If you're looking for a unique, last-minute holiday gift for the person who has everything, consider one of the best DNA tests available. These can allow anyone to learn more about their heritage, family history and even medical predispositions. Two of the most popular brands are Ancestry and 23andMe. To learn more, we outlined the pros, cons and factors to consider. However, since this comparison was first published, 23andMe has experienced a data breach and financial troubles, which may affect your decision. Ancestry vs. 23andMe AncestryDNA I tried the AncestryDNA kit, which comes with a saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag and a prepaid return label box. To register the kit, I downloaded the Ancestry app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can register your kit online too, and just manually enter the number.When you make an account, the app asks for your consent on several items, including consent to process your sample, to store the sample if you want future testing, and to participate in research. The research includes taking surveys and questionnaires that AncestryDNA says it will use to attempt to better understand human history and health.I declined to consent to store my sample or participate in research. AncestryDNA asks a few questions about your health history. You can edit what information becomes public or private on the site, and how you want to appear to other users if your DNA matches with someone else. You'll have an opportunity to review all information before proceeding.Read more: In the Future, Not Even Your DNA Will Be SacredAncestry does not use the standard Y-chromosome and/or mitochondrial DNA methodologies most others use -- so we know less about how it actually analyzes DNA.After spitting in the tube, I mailed off the kit and confirmed that it was sent off in the app. The app "tracked" the kit's journey from being received at the lab to processing and more before it told me my results were ready.Your results will include an AncestryHealth report and an Ethnicity Estimate report. AncestryDNA also tells you which other users your DNA closely matches. It flagged my aunt, who also used the site, as Close Family. The app let me compare our Ethnicity Estimates and gave me the option to send her a message. Read more: What AncestryDNA Taught Me About DNA, Privacy and the Complex World of Genetic TestingPros:You can decline to have your sample stored or participate in research.The AncestryHealth report was broken down into Notable Health Results, Health Results and Wellness Results. The reports include information about cancer risks, carrier status for diseases like cystic fibrosis and your blood health.The wellness reports give you information on your vitamin levels, among other things.AncestryHealth can flag potential health conditions based on the family history you shared or by variants detected in your DNA sample.You get anEthnicity Estimate report, which shows which regions in the world your ancestors were most likely linked to. This area on the map was color-coded, along with the others that my DNA was linked to. The AncestryDNA Regions list has over 1,000 regions that your sample is tested against, so you'll see where your DNA didn't turn up results, too.Cons:The family tree aspect and the DNA aspect required two separate apps. The desktop version keeps it all in one place if you work on a browser.The health screening does not have Food and Drug Administration approval. $39 at Ancestry 23andMe I tried the Health and Ancestry kit which came with the saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag and a prepaid return label box. Like AncestryDNA, 23andMe also required kit registration (in-app or online) prior to testing. I downloaded the app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can also manually enter the code.The 23andMe kit asked for consent on several items when I made an account, as AncestryDNA did. I could store my sample for future tests, participate in research, get health reports and had the ability to share my step data from a fitness app for a more comprehensive look at my activity. I declined all except the health reports.Unlike Ancestry, 23andMedoeshave FDA approval as a risk screener for a handful of genetic conditions and diseases. If you're primarily interested in DNA testing for this purpose, 23andMe is the better choice.The app tracked my sample's journey to the lab and the DNA extraction process. The app tested 216 populations to generate the report.23andMe can display the results in a timeline, so you can see approximately how many generations ago your most recent ancestor came from each region. For example, my results turned up a tiny bit of Ashkenazi Jewish background, but my timeline indicated that the relative would've been alive five to eight generations ago. You can also view your results as a Chromosome Painting, which shows where in your chromosomes a specific region matched and how prevalent it is. There were a lot of facets to explore in the results. For example, 23andMe gave me more information on each region my DNA matched. If I tapped on the icon for each country, 23andMe told me about the history of the region and the people's migration patterns over time and also provided resources to learn about the culture, ways to book an Airbnb to visit and other features. I could also seek out possible relatives among 23andMe users and found my mother's cousin.Pros:23andMe is FDA-approved as a risk screening. 23andMe's health reports included predispositions, carrier status, wellness, traits and a health action plan. Predispositions tested for Parkinson's disease, Type 2 diabetes, celiac disease and more. The lab would test for certain genetic variants.The wellness report included interesting items like whether or not you're a deep sleeper, how much you likely move in your sleep, genetic weight and other factors.The traits reported are particularly interesting. These detailed how likely I was to be able to have a certain eye color, hate cilantro, have freckles, hate eating sounds, get bitten more by mosquitos and other things.Cons:Like with AncestryDNA, 23andMe specified that the test results weren't a diagnosis or a guarantee that you wouldn't be diagnosed with a disease later. $59 at 23andMe AncestryDNA vs. 23andMe cost comparison The best DNA kits will have different services that come at varying prices. Let's break down AncestryDNA's and 23andMe's services and costs. AncestryDNA cost I've added the usual cost below, but Ancestry frequently offers decent sales for its DNA services.AncestryDNA ($99): Ancestry's basic offering allows you to search its US database for family connections.AncestryDNA + Family Tree ($100): Includes access to international records to trace your family lineage.AncestryDNA Traits + All Access ($199): In addition to the other services, you can access historical records and 35 genetic traits with this tier. 23andMe cost 23andMe offers four different DNA testing kits. All four products include ancestry reports, relative-finding options, trait reports and family tree building.Some of these are also currently on sale but are listed below at their retail price.Ancestry Service ($119): Includes ancestry reports, relative finding options, trait reports and family tree building.Health and Ancestry Service ($199): Includes carrier status reports, health predispositions and wellness reports.23andMe Plus Premium Membership ($268): Only the 23andMe Plus membership enhanced ancestry features, pharmacogenetics reports and consistent updates to existing reports.23andMe Plus Total Health Membership ($999, $499/year after the first year): Builds upon the 23andMe Plus Premium Membership reports and adds blood testing, biological age identification and genetics-informed clinical care. The bottom lineAncestry is best known for its family tree feature. When you use its DNA testing service and integrate those results, you can view everything in one browser. The information is split across two different mobile apps, which is less helpful. Overall, Ancestry's tools, including the ability to build a tree and link your health and DNA insights, definitely help paint a bigger picture of a person's origins and can help facilitate a conversation with newly discovered family members. 23andMe has a more user-friendly layout and presents its findings in a way that encourages you to immerse yourself in your (possibly newfound) heritage. It lacks the strength that Ancestry has when it comes to building your family tree. I could view a predicted tree, but it was sparse and only included other 23andMe users. Because I was already familiar with my family's origins, I can say that both kits seemed to yield accurate results. Who should choose AncestryDNA:If you're working on a family history project, AncestryDNA is the best choice for you. Remember that the family tree and DNA information are in two separate apps.Who should choose 23andMe:If you're looking to learn about your genetics or health information, I'd go with 23andMe. You'll like the easy-to-read format.For more, find out how I used tech to uncover more about my own family tree. You can also order a DNA test from other services for your pet, if you really want to. Watch this: Here's how genetic genealogist CeCe Moore finds potential criminal suspects 07:39 Ancestry vs. 23andMe FAQs Which is more accurate, AncestryDNA or 23andMe? Both AncestryDNA and 23andMe seemed to yield accurate results. Ancestry has a bigger DNA database, but 23andMe has a more user-friendly layout. They are two of the best options you can get. What is the difference between 23andMe and Ancestry? 23andMe and Ancestry are two of the best DNA kits you can use. When deciding which one you want to choose, it comes down to what you're looking to get out of your search. If you're looking for thorough health information, go with 23andMe. Ancestry is the better option if you're looking for family members or chart your lineage. Which DNA site is most accurate for ethnicity? Thanks to its extensive DNA database, AncestryDNA is one of the best DNA tests for accurately assessing ethnicity. The results you get will be broken down into an AncestryHealth report and an Ethnicity Estimate report. The ethnicity report is an in-depth look at which regions your ancestors are linked to. Is 23andMe worth it? If you want to learn more about your genetics and health information, you'll like 23andMe. It's one of the most popular DNA kits you can get. The website and app do a great job of breaking down all the information provided about your health, ancestry and traits. Additionally, 23andMe has FDA approval as a risk screener for a handful of genetic conditions and diseases. Correction, July 3: A previous version of this story transposed the "who should choose" sections. The error has been corrected.

Residents of the Sooner State can choose among many ISPs -- AT&T, T-Mobile, Cox -- you name it and there's an option. These are the best internet plans available in Oklahoma.

Nintendo Music adds Mario 64 tunesPeach's note.Image credit: Nintendo News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Dec. 24, 2024 Wahoo! Etc. You can now listen to tunes from Nintendo's seminal Super Mario 64 via the Nintendo Music app.Today's additions bring 49 minutes of Super Mario 64 melodies to your ears, across 36 tracks. These include the game's memorable opening theme, that bit of music which plays as you muck about with Mario's face, and the theme for Cool, Cool, Mountain - where you toss the penguin to its death.Want something more chilled? Dire, Dire Docks is an absolute banger. You also have two versions of Piranha Plant's Lullaby to choose from.Of course, the game's best theme is "Slider" - what you'll know best as Princess Peach's Slide. And yes, you can extend this track up to an hour in length.Find the full track listing for Super Mario 64 below:"It's-a Me, Mario!"Title ThemeFile SelectPeach's LetterOpeningBowser's MessagePeach's CastleToad's MessageGame StartMain ThemeStage BossPower StarCourse ClearStar Catch FanfareRace FanfareSliderPiranha Plant's LullabyDire, Dire DocksCorrect SolutionCool, Cool MoutainBowser's RoadBowser's ThemeBowser ClearPowerful MarioBig Boo's HauntThe Merry-Go-RoundHazy Maze CaveMetal MarioLethal LavaGame OverThe Endless StairsThe Final BattleFinal Battle ClearEndingStaff RollPiranha Plant's Lullaby (Piano Version)Nintendo Music is the soundtrack app available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers which now holds a growing library of tunes from a variety of classic consoles, as well as games on Nintendo Switch.Looking for something else? Here's our full list of every track available in Nintendo Music, including Nintendo Switch, GameCube and Game Boy themes.

Sonic movie cut morbid Big the Cat cameo"It didn't make any sense."Image credit: Sega News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Dec. 24, 2024 As more characters join the Sonic the Hedgehog movie series, fans have been curious when their favourite big cat - Big the Cat - will pop up.Speaking to IGN alongside the launch of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the movie series' writing duo Pat Casey and Josh Miller revealed a Big the Cat cameo had actually been written for the previous film - only to be left on the cutting room floor.(There's no spoilers here for the new movie, we should add.)In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Big the Cat would have popped up in skeletal form as Sonic passed through a cave. Within it, viewers would have gotten a quick glimpse at Big's decomposed body. Dark. Still, confusingly, this might not have been the Big the Cat fans know and love, the duo continued - which perhaps is why the sequence never made it on screen."In one draft of Sonic 2, when they're going through the snowy mountains to the cave, we had a bit, because Sonic 2 was sort of an Indiana Jones," Casey said. "Indiana Jones, it's a trope that at some point a skeleton pops out at you and scares you. So we were going to do that, but with a skeleton of a, I would say, a Big the Cat, not necessarily-""Not necessarily the Big the Cat," Miller interjected."But we ended up cutting it," Casey concluded. "It didn't make any sense."So, no Big the Cat. But on the upside, for fans of the character, no dead Big the Cat either. Fans have previously celebrated whenever Big has popped up over the years - in Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Racing, Sonic Prime and even Lego Dimensions."Sega and Paramount more closely align game and film worlds for an authentic Sonic romp with added Keanu cool," Ed wrote in Eurogamer's Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film review.What's next for the Sonic films after Sonic the Hedgehog 3's post-credits scene? Eurogamer's resident Sonic fan Ed has a spoilery guide.

A recent influx of videos supposedly showing drones or other spooky unidentified aerial phenomena flying over darkened US skylines appears to be the result, in part, of AI-trickery.Since late November, residents in New Jersey and at least five other states have reported spotting bright objects flying overhead. The sightings have stirred speculation, amplified by celebrities, commentators, and prominent public officials, that this is nefarious, experimental technology. Or aliens.Now, several of the viral videos surfacing on TikTok and X over the past week are capitalizing on the panic; they also appear to exhibit the hallmark calling cards of generative AI manipulation. Almost none of the videos reviewed by Popular Science had any official label or disclosure from social media platforms warning users about possible digital editing.By searching for variations of drones and New Jersey drones on TikTok and X, Popular Science found numerous videos featuring odd distortions that seem to indicate that the content is AI-generated or digitally manipulated. In one example posted last week that had gained 36,000 likes, a group of two dozen large bright lights coalesce over a city skyline. Low-toned, creepy music plays in the background. A booming blue aura flashes underneath the swarm as Large amounts of drones spotted flying over New Jersey appears in massive text. The top-liked comment reads thats project blue beam, a reference to a reappearing conspiracy theory that alleges a cabal of elites has plans to stage a fake extraterrestrial invasion. The video, screengrabbed below, was removed after Popular Science reached out to TikTok for comment earlier today.Another, even more obvious example shows an orange, flying saucer-shaped orb levitating over New York City. As the object moves closer to the user it suddenly glows orange and hisses with electric sparks. A voice can be heard saying, Wow, look at that, Ive never seen such a strange thing in my whole lifeamazing. Other videos with hundreds of likes show a fantastical mother ship appearing to hover over the ocean, a fast-moving blue and red cylindrical looking object captured by a Ring camera, and a smaller object captured outside of a pane window that resembles an Imperial Interceptor from Star Wars. Collectively, these videos had hundreds of thousands of likes. The videos described above were uploaded over the course of the last week.Not a UFO. Credit: TikTok (full video here) At least some of the commenters responding to these videos pointed out that they seemed like they were AI-generated or altered. However, the majority of commenters seem to believe that these videos were in fact proof of unexplained phenomena.Fake images, especially of UFOs, go back decades. Photoshop and other digital editing tools increased the ease of making compelling fakes. But the new generation of generative AI tools available online amplifies that accessibility considerably to the point where a user can simply type in a few phrases and instantly have a convincing enough video they can post to social media. The YouTuber Higher E-Learning, demonstrated this by typing the simple prompt group of drones flying over new jersey at night into Google Video FX. After several minutes the model churned out four different short videos showing pseudo-realistic groups of drones, some remarkably similar to videos being posted online, hovering over a night sky.Dont be foolish enough to believe that everything you are seeing on [social media] is real and get all freaked out by it, the user says in a narration. Use your brain and realize that this technology is actually this good right now. He goes on to plead with viewers not to use these tools to post drone footage on social media.TikTok, which had some of the most blatant and widely seen fake videos we reviewed, encourages users to label content that has been completely generated or significantly edited by AI. Though this is optional, the companys policies say it will automatically apply an AI-generated label to content in some cases. Popular Science didnt see that label on any of the videos we reviewed, though at least one video was taken down following our request for comment.Credit: TikTok X, formerly known as Twitter, has even more opaque rules regarding the spread of AI-generated content. The company says it prohibits users from sharing inauthentic material that may deceive people or lead to harm. X says the consequences for violating that policy depend on the severity of the violation. Its unclear to what degree X is actively monitoring or removing clearly fake done content. Reports estimate X has cut around 80% of engineers working on content moderation since Elon Musk took over the company in 2022. Complicating matters, X also has its own AI image generation model called Grok. X did not respond to our request for comment. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.This isnt the first time material made using AI has caused confusion online. Last year, viral AI-generated images of an explosion outside of the Pentagon caused a panic and even sent stock prices briefly dipping down. More recently, a TikTok account reportedly hosting dozens of AI-generated images depicting exploding cites, supposedly in Ukraine, was taken offline after a CBC investigation revealed they were inauthentic. Elsewhere, misleading AI-generated material has been used to depict supposed scenes of war-torn Gaza and survivors of recent destructive hurricanes.Possibly AI generated material isnt the only, or even the majority of misleading drone and UAP-related content flooding social media in recent days. Far more common were images of actual hobbyists and commercial drones being presented as supposedly nefarious. In other cases, videos taken from completely different parts of the world and shot in the past are being recirculated and presented as evidence. Several prominent videos depict whats clearly a crashed Cessna-style plane as evidence for a downed drone or UAP. @nordic._.shadow New Jersey drone down? original sound After Cooking Whats actually going on?The current national obsession over all things drones and UAPs began with reports emerging from New Jersey around November 18. Since then, The Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA and the Department of Defense say they have received more than 5,000 drone sightings, a figure far higher than normal. Though reports began out of New Jersey, theyve spread across the country. Speculators attributed the apparent presence of these objects to a number of unproven theories, with some fearfully suggesting they may be searching for a loose nuclear weapon. Others seem convinced they are evidence of extraterrestrial life.A joint statement released by the DHS, FBI, FAA and DoD earlier this week attempted to pour water on the growing speculation. The groups say expert analyses of these sightings determined the vast majority of them appeared to be commercial and hobbyist drones or others belonging to law enforcement. In other cases, they said, people appear to have mistaken planes, helicopters, and even stars as planets. That statement, unsurprisingly, hasnt been enough to quell concerns from posters on social media, some of whom apparently believe the government is involved in some form of misdirection.The current information climate, one defined by declining trust in traditional media and rapid-fire social media posts speckled with inauthentic content online, seems to be making situations like this worse. Disingenuous social media users, some of whom receive income for widely viewed content, have an incentive to capitalize on conspiracies that capture the publics attention. While that phenomena isnt entirely new, easily accessible generative AI tools give those users even more ammunition to drive engagement. Efforts by critics to debunk or challenge that content either are largely going unnoticed or are brushed aside as evidence of a lack of imagination. Social media companies themselves, meanwhile, appear to struggle to quickly respond to the sheer volume of manipulated content feeding these narratives.

The Moon?Were almost certainly not getting a new GTA 6 trailer this week, but some fans have really convinced themselves that we areIt's not impossible, but the idea that we may be getting a new GTA 6 trailer by the end of this week borders on the absurd.Image credit: Rockstar News by Sherif Saed Contributing Editor Published on Dec. 24, 2024 Were in the middle of the last full week of December, so almost everyone has already called it a year and kicked off their holiday break. This also includes Rockstar, the maker of GTA 6. All of that is to say: the chances of us getting a new trailer for the highly-anticipated game are slim to none.None of that matters to a certain group of fans, however, who have convinced themselves that yes, we are getting a new GTA 6 trailer this week.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Before we get into the specifics, its probably worth suspending your disbelief a little when reading this one. I am not even entirely sure the same people behind the theory believe it themselves, but lets crack on.As spotted by PC Gamer, this all started when one Rockstar developer posted a photo that contained some clues that seem to point to the number 27. Be it a troll or not, the photo was picked up by a GTA 6 leaks Twitter account, who took it upon themselves to dissect it for any possible hints.The photo has a Rockstar Games jumper with GTA 6 colours, as well as some other Rockstar-themed memorabilia. What makes it interesting is that theres cat hair on the jumper shaped like the Roman Numerals VI. Look closer, and youll find a phone number on a piece of paper towards the bottom. The number turns out to be for an auto shop in Florida called 27 Auto Sales. The leaks account took that number as the clue and ran with it. Give it up, folks. | Image credit: Rockstar GamesIf youre on team Believe, youll be happy to know that the number 27 does actually lead to several things. For one, the Rockstar Instagram account currently has exactly 27 posts. Making things more interesting, 27 seconds into the only GTA 6 trailer we have we see a car with the same number written on its rear window. Theres also the license plate of a Lost Santos State Trooper car whose numbers add up to 27.Here is when things take a sharp turn into the unhinged. This particular discovery relies on the moon theory, which suggestes that Rockstar is using the phases of the moon to tell fans when GTA 6 trailers will be released. There are 27 days in a lunar cycle, which is yet another element with 27 on it.The Waning Gibbous moon phase is the cycle of interest here, because that's when we got the first GTA 6 trailer (December 1, 2023), so it follows that the second trailer will be released on a day that happens to also host a Waning Gibbous moon. That day was December 20, which was last Friday, and we certainly didnt get any trailers then.So the theory has now shifted to this Friday, December 27 as the next possible date. And, because these things are malleable and dont follow any solid logic, some have even suggested that the trailer will arrive on January 14, which is when the next Waning Gibbous can be sighted.Back in the real world, were still expecting GTA 6 to be released before the end of 2025. We have no idea when the next major piece of information about the game will be released, but theres a good reason Rockstar is staying quiet.

Throughout 2024, UK government and law enforcement rhetoric around technology largely focused on the role of automation in reducing cost while boosting efficiency and productivity. Since the ascent of the new Labour government in July, there has also been a renewed focus on law and order given its manifesto commitment to take back our streets.This has translated to expanding the role of various technologies throughout policing, particularly facial-recognition and cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) tools. However, many of these deployments as with previous years are plagued by data protection issues and ethical concerns.Computer Weeklys coverage also considered how the governments new data reforms could further reduce transparency and oversight around police technology, and challenged the assumption that people in the UK are policed by consent, given how little say they have over the technologies being deployed with taxpayer money in public spaces.1. Spring Budget risks funding legally questionable police techIn March, then-chancellor Jeremy Hunt committed 230m to police forces to pilot or roll out a host of productivity-boosting technologies, including live facial recognition (LFR), automation and AI and the use of drones as potential first responders.Pre-briefings of the governments technology plans to journalistsrevealed thatautomated redaction technologies would be a priority, so that personal information can be removed from documents or irrelevant faces can be blurred out from body-worn video footage.Hunt also committed to providing a further 75m to the roll-out of Violence Reduction Units and hot spot policing tactics, the latter of which largely revolves around the use of data to target police resources and activities to areas where crime is most concentrated.However, lingering concerns around the legality of how UK police are deploying cloud infrastructure and AI-powered facial recognition could undermine the effectiveness of the investment. In the case of facial recognition, there have been repeated calls for new biometric-focused legislation from a wide range of actors due a lack of clear rules controlling its use.Given the focus on cloud migrations, as well as the computing power and storage required to effectively use AI, data protection experts told Computer Weekly that many of the new AI tools being deployed will be hosted on this US-based cloud infrastructure, opening them up to potential legal compliance challenges as well.2. Microsoft admits no guarantee of sovereignty for UK policing dataIn June, Computer Weekly reported on documents that showed Microsoft admitted to Scottish policing bodies that it cannot guarantee the sovereignty of UK policing data hosted on its hyperscale public cloud infrastructure.Released under freedom of information (FoI) rules, the documents were related to the deployment of Police Scotlands Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC), which Computer Weekly first reported was rolled out with major data protection issues in April 2023.The disclosure revealed that data hosted in Microsofts hyperscale public cloud infrastructure is regularly transferred and processed overseas; that the data processing agreement in place for the DESC did not cover UK-specific data protection requirements; and that while the company may have the ability to make technical changes to ensure data protection compliance, it is only making these changes for DESC partners and not other policing bodies because no one else had asked.The correspondence also contains acknowledgements from Microsoft that international data transfers are inherent to its public cloud architecture. As a result, the issues identified with the Scottish Police will equally apply to all UK government users, many of whom face similar regulatory limitations on the offshoring of data.The same set of disclosures also revealed that Police Scotland chose not to formally consult with the data regulator about the risks identified with the system, while the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) itself did not follow up on why there was no formal consultation until nearly three months after live deployment, despite being in full view of the risks.The disclosures also revealed the ICOs advice to Police Scotland about how to make the cloud deployment legal. While it highlighted some potential transfer mechanism the regulator believes can ensure compliance, it was explicit that the guidance does not constitute approval for the roll-out or assurance of compliance.3. Met Police to scrap and replace racist Gangs Violence MatrixIn February, the Met Police announced it scrapping its controversial Gangs Violence Matrix (GVM) database after long-standing concerns over the tools racial disproportionalitySet up in 2012 as a part of thegovernments self-declaredandevidence-freewar on gangs in the wake of the Tottenham riots, the secretive GVM was being used by the Met to identify, monitor and target individuals the force considers to be involved in gang violence.Two separate investigationsby the UK information commissioners office (ICO) and Amnesty International from 2018 found that the GVM disproportionately affected people from minority ethnic communities, with 78% of those listed in the database at the time being black (compared with 27% of people convicted for serious youth violence-related offences being black).They also found that 40% of those listed on the matrix had a harm score of zero applied by the algorithm, meaning police had no record of them being involved in a violent offence, while 64% of all individuals had been labelled green (the lowest risk category). Some 75% of all people named on the matrix were found to be victims of violence themselves.However, human rights groups warned that its replacement is likely to repeat the same mistakes, and criticised the Met for how long it took the force to stop using the system.4. Starmer announces tech-enabled crackdown on people smugglingIn November, UK prime minister Keir Starmer committed an extra 75m to the recently established Border Security Command (BSC) to fund its acquisition and use of state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, as part of a wider clampdown on the national security threat of people smuggling gangsThe new investment in border security builds on 75m the UK government previously committed to the BSC in September 2024, which focused on unlocking sophisticated new technology and extra capabilities, such as covert cameras, monitoring technologies, new intelligence units, and improving intelligence and information flows between law enforcement bodies.This means the overall investment into the BSC which was set up in July 2024 to coordinate the work of the National Crime Agency (NCA), intelligence agencies, police forces, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force will be 150m over the next two years.However, some charities have criticised the governments focus on enforcement, noting it could lead to desperate people taking more dangerous and deadly journeys. They suggested that, instead, the government should focus on creating safe and legal routes for refugees to enter the UK, which are currently extremely limited.5. MPs hold first ever debate on live facial recognitionMPs held an open debate on police use of live facial-recognition technology in November for the first time since it was initially deployed by the Met Police in August 2016, with a consensus emerging on the need for it to be regulated by a specific law, rather than the patchwork of legislation and official guidance that currently governs police deployments.The MPs including members of both front benches discussed a range of issues associated with the technology, including the impacts of LFR surveillance on privacy; problems around bias, accuracy and racial discrimination; the lack of a clear legal framework governing its use by police; and how its wider roll-out could further reduce peoples dwindling trust in police.The majority of MPs involved in the debate also openly lamented why there had been no debate about the use of the technology by police up until now.There have been repeated calls from Parliament and civil society for new legal frameworks to govern law enforcements use of the technology in recent years. These include three separate inquiries by the Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee (JHAC) intoshoplifting,police algorithmsandpolice facial recognition; two of theUKs former biometrics commissioners,Paul WilesandFraser Sampson; anindependent legal reviewby Matthew Ryder QC; theUKs Equalities and Human Rights Commission; and theHouse of Commons Science and Technology Committee, which called for a moratorium on LFR as far back as July 2019.During his time in office beforeresigning in October 2023, Sampson also highlighteda lack of clarity about the scale and extent of public space surveillance, as well as concerns around thegeneral culture of retention in UK policing around biometric data.However, the Home Office and policing bodies have repeatedly maintained there is already a comprehensive legal framework in place.6. Police cloud project raises data protection concerns despite legal reformsNine police forces are seeking to replace their common records managements system (RMS) with a cloud-based alternative but despite upcoming changes to the UKs data laws, experts told Computer Weekly the strong likelihood of a US-based hyperscaler winning the contract presents continued risks.Under the UKs current data regime, moving sensitive police records to one of the US cloud giants introduces major data protection issues. However, the governments recently proposed data reforms which would most likely eliminate many of these risks by allowing routine transfers to hyperscalers could jeopardise the UKs ability to retain its law enforcement data adequacy with the EU, while issues around data sovereignty would still persist.To avoid falling into the same situation with the new cloud-based RMS, the experts made a number of suggestions about the steps the forces should be taking now as data controllers, before the procurement progresses further down the line.While the governments newData Use and Access Bill(DUAB) is set to the change legal rules around law enforcement processing in a way that would unequivocally allow routine data transfers to hyperscalers, the experts say doing so could still risk the UKs ability to retain its law enforcement adequacy with the European Union (EU) when it comes up for renewal in June 2025.7. Met Police challenged on claim LFR supported by majority of Lewisham residentsThe Metropolitan Police claimed that its LFR deployments in Lewisham are supported by the majority of residents and local councillors, but a community impact assessment (CIA) later obtained by Computer Weekly shows there has been minimal direct consultation with residents, while elected officials continue to express concern.In August 2024, Lewisham councillors complainedthere had been no engagement with the local community ahead of the controversial technology being deployed in the area, with the Met announcing the tech would be used in Tweet just a month after being urged by councillors to improve its community engagement around LFR.Responding to Computer Weeklys questions about the concerns raised by Lewisham councillors, a Met Police spokesperson said at the time that its LFR deployments have been very much supported by the majority of Lewisham residents, business owners and political representatives namely Lewisham councillors.However, according to the CIA obtained under Foi rules by Computer Weekly, the only mention of residents in the entire document is when detailing the press response given to Computer Weekly.Both elected officials and campaigners criticised the Mets community engagement approach, saying the force was pushing ahead with deploying LFR despite opposition; asking leading questions during the minimal consultation carried out; and using the CIA process as a rubber stamp.8. Metropolitan Police officer dismissed for unlawfully accessing Sarah Everard filesA Metropolitan Police officer was dismissed after repeatedly accessing sensitive files related to the disappearance and murder of Sarah Everard while off-duty, prompting concern that legal requirements around police data access which are due to be removed by the governments data reforms are not being followed.The Met said a total of 104 officers and staff (68 officers and 36 staff) were initially identified as potentially accessing files relating to the investigation without a legitimate policing purpose, which resulted in seven officers being served with gross misconduct notices and appearing in front of a hearing. Ultimately, two thirds of the staff and officers involved had action taken against them.campaigners and privacy experts said these situations would be made more likely if the governmentsData Use and Access Bill(DUAB) passes, as its set to remove the police logging procedure that requires forces to keep records detailing how information is accessed and used.This includes recording a justification for why an individual officer has accessed a particular piece of information, although according to theDUABs explanatory notes, officers and staff will still be legally expected to log the time, date and, as far as possible, their identity when accessing information.Liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Joneshad previously told Computer Weeklythat the removal of police logging requirements was egregious, and that it represents a potential divergence from the European UnionsLaw Enforcement Directive(LED) that could prevent the UK from renewing its LED data adequacy decision.9. Automated police tech contributes to UK structural racism problemIn theirjoint submissionto the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which independently monitors states efforts to eradicate racism and promote human rights the Runneymede Trust and Amnesty International said the use of AI and facial-recognition technologies in policing is contributing to a worrying rowback in the civil and political rights of people of colour in the UK.The submission noted, for example, that despite the propensity of LFR to mis-identify people of colour, the Home Office haspreviously affirmed the right of police forces to use it in existing legal frameworks, and thatuse of the tech is generally ramping up.It noted that the use of automated systems such aspredictive policingandAutomated Number Plate Recognition(ANPR) by police can result in human rights violations and fatalities.The submission further highlighted thediscriminatory outcomes of the Mets Gangs Matrix database, which resulted in people of colour (predominantly young Black boys and men, in this case) being racially profiled for the music they listen to, their behaviour on social media, or who their friends are.In its recommendations for the UK government on police AI, the civil society groups said it should prohibit all forms of predictive and profiling systems in law enforcement and criminal justice (including systems which focus on and target individuals, groups, and locations or areas); provide public transparency and oversight when police or migration and national security agencies use high-risk AI; and impose legal limits to prohibit uses of AI that present an unacceptable risk to human rights.10. Campaigners criticise Starmer post-riot public surveillance plansPrime minister Keir Starmer announced that the government will establish a national capability to deal with violent disorder in the wake of racist rioting across England in August, but campaigners and civil society groups said they are concerned about the surveillance implications of the initiative and its damaging effect on wider civil liberties.Known as theNational Violent Disorder Programme, the government said that it will bring together the best policing capabilities from across the UK to share intelligence on the activity of violent groups so that authorities can swiftly intervene to arrest them.The programme announcement follows the outbreak of violent far-right riots in more than a dozen English towns and cities, which specifically targeted mosques, hotels housing asylum seekers, immigration centres, and random people of colour.Despite acknowledging the clearly far-right nature of the current disorder during a press conference announcing the programme, Starmer also said that the new initiative would be used to identify agitators from all parts of the ideological spectrum.According to the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) which monitors and resists policing that is excessive, discriminatory or threatens civil liberties the programme will clearly be used to target organised anti-fascists that went out to oppose the far-right across the country on Wednesday 7 August.The prime minister actively supports the polices dismissal of objections to the intrusion, unreliability and discriminatory nature of facial recognition, and the infringement on civil liberties that the extensive filming of demonstrations entails. We may also see more public order legislation and a greater willingness to quickly deploy riot units onto the streets, it said.After the immediate crisis recedes, expanded police surveillance is just as likely to focus on movements for social, racial and climate justice as it does on the far right.Read more about police technologyUK police continue to hold millions of custody images unlawfully: Annual report from the biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner of England and Wales highlights the ongoing and unlawful retention millions of custody images of innocent people never charged with a crime by police.Tech and digital skills key to improving police productivity: The Policing Productivity Review sees data and technology as a way of improving productivity and outcomes, as well as a potential means of restoring diminishing legitimacy, but warns there needs to be a revamp in digital skills, investment and coordination to harness the full range of benefits.What do the home secretarys policing reforms mean for the future of the Police Digital Service? The government is to create a new central body for policing with IT strategy in its proposed purview, but what does this mean for the Home Office-backed Police Digital Service?

The latest Northern Lights forecast means that the aurora borealis may be seen in the continental ... [+] U.S. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day after experts in space weather predicted a G1 or G2 geomagnetic storm. (Photo by: Alan Dyer /VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesChristmas Eve and Christmas Day may feature Northern Lights for some northern-tier U.S. states and northern Europe after a well-timed solar flare on the sun.According to the models of space weather forecasters at NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, a G1 or G2-class geomagnetic storm on Earth's atmosphere is expected to result late on Dec. 25.There may also be some geomagnetic disturbance possibly triggering aurora on Dec. 24.Northern Lights Forecast Tonight: When And WhereNOAA states that a G1 event could mean aurora is seen from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. If it becomes a G2 event, then the viewing area could be extended south to between New York and central Idaho.Skywatchers are advised to keep an eye on NOAAs 30-minute forecast and apps like Aurora Now. Only a G5 storm as experienced on May 10-11 and Oct. 10-11 can see aurora down to Florida, Arizona, and worldwide.The aurora viewline for Dec. 25 Christmas Day according to NOAA. NOAAMORE FOR YOUNorthern Lights Forecast Tonight: Solar MaximumAfter the most recent global display of aurora on Oct. 10-11, the sun has been relatively quiet, ironically since NASA and NOAA's Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel announced that the sun had reached its solar maximum phase, the peak of its 11-year solar cycle.Despite the quiet period, solar activity has been at a 23-year high in 2024, with displays of the aurora borealis at more southerly latitudes than is typical.Northern Lights Forecast Tonight: Major Solar FlareHowever, a large sunspot a dark area of intense magnetic complexity on the sun's surface produced an M8.9-class solar flare at 11:12 UTC on Dec. 23. It was very nearly a powerful X-class event. What happened in its wake was decisive a coronal mass ejection. Crucially, this cloud of charged particles ejected by the sun, rapidly accelerating into space, is Earth-directed.According to SpaceWeather.com, the bulk of the CME will miss Earth to the south, but there is still a significant Earth-directed component.Space weather forecasters also detected two other solar flares on Dec. 24 M4.7-class and M4.1-class events, respectively which could affect on the nights to come if a CME results.An M8.9-class solar flare was detected on Dec. 23, 2024 by NOAA's GOES-16 satellite. NOAANorthern Lights Forecast Tonight: Exact TimesExact timings and intensity are hard to predict. The G1 or G2 geomagnetic storm is tentatively forecast to occur between 15:00 and 21:00 UTC (10 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. and 9 p.m. GMT), but space weather forecasters will be relying on the DSCOVR and ACE satellites to confirm when the arrival at Earth of the CMEs are imminent. It could arrive significantly earlier or later.Only when its particles strike the sensors of these satellites, which orbit Earth about a million miles out, can NOAA's forecasters know the characteristics of a CME. Depending on the speed of the CME, the satellites give about 15-30 minutes warning of a significant space weather eventDSCOVR and ACE measure a CME's speed and magnetic intensity, which is critical in calculating how the solar wind is about to change.Northern Lights Forecast Tonight: CausesThe solar wind is a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earths magnetic field. Theyre super-charged by a coronal mass ejection that travels to Earth over a few days.Aurora is typically seen in polar regions at around latitudes of 70 degrees north and south, but during extreme geomagnetic conditions usually when CMEs arrive at Earth one after another or in tandem the auroral oval can bulge, with displays then seen as low as 25 degrees north and south of the equator.The night sky in Wisconsin glows with the Northern Lights as a geomagnetic storm brings vibrant pink ... [+] and green colors to a majority of the northern states. (Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesNorthern Lights Forecast Tonight: ColorsAs charged particles strike Earths magnetic field, they accelerate down its magnetic field lines at the north and south poles to create ovals of green and red. Green aurora are caused by charged particles striking low-altitude oxygen molecules in the Earths atmosphere, while red aurora result from high-altitude oxygen molecules.The colors tell you how high up the aurora you see. According to the Canadian Space Agency, green aurora occurs about 60-190 miles (100-300 kilometers) up, red aurora at about 180 to 250 miles (300 to 400 kilometers) and rarer blue about 60 miles (100 kilometers).If you see red, youre likely looking at the high-altitude edges of a display raging farther to the north.Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: Teofimo Lopez speaks to media during a public workout ahead of the ... [+] Teofimo Lopez v Jamaine Ortiz boxing match at Mandalay Bay Casino on February 05, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez appears to have finally locked in his next opponent. According to a report from ESPNs Mike Coppinger, Lopez is in the process of finalizing a deal to face former IBF champion Subriel Matias on March 15.Lopez made an offer to fight Devin Haney, but that was rejected. Recently, Lopez was rumored to be in discussions with Jaron Boots Ennis, but that fight has seemingly fallen through as well.The fight with Matias is a strong pivot and arguably just as intriguing as one with Haney or Ennis.Lopez is making his third defense of the 140-pound title. The fight will headline Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ PPV. The location for the event hasnt been announced, but it is expected to take place in the United States.Because its a PPV event, there is a possibility it could take place at Madison Square Garden or in MSGs Hulu Theater. Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) is ranked No. 1 in ESPNs and Ring Magazines junior welterweight rankings.In his last fight, Lopez earned a unanimous decision win over Steve Claggett. In February, Lopez edged out a win over Jamaine Ortiz. Neither win produced widespread acclaim because both Claggett and Ortiz were viewed as less-than-challenging opposition.MORE FOR YOUThe fight with Matias is more in line with what is expected of a star on Lopezs level.CARSON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Subriel Matias (C) celebrates his eighth round TKO win against Batyr ... [+] Jukembayev during their IBF Super Lightweight World Title Eliminator at Dignity Health Sports Park on May 29, 2021 in Carson, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)Getty ImagesMatias (21-2, 21 KOs), ESPNs No. 8 boxer at junior welterweight and Ring Magazines No. 6-ranked fighter in the weight class, is looking to bounce back. He lost his IBF junior welterweight title in an upset to Liam Paro in June. Paro recently dropped the title via unanimous decision to Richardson Hitchins.Now, the 32-year-old Puerto Rican is getting another shot at winning a world title. If the fight is in New York, it would be a major attraction. Lopez is a native New Yorker, and there is a large and powerful Puerto Rican population in the city. Theres every reason to believe the fight could create an exciting atmosphere.Pay-per-view could be a different story. Its tough for any fighter in the sport not named Terence Crawford, Gervonta Davis, Canelo Alvarez, Tyson Fury, or Anthony Joshua to find an opponent that justifies a fight landing on pay-per-view.As it is, well find out how this one performs assuming it comes to fruition.Many in the fight community are beginning to wonder whats next for Haney and Ennis. Neither man appears to have an opponent lined up. Haney is coming off his crushing loss turned no decision against Ryan Garcia in March. Hes seemingly being very selective about his next move.Ennis is still undefeated, but he took some criticism for his unanimous decision win over Karen Chukhadzhian in November. Ennis didnt look overly impressive and took more shotsspecifically the left hookthan most expected.At one point, Ennis was rumored to move up to 154 pounds to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. on the February 22 card in Saudi Arabia. Ortiz is fighting Israil Madrimov on that outstanding card instead.Perhaps Ennis-Haney is a fight that can be made at 147 pounds. That fight would be a big one for both men and one the boxing community would be eager to see.Stay tuned.

Why it matters: Steam's Best of The Year feature is one of those end-of-year events that has turned into tradition. 2024 saw a mix of older and newer games that were top sellers, and there are a couple of titles conspicuously low in the charts or missing completely. Valve never shows individual total gross revenue numbers of its best-selling titles; instead, it groups them into Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories.The Platinum group features some of the best releases from 2024: Space Marine 2, Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. You'll find all of these in our Best PC Games You Should be Playing feature.Several older games are still making their studios and publishers money -- Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3 are also in the Platinum group.As the chart is based on total gross revenue for the year, popular free-to-play titles with in-game transactions, including Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and Destiny 2, make up the rest of the Platinum category.Scanning further down the list, it's good to see that Cyberpunk 2077 made it into the Gold group this year. After being universally panned on release, the RPG's long redemption arc has led to a Very Positive rating its 94% positive Recent Reviews rating is just 1% off Overwhelmingly Positive. // Related StoriesThe Silver Group features the likes of Dragon's Dogma 2, Diablo IV, and Stalker 2, which was only released on November 20 and recently became profitable. The FPS survival/horror sold a million units in two days impressive, considering it's also on Game Pass.The Bronze section of the best-sellers chartAs the chart is based on revenue, you'll find the excellent, budget-priced Balatro in the Bronze section. Silent Hill 2 is also here, which is a little surprising, as is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which isn't. Another game that went from loser to winner, No Man's Sky, made enough money to enter the Bronze group this year.PC Gamer notes that every game from last year's Platinum category is somewhere in the 2024 list, with the one exception being Starfield.Steam also compiles a most-played list based on peak player numbers. The category for games with 450,000 or more peak concurrent players features the usual multiplayer games, as well as Black Myth, Elden Ring, and the recent Path of Exile 2.The rest of the charts are made up of most-popular Steam Deck games, which includes Balatro, Dave the Diver, and Hades. There is also a New Releases chart featuring Manor Lords and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero in the Platinum section. Valve even includes a list of the top games played with a controller.