Big Brother News Watch
Students Rally Against Mandatory COVID Vaccines at N.J. University + More
Students Rally Against Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines at NJ University: ‘They’re Going to Keep Moving the Goalposts’
Hundreds of Rutgers University students and their parents held a rally on the university’s New Brunswick, New Jersey, campus on May 21 to speak out against the school’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students.
The event was organized by Turning Point USA, Young Americans for Liberty, and NJ Stands Up, a medical freedom advocacy group, in response to the university’s new requirement — introduced in March — that all students enrolled for in-person classes for the 2021 fall semester must be vaccinated for COVID-19.
WhatsApp Sues Indian Government Over ‘Mass Surveillance’ Internet Laws
WhatsApp has sued the Indian government over new internet laws which the company says will “severely undermine” the privacy of their users.
The new IT laws, which have been called oppressive and draconian, give the Indian government greater power to monitor online activity, including on encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal. They were passed in February but were due to come into effect on Wednesday.
Under the laws, encryption — which keeps communications on the app private and inaccessible to outside parties — would have to be removed from WhatsApp in India and messages would have to be put into a “traceable” database. The government would then be able to identify and take action against the sender if any content was ruled “unlawful.”
Fast Computers, 5G Networks and Radar That Passes Through Walls Are Bringing ‘X-ray Vision’ Closer to Reality
Within seconds after reaching a city, earthquakes can cause immense destruction: Houses crumble, high-rises turn to rubble, people and animals are buried in the debris.
In the immediate aftermath of such carnage, emergency personnel desperately search for any sign of life in what used to be a home or office. Often, however, they find that they were digging in the wrong pile of rubble, and precious time has passed.
Imagine if rescuers could see through the debris to spot survivors under the rubble, measure their vital signs and even generate images of the victims. This is rapidly becoming possible using see-through-wall radar technology. Early versions of the technology that indicate whether a person is present in a room have been in use for several years, and some can measure vital signs albeit under better conditions than through rubble.
EU Cites ‘Anti-Vaccine Campaign’ as Reason to Toughen Social Media Code
A “massive anti-vaccination campaign” has been cited by the European Commission as a reason for social media platforms to intensify their fact-checking and revise the internal algorithms that can amplify disinformation.
Under a revised code of practice proposed by Brussels, companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter would need to show why particular material is disseminated and prove that false information is being blocked.
The code would be voluntary but will work alongside an upcoming digital services act, under which companies could be fined up to 6% of their annual revenue for failing to remove illegal content where harm can be proven. Messaging services such as WhatsApp could also be covered by the code.
Georgia Governor Bans State COVID Vaccine Passports
Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order Tuesday banning the state government from requiring COVID vaccine passports or assisting private establishments that seek to mandate them, the governor’s office said.
“Today’s executive order makes clear that vaccine passports will not be utilized in state government,” the Republican governor said in a written statement.
Some Businesses, Universities, Airlines Turn to Digital Passport Apps Upon Vaccine Requirements
Digital health apps are the latest trends among businesses, universities and even airlines.
The digital apps act as ‘vaccine passports,’ essentially validating vaccinated users. And the demand is booming for one app in particular called iOpen.
The app creator for iOpen says the boost in users has come after hundreds of colleges and universities began requiring their students to return fully vaccinated in the fall.
DC Attorney General Sues Amazon on Antitrust Grounds, Alleges It Illegally Raises Prices
Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine announced Tuesday he’s suing Amazon on antitrust grounds, alleging the company’s practices have unfairly raised prices for consumers and suppressed innovation.
Racine is seeking to end what he alleges is Amazon’s illegal use of price agreements to edge out competition; the lawsuit also asks for damages and penalties to deter similar conduct. The suit asks the court to stop what it calls Amazon’s ability to harm competition through a variety of remedies as needed, which could include structural relief, often referred to as a form of breakup.
1 In 4 Unvaccinated People May Not Comply With CDC Guidelines to Wear Masks Indoors, Survey Suggests
The revised guidelines on when and when not to wear masks came as a surprise to many Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced May 13, 2021, that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely enter many indoor settings, such as grocery stores and restaurants, without wearing a mask.
The CDC’s updated guidelines also ask that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people continue to wear a mask — even in establishments like bars and restaurants, where doing so may no longer be required.
Diplomats Send Letter to State Dept. Leaders Saying ‘Havana Syndrome’ Sufferers Not Getting Proper Care
A group of U.S. diplomats and other government staffers suffering from symptoms consistent with “Havana Syndrome” are voicing frustration with the Biden administration’s early response, and warning that injured workers are still being denied proper care.
In a letter to State Department leadership obtained by NBC News, the staffers say that in recent months, the government has continued to “reject scientific evidence regarding the injuries and treatment needs” and to “invalidate our injuries and experiences,” alleging that military and intelligence officials injured by the same unexplained phenomenon are being treated more seriously.
How Much of Your Income — And Life — Does Big Tech Control? + More
How Much of Your Income — And Life — Does Big Tech Control?
In a review of Shoshana Zuboff’s groundbreaking Surveillance Capitalism (2019), computer science historian Erik J. Larson recounts a 1950s conflict of ideas between two pioneers, Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) and John McCarthy (1927–2011).
Wiener warned, in his largely forgotten book The Human Use of Human Beings (1950), about “new forms of control made possible by the development of advancing technologies.” McCarthy, by contrast, coined the term “artificial intelligence” (1956), implying his belief in “the official effort to program computers to exhibit human-like intelligence.”
His “AI Rules” view came to be expressed not in a mere book but in — probably — hundreds of thousands of media articles warning about or celebrating the triumph of AI over humanity.
Bombshell Video, Leaked Documents Detail How Facebook Censors Facts When They Don’t Fit CDC, Big Pharma Narrative
Investigative journalist James O’Keefe from Project Veritas on Monday released a bombshell video of two Facebook insiders blowing the whistle on the tech giant’s effort to secretly censor — on a global scale — COVID vaccine questions and concerns.
The Facebook whistleblowers alleged the company is pushing an initiative to censor vaccine hesitancy on its platform.
According to new leaked documents, the social media giant uses algorithms to target users who disseminate messaging that runs counter to the company’s political ideology and vaccine narrative — even if the comments are factually accurate.
An internal memo obtained by Project Veritas explained “Vaccine Hesitancy Comment Demotion.” O’Keefe told Sean Hannity on Monday that Facebook initiated a “beta” test for the algorithm that classifies some users under two incremental tiers of what they dub “vaccine hesitancy” or a “VH Score,” and does so without the user’s knowledge.
Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Law to Hold Big Tech Companies Accountable for Content Moderation Practices
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a measure that he says will protect state residents from Silicon Valley’s “power grab on speech, thought and content.”
The Big Tech Bill, as DeSantis calls it, allows residents to fight back against de-platforming and censorship, allowing them to sue tech companies for up to $100,000 in damages for each proven claim in a bid to ensure companies are more transparent about their content moderation practices.
Growing Mystery of Suspected Energy Attacks Draws U.S. Concern
The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve a mystery that has vexed its predecessors: Is an adversary using a microwave or radio wave weapon to attack the brains of U.S. diplomats, spies and military personnel?
The number of reported cases of possible attack is sharply growing and lawmakers from both parties, as well as those believed to be affected, are demanding answers. But scientists and government officials aren’t yet certain about who might have been behind any attacks, if the symptoms could have been caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment — or if the incidents were actually attacks.
As the U.S. Unmasks, the Pressure Is on for Vaccine Passports
A year ago, Americans were confronting the unnerving reality that the COVID pandemic wouldn’t be a shared experience: Disruption and risk would unroll differently depending on where they lived and how their local politicians responded. Nationwide, deaths had just crossed 100,000. Washington, DC, remained under a stay-at-home order.
In New York state, Governor Andrew Cuomo was about to declare that masks would be mandatory inside businesses. But in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott reopened professional sports, and in Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp did the same with bars and nightclubs.
If you thought 2021 would be different: Sorry.
Wisconsin Catholic Pastor Who Preached Against COVID-19 Vaccine Ordered to Step Down
The pastor of a Roman Catholic parish in Wisconsin who told his congregation to shun the COVID19 vaccine and preached right-wing politics from the pulpit has been asked to step down by his bishop.
The Rev. James Altman, of the St. James the Less Roman Catholic Church in La Crosse, made the announcement during his sermon at Sunday Mass, calling himself a victim of the “cancel culture.”
Indian Police Visit Twitter Office to Serve Notice About Inquiry
Indian police said on Monday they visited a Twitter office to serve notice to its country managing director about an investigation into the social media giant‘s tagging of a post by a ruling party spokesman as “manipulated media.”
Leaders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party last week shared portions of a document on Twitter they said was created by the main opposition Congress and highlighted government failures in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congress complained to Twitter saying the document was fake, after which the U.S. company marked some of the posts — including one by BJP spokesman Sambit Patra — as “manipulated media.”
Vaccine Mandates More Popular Than Vaccine Passports + More
Vaccine Mandates Are More Popular Than Vaccine Passports
By the numbers: 62% of respondents said they somewhat or strongly support local, state or federal governments requiring everyone to get a vaccine.
- Even higher percentages supported vaccine mandates for getting on an airplane or going back to university.
- On the other hand, much fewer said they support vaccine “passports.” The survey asked different versions of the question, but the results didn’t change much based on wording, whether the question explicitly mentioned the term “vaccine passport” or not.
On average, only 27.5% of respondents said they support businesses using vaccine passports. Slightly more people support voluntary — versus required — use of passports by businesses.
Tyranny: Big Tech and How It Addicted Us to the Internet
Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Google holding company Alphabet and Facebook account for a combined market capitalisation of $5.3 trillion (close to R75 trillion).
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has been banging on this monopolistic drum for years, and recently compiled the case against Big Tech into a new book, The Tyranny of Big Tech.
As if to underscore the problem he identified in the book, the original publisher Simon & Schuster cancelled its publication, citing Hawley’s apparent support of protestors storming the U.S. Capitol in January in support of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Hawley, a divisive figure in U.S. politics, promptly found another publisher.
UK Vaccine Angst: Millions Secretly Surveilled After Taking Shot
The British government has been reported to have secretly surveilled the movements of millions of citizens to track changes in behaviour following the administration of coronavirus vaccines.
A report from the SPI-B committee of government scientists has revealed that the government tracked up to 10% of the British public’s phones in February, all without permission or notification to the public.
The report, which was seen by the Sunday Telegraph, said that researchers at Oxford University for the SPI-B — a subgroup of the British government’s SAGE quango — monitored the behavioural changes of vaccinated Britons through “CDR [call data records] with corresponding location observations.”
TikTok Takes Down Hundreds of Australian Videos in Misinformation Crackdown
False claims about COVID vaccines — including that the Australian prime minister faked getting his jab – were among some of the hundreds of Australian videos TikTok removed from its platform as part of a misinformation crackdown.
In February, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Redbubble, Apple, Adobe and TikTok signed on to a new voluntary industry code aimed at combating misinformation and disinformation online.
Facebook Removes 110,000 Pieces of COVID Misinformation Posted by Australian Users
Facebook has removed more than 110,000 pieces of COVID-related misinformation generated by Australian accounts in the first year of the pandemic, the company has revealed.
In February, Facebook, along with Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Redbubble and TikTok, signed on to a new voluntary industry code aimed at combating misinformation and disinformation online.
NY Mandate Requires Kids Over 2 to Wear Face Masks at Daycare + More
New York Mandate Requires Kids Over 2 to Wear Face Masks at Daycare, Camp
New York lifted its indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated adults on Wednesday, while Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced that children ages 2 to 11 will be required to wear face coverings at day care and summer camps.
New York lifted its indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated adults on Wednesday, while Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced that children ages 2 to 11 will be required to wear face coverings at day care and summer camps.
Cuomo and the state Office of Children and Family Services defended the mandate, saying it was in compliance with federal guidelines.
“I understand the science, and I understand the data. And that’s what drove the federal government to those guidelines,” Cuomo said in a press conference on Thursday.
California Won’t Create a Vaccine Passport, but Large Events Will Be Screened
Los Angeles Daily News reported:
California will not require an official vaccine passport for residents when all social distancing requirements and capacity limits are lifted on June 15, Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said Friday.
But the state will mandate that indoor events with at least 5,000 people, such as Golden State Warriors and San Jose Sharks games, verify vaccination or a negative COVID test. That will require fans to obtain some sort of proof — whatever the venue decides to require — before they can attend.
As Employees Return to the Office, Banks Explore Surveillance Tech
Reservation systems for seats. Algorithms that say whether a location is crowded or not. Cameras to show what’s happening in real-time. Trackers that let others know you are there.
Technology that has swept the world for convenience, curiosity, and accountability is arriving at workstations of U.S. bank employees, as they prepare to return to offices in coming months because of the pandemic easing, industry sources and outside vendors said.
Big Tech Uses ‘Socially Awkward’ and ‘the Spectrum’ to Cover Their Sins
It’s understandable America fell for the well-crafted image of Bill Gates, the cuddly nerd in a V-neck and khakis, BFFs with Warren Buffett, most interested in climate change, global health initiatives, education, and, like Oprah, loving nothing more than recommending a good book …
The seeming lack of morality or empathy has traditionally been explained away as a politically incorrect third rail: These men might be on the spectrum, a bit autistic, we’ve been told.
It’s a defense that’s always somehow in the ether, as is the excuse that these men are such geniuses that their greed, ruthlessness and meanness is something closer to eccentricity.
Once Tech’s Favorite Economist, Now a Thorn in Its Side
Paul Romer was once Silicon Valley’s favorite economist. The theory that helped him win a Nobel prize — that ideas are the turbocharged fuel of the modern economy — resonated deeply in the global capital of wealth-generating ideas. In the 1990s, Wired magazine called him “an economist for the technological age.” The Wall Street Journal said the tech industry treated him “like a rock star.”
Not anymore.
Today, Mr. Romer, 65, remains a believer in science and technology as engines of progress. But he has also become a fierce critic of the tech industry’s largest companies, saying that they stifle the flow of new ideas. He has championed new state taxes on the digital ads sold by companies like Facebook and Google, an idea that Maryland adopted this year.
