentions will be overwhelmed by the sheer size of the task. As Sarah Frier notes, board members are committing to an average of just 15 hours a month on the project. David Kaye, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on free expression, frames the issue this way:
Difficult content problems often take place at local levels, in languages and code that may be impenetrable to those outside. Will the board ever have the bandwidth to address the massive impact Facebook will continue to have in communities worldwide? Will the board, in other words, be more like a Band-Aid on a massive wound than an appellate body to solve the crises of online speech?
Alex Stamos, Facebook’s former chief security officer, describes how that problem looks from the inside. “Law professors love to come up with really thoughtful, complicated mental tests to distinguish between lawful and unlawful, and they are used to making arguments to highly educated and experienced appellate judges,” he tweeted. “This kind of thoughtful argumentation is common inside of FB’s policy team until it breaks upon the rocks of reality, which is that any hard speech decision has to be made by machines overseen by humans who can apply 30-60 seconds of judgment to a ‘case’, not a judge with weeks.”
I think the board can do meaningful work even if it only tackles the highest profile cases — just as the US Supreme Court has vast influence even though it only hears a relative handful of cases each year. But by dint of its global scale Facebook’s task is in many ways larger and more complicated than the Supreme Court’s. Independent though it may be, the board has to rely on Facebook to design its workflows and apply its decisions. It’s far too early to tell whether it will come to be seen as effective, or even legitimate. But it seems clear that for as much work as has gone into building the board so far, what follows will make the picking of board members look like the easy part.
The Ratio
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
🔼 Trending up: Twitter is stepping up its fight against 5G coronavirus conspiracy theories in the UK. Now, users who tweet about the 5G conspiracy theory will be prompted to read government-verified information about the technology. (The Telegraph)
🔼 Trending up: Google committed another $50 million to COVID-19 relief efforts. The company’s charitable arm, Google.org, had already committed $50 million at the start of the pandemic.
🔼 Trending up: Google and the Gates Foundation are teaming up on a new initiative to bring real-time digital payments to developing countries. Their aim is to develop a free, open-source digital payments platform for nations and central banks. (David Z. Morris / Fortune)
Virus tracker
Total cases in the US: More than 1,220,200
Total deaths in the US: At least 72,300
Reported cases in California: 59,171
Total test results (positive and negative) in California: 779,902
Reported cases in New York: 326,659
Total test results (positive and negative) in New York: 1,028,899
Reported cases in New Jersey: 131,890
Total test results (positive and negative) in New Jersey: 287,623
Reported cases in Massachusetts: 70,271
Total test results (positive and negative) in Massachusetts: 333,349
Governing
⭐ Stories about coronavirus mutations aren’t necessarily what they seem. Right now, there’s no clear evidence that the virus has evolved into significantly different forms — and there probably won’t be for months. Ed Yong has more at The Atlantic:
Whenever a virus infects a host, it makes new copies of itself, and it starts by duplicating its genes. But this process is sloppy, and the duplicates end up with errors. These are called mutations—they’re the genetic equivalent of typos. In comic books and other science fiction, mutations are always dramatic and consequential. In the real world, they’re a normal and usually mundane part of virology. Viruses naturally and gradually accumulate mutations as they spread. As an epidemic progresses, the virus family tree grows new branches and twigs—new lineages that are characterized by differing sets of mutations. But a new lineage doesn’t automatically count as a new strain. That term is usually reserved for a lineage that differs from its fellow viruses in significant ways. It might vary in how easily it spreads (transmissibility), its ability to cause disease (virulence), whether it is recognized by the immune system in the same way (antigenicity), or how vulnerable it is to medications (resistance). Some mutations affect these properties. Most do not, and are either silent or cosmetic. “Not every mutation creates a different strain,” says Grubaugh. (Think about dog breeds as equivalents of strains: A corgi is clearly different from a Great Dane, but a black-haired corgi is functionally the same as a brown-haired one, and wouldn’t count as a separate breed.)
Health officials need better ways of countering misinformation online. The posts that reach people on Facebook and YouTube aren’t those with the most reliable information, they’re the ones that get the most likes. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control haven’t adapted to the way information now circulates, this misinformation researcher argues. (Renée DiResta / The Atlantic)
How a lack of information on Google (a “data void”) can erode trust during a pandemic. Data voids are one of my favorite subjects and something that too few people understand; read this illustrative account of how a recent void on Google reshaped perception. (Francesca Tripodi / Wired)
Americans are split on whether the government should be allowed to use location data to track the spread of COVID-19. Almost half of US adults say the practice is at least somewhat unacceptable. As a reminder, Apple and Google’s collaborative API will record users’ proximity to one another but not their location. (Pew Research Center)
The Department of Veterans Affairs has hired contractors with no experience to find respirators and masks, even agreeing to a 350 percent markup from the manufacturer’s list price. While waiting for the protective equipment to arrive, 20 VA staff have died of COVID-19. (J. David McSwane / ProPublica)
How the internet kept running even as society closed down around it, and internet usage spiked amid the pandemic. (Charles Fishman / The Atlantic)
As employees continue to work remotely, companies are using software to track their movements and productivity — even when it’s not related to work. (Adam Satariano / The New York Times)
Zoom announced Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster is joining the board as an independent director. The company also hired Josh Kallmer as its head of global public policy.
Three women are suing the anonymous secret app Whisper for exposing 900 million user records. The exposed data didn’t include peoples’ names, but had other identifying information like age, ethnicity, gender, hometown, and any membership in groups, many of which are devoted to sexual confessions. (Robert Burnson / Bloomberg)
Industry
⭐ The Libra Association, the group behind the proposed digital currency invented by Facebook, named former US Treasury Department official Stuart Levey as its first CEO. Levey has the daunting task of working with global regulators to push the project forward. Here’s Kurt Wagner at Bloomberg:
Libra, which was announced in June 2019, was conceived and developed by Facebook, the world’s largest social network. It’s now governed by a 24-member independent coalition of companies and nonprofits, though the group has changed since the project was launched. Levey will assume the role sometime this summer, and will be stationed in Washington. The Libra Association, based in Geneva, said last month that it aims to have its coins ready in late 2020.
Airbnb is laying off a quarter of its staff. It’s one of the largest layoffs that Silicon Valley has seen since the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Brian Chesky, the company’s founder and CEO, said the company’s revenue would be halved and that it would terminate about 1,900 of its 7,500 employees. (Theodore Schleifer / Recode)
Magic Leap is in talks to secure funding from a health care company, according to emails CEO Rony Abovitz sent to staff. The money could save the startup from making further cuts to its already diminished workforce. (Alex Heath / The Information)
“Adopt a high school senior” Facebook groups have proliferated as the school year comes to an end and students are unable to participate in graduation ceremonies. Group members “adopt” students in the comments, sending along baskets, gift cards, and presents in congratulations. (Terry Nguyen / Vox)
The pandemic has accelerated major changes in the way porn is produced and distributed. OnlyFans has become particularly popular, with subscriptions up 50 percent in April. But the porn industry’s future continues to be uncertain. (Otillia Steadman / BuzzFeed)
How “Karen” became a coronavirus villain. During the pandemic, the name has been adopted as a shorthand to call out a vocal minority of middle-aged white women who are opposed to social distancing, out of either ignorance or ruthless self-interest. (Kaitlyn Tiffany / The Atlantic)
TikTok is leveraging its massive audience to draw A-list celebrities to the platform as users stay stuck at home during the pandemic. The Hype House, where a group of famous TikTokers live, is also being shopped around for a possible reality show. It’s being pitched as a modern-day Mickey Mouse Club. (Natalie Jarvey / The Hollywood Reporter)
Spotify is now testing video podcasts in its app, starting with YouTube stars Zane Hijazi and Heath Hussar. The global test, which allows the creators to upload their recorded video footage to the app, will show up for 50 percent of the show’s Spotify podcast listeners. (Ashley Carman / The Verge)
Twitch updated its channel pages. Now streamers will have way more control over what their channel looks like when it’s offline, with a more customizable home page, channel trailers, and more. (Bijan Stephen / The Verge)
Things to do
Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine.
Watch a bear taking a bath in an outdoor tub. Extremely relaxing.
Those good tweets
Talk to us


theverge--2020-05-07--LG’s stylish mid-range Velvet smartphone gets its grand reveal

The LG Velvet has finally officially launched in South Korea , following weeks of teases and announcements .
As expected , the phone features a “ raindrop ” triple rear camera array , is powered by a Snapdragon 765 , and has a 6.8-inch OLED display with a small central notch .
Details about its global launch are expected to come later this month .
LG has taken such a gradual approach with the reveal that we knew practically everything about the Velvet already .
The South Korean electronics giant showed off its name and design in sketch form back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with additional details the following week .
We also knew the specs of its cameras , display , and battery thanks to a blog post published late last month .
The main camera has a 48 megapixel sensor , and it ’ s joined by an 8 megapixel ultra-wide camera , a 5 megapixel depth sensor , and a 16 megapixel front-facing camera .
Internally , the phone has a 4,300 mAh battery and supports both fast and wireless charging .
Rounding out the specs , the phone has 8GB of RAM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water resistance rating , and an in-display fingerprint sensor .
It supports styluses and LG ’ s dual screen accessory , and it ’ s available in orange , green , black , and white .
Oh , and there ’ s a 3.5mm headphone jack , because this is LG after all .
The LG Velvet is due to cost ₩899,800 ( around $ 700 ) when it goes on sale in South Korea .
Although the company is yet to announce pricing or release information for outside of the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to make an English-language announcement later this month , suggesting that a release in the US and Europe can ’ t be far away .
That ’ s good news , because the Velvet is one of the most interesting looking phones LG has produced in a while .

The LG Velvet has finally officially launched in South Korea, following weeks of teases and announcements. As expected, the phone features a “raindrop” triple rear camera array, is powered by a Snapdragon 765, and has a 6.8-inch OLED display with a small central notch. Details about its global launch are expected to come later this month.
LG has taken such a gradual approach with the reveal that we knew practically everything about the Velvet already. The South Korean electronics giant showed off its name and design in sketch form back in April, then announced its processor along with additional details the following week.
We also knew the specs of its cameras, display, and battery thanks to a blog post published late last month. The main camera has a 48 megapixel sensor, and it’s joined by an 8 megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 5 megapixel depth sensor, and a 16 megapixel front-facing camera. Internally, the phone has a 4,300 mAh battery and supports both fast and wireless charging.
The Velvet is available in orange, green, black, and white. Image: LG
Rounding out the specs, the phone has 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, an IP68 water resistance rating, and an in-display fingerprint sensor. It supports styluses and LG’s dual screen accessory, and it’s available in orange, green, black, and white. Oh, and there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, because this is LG after all.


theverge--2020-05-07--Animal Crossing boosts Nintendo sales despite COVID-19

Nintendo Switch sales were up 34 percent year-on-year last quarter as the company moved 3.29 million units , despite acknowledging that production has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Animal Crossing : New Horizons was a big sales driver , with 11.77 million units sold as of the end of March 31st .
That ’ s enough to make it the seventh-best-selling Switch title yet even with only ten days worth of sales data accounted for .
Nintendo adds that New Horizons actually sold 13.41 million copies in its first six weeks , though , which likely takes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into sixth place .
Japanese sales figures had already revealed that New Horizons was a big hit .
The game sold more in its first three days than any other Animal Crossing or Nintendo Switch title to date , also pushing Switch console sales to their highest level yet .
The Switch is 20 million units behind the 3DS Overall Nintendo shipped just over 21 million Switch consoles this financial year , easily beating its forecast of 18 million .
The lifetime-to-date figure is 55.77 million units shipped worldwide , exactly 20 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicting that it ’ ll ship 19 million Switch consoles in the year ending March 31st , 2021 , suggesting it may have hit the peak in the life cycle — unless it outperforms its own expectations again , of course .
Nintendo ’ s full-year revenue increased 9 percent year-on-year to 1.3 trillion yen ( $ 12.3 billion ) , but the company is forecasting a return to 2019 levels for the upcoming financial year , predicting sales of 1.2 trillion yen .
“ It appears that delays in production and shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says in its earnings release with regard to the pandemic .
“ However , we may be affected if there continue to be issues involving the procurement of necessary components .
In addition , if the impact of COVID-19 is prolonged or worsens further , it may disrupt the product supply.
” Elsewhere , Nintendo warns of lowered demand for physical products due to restrictions on movement and sales channels , while it suggests that development schedules may be impacted if COVID-19 ’ s effects are prolonged and employees are unable to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming software lineup is extremely thin right now , though the company tends to announce major releases in early summer .
So far the biggest Switch title on the calendar is a remake of Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles set for later this month .

Nintendo Switch sales were up 34 percent year-on-year last quarter as the company moved 3.29 million units, despite acknowledging that production has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a big sales driver, with 11.77 million units sold as of the end of March 31st.
That’s enough to make it the seventh-best-selling Switch title yet even with only ten days worth of sales data accounted for. Nintendo adds that New Horizons actually sold 13.41 million copies in its first six weeks, though, which likely takes it past Pokémon Let’s Go! into sixth place.
Japanese sales figures had already revealed that New Horizons was a big hit. The game sold more in its first three days than any other Animal Crossing or Nintendo Switch title to date, also pushing Switch console sales to their highest level yet.
The Switch is 20 million units behind the 3DS
Overall Nintendo shipped just over 21 million Switch consoles this financial year, easily beating its forecast of 18 million. The lifetime-to-date figure is 55.77 million units shipped worldwide, exactly 20 million behind the 3DS. Nintendo is now predicting that it’ll ship 19 million Switch consoles in the year ending March 31st, 2021, suggesting it may have hit the peak in the life cycle — unless it outperforms its own expectations again, of course.
Nintendo’s full-year revenue increased 9 percent year-on-year to 1.3 trillion yen ($12.3 billion), but the company is forecasting a return to 2019 levels for the upcoming financial year, predicting sales of 1.2 trillion yen.
“It appears that delays in production and shipping are gradually recovering,” the company says in its earnings release with regard to the pandemic. “However, we may be affected if there continue to be issues involving the procurement of necessary components. In addition, if the impact of COVID-19 is prolonged or worsens further, it may disrupt the product supply.”
Elsewhere, Nintendo warns of lowered demand for physical products due to restrictions on movement and sales channels, while it suggests that development schedules may be impacted if COVID-19’s effects are prolonged and employees are unable to return to the office.


theverge--2020-05-07--A National Treasure Disney Plus series is in development

A National Treasure TV series for Disney Plus is now in development , producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Collider in an interview today .
Bruckheimer also reiterated that a new National Treasure film was in the works , though that was first reported in January .
Bruckheimer was light on details for the Disney Plus show , but he did say that “ it ’ s the same concept but a young cast.
” It ’ s unclear if Nicolas Cage will be reprising his role as Benjamin Franklin Gates in the Disney Plus series in some capacity .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the first two movies , Bruckheimer said .
Both the series in the film seem are early in development Both the National Treasure Disney Plus show and the third film also seem to be in early stages of development , based on Bruckheimer ’ s comments .
“ The film version is being written right now , and the television version is in process , ” he said .
“ We have a pilot script done and we have an outline of the future episodes.
” The potential new National Treasure series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing franchises that the company has mined for Disney Plus shows .
There are also multiple Star Wars projects in the works , including a series about Obi-Wan Kenobi , one about Cassian Andor , one helmed by Leslye Headland , and a second season of The Mandalorian , as well as multiple Marvel series , including The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , WandaVision , and Loki .

A National Treasure TV series for Disney Plus is now in development, producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Collider in an interview today. Bruckheimer also reiterated that a new National Treasure film was in the works, though that was first reported in January.
Bruckheimer was light on details for the Disney Plus show, but he did say that “it’s the same concept but a young cast.” It’s unclear if Nicolas Cage will be reprising his role as Benjamin Franklin Gates in the Disney Plus series in some capacity. The new theatrical movie would have the same cast as the first two movies, Bruckheimer said.
Both the series in the film seem are early in development


theverge--2020-05-07--Clearview AI to stop selling controversial facial recognition app to private companies

Controversial facial recognition provider Clearview AI says it will no longer sell its app to private companies and non-law enforcement entities , according to a legal filing first reported on Thursday by BuzzFeed News .
It will also be terminating all contracts , regardless of whether the contracts are for law enforcement purposes or not , in the state of Illinois .
The document , filed in Illinois court as part of lawsuit over the company ’ s potential violations of a state privacy law , lays out Clearview ’ s decision as a voluntary action , and the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers anywhere.
” Earlier this year , BuzzFeed reported on a leaked client list that indicates Clearview ’ s technology has been used by thousands of organizations , including companies like Bank of America , Macy ’ s , and Walmart .
“ Clearview is also cancelling all accounts belonging to any entity based in Illinois.
” “ Clearview is cancelling the accounts of every customer who was not either associated with law enforcement or some other federal , state , or local government department , office , or agency , ” Clearview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also cancelling all accounts belonging to any entity based in Illinois.
” Clearview argues that it should not face an injunction , which would prohibit it from using current or past Illinois residents ’ biometric data , because it ’ s taking these steps to comply with the state ’ s privacy law .
The plaintiff in the lawsuit , David Mutnick , sued Clearview in January for violating his and other state residents ’ privacy under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act ( BIPA ) , a rare and far-reaching piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal for companies to collect and store sensitive biometric data without consent .
The law is the same one under which Facebook settled a class-action lawsuit earlier this year for $ 550 million over its use of facial recognition technology to identify , without consent , the faces of people in photos uploaded to its social network .
According to BuzzFeed , Clearview has had at least 105 customers in Illinois , ranging from the Chicago Police Department to the office of the Illinois Secretary of State .
A majority of those customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not clear if the Federal Bureau of Investigation ’ s Chicago office or the Illinois division of the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives , both of which have reportedly used Clearview ’ s database in the past , will now be prevented from using the platform under the outright Illinois ban .
“ Clearview AI continues to pursue its core mission : to assist law enforcement agencies around the nation in identifying perpetrators and victims of crime , including horrific crimes such as trafficking and child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer representing Clearview AI in the case , told BuzzFeed .
“ It is committed to abiding by all laws applicable to it.
” Clearview says in addition to ending its contracts , it will also take measures to prevent its technology from collecting data from Illinois residents by banning photos containing metadata that indicate the photo was taken in the state and banning URLs and Illinois-based IP addresses from its automated systems for collecting new data .
The company says it ’ s also building an opt-out tool , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the request of an Illinois-based individual and what exactly the process would involve .
Clearview AI has been mired in controversy over its scraping of social media sites It ’ s also unclear if any of these measures will be successful at preventing future privacy violations or dispelling the controversy around Clearview ’ s controversial approach to data collection , its sale of potential privacy-violating technology to law enforcement , and the lack of regulatory oversight governing how the company operates .
Clearview ’ s database , which is provided to customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already contains more than 3 billion photos collected in part by scraping social media sites against those services ’ terms of service .
“ These promises do little to address concerns about Clearview ’ s reckless and dangerous business model .
There is no guarantee these steps will actually protect Illinois residents .
And , even if there were , making promises about one state does nothing to end Clearview ’ s abusive exploitation of people ’ s faceprints across the country , ” Nathan Freed Wessler , a staff attorney with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Technology Project , said in a statement given to The Verge .
“ Instead of taking real steps to address the harms of face recognition surveillance , Clearview is doubling down on the sale of its face surveillance system to law enforcement and continues to fuel large scale violations of Americans ’ privacy and due process rights , ” Wessler added .
“ The only good that Clearview has achieved here is demonstrate the vital importance of strong biometric privacy laws like the one in Illinois , and of laws adopted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognition systems.
” Clearview has received multiple cease-and-desist orders from Facebook , YouTube , Twitter , and other companies over its practices , but it ’ s not clear if the company has deleted any of the photos it ’ s used to build its database as directed by those cease-and-desist orders .
In addition to the lawsuit in Illinois , Clearview is also facing legal action from California , New York , and Vermont .

Controversial facial recognition provider Clearview AI says it will no longer sell its app to private companies and non-law enforcement entities, according to a legal filing first reported on Thursday by BuzzFeed News. It will also be terminating all contracts, regardless of whether the contracts are for law enforcement purposes or not, in the state of Illinois.
The document, filed in Illinois court as part of lawsuit over the company’s potential violations of a state privacy law, lays out Clearview’s decision as a voluntary action, and the company will now “avoid transacting with non-governmental customers anywhere.” Earlier this year, BuzzFeed reported on a leaked client list that indicates Clearview’s technology has been used by thousands of organizations, including companies like Bank of America, Macy’s, and Walmart.
“Clearview is also cancelling all accounts belonging to any entity based in Illinois.”
“Clearview is cancelling the accounts of every customer who was not either associated with law enforcement or some other federal, state, or local government department, office, or agency,” Clearview’s filing reads. “Clearview is also cancelling all accounts belonging to any entity based in Illinois.” Clearview argues that it should not face an injunction, which would prohibit it from using current or past Illinois residents’ biometric data, because it’s taking these steps to comply with the state’s privacy law.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit, David Mutnick, sued Clearview in January for violating his and other state residents’ privacy under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), a rare and far-reaching piece of facial recognition-related legislation that makes it illegal for companies to collect and store sensitive biometric data without consent. The law is the same one under which Facebook settled a class-action lawsuit earlier this year for $550 million over its use of facial recognition technology to identify, without consent, the faces of people in photos uploaded to its social network.
According to BuzzFeed, Clearview has had at least 105 customers in Illinois, ranging from the Chicago Police Department to the office of the Illinois Secretary of State. A majority of those customers are law enforcement, BuzzFeed reports. It’s not clear if the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Chicago office or the Illinois division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, both of which have reportedly used Clearview’s database in the past, will now be prevented from using the platform under the outright Illinois ban.
“Clearview AI continues to pursue its core mission: to assist law enforcement agencies around the nation in identifying perpetrators and victims of crime, including horrific crimes such as trafficking and child abuse,” Lee Wolosky, the lawyer representing Clearview AI in the case, told BuzzFeed. “It is committed to abiding by all laws applicable to it.”
Clearview says in addition to ending its contracts, it will also take measures to prevent its technology from collecting data from Illinois residents by banning photos containing metadata that indicate the photo was taken in the state and banning URLs and Illinois-based IP addresses from its automated systems for collecting new data. The company says it’s also building an opt-out tool, but it’s not clear if that would be at the request of an Illinois-based individual and what exactly the process would involve.
Clearview AI has been mired in controversy over its scraping of social media sites
It’s also unclear if any of these measures will be successful at preventing future privacy violations or dispelling the controversy around Clearview’s controversial approach to data collection, its sale of potential privacy-violating technology to law enforcement, and the lack of regulatory oversight governing how the company operates. Clearview’s database, which is provided to customers via an app and a website, already contains more than 3 billion photos collected in part by scraping social media sites against those services’ terms of service.
“These promises do little to address concerns about Clearview’s reckless and dangerous business model. There is no guarantee these steps will actually protect Illinois residents. And, even if there were, making promises about one state does nothing to end Clearview’s abusive exploitation of people’s faceprints across the country,” Nathan Freed Wessler, a staff attorney with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said in a statement given to The Verge.
“Instead of taking real steps to address the harms of face recognition surveillance, Clearview is doubling down on the sale of its face surveillance system to law enforcement and continues to fuel large scale violations of Americans’ privacy and due process rights,” Wessler added. “The only good that Clearview has achieved here is demonstrate the vital importance of strong biometric privacy laws like the one in Illinois, and of laws adopted by cities nationwide banning police use of face recognition systems.”


theverge--2020-05-07--Community’s cast is reuniting for a virtual table read to benefit COVID-19 relief

Much of the cast of Community will reunite for a virtual table read to support COVID-19 relief , according to Variety .
The table read and a fan Q & A will be live streamed on the Community YouTube channel on May 18th at 5PM ET .
Actors Donald Glover , Joel McHale , Gillian Jacobs , Danny Pudi , Yvette Nicole Brown , Alison Brie , Jim Rash , and Ken Jeong , as well as Community creator Dan Harmon , will all participate in the table read , reports Variety .
They will be doing a read of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show ’ s fifth season .
The live stream will raise money for José Andrés ’ World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods .
It ’ s the latest special to help raise money for COVID-19 relief .
NBC aired a half-hour scripted special of Parks and Recreation on April 30th for Feeding America ’ s COVID-19 Response Fund .
And the World Health Organization and Global Citizen hosted the One World : Together at Home concert , which included performances by Lizzo , Elton John , and Lady Gaga , on April @ @

Much of the cast of Community will reunite for a virtual table read to support COVID-19 relief, according to Variety. The table read and a fan Q&A will be live streamed on the Community YouTube channel on May 18th at 5PM ET.
Actors Donald Glover, Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Jim Rash, and Ken Jeong, as well as Community creator Dan Harmon, will all participate in the table read, reports Variety. They will be doing a read of the episode “Cooperative Polygraphy” from the show’s fifth season. The live stream will raise money for José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods.


theverge--2020-05-07--Samsung to launch a Samsung Pay debit card this summer

Samsung plans to launch a Samsung Pay debit card this summer , the company announced today in a blog post by Sang Ahn , vice president and general manager of Samsung Pay in North America ( via Android Central ) .
Samsung will launch the card , which will be backed by a cash management account , in partnership with personal finance company SoFi , Ahn said .
Samsung is also developing a “ mobile-first money management platform , ” according to Ahn .
His blog doesn ’ t detail what features that money management platform or the upcoming debit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that Samsung will share more details “ in the coming weeks.
” Samsung joins Apple in offering a branded payment card .
Apple ’ s is the Apple Card , a credit card issued in partnership with Goldman Sachs and launched in August 2019 .
The Apple Card is both a titanium card you can put in your wallet and a digital card you can use via Apple Pay on your iPhone and Apple Watch , and you can track spending on your Apple Card inside iOS ’ s Wallet app .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ branded payment card as well , though Google ’ s will apparently be a debit card , like Samsung ’ s .
Google will also supposedly offer spending-tracking tools for the card .

Samsung plans to launch a Samsung Pay debit card this summer, the company announced today in a blog post by Sang Ahn, vice president and general manager of Samsung Pay in North America (via Android Central). Samsung will launch the card, which will be backed by a cash management account, in partnership with personal finance company SoFi, Ahn said.
Samsung is also developing a “mobile-first money management platform,” according to Ahn. His blog doesn’t detail what features that money management platform or the upcoming debit card may have, but he does say that Samsung will share more details “in the coming weeks.”
Samsung joins Apple in offering a branded payment card
Samsung joins Apple in offering a branded payment card. Apple’s is the Apple Card, a credit card issued in partnership with Goldman Sachs and launched in August 2019. The Apple Card is both a titanium card you can put in your wallet and a digital card you can use via Apple Pay on your iPhone and Apple Watch, and you can track spending on your Apple Card inside iOS’s Wallet app.


theverge--2020-05-07--As Waymo resumes self-driving tests, backup drivers are still worried about the virus

Waymo is planning to resume testing its autonomous vehicles in Arizona on May 11th , nearly two months after pausing its robotaxi service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
But some of the company ’ s backup drivers are worried that Waymo may be rushing back into service too quickly .
In a blog post , the company said it was taking a “ tiered approach ” to returning its vehicles to the road .
Waymo says it has redesigned its vehicle depots in Arizona to conform with social distancing guidelines , including limiting the number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given time .
Employees will receive personal protective gear , like face masks and gloves .
And the facilities and the company ’ s fleet of autonomous vehicles will be cleaned multiple times a day .
In addition , employees will receive temperature checks when arriving for work each day .
And employees who are at high risk for COVID-19 , or who have child care issues , can opt to work from home .
Each vehicle will only feature one backup driver during testing to comply with social distancing guidelines .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operational .
Waymo ’ s ride-hailing service , Waymo One , will remain on pause .
And Waymo says it won ’ t resume testing in other cities like San Francisco , Detroit , and Los Angeles until the company is convinced it ’ s safe .
“ We ’ re taking a thoughtful and measured approach towards bringing our driving operations back on the road ” “ We ’ re taking a thoughtful and measured approach towards bringing our driving operations back on the road , ” the company said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s operations team , which is largely comprised of employees who work for Waymo ’ s third-party contractor — a French transit company called Transdev North America — is not all convinced of the company ’ s commitment to safety .
“ The measures they ’ re taking seem above and beyond on paper , ” said one Arizona-based backup driver .
“ But at the same time , Arizona hasn ’ t seen 14 days of new case decline yet either.
” There have been almost 10,000 cases of COVID-19 in Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AZ Central .
The state ’ s Republican Governor Doug Ducey announced recently the phased reopening of the state ’ s businesses , including salons , restaurants , and coffee shops .
One member of Waymo ’ s operations team , who is based at the company ’ s Mountain View , California headquarters , expressed concern that Waymo will try to resume testing too early .
Most the test rides in California are done with two employees in the vehicle .
Unlike Arizona , very few of the company ’ s California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s autonomous vehicles by themselves .
“ But at the same time , Arizona hasn ’ t seen 14 days of new case decline yet either ” “ It feels like they ’ re using [ Arizona ] as a control group to decide if they can push us back in , ” said the driver .
“ Arizona has always gotten test policies and whatnot first , but this seems like way too large of a risk since the number of deaths and cases is still increasing.
” ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first resumed at the company ’ s closed testing site in Central California two weeks ago . )
As The Verge has previously reported , tension is high between Waymo and its operation staff since the company signed a contract with Transdev last year .
Vacation time was cut , health insurance didn ’ t improve , and issues of workplace safety went unaddressed , according to a half-dozen workers who spoke to The Verge for a story last month .
And drivers said they were increasingly nervous about picking up passengers amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak is exposing divisions between drivers and full-time employees at the Google spinoff .
But Waymo has continued to pay its workers despite two months of downtime , while other self-driving companies have cut their operations staff .
The Arizona-based driver said the company appears to be listening to employee concerns about rushing too quickly back into testing and ride-hailing .
“ [ Waymo One ] was a huge sticking point with drivers at the beginning of this , ” the driver said , “ so hopefully they got the message and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are at whatever our new normal is .
”

Waymo is planning to resume testing its autonomous vehicles in Arizona on May 11th, nearly two months after pausing its robotaxi service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But some of the company’s backup drivers are worried that Waymo may be rushing back into service too quickly.
In a blog post, the company said it was taking a “tiered approach” to returning its vehicles to the road. Waymo says it has redesigned its vehicle depots in Arizona to conform with social distancing guidelines, including limiting the number of people that will be allowed inside at any given time. Employees will receive personal protective gear, like face masks and gloves. And the facilities and the company’s fleet of autonomous vehicles will be cleaned multiple times a day.
In addition, employees will receive temperature checks when arriving for work each day. And employees who are at high risk for COVID-19, or who have child care issues, can opt to work from home. Each vehicle will only feature one backup driver during testing to comply with social distancing guidelines.
But the company won’t be fully operational. Waymo’s ride-hailing service, Waymo One, will remain on pause. And Waymo says it won’t resume testing in other cities like San Francisco, Detroit, and Los Angeles until the company is convinced it’s safe.
“We’re taking a thoughtful and measured approach towards bringing our driving operations back on the road”
“We’re taking a thoughtful and measured approach towards bringing our driving operations back on the road,” the company said in a blog post.
But the company’s operations team, which is largely comprised of employees who work for Waymo’s third-party contractor — a French transit company called Transdev North America — is not all convinced of the company’s commitment to safety.
“The measures they’re taking seem above and beyond on paper,” said one Arizona-based backup driver. “But at the same time, Arizona hasn’t seen 14 days of new case decline yet either.”
There have been almost 10,000 cases of COVID-19 in Arizona, and 450 deaths, according to AZ Central. The state’s Republican Governor Doug Ducey announced recently the phased reopening of the state’s businesses, including salons, restaurants, and coffee shops.
One member of Waymo’s operations team, who is based at the company’s Mountain View, California headquarters, expressed concern that Waymo will try to resume testing too early. Most the test rides in California are done with two employees in the vehicle. Unlike Arizona, very few of the company’s California ops team is trained to ride in the company’s autonomous vehicles by themselves, the driver said. (A Waymo spokesperson said the majority of Waymo’s drivers are trained and certified to drive in a single-driver configuration.)
“But at the same time, Arizona hasn’t seen 14 days of new case decline yet either”
“It feels like they’re using [Arizona] as a control group to decide if they can push us back in,” said the driver. “Arizona has always gotten test policies and whatnot first, but this seems like way too large of a risk since the number of deaths and cases is still increasing.” (A Waymo spokesperson noted that driving operations first resumed at the company’s closed testing site in Central California two weeks ago.)
As The Verge has previously reported, tension is high between Waymo and its operation staff since the company signed a contract with Transdev last year. Vacation time was cut, health insurance didn’t improve, and issues of workplace safety went unaddressed, according to a half-dozen workers who spoke to The Verge for a story last month. And drivers said they were increasingly nervous about picking up passengers amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic, and that the outbreak is exposing divisions between drivers and full-time employees at the Google spinoff.
But Waymo has continued to pay its workers despite two months of downtime, while other self-driving companies have cut their operations staff. The Arizona-based driver said the company appears to be listening to employee concerns about rushing too quickly back into testing and ride-hailing.
“[Waymo One] was a huge sticking point with drivers at the beginning of this,” the driver said, “so hopefully they got the message and don’t even consider it until we are at whatever our new normal is.”


theverge--2020-05-07--How to watch movies with friends online

How to watch movies with friends online

Even a favorite stay-at-home activity like watching TV can get lonely sometimes , especially if you ’ re used to hanging out with your friends and watching together .
And although you can stream and text , FaceTime , or share your screen on Zoom , sometimes that just doesn ’ t cut it .
If you ’ re looking for a way to make your social-distancing series binge more , well , social , there are browser extensions that let you host watch parties digitally .
Here are four apps you can use to host movie nights with friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to start watching .
To use these apps , you will need your own subscription for each service , and everyone watching will have to be signed onto their own account .
These extensions work on top of your existing subscription to sync the videos with your friends — they don ’ t provide non-subscribers with a free viewing .
Netflix Party syncs up your streams with those of your friends and adds a live chat on one side of the screen .
The app is only for use with Netflix and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Netflix Party extension icon next to your address bar should change from gray to red .
Click on it .
• A window will pop up instructing you to “ Create a Netflix Party.
” You have the option to either give yourself total control over the playback , or leave it open to everyone .
Click “ Start the party.
” • Another window will pop up with a link .
Click “ Copy URL ” and share it with your friends .
If you need to , you can find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party extension icon .
• Netflix Party will automatically give you an icon .
By clicking on the icon , you can change it ( there are a few alternatives ) as well as your nickname .
Metastream allows you to live chat while watching videos on a range of platforms , including Netflix , Hulu , YouTube , Twitch , and Crunchyroll .
But Metastream will open Netflix in another window .
The app is still in beta , so there are some kinks — for example , we experienced some issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Metastream recommends using Firefox when watching Hulu , which worked better when we tried it .
• Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome .
The extension will be able to read and change data on websites you visit .
• Type in a display name and click “ Get Started.
” • Click “ Start Session ” on the next screen .
• Click the “ Invite ” button on the left to get a link to share ; click “ Copy ” and send it to your friends .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the session public , private , or offline , and change the number of users allowed ( you can have an unlimited number of users ) .
Close out of that window .
• Your friends will click on that link to join the session .
When they join , you ’ ll see a box on the left with your name and theirs ; you ’ ll have to click the green check mark by their name to let them in .
To grant them permission to add videos and change playback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their name and then click “ Toggle DJ.
” • The Metastream screen can be a little busy .
You can make things clearer by setting up your chat to play on the right-hand side .
Click the three dots on the far right of the bar at the bottom of the home screen .
Click the “ Chat ” button .
When the chat window opens , click the rectangle icon in the top right corner of that window .
• If you click on the cog icon , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To watch something , you have a few options .
Click the “ Add Media ” button in the center of the main screen and then you can either : • Paste the URL for the video in the bar either at the top or the bottom of the screen and then click “ Add to Session.
” • Click one of the video sources in the middle of the screen .
That will take you to the home screen for that source .
Find the video you want .
Then click @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the top right corner .
Doing either of these things will put that video in a queue , so you can set up a list of things you want to watch .
Scener lets you video chat with your friends while watching Netflix ( and only Netflix , although Scener is planning on adding more streaming services in the future ) , and there ’ s also a text chat function .
You can watch with up to 20 people .
Previously , you could only use Scener with the primary profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app has recently been updated , and now you can use it from any of your Netflix profiles .
• Download the Chrome extension .
The extension will ask for permission to read and change your data on Netflix and Scener , show notifications , and “ communicate with cooperating websites.
” • Open the app by clicking on the extension ’ s icon ( to the right of the Chrome address bar ) .
• Enter your name and email to create your Scener profile .
• Scener will ask you if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Click “ Yes.
” • Scener will give you the option to share either a link or a code with your friends .
Click the “ Copy Link ” button to get the link and send it to friends who don ’ t already have Scener .
The link will send them to a page with a link to download Scener .
Once they install the extension and open Scener , they ’ ll be added to the theater .
• If they already have Scener , you can send them the code @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to join your theater .
If you want to send somebody the code or the link later , you can click on the button that looks like a person and a plus sign at the top of the Scener sidebar .
• If you hover over your video window , you ’ ll see small video and microphone icons .
Click on those to toggle your video or audio on and off .
• Select a show or movie and click on the play button to start watching .
Scener has a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from your friends .
Whoever has it gets to control what everyone is watching ; they can also rewind , pause , and play the movie or TV show — in other words , it acts like an actual remote control .
To “ pass ” the remote , hover over your video window .
A remote button should appear over your window .
Click on that and then select who to pass it to in the pop-up window .
TwoSeven also has a video chat feature , but it supports more services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can use it to watch Amazon Prime Video , HBO Now , YouTube , and Vimeo .
If you pay the subscription fee , you can also use the app with Hulu and Disney Plus .
The subscription prices range from $ 5 to $ 20 a month , but because of COVID-19 , TwoSeven is offering all of those paid features for $ 3 a month .
• Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome .
The extension will request permission to show notifications and read and change data on websites you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clicking on the extension icon and going to the site .
You will have to confirm your email .
• Click on the TwoSeven icon next to the address bar , then click “ Go to twoseven.xyz ” • Click “ Get Started.
” Here you can change your avatar and username by clicking on the icon in the top right corner , to the right of the cog icon .
Select “ Account ” to access your profile settings .
• You ’ ll get a pop-up window that lets you create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow the other participants to have control of the webcam and mic or let the admins only have access .
Make your selection and then click “ Just Me.
” • Click on the icon in the top right corner which has two people and a plus sign .
Click on “ Copy Link ” and share that link with friends .
Once you do , they ’ ll be added to the watch session .
• Click on the camera and microphone icons on the right-hand side of the screen to enable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a live chat feature at the bottom of the screen .
Click on “ Messages ” in the lower right-hand corner to open it .
• Click on the button for your chosen video source at the top of the screen .
For Netflix , this will take you to your account ’ s home screen and you can click on a movie or show there to start watching .
To watch YouTube videos you ’ ll have to paste in the URLs .
Once you add someone to the watch session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them as a friend to make it easier to include them in future watch sessions .
To do that : • Click the icon with two people ( not the one with the plus sign ) .
• Find their name and click the icon with a person and a plus sign .
This will send them a friend request ; they will need to accept it .
• When you receive a friend request , you can accept it by going to the TwoSeven homepage ( if you have an existing watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in a different tab otherwise you ’ ll leave the session ) .
Any friend requests should appear on the right-hand side under “ Pending Requests.
” Click on the green check mark to accept .
Update March 7th , 5:46PM ET : This article has been updated to reflect upgrades to Scener and to include the permissions requested by the extensions .
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These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
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Even a favorite stay-at-home activity like watching TV can get lonely sometimes, especially if you’re used to hanging out with your friends and watching together. Although you can stream and text, FaceTime, or share your screen on Zoom, sometimes that just doesn’t cut it. If you’re looking for a way to make your social-distancing series binge more, well, social, there are browser extensions that let you host watch parties digitally.
Here are several apps you can use to host movie nights with friends online, along with step-by-step instructions on how to start watching.
To use these apps, you will need your own subscription for each service, and everyone watching will have to be signed onto their own account. These extensions work on top of your existing subscription to sync the videos with your friends — they don’t provide non-subscribers with a free viewing.
Netflix Party
Netflix Party syncs up your streams with those of your friends and adds a live chat on one side of the screen. The app is only for use with Netflix and is only available for Chrome.
To host a Netflix Party:
Download the extension
Open up Netflix and start playing a video.
The Netflix Party extension icon next to your address bar should change from gray to red. Click on it.
A window will pop up instructing you to “Create a Netflix Party.” You have the option to either give yourself total control over the playback or leave it open to everyone. Click “Start the party.”
Another window will pop up with a link. Click “Copy URL” and share it with your friends. If you need to, you can find this link again by clicking the Netflix Party extension icon.
Netflix Party will automatically give you an icon. By clicking on the icon, you can change it (there are a few alternatives) as well as your nickname.
To join an existing Netflix Party:
Click on the link.
Click on the Netflix Party icon.
Amazon Watch Party
Amazon Prime Video now has a Watch Party app for many (but not all) Prime videos. Up to 100 people can watch at once; all participants must be Prime members. Currently, it is only available on desktop and not supported for Safari and Internet Explorer browsers. In this beta version, only the host can pause, fast forward, or rewind.
To host an Amazon Watch Party:
Go to the detail page of your chosen video and look for the “Watch Party” button next to the “Watchlist” button. If it’s there, you’re golden; click on the button.
In the right-hand column, decide what name you want to use within the chat and enter it. Click on “Create Watch Party.”
The video will be in the center; on the right will be your chat area and settings tab. Under settings, you can copy and share your Watch Party link or end the party.
To join an Amazon Watch Party:
Click on the link your friend sent you.
You’ll be redirected to Prime Video and will be asked to enter a username. Once you’ve done that, click “Join Watch Party.”
Metastream
Metastream allows you to live chat while watching videos on a range of platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Twitch, and Crunchyroll (Metastream will open Netflix in a separate window). The app is still in beta, so there are some kinks — for example, we experienced some issues using it with Hulu on Chrome; Metastream recommends using Firefox when watching Hulu, which worked better when we tried it.
To host a Metastream watch party:
Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome. The extension will be able to read and change data on websites you visit.
Navigate to https://app.getmetastream.com/
Type in a display name and click “Get Started.”
Click “Start Session” on the next screen.
Click the “Invite” button on the left to get a link to share; click “Copy” and send it to your friends. In the same window, you can also make the session public, private, or offline, and change the number of users allowed (you can have an unlimited number of users). Close out of that window.
Your friends will click on that link to join the session. When they join, you’ll see a box on the left with your name and theirs; you’ll have to click the green check mark by their name to let them in. To grant them permission to add videos and change playback, click on the three dots next to their name and then click “Toggle DJ.”
The Metastream screen can be a little busy. You can make things clearer by setting up your chat to play on the right-hand side. Click the three dots on the far right of the bar at the bottom of the home screen. Click the “Chat” button. When the chat window opens, click the rectangle icon in the top right corner of that window.
If you click on the cog icon, you can pick an avatar and change your username.
To watch something, you have a few options. Click the “Add Media” button in the center of the main screen and then you can either:
Paste the URL for the video in the bar either at the top or the bottom of the screen and then click “Add to Session.”
Click one of the video sources in the middle of the screen. That will take you to the home screen for that source. Find the video you want, then click the “Add to Session” button in the top right corner.
Doing either of these things will put that video in a queue, so you can set up a list of things you want to watch.
Scener
Scener lets you video chat with your friends while watching Netflix, HBO Now, HBO Go (it does not currently support HBO Max), Disney Plus, or Vimeo; there’s also a text chat function. Previously, you could only use Scener with the primary profile for your Netflix account, but since the app was updated, you can now use it from any of your Netflix profiles.
To use Scener:
Download the Chrome extension. The extension will ask for permission to read and change your data on Netflix and Scener, show notifications, and “communicate with cooperating websites.”
Open the app by clicking on the extension’s icon (to the right of the Chrome address bar). If you can’t see it, click on the puzzle icon and you can access it from there.
This will open up a window, along with a sidebar, which will lead you through setting up a watch party. Click “Create a theater” in the sidebar.
You can choose to create either a private theater with up to 10 people, but everyone must be invited, or you can host a public theater with up to 10 hosts (with audio and video) and unlimited people watching (with access only to the text chat function). Make your selection (let’s say you want to create a private theater) and then click “Create.”
You’ll get a window asking you to make an account. Click the “Create Account” button or if you have an account, click the button which says, “Already have an account? Log in here.”
Enter in a username, email, and password to create your Scener account.
You’ll get a notice explaining how Scener works. Click “Next.”
Select the streaming service you want to use. Then, sign into that service.
Click on the button with a camera icon which says “enable” to turn on your camera.
This will open up a pop-up window. Click “Allow camera and mic.” You may get another window recommending you use headphones. Click “Got it” at the bottom of the newer window, and then “All done” in the first pop-up. (You may get that headphone window again — just click on “Got it.”)
If you hover over your video window, you’ll see small camera and microphone icons. Click on those to toggle your video or audio on and off.
Scener will give you the option to share either a link or a code with your friends. Click the “Copy invite link” button to get the link and send it to friends.
If they don’t already have Scener, the link will send them to a page with a download link. They’ll have to install the extension, create an account, sign into the service, enable audio and video, and then they’ll be added to your theater.
If they already have Scener, just send them the code and they can enter that via the app extension to join your theater.
Select a show or movie and click on the play button to start watching.
Scener has a virtual remote control you can pass to and from your friends. Whoever has it gets to control what everyone is watching; they can also rewind, pause, and play the movie or TV show — in other words, it acts like an actual remote control. To “pass” the remote, hover over your video window until a remote button appears. Click on that and then select who to pass it to in the pop-up window.
TwoSeven
TwoSeven also has a video chat feature, but it supports more services. In addition to Netflix, you can use it to watch Amazon Prime Video, HBO Now, YouTube, and Vimeo. If you pay the subscription fee, you can also use the app with Hulu and Disney Plus. The subscription prices range from $5 to $20 a month, but because of COVID-19, TwoSeven is offering all of those paid features for $3 a month.
To host a TwoSeven watch party:
Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome. The extension will request permission to show notifications and read and change data on websites you visit.
Create an account by clicking on the extension icon and going to the site. You will have to confirm your email.
Click on the TwoSeven icon next to the address bar, then click “Go to twoseven.xyz”
Click “Get Started.” Here you can change your avatar and username by clicking on the icon in the top right corner, to the right of the cog icon. Select “Account” to access your profile settings.
Click “Start Watching.”
You’ll get a pop-up window that lets you create a private room. Check the boxes to allow the other participants to have webcam and mic access or to only allow admins to control playback. If you’ve already added friends on TwoSeven, you can add them to your room here. Make your selection and then click “Just Me.”
Click on the icon in the top right corner which has two people and a plus sign. Click on “Copy Link” and share that link with friends. Once you do, they’ll be added to the watch session.
Click on the camera and microphone icons on the right-hand side of the screen to enable video and audio.
There is also a live chat feature at the bottom of the screen. Click on “Messages” in the lower right-hand corner to open it.
Click on the button for your chosen video source at the top of the screen. For Netflix, this will take you to your account’s home screen and you can click on a movie or show there to start watching. To watch YouTube videos, you’ll have to paste in the URLs.
Once you add someone to the watch session via a link, you can add them as a friend to make it easier to include them in future watch sessions.
To do that:
Click the icon with two people (not the one with the plus sign).
Find their name and click the icon with a person and a plus sign. This will send them a friend request; they will need to accept it.
When you receive a friend request, you can accept it by going to the TwoSeven homepage (if you have an existing watch session open, make sure to open it in a different tab otherwise you’ll leave the session). Any friend requests should appear on the right-hand side under “Pending Requests.” Click on the green check mark to accept.
Hulu Watch Party Image: Hulu
Hulu’s ad-free plans now allow you to host a virtual watch party for up to eight people using live text chat within the service. While the feature is available with the (ad-free) Live TV plan, you can’t use the Watch Party feature for Live TV content or for content from premium add-ons. You can join from your own profile, which means that multiple people on the same account can use the Watch Party feature together. Users under 18 years of age aren’t allowed to join.
Open up Hulu.com. Make sure you’re using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Find a movie or show to watch. Not every video is available to watch using Watch Party. You can check if a title is compatible with the feature by looking for an icon showing three people in it on the Details page, next to “Start Watching.”
Once you’re on the Details page, click on the Watch Party icon.
Click “Start the Party” in the pop-up window.
Click on the link icon to copy the link and send it to others so they can join your watch party (as long as they have an ad-free plan and are 18 years of age or older).
When you’re ready, click “Start Party.” To add people later, you can click on the link icon in the top right corner of the chat bar.
After they follow the link, your guests will log in and will see a message acknowledging they’ve been invited to a watch party. They can click “Join the Party” to watch with you.
If you or your friends are out of sync, a blue button at the top of the chat bar labeled “Click to catch up” can be used to sync up your video.


theverge--2020-05-07--Google’s app for helping kids improve reading skills is now available in 180 countries

Google ’ s Read Along Android app , which helps teach reading skills to elementary school students , is now available in early access in 180 countries , the company announced today .
Read Along uses Google ’ s text-to-speech and speech recognition technology to provide feedback as kids work through the app ’ s reading prompts and games .
The app supports nine languages , including English , Spanish , Portuguese , and Hindi .
Read Along first launched as an app called Bolo in India in March 2019 .
Kids are guided through Read Along with the help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named Diya .
“ She gives [ kids ] positive and reinforcing feedback along the way , just as a parent or teacher would , ” according to Google .
“ Children can also tap Diya at any time for help pronouncing a word or a sentence.
” Here are a few screenshots of Read Along from the app ’ s Play Store page : Google says voice data captured by Read Along is analyzed on-device and isn ’ t sent to Google ’ s servers .
The app will also work entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connect to Wi-Fi if you want to download new stories for your kid to work through .
Read Along also won ’ t require a sign-in and doesn ’ t have ads or in-app purchases , according to Google .
As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced students to stay home from school , Google has also extended free access to some advanced Google Meet features to G Suite and G Suite for Education customers until September 30th , donated 4,000 Chromebooks to rural students in California , and launched resource pages to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products .

Google’s Read Along Android app, which helps teach reading skills to elementary school students, is now available in early access in 180 countries, the company announced today. Read Along uses Google’s text-to-speech and speech recognition technology to provide feedback as kids work through the app’s reading prompts and games. The app supports nine languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hindi. Read Along first launched as an app called Bolo in India in March 2019.
Kids are guided through Read Along with the help of an “in-app reading buddy” named Diya. “She gives [kids] positive and reinforcing feedback along the way, just as a parent or teacher would,” according to Google. “Children can also tap Diya at any time for help pronouncing a word or a sentence.”
Here are a few screenshots of Read Along from the app’s Play Store page:
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Google says voice data captured by Read Along is analyzed on-device and isn’t sent to Google’s servers. The app will also work entirely offline, though you will need to connect to Wi-Fi if you want to download new stories for your kid to work through. Read Along also won’t require a sign-in and doesn’t have ads or in-app purchases, according to Google.


theverge--2020-05-07--Zoom and New York’s attorney general agree on security improvements

New York ’ s attorney general and Zoom have reached an agreement over the videoconferencing company ’ s security practices .
Attorney General Letitia James offered an update today on a letter she sent in late March , raising concerns after reports of offensive “ Zoombombing ” as well as other privacy and security issues on the platform .
The update outlines steps Zoom is taking to improve its service and praises the company for its handling of criticism .
The agreement includes Zoom naming a head of security to run an operation that ’ s “ reasonably designed ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Zoom will also employ “ reasonable encryption and security protocols , ” provide channels for complaints , and explicitly ban “ hatred against others based on race , religion , ethnicity , national origin , gender , or sexual orientation ” in its terms of service .
Shortly before the deal was publicized , New York City ’ s Department of Education reversed a month-long ban on teachers using Zoom , saying the company was working to build specialized features for the classroom .
Attorney general says Zoom “ acted to quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic , Zoom has had to quickly update its service after the discovery of serious privacy oversights and security vulnerabilities .
James ’ original letter was sent while the company was also weathering complaints from tech experts and ordinary users alike , including multiple lawsuits .
Since then it ’ s rolled out new options , hired former Facebook security head Alex Stamos as an outside advisor , and as of this morning , acquired the encryption and security company Keybase to help develop end-to-end encrypted videoconferencing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom “ acted to quickly address the issues identified [ in the initial letter ] , has worked cooperatively with the NYAG ’ s investigation , and has provided valuable services to schools , local governments and health care institutions to help address the unique circumstances of the global pandemic.
” In a statement , Zoom said it was pleased with the agreement , which it says “ recognizes the substantial work that Zoom has completed as part of our 90-day security and privacy plan , including making a number of our pre-existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introducing new security enhancements .
”

New York’s attorney general and Zoom have reached an agreement over the videoconferencing company’s security practices. Attorney General Letitia James offered an update today on a letter she sent in late March, raising concerns after reports of offensive “Zoombombing” as well as other privacy and security issues on the platform. The update outlines steps Zoom is taking to improve its service and praises the company for its handling of criticism.
The agreement includes Zoom naming a head of security to run an operation that’s “reasonably designed” to keep user information secure and confidential. Zoom will also employ “reasonable encryption and security protocols,” provide channels for complaints, and explicitly ban “hatred against others based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation” in its terms of service.
Shortly before the deal was publicized, New York City’s Department of Education reversed a month-long ban on teachers using Zoom, saying the company was working to build specialized features for the classroom.
Attorney general says Zoom “acted to quickly address the issues”
After exploding in popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom has had to quickly update its service after the discovery of serious privacy oversights and security vulnerabilities. James’ original letter was sent while the company was also weathering complaints from tech experts and ordinary users alike, including multiple lawsuits. Since then it’s rolled out new options, hired former Facebook security head Alex Stamos as an outside advisor, and as of this morning, acquired the encryption and security company Keybase to help develop end-to-end encrypted videoconferencing.
The attorney general’s new letter says Zoom “acted to quickly address the issues identified [in the initial letter], has worked cooperatively with the NYAG’s investigation, and has provided valuable services to schools, local governments and health care institutions to help address the unique circumstances of the global pandemic.”