Love Isn't a Game, Kinda - DIGIT Tech News Roundup
Welcome to the latest edition of the DIGIT Tech News Roundup.
In this week’s newsletter, we will cover some of our top-trending tech news stories, features and op-eds from the week beginning the 19th of February.
The ITSX Summit will be held in Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Thursday the 29th of February 2024.
The Summit is focussed on the evolution of the service desk and the future of customer experience and IT support. It will examine how the service function has advanced in the age of omnichannel engagement, digital transformation, and personalisation, from low-level automation and standardisation to advanced analytics, AI, and the increasing role of chatbots and self-service tools.
DIGIT's Top Trending Stories
Lawsuit Targets the ‘Gamification’ of Online Dating
A lawsuit filed against Match Group Inc in a federal court in the Northern District of California by six users of popular dating apps Tinder and Hinge, is looking to expose the addictive nature of these applications.?
In the 58-page complaint, the plaintiffs argue that dating apps have significantly altered social dynamics and replaced traditional courtship with technologically-driven interactions. According to them, dating apps owned by Match Group utilise manipulative techniques to keep users engaged and subscribed.
The lawsuit against Match Group underscores growing concerns about the impact of technology on human behaviour and relationships. As dating apps continue to shape modern social interactions, questions regarding their ethical and psychological implications remain at the forefront of public discourse.
Reddit Files for Initial Public Offering
Reddit, the free online platform, has filed for its first initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange.
While the public filing did not disclose how much it was aiming to raise in its listing, but it did provide details on how the company is performing.
Reddit reported that it’s revenue growth in 2023 was about 21% at $804m (￡635.29m), rising from $666.7m (￡526.8m) the year prior.
Gemini Art Generator Paused Over Woke-ism Allegations
Google’s Gemini AI art generator has come under fire for its controversial depictions and reluctance to portray certain racial groups.
After a flurry of posts on X allegedly showed the AI art generator neglecting to create art with white people, or generating what many classified as historically inaccurate or ‘overly diverse’ depictions of different people, Google paused Gemini’s AI art generator altogether.
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In a post on X, Jack Krawczyk, product lead of Gemini at Google, said “We are aware that Gemini is offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions, and we are working to fix this immediately.”
Lockbit Disrupted by International Law Enforcement in ‘Operation Cronos’
In a significant move against cyber-crime, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), along with a coalition of international law enforcement agencies took over Lockbit’s extortion website late on Monday night (19 February).?
A post on the cybercriminal group’s website read: “This site is now under the control of the National Crime Agency of the UK, working in close cooperation with the FBI and the international law enforcement task force, ‘Operation Cronos’.”
Tinder to Bring ID Verification Option to UK Users
In a bid to bolster user safety and confidence, dating app Tinder will roll out an optional verification process to UK users in spring.
To acquire the verifications, users will be required to submit a video selfie along with a valid Driver’s License or Passport. The system checks if the face in the video selfie corresponds to both the photo on the ID and the user’s profile pictures, while also verifying the date of birth on the ID. Users can easily complete this process on their profile page.
Big Tech Rallies to Counter Deceptive AI Amid Global Elections
Some of the world’s leading technology companies have pledged to help prevent deceptive AI content from interfering in this year’s upcoming global elections.
More than four billion people in over 40 countries are set to vote in elections this year, including in the UK, US, and India.
The “Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections” is a set of eight commitments to deploy technology countering harmful AI-generated content meant to deceive voters.
Is the UK’s ‘Prevent’ Data Retention Programme Illegal?
A new report by the Open Rights Group, the digital rights campaigners, has found the data of people who are referred to the Prevent programme in the UK is being widely shared and retained for years.
The Prevent programme is designed as an intervention for people believed to be showing signs of radicalisation and if they meet a threshold defined by section 36 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015.
Teachers, social workers, doctors, and people working for other public authorities are required to refer individuals to the Prevent under the Channel programme if they believe the individual meets these thresholds.