Tesla’s automated driver-assist feature has added an assertive driving mode. The setting will follow other cars more closely, change lanes more frequently, not leave the overtaking lane, and perform rolling stops. Such driver behavior by humans is often discouraged by safety groups. However, it could sometimes be safer for an automated system to be more […]
Apple has placed an iPhone factory in southern India “on probation” following protests over food poisoning and living conditions. An audit by Apple found that remote dining rooms and dormitories used by workers did not meet requirements. Around 250 women who worked at the Foxconn plant were affected by food poisoning, with more than 150 […]
Facebook owner Meta says it has banned seven surveillance companies for targeting users on its platforms. A new report by Meta says about 50,000 users will receive warnings about the “malicious activities”. It accused surveillance firms of actions like creating fake accounts, befriending targets and using hacking methods to harvest information. The company accused the […]
By James Clayton North America technology reporter The Chinese province of Henan is building a surveillance system with face-scanning technology that can detect journalists and other “people of concern”. Documents seen by BBC News describe a system that classifies journalists into a “traffic-light” system – green, amber and red. Journalists in the “red” category would […]
WhatsApp is rewriting its privacy policy as a result of a huge data protection fine earlier this year. Following an investigation, the Irish data protection watchdog issued a €225m (£190m) fine – the second-largest in history over GDPR – and ordered WhatsApp to change its policies. WhatsApp is appealing against the fine, but is amending […]
Rolls-Royce believes its Spirit of Innovation plane could be the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft. The firm – whose aerospace headquarters are based in Derby – said the plane reached a top speed of 387.4 mph (623 km/h) during test runs at an experimental aircraft testing site. It is thought to have set new World Records […]
The Israeli company behind the controversial Pegasus spyware has been added to a US trade blacklist. Pegasus has reportedly been used by nation states to target the phones of rights activists and journalists. The US has now put its maker, NSO Group, on its “entity list”, banning business dealings with them. NSO Group said it […]
By James Clayton North America technology reporter There was a time when the US tech giants were all in China – even Facebook. Today, Apple’s huge presence in the country looks increasingly conspicuous. Last week Microsoft, which still operates in China, announced it was to shut down its social network, LinkedIn, there. The company said having […]
Microsoft is shutting down its social network, LinkedIn, in China, saying having to comply with the Chinese state has become increasingly challenging. It comes after the career-networking site faced questions for blocking the profiles of some journalists. LinkedIn will launch a jobs-only version of the site, called InJobs, later this year. But this will not […]
By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter A judge has ruled that security cameras and a Ring doorbell installed in a house in Oxfordshire “unjustifiably invaded” the privacy of a neighbour, in a case that could have implications for home surveillance devices. Dr Mary Fairhurst claimed that the devices installed on the house of neighbour […]
