• Glaciers in the Alps have shrunk 39% in the last two decades, satellite data reveals
    thenextweb.com
    British startup Earthwave and a group of European scientists have used satellite data to map out glacial melt across the globe and the results are alarming.The team discovered that the European Alps glaciers have shrunk the most of all 39% in just over two decades, compared to a global average of 5%.Earthwave co-founder Livia Jakob said the project was invaluable to our understanding of glacier ice loss.We developed an algorithm to combine all the different datasets into one common estimate of glacier mass balance, giving us a new and improved picture of glacier behaviour in the past two decades, Jakob told TNW via email.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Across the world, glaciers have lost an average of 273 billion tonnes of ice per year since 2000, according to the research, which was published in Nature today. Thats equivalent to the entire global populations drinking water consumption for 30 years.And the situation is snowballing. The rate of ice loss increased from 231 billion tonnes per year (20002011) to 314 billion tonnes per year (20122023) and doesnt show any signs of slowing down.The Alps worst hitTemperatures in Europes highest mountain range are rising twice as fast as the global average. Swiss glaciers lost 6% of their total volume in 2022 alone, following intense summer heatwaves.Dust from the Sahara could also be to blame for the rapid decline of central Europes glaciers. Particles in the air come from the Sahara desert and settle on glacier surfaces, darkening the ice. This causes them to absorb more solar radiation and melt faster.But ultimately, human-induced climate change is the greatest culprit. If greenhouse gas emissions keep increasing, scientists predict the Alps could lose over 90% of their glacier mass by 2100.Glacial retreat spells trouble for millions who rely on glacial melt for drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower while coastal communities brace for the rising tides. Over the study period, glaciers contributed 18mm to global sea-level rise.The research was conducted as part of the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise, or Glambie for short. The project is a major research initiative coordinated by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) hosted at the University of Zurich, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Earthwave.Jakob co-founded Earthwave in 2018. The startup uses satellite remote sensing to monitor the effects of climate change or help other scientists unlock valuable insights from satellite data.Eyes over glaciersWhile many have experienced glacial decline first-hand, tracking it planet-wide is a bit more challenging. Thats where satellites can help.Numerous satellites monitor Earths ice thickness from orbit. They use optical, radar, laser, and gravimetry instruments to provide data on glacier loss, sea ice changes, and rising sea levels.The Glambie study used this information to compile one of the most comprehensive overviews of glacier retreat ever conducted.The study included data from satellites including the USAs Terra/ASTER and ICESat-2, the USGerman GRACE, the German TanDEM-X, and the European Space Agencys CryoSat.As global temperatures continue to rise, studies like these deepen our understanding of how glacial melt impacts freshwater supplies, ecosystems, and sea-level rise and what must be done to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with
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  • Apple Podcasts Connect will go down for up to eight hours next week
    9to5mac.com
    Heads up, fellow podcasters. Apple has announced some scheduled downtime for Podcasts Connect next week.The downtime is planned for next Saturday morning. Apple shared the following today:On March 1, starting at 6:00 a.m. PST, Apple Podcasts Connect will be unavailable for up to eight hours. Access to Apple Podcasts Connect and Analytics will not be available during this time.Hopefully, this scheduled maintenance improves processing speeds for members-only content on the back end. If youve ever experienced this bottleneck, then you know what I meanBest Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, Threads, and Bluesky, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel
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  • iPhone 16e has a binned version of the A18 chip but what does that mean?
    9to5mac.com
    The new iPhone 16e, which was announced by Apple earlier today, features the A18 chip. In theory, this is the same chip that powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. However, as already reported by 9to5Mac, there is a slight difference in the chip inside the iPhone 16e, which suggests that Apple is using a binned chip in the less expensive model. But what exactly does this mean?What is a binned chip?Before the iPhone 16e, there were already two different versions of the A18 chip. One of them, called A18 Pro, has a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU. As the name suggests, this chip is used in the iPhone 16 Pro models. For the non-Pro models, Apple uses the A18 chip which also has a 6-core CPU, but a 5-core GPU. Both have 8GB of RAM.So what about the A18 chip inside the iPhone 16e? According to Apple, it has a 4-core GPU two less than the A18 Pro and one less than the A18 in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. Potentially, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e is a binned chip (just as the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 is probably a binned version of the A18 Pro).Chip binning is a quality control process in chip manufacturing. Rather than scrapping chips that havent reached the maximum performance of all their cores, some of them are deactivated and the chip can still be used with fewer cores. This isnt the first time Apple has used a binned chip in a product a great example is the iPad mini 7, which has a version of the A17 Pro chip with one less GPU core than the original chip.Does this mean that the iPhone 16e is slower or will perform worse? Not for most users. The CPU is still the same as the one in the base iPhone 16 model, which is powerful enough to handle intensive tasks. The main difference here is in graphics processing. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pros GPU is around 15% faster than the base A18 GPU due to its extra core.The only users who might notice a difference are those who constantly play 3D games or edit videos on their iPhone. However, for someone coming from an older iPhone, even the binned version of the A18 chip will be faster. If youre not swapping your iPhone 16 or 16 Pro for an iPhone 16e, theres nothing to worry about.In addition to the A18 chip, the iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch OLED display, 48-megapixel rear camera, Face ID, and a USB-C port. It also features Apples first custom 5G modem for better energy efficiency.Pre-orders for iPhone 16e begin on Friday, February 21. The first orders will arrive next week, on February 28. Pricing starts at $599 for 128GB of storage. There are 256GB and 512GB options available, in white and black.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel
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  • MDCalc: Senior Full Stack Engineer (Remote)
    weworkremotely.com
    OverviewMDCalc is the most trusted and broadly used medical reference for clinical decision making tools, used by millions of clinical users worldwide. We're the #1 medical reference for clinical decision tools and content and we're used by more than 65% of US doctors quarterly.To continue to further accelerate and steward this growth, we are seeking a Senior Full Stack Developer on our expanding tech team. This role will be critical to MDCalcs expanded success in continuing to support our millions of clinical users worldwide in taking care of hundreds of millions of patients.ResponsibilitiesServe as a senior team member contributing to and helping guide the delivery of high quality software products.Assume ownership and responsibility of all work, and drive it to completion.Collaborate with technical and non-technical team members to ensure rapid delivery of software products.Provide contributions to architecture and design decisions that have a major impact on the overall system scalability and performance.Champion software engineering best practices, including code reviews, testing, documentation, and code quality standards.Lead by example, demonstrating a commitment to excellence, professionalism, and collaboration in all aspects of software development and team interactions.QualificationsBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)Strong proficiency in React, React Native, NextJS, Express, and Postgres with experience in building scalable, distributed systems and web applicationsExperience with the following:Consumer/Public Websites, Mobile Applications, Amazon AWSTerraform, Go, Docker, and BitBucketExcellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams while rolling up sleeves to get in the detailsDeep understanding of software engineering principles, system architecture concepts to provide technical guidance and refinement of product specs and ticketsKnowledge of the healthcare industry and previous experience working in health tech is a plusWhat we can offer youAbility to make a true difference in medicine: MDCalc is the most broadly used medical reference by physicians, used by 65% of US attending doctors to treat millions of patients every monthDynamic, virtual, work from anywhere (within the USA) environment while providing unique experiences every dayBase compensation ranges from $150,000 to $200,000, depending on location, experience and accomplishments; we offer stock options, a 401k, and great health benefits tooApply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now
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  • The Thing and the Human Torch Are Coming to Marvel Rivals on Feb. 21
    www.cnet.com
    The Fantastic Four were the first new characters to join the roster in Marvel Rivals season 1, but so far only Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman have been added. The team will be in full force on Feb. 21 as the Thing and the Human Torch will make their debut in the hero shooter.Developer NetEase Games confirmed the addition of the two heroes on Tuesday on its Dev Talk blog. The characters' introduction to the game will conclude the first half of season 1 and bring with it some major balance adjustments to the game.Here's what you need to know about the Human Torch and the Thing coming to Marvel Rivals.When will the Human Torch and the Thing be added to the Marvel Rivals roster? Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. The two characters will join the roster on Feb. 21. As the case with all characters, they will be available for free.What powers will the Human Torch and the Thing have?Even though they haven't been added to the roster yet, both characters' abilities have been leaked online. New trailers for the two heroes confirm the leaked info.The Thing is a straightforward tank, better known as a Vanguard in Marvel Rivals. This means he'll take a lot of damage and should charge right into the fight.And here are his abilities:Combination Punch: Quick and continuous punches.Thunderbolt Punch:Deliver a devastating punch.Furious Charge: Continuously charge forward, lifting up enemies in your path, leaving behind a seismic zone that prohibits displacement.Battlefield Support:Jump towards teammates and add damage reduction to them and yourself.Solid as a Rock:Immune to knockback and other displacement effects.Fastball Special (team-up ability):Wolverine can interact with Hulk or The Thing. Once confirmed by both sides, Hulk or The Thing can raise Wolverine. Press the button to throw him toward the crosshair.Slam Moment (ultimate): Uses tremendous force to knock all enemies in front of you into the air.As for The Human Torch, he's a Duelist who can do some heavy damage to the other team.Here's a rundown of his abilities:Fire Cluster:Launch a fireball that can be split in half.Plasma Body:Enters a state of accelerated ascent while flying.Pyro Prison:Connects flame fields to form a firewall.Flaming Meteor:Dives toward the ground and stun nearby enemies.Blazing Blast:Launches a fireball to create a flame field at the targeted area.Omega Fire (team-up ability):Releases a giant tornado of fire with Storm to the opposing team.Supernova (ultimate):Unleashes fire shockwaves to deal damage to nearby enemies, turns flame fields into fire tornadoes.Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles.
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  • Disney Dreamlight Valley's "Next Free Update" Launches On Switch Soon
    www.nintendolife.com
    Disney Dreamlight Valley has today revealed the next free content update 'Tales of Agrabah' will be launching for Switch and other platforms next week on 26th February 2025.This update will see Aladdin and Jasmine join the game alongside a "brand new Realm". Here's some additional PR and you can see the official banner for this new update above.After discovering an ancient mysterious artifact in the desert, the entire city of Agrabah has been covered in dangerous sandstorms. Help Aladdin and Jasmine uncover the secret behind the artifact and return Agrabah to its original state so they can join their friends in Dreamlight Valley. Take part in all-new quests for both newcomers and even unlock Aladdins iconic flying friend - Magic Carpet - as an animal companion.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube796kWatch on YouTube Players looking for even more fun with the Floating Islands feature will get four new areas to decorate with the upcoming update - Peaceful Meadow, Dazzle Beach, Glade of Trust, and the Forgotten Lands all unlockable with Dreamlight. With these additions, every biome in the base game now has a Floating Islands counterpart. Other additions and improvements include a new search bar for recipes while cooking, a slow cooker so players can queue up multiple meals at once, and more room size options for player house customization.Players looking to add elegance and tranquility to their Valley will get their chance with the Oasis Retreat Star Path! Take part in relaxing activities like picking fruit, cooking, gardening, and having conversations with your Villager friends to unlock all new resort-inspired decorative items, such as a critter companion bath, palm trees, and more. Its time to relax and have your Valley look great while doing it!When more details are shared, we'll be sure to let you know. If you haven't tried out this game yet, you can learn more about it in our review here on Nintendo Life. A rough, but charming, work in progressHave you tried out Disney Dreamlight Valley on the Switch yet? Let us know in the comments.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Is Discontinuing Gold Points, One Of The Switch's Best IncentivesNoooo, don't do it!Toby Fox Shares Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3 And 4"Still console testing"Hollow Knight: Silksong Briefly Vanishes From US Switch eShop, But It's Back NowUpdate: Restored after a few hoursSonic Racing: CrossWorlds Adds Characters From "SEGA Universes"Update: IGN has an exclusive preview upFunko Fusion Is Deemed A "Complete Commercial And Critical Failure"Around 20 unconfirmed layoffs reported
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  • Random: Zelda Fan-Project Turns 'Breath Of The Wild' Into Stunning Anime Opening
    www.nintendolife.com
    Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube796kAspiring artists are constantly recreating Nintendo's properties as live-action and animated shorts and this latest one, which was uploaded to YouTube in January, showcases what Zelda: Breath of the Wild might look like as an anime opening.It's actually been crafted by the "2023 Chungkang Animation School 2nd Grade" and is a "thesis film" with a runtime of roughly two and a half minutes. It's backed by the Japanese pop single "RGB" by Yoasobi and highlights Link, Zelda, the four champions as well as some other friendly and not-so-friendly faces like the Guardians.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube796kWatch on YouTube The project does a great job replicating certain visual tropes and also has the following notice attached in the description:"This animation is a non-commercial creation made by fans. All rights belong to Nintendo Co., Ltd. and YOASOBI. We do not claim ownership of any copyrights, and this video was created to honor the original creators and their work. If there are any issues, please feel free to contact us."While an animated short like this isn't necessarily doing any harm, it doesn't always work out with certain fan-made projects. Just recently, Nintendo shut down the live-action Zelda fan film 'Lost in Hyrule', after the project began accepting donations via a Kickstarter campaign.Although Nintendo doesn't appear to have any Zelda anime in the pipeline at the moment, it is obviously working on its own blockbuster live-action Zelda movie. There's no solid release date for this movie just yet, but it has been confirmed Nintendo is co-funding the movie alongside Sony. Video game industry legend Shigeru Miyamoto is also "heavily involved in the production".The director of this official live-action Zelda movie Wes Ball has also gone on record mentioning how he actually wants this film to feel like a "live-action Miyazaki" movie (the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and animator behind anime films like Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky). Cites Spirited Away as a favourite"We want to thank everyone who believed in and supported this project"Wake up Link, the movie's onWhat do you think of this anime opening based on Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Would you like to see a full-blown anime adaptation of Zelda one day? How are you feeling about the live-action movie? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.[source youtu.be, via polygon.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Has Renewed Some TrademarksIncluding its famous 'Seal of Quality'Nintendo Power Artist "Hadn't Actually Played Any Zelda Games" Before Creating His Take On HyruleAnd he'd like to turn his talents to Metroid
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  • AI-coding startup Codeium in talks to raise at an almost $3B valuation, sources say
    techcrunch.com
    Codeium, an AI-powered coding startup, is raising a new round of funding at a $2.85 billion valuation, including fresh capital, according to two sources with knowledge of the deal.The round is being led by a returning investor Kleiner Perkins, the people said.The new round comes just six months after Silicon Valley-based Codeium announced that it had closed a $150 million Series C at a $1.25 billion post-money valuation led by General Catalyst with participation of Kleiner Perkins and Greenoaks.TechCrunch could not confirm the dollar amount of the new funding.Codeium and Kleiner Perkins didnt respond to a request for comment.The company has reached about $30 million in annualized recurring revenue (ARR), one person said. Based on that revenue figure, Codeiums implied valuation is roughly 95 times ARR. Thats a lot higher than other AI code editing companies.Last month, Anysphere, the maker of AI-powered coding assistant Cursor, announced a new funding round of financing at a $2.5 billion valuation. Based on its reported $100 million in revenue, investors assigned it a 25 times ARR valuation multiple.In addition to Anysphere, which many investors say is the current leader in the category, Codeium competes with Poolside, Magic, Microsofts GitHub Copilot and many others.While its not clear how Codeuim negotiated such a rich valuation, sources told TechCrunch that the company wasnt looking to raise new funds before investors approached it about this round.Codeium tries to distinguish itself from competitors by targeting companies rather than individual developers. Last summer, the company told TechCrunch that the free tier of its platform was being used by over 1,000 enterprise customers, including Anduril, Zillow, and Dell.In November, the company introduced Windsurfer Editor, which can write some of the code without human involvement, an approach thats known as agentic AI, or agent mode. Others, such as Cursor, also offer a similar feature.Codeium was founded in 2021 by Varun Mohan and his childhood friend and fellow MIT grad, Douglas Chen. Prior to Codeium, Chen was at Meta, where he helped to build software tools for VR headsets like the Oculus Quest. Mohan was a tech lead at Nuro, the autonomous delivery startup, responsible for managing the autonomy infrastructure team.
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  • Study of TikTok, X For You feeds in Germany finds far-right political bias ahead of federal elections
    techcrunch.com
    Recommendation algorithms operated by social media giants TikTok and X have shown evidence of substantial Far Right political bias in Germany ahead of a federal election that takes place Sunday, according to new research carried out by Global Witness.The non-government organization (NGO) undertook an analysis of social media content displayed to new users via algorithmically sorted For You feeds finding both platforms skewed heavily towards amplifying content that favors the Far Right AfD party in algorithmically programmed feeds.Global Witness tests identified the most extreme bias on TikTok, where 78% of the political content that was algorithmically recommended to its test accounts, and came from accounts the test users did not follow, was supportive of the AfD party. (It notes this figure far exceeds the level of support the party is achieving in current polling, where it attracts backing from around 20% of German voters.)On X, Global Witness found that 64% of such recommended political content was supportive of the AfD.Testing for general left- or right-leaning political bias in the platforms algorithmic recommendations, its findings suggest that non-partisan social media users in Germany are being exposed to right-leaning content more than twice as much as left-leaning content in the lead up to the countrys federal elections. Again, TikTok displayed the greatest right-wing skew, per its findings showing right-leaning content 74% of the time. Although, X was not far behind on 72%.Metas Instagram was also tested and found to lean right over a series of three tests the NGO ran. But the level of political bias it displayed in the tests was lower, with 59% of political content being right-wing.Testing For You for political biasTo test whether the social media platforms algorithmic recommendations were displaying political bias, the NGOs researchers set up three accounts apiece on TikTok and X, along with a further three on Meta-owned Instagram. They wanted to establish the flavor of content platforms would promote to users who expressed a non-partisan interest in consuming political content.To present as non-partisan users the tests accounts were set up to follow the accounts of the four biggest political parties in Germany (conservative/right-leaning CDU; center-left SPD; Far Right AfD; left-leaning Greens), along with their respective leaders accounts (Friedrich Merz, Olaf Scholz, Alice Weidel, Robert Habeck). The researchers operating the test accounts also ensure that each account clicked on the top five posts from each account they followed, and engaged with the content watching any videos for at least 30 seconds and scrolling through any threads, images, etc., per Global Witness.They then manually collected and analyzed the content each platform pushed at the test accounts finding there was a substantial right-wing skew in what was being algorithmically pushed to users.One of our main concerns is that we dont really know why we were suggested the particular content that we were, said Ellen Judson, a senior campaigner looking at digital threats for Global Witness, told TechCrunch in an interview. We found this evidence that suggests bias, but theres still a lack of transparency from platforms about how their recommender systems work.We know they use lots of different signals, but exactly how those signals are weighted, and how they are assessed for if they might be increasing certain risks or increasing bias, is not very transparent, Judson added.My best inference is that this is a kind of unintended side effect of algorithms which are based on driving engagement, she continued. And that this is what happens when, essentially, what were companies designed to maximize user engagement on their platforms end up becoming these spaces for democratic discussions theres a conflict there between commercial imperatives and public interest and democratic objectives.The findings chime with other social media research Global Witness has undertaken around recent elections in theU.S.,IrelandandRomania. And, indeed, various other studies over recent years have also found evidence that social media algorithms lean right such as this research project last year looking into YouTube.Even all the way back in 2021, an internal study by Twitter as X used to be called before Elon Musk bought and rebranded the platform found that its algorithms promote more right-leaning content than left.Nonetheless, social media firms typically try to dance away from allegations of algorithmic bias. And after Global Witness shared its findings with TikTok, the platform suggested the researchers methodology was flawed arguing it was not possible to draw conclusions of algorithmic bias from a handful of tests. They said that it wasnt representative of regular users because it was only a few test accounts, noted Judson.X did not respond to Global Witness findings. But Musk has talked about wanting the platform to become a haven for free speech generally. Albeit, that may actually be his coda for promoting a right-leaning agenda.Its certainly notable that Xs owner has used the platform to personally campaign for the AfD, tweeting to urge Germans to vote for the Far Right party in the upcoming elections, and hosting a livestreamed interview with Weidel ahead of the poll an event that has helped to raise the partys profile. Musk has the most-followed account on X.Towards algorithmic transparency?I think the transparency point is really important, says Judson. We have seen Musk talking about the AfD and getting lots of engagement on his own posts about the AfD and the livestream [with Weidel] [But] we dont know if theres actually been an algorithmic change that reflects that.Were hoping that the Commission will take [our results] as evidence to investigate whether anything has occurred or why there might be this bias going on, she added, confirming Global Witness has shared its findings with EU officials who are responsible for enforcing the blocs algorithmic accountability rules on large platforms.Studying how proprietary content-sorting algorithms function is challenging, as platforms typically keep such details under wraps claiming these code recipes as commercial secrets. Thats why the European Union enacted the Digital Services Act (DSA) in recent years its flagship online governance rulebook in a bid to improve this situation by taking steps to empower public interest research into democratic and other systemic risks on major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and X.The DSA includes measures to push major platforms to be more transparent about how their information-shaping algorithms work, and to be proactive in responding to systemic risks that may arise on their platforms. But even though the regime kicked in on the three tech giants back in August 2023, Judson notes some elements of it have yet to be fully implemented.Notably, Article 40 of the regulation, which is intended to enable vetted researchers to gain access to non-public platform data to study systemic risks, hasnt yet come into effect as the EU hasnt yet passed the necessary delegated act to implement that bit of the law.The EUs approach with aspects of the DSA is also one that leans on platforms self-reporting risks and enforcers then receiving and reviewing their reports. So the first batch of risk reports from platforms may well be the weakest in terms of disclosures, Judson suggests, as enforcers will need time to parse disclosures and, if they feel there are shortfalls, push platforms for more comprehensive reporting. For now without better access to platform data she says public interest researchers still cant know for sure whether there is baked in bias in mainstream social media.Civil society is watching like a hawk for when vetted researcher access becomes available, she adds, saying they are hoping this piece of the DSA public interest puzzle will slot into place this quarter.The regulation has failed to deliver quick results when it comes to concerns attached to social media and democratic risks. The EUs approach may also ultimately be shown to be too cautious to move the needle as fast as it needs to move to keep up with algorithmically amplified threats. But its also clear that the EU is keen to avoid any risks of being accused of crimping freedom of expression.The Commission has open investigations into all three of the social media firms which are implicated by the Global Witness research. But there has been no enforcement in this election integrity area so far. However, it recently stepped up scrutiny of TikTok and opened a fresh DSA proceeding on it following concerns of the platform being a key conduit for Russian election interference in Romanias presidential election.Were asking the Commission to investigate whether there is political bias, adds Judson. [The platforms] say that there isnt. We found evidence that there may be. So were hoping that the Commission would use its increased information[-gathering] powers to establish whether thats the case, and address that if it is.The pan-EU regulation empowers enforcers to levy penalties of up to 6% of global annual turnover for infringements, and even temporarily block access to violating platforms if they refuse to comply.
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  • John G. Wright Mansion // 1907-1967
    buildingsofnewengland.com
    John Gordon Wright (1843-1912), was a Boston wool merchant who purchased farmland on this site in the 1890s and hired architects Chapman & Frazer, to design this stone mansion as an estate house. He previously moved into an earlier wood-frame home on the site and a decade earlier, had the architects design his carriage house and stable, which survive today as the Soule Recreation Center. The stone Tudor Revival style mansion house was massive and featured in national periodicals when completed. The estate was beautified by landscaping designed and laid-out by the Olmsted firm. In 1942, the property was purchased by the Rivers School (now located in Weston) and converted into classrooms and administrative offices for the private school. When the school moved to Weston, the Town of Brookline in 1961 bought property for recreational purposes. Sadly, in 1967, the mansion house burned down, but the carriage house and gate lodge remain as lasting remnants of a once great Brookline estate.
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