In an effort to improve user privacy and facilitate the management of their data, Google has implemented a new policy for apps in its Play Store. Starting on May 31, 2024, all apps that require the creation of an account must offer a simple option to delete it, both within the app and through a web portal. This change, announced in April 2023, now introduces a “Account Deletion Available” badge on the app listings that meet these requirements.
AssembleDebug, a contributor to the website Android Authority, has reported the appearance of this new badge in some apps on the Play Store. However, it seems that Google is rolling it out in stages, as the badge is not yet available to all users. Google’s support page mentions “early 2024” as the deadline for the full implementation of this badge.
Google has made it clear that it will take strict measures against applications that do not comply with this regulation after May 31, 2024, including possible removal from the Play Store. The company seems to be accelerating the deployment of the badge before the deadline, ensuring that apps comply with the new privacy policies.
In order for an app to obtain the account removal badge, developers must complete a data security form and answer all questions related to data removal in the Play Store. Additionally, if an application retains user data, it must clearly inform the user about it.
This Google initiative is inspired by a similar requirement existing in the App Store of Apple, which already requires developers to offer a direct option to delete accounts in their apps. The introduction of this new security label represents a significant improvement, valuing user privacy and allowing greater autonomy over their personal data.
Many companies developing AI have already crawled the web, so it’s likely that everything you’ve posted is already in their systems.
Absolutely everyone has posted something on the Internet in the last 20 years, so it is very likely that artificial intelligence companies have absorbed and used our information to help train the current wave of generative AI.
As OpenAI and other tech firms make advances, the media industry is split between pushing back and making deals. https://t.co/Y2f5fxTR2B
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 28, 2024
And to add to the problems, companies that have tons of messages from people (like Reddit, Twitter, etc.) are trying to get a piece of the AI cake by selling or licensing that information.
However, as demands and investigations around generative AI and its opaque data practices continue to accumulate, there have been small advances to give people more control over what happens with what they post online.
Some companies now allow individuals and businesses to choose not to have their content used for AI training or sold for training purposes. This is what you can and cannot do.
Microsoft’s billion-dollar OpenAI investment was trigged by Google fears, emails reveal https://t.co/qOlHH165Gc
Before discussing how you can opt out, it is important to set some expectations. Many companies that create AI have already crawled the web, so it is likely that everything you have posted is already in their systems.
In Wired, an expert explains that companies can make it difficult to opt out of having their data used for AI training, and even when it is possible, many people do not have a “clear idea” about the permissions they have agreed to or how the data is being used.
And that’s before taking into account various laws, such as copyright protection laws and strict European privacy laws. Facebook, Google, Twitter, and other companies have included in their privacy policies that they can use your data to train AI.
It’s generally accepted that ChatGPT was trained on Reddit data.
Apparently OpenAI failed to scrub several highly NSFW subreddits before training their models.
As a result, ChatGPT will say things like “Age is just a number” from a 4-word prompt. pic.twitter.com/LyE3LVa7DM
Although there are several technical ways to delete or “unlearn” data from AI systems, says the expert, very little is known about the existing processes. The options may be buried or require a lot of work. Getting messages to be deleted from AI training data will probably be an arduous battle.
In cases where companies are starting to allow opt-out for scraping or data sharing in the future, they almost always make users accept it by default.
Although less common, some companies that create AI tools and machine learning models do not automatically include customers.
How to delete our data from these services
Adobe
If you store your files in Adobe Creative Cloud, the company can use them to train its machine learning algorithm. “When we analyze your content for the purpose of improving and developing products, we first aggregate your content with other content and then use the aggregated content to train our algorithms and improve our products and services,” says the company’s FAQ. This does not apply to files stored only on your device.
If you use a personal Adobe account, it’s easy to opt out. Open the Adobe privacy page, scroll down to the Content Analytics section, and click on the button to deactivate it. For business or educational accounts, the deactivation process is not available at an individual level, so you will need to contact your administrator.
Google: Gemini
For users of Google’s chatbot, Gemini, conversations can sometimes be selected for review by humans in order to improve the AI model. However, opting out is easy.
Open Gemini in your browser, click on Activity and select the Disable dropdown menu. Here you can simply disable Gemini Apps Activity, or you can choose to opt out as well as delete your conversation data.
While this means in most cases that future chats will not be seen for human review, the selected data is not erased through this process. According to Google’s Privacy Center for Gemini, these chats can remain for up to three years.
OpenAI: ChatGPT and Dall-E
People reveal all kinds of personal information when using a chatbot. OpenAI offers some options about what happens with what you tell ChatGPT, including allowing their future AI models to not be trained with the content.
In its help pages, OpenAI says that web users of ChatGPT without an account should go to Settings and uncheck the option Improve the model for everyone. If you have an account and are logged in through a web browser, select ChatGPT, Settings, Data Controls, and then disable Chat history and training.
If you use the ChatGPT mobile apps, go to Settings, select Data Controls, and disable Chat History and Training. According to OpenAI support pages, changing these settings will not sync across different browsers or devices, so you will need to make the change in all the places where you use ChatGPT.
OpenAI is much more than ChatGPT. For their image generator Dall-E 3, the startup has a form that allows you to submit images to be removed from “future training datasets”.
Slack
All those random Slack messages at work could also be used by the company to train their models.
Although the company does not use customer data to train a large language model for its Slack AI product, Slack may use your interactions to improve the machine learning capabilities of the software.
The only real way to unsubscribe is for your administrator to send an email to Slack at feedback@slack.com. The subject of the message should be “Slack Global model opt-out request” and include the URL of your organization. Slack does not indicate how long the exclusion process takes, but it should send you a confirmation email once completed.
WordPress
Just like Tumblr, WordPress has an option to “prevent sharing with third parties”. To activate it, visit your website’s control panel, click on Settings, General, and then on Privacy, select the Prevent third parties from sharing checkbox.
Your own website
If you host your own website, you can update your robots.txt file to instruct AI robots not to crawl the pages. Most news websites do not allow their articles to be crawled by AI robots.
This exclusion is not only for large media: any website, big or small, can modify its robots file to exclude AI crawlers.
The comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) promises to be one of the most spectacular celestial attractions of 2024. Discovered on February 22, 2023 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in South Africa, this comet has captured the attention of astronomers and night sky enthusiasts, who predict that it will be as bright as the planet Venus.
According to Space.com, the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was initially mistaken for an asteroid until it was correctly identified thanks to images captured by the Purple Mountain Observatory (Tsuchinshan) in China. This comet, currently located beyond the orbit of Jupiter at almost 1.090 billion kilometers from the Sun, will approach our star on September 27, positioning itself at a distance of less than 58 million kilometers, a similar distance to that of Mercury.
Later on, on October 12th, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will come as close as 71 million kilometers to Earth, which could cause its brightness to increase significantly. According to estimates, this comet could reach first or second magnitude, becoming a notably bright object in the western night sky by mid-October 2024.
In recent years, other comets like C/2022 E3 (ZTF), known as the “Green Comet”, and 12P/Pons-Brooks, nicknamed the “Devil’s Comet” due to its eruptions of brightness and gaseous appendages, have briefly captured the public’s attention. However, these comets proved difficult to observe without the ideal conditions of darkness and suitable equipment.
Unlike these comets, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has the potential to be easily visible to the naked eye, making it an accessible celestial event for everyone. However, its brightness depends on several unpredictable factors; if its luminosity decreases or stops, the show could fade away.
Observers in the northern hemisphere will have to wait to see the comet, as it will be too far south this summer. It will be visible in the morning sky before sunrise for those living in Australia, New Zealand, and South America. Reports from these regions will be crucial in determining whether Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will become the dazzling spectacle promised. Meanwhile, the astronomical community and enthusiasts eagerly await this potential celestial wonder.
Anyone would say that 400 hours are enough to discover all the secrets that a video game could have. This doesn’t seem to be the case with Cyberpunk 2077. After all that time invested, it was now when a player found a fun Easter egg that also had a musical touch.
Since its release in 2020, many have been able to see first-hand how the world of Cyberpunk 2077 was populated with references and homages to different well-known franchises, such as The Witcher 3 or GTA San Andreas.
Now, another easter egg has been discovered by a fan after spending over 400 hours roaming around Night City. The user, named HackSama, shared through Reddit a screenshot where V and Johnny Silverhand are posing with a couple of helmeted gentlemen.
The couple, known in the game as the DJ duo Private Press, appeared during the 99.9 Impulse event held at Riot. However, they can also be seen during the side mission “I Don’t Wanna Hear It“. In this chaos, it is an allusion to Daft Punk, the famous musical duo responsible for hits like One More Time or Get Lucky. Here below we leave you the post in question.
In recent months, YouTube has intensified its fight against ad blockers, implementing new measures that affect users who use these programs. Now, as reported by 9to5Google, many users have noticed that their videos on the platform abruptly skip to the end when they have an ad blocker enabled. This problem is resolved by disabling the ad blocker, suggesting that it could be part of a new tactic by the platform to combat its use.
In Reddit, several users have shared their experiences with this issue. Some report that videos play without audio, while others mention that videos get stuck on loading. A user on the platform, SDHD4K, described this problem on YouTube, and user freemanhl2added: “You can adjust the volume slider for a second and then it mutes again”. Another user, Vampirehedgehog, expressed: “Oh my god, this is happening to me too! It’s so annoying, I don’t know what’s going on. Well, at least I’m not the only one having this problem”.
The reason behind this possible measure, as well as previously implemented ones, would be evident: almost all of Google’s revenue comes from advertising, and the company would want to ensure that the only way to avoid ads is through a Premium subscription.
However, users have found alternative solutions to this problem. Some in the Reddit thread mentioned that adblockers like uBlock Origin still work without issues, while others turn to extensions like Ad Speedup, which automatically accelerate ads up to 16 times. Another ingenious solution that users have discovered is using a VPN to set their location to Albania, a country where Google’s advertising platform does not yet support the language, thus allowing them to avoid YouTube ads.
It should be noted that not all adblockers have these issues. Most of the reports come from AdBlock users, while other ad blockers do not seem to be affected. Additionally, there are reports of users experiencing these problems without having an adblocker installed, although these cases are a minority.
Google seeks to revolutionize the way we search the Internet with AI Overview. In its announcement, made during its latest Google I/O conference, the company explained that, through this method, our queries would be answered by AI-generated summaries. However, this feature seems to have not pleased many people.
Although it is currently only available in the United States, users from around the world are already investigating ways to bypass AI Overview in their searches. One of them is provided by Google itself with its Web filter. Activating it will make the search engine show us only links to pages, without displaying videos, images or any other type of additional information.
Alternatively, you can add the following text at the end of a search, &udm=14. This will enable the Web filter and prevent any ads or “junk” information from appearing when performing a search. If you want to try it yourself, simply go to the address bar and add &udm=14 at the end. Either way, we will get the same result.
We’ve launched a new “Web” filter that shows only text-based links, just like you might filter to show other types of results, such as images or videos. The filter appears on the top of the results page alongside other filters or as part of the “More” option, rolling out today… pic.twitter.com/tIUy9LNCy5
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 14, 2024
Can I try AI Overview in my country?
Although AI Overview is only available in the United States, there are alternative ways to test the feature if you are from another country. To do this, you just have to use a VPN that allows you to connect to a US server. Once you are connected, open Google Chrome and go to Google Search Labs. This is a program that allows users to experiment with the latest innovations from Google.
Once inside, you will see an option called AI Overviews and more. Activate it and try its functionalities for yourself. Keep in mind that you will not be able to access with accounts belonging to Google Workspace and Google Workspace for Education.
The highest rated episode in the history of Rick and Morty on IMDb is The Ricklantis Mixup (3×07), and it even won an Annie Award for Best Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production. The interesting thing is that the episode addresses and resolves an old debate among fans about the direction the series should take.
Rick and Morty is currently one of the most influential series of its generation, but it has had its ups and downs throughout its seven seasons. Although fans have different opinions on which are the best episodes, some chapters have received universal praise. And unfortunately, there is a common debate among the series’ followers about whether Rick and Morty should focus on “canonical” plots or independent adventures.
The Ricklantis Mixup shows the way
Some of the most popular and funniest episodes of the series are standalone stories that can be enjoyed on their own, without the need to connect with other episodes. Other episodes, considered essential, are integrated into the overall narrative of the series and are described as “dense”. Rick and Morty has struggled to find a balance between these two approaches and has even mocked this debate within the series itself. However, “The Ricklantis Mixup” exemplifies how to perfectly balance both styles.
The Ricklantis Mixup primarily unfolds as a standalone adventure. Instead of focusing on the main characters, the episode explores the rebuilt Citadel of Ricks. The episode begins with Rick and Morty getting ready for a trip to Atlantis, but quickly shifts focus to the Citadel.
This change allows for exploring multiple versions of Ricks and Mortys, introducing unique characters like Cop Rick and the Mortys from Mortytown. But, although the episode seems to be standalone, it ends with a major twist: Evil Morty has secretly taken control of the Citadel by becoming its first Morty president.
Basically, Rick and Morty is at its best when it combines canonical plots with “filler” episodes. The most successful seasons of the series manage to balance dense plot stories with independent adventures. Season 7, the first one after the recasting of the main characters, has been a step in the right direction. Although it is unlikely that the series will regain the tone of its first season, there is always potential for episodes like “The Ricklantis Mixup” to bring something special.
Elon Musk founded xAI last summer, and today he announced that he has raised $6 billion in funding. Why does he need so much money…
You surely remember that Elon Musk founded xAI last summer, and today he has announced that he has raised 6 billion dollars in funding, which will allow his AI to enter the booming artificial intelligence market.
According to xAI, the funding for this round comes from various sources, including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal. Last year, a report from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) indicated that xAI aimed to raise up to $1 billion in capital investments, and a few months ago, The Financial Times reported that it was seeking up to $6 billion.
Last week, a report from The Information claimed that xAI would need 100,000 of Nvidia’s current H100 chips for a supercomputer that would power an upgraded version of its chatbot Grok AI. Apparently, Musk told investors that the plan is to launch the new data center in the fall of 2025.
The big tech companies have invested billions in AI companies like Anthropic, in addition to the resources that Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are investing in their own AI projects.
Microsoft has also signed a multi-billion dollar agreement with OpenAI, whose CEO, Sam Altman, is apparently seeking trillions of dollars more to revolutionize the global chip industry. Musk, a founding member of OpenAI, has sued the company claiming that it has abandoned its mission to benefit humanity.
A few days ago it was confirmed that Netflix had already given the green light to the script for the third part of Knives Out, the saga directed by Rian Johnson in which we follow detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) solving all kinds of cases. The official title of the film is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and we have already started to receive some information about the movie.
What will Knives Out 3 be about?
We still don’t have verified information about the plot of Wake Up Dead Man, but what is clear is that Benoit Blanc will once again embody our favorite detective. However, Johnson warns that he is eager to carry it out, especially to continue exploring this character and his world. But don’t expect a typical copy. He has made it clear: “It is a challenge to discover how it can be completely different from this sequel and the first one”.
Again, we will have to wait for official confirmations, but the first actors who could appear in this movie have already been leaked. The faces confirmed by Whats on Netflix are Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla, Civil War) and Josh O’Connor (Challengers, Only You).
On the other hand, there are also strong rumors of two top-level actors for this ensemble cast. Specifically, the name of Tom Hardy (Venom, Mad Max: Fury Road) and Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls) are being mentioned, who after several years out of the spotlight due to addiction problems, would return to the forefront of Hollywood.
When will Knives Out 3 be released?
What we do know, albeit approximately, is when we will see the next film in the franchise. Knives Out 3 has been confirmed to be released at some point in 2025 on Netflix. Considering that the cast has not been confirmed yet, it will most likely be towards the end of that year.
Keep your online identity safe thanks to Surfshark’s Alternative ID, a groundbreaking way to safeguard your data from spam, phishing and data breaches.
Online privacy is more crucial than ever, with personal data constantly at risk of being exposed through various channels. Email addresses, a fundamental aspect of online identity, are often exploited for spam, phishing, and data breaches. This vulnerability calls for robust solutions to safeguard personal information.
Surfshark’s Alternative ID offers a compelling answer to these privacy concerns. By allowing users to create disposable email addresses and alternative identities, thisNMk tool significantly enhances online anonymity and reduces the risk of personal data exposure. Would you like to know how it works in detail? In today’s article we’ll show you how Alternative ID can protect your identity and improve your online experience.
What is Surfshark’s Alternative ID?
Surfshark’s Alternative ID is a powerful tool designed to protect your online identity by generating disposable email addresses and creating alternative identities. This feature allows you to mask your real email addresses and personal details, providing an added layer of privacy and security.
As part of the Surfshark One package, which includes VPN and antivirus services, Alternative ID is also available in the starter pricing plan. This integration ensures comprehensive protection and ease of access for all users.
Alternative ID’s Main Features
Disposable Email Addresses: These temporary email addresses forward messages to your primary inbox, ensuring your real email remains hidden. This is crucial for avoiding spam and phishing attacks, as well as protecting your personal email from being exposed in data breaches. Also, by using these disposable addresses for sign-ups and online services, you can maintain a clutter-free primary inbox and reduce the risk of your main email being compromised.
Alternative Identities: These include fabricated names, addresses, and even ages, which you can customize according to your needs. This flexibility makes it ideal for various online interactions, from signing up for newsletters to participating in contests. This not only shields your identity but also allows you to manage different personas for different purposes, enhancing your overall online privacy.
Why Alternative ID is a Must-Have for Security
Personal information is a very valuable asset highly seeked by cybercriminals worldwide. With it, they can easily gain access to your data, devices and all kinds of accounts… even your bank ones! Using real information online exposes you to various risks that can compromise your privacy and security. Luckily, tools such like Alternative ID can protect you from any unauthorized access to your emails.
Risks of Using Real Email Addresses
Spam: Real email addresses frequently attract unwanted spam, cluttering your inbox and making it difficult to manage important communications.
Phishing: Cybercriminals use phishing emails to trick you into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. These emails often appear legitimate and mimic official sites to the smallest detail, making it easy to fall victim to such schemes.
Data Breaches: Websites and services can suffer data breaches, exposing your real email and personal details to malicious third parties. Once your information is out there, it can be exploited in numerous ways, from identity theft to targeted scams.
Benefits of Anonymity and Reduced Spam
Enhanced Privacy: By using disposable email addresses and alternative identities, you can interact online without revealing your real details. This anonymity protects you from unwanted attention and potential threats.
Reduced Spam: Disposable emails help keep your primary inbox clean and organized. You can sign up for services or newsletters without worrying about spam inundating your main email.
Increased Security: Alternative identities add an extra layer of security. Even if a disposable email address is compromised, your real information remains safe. This compartmentalization of your online presence ensures that a breach in one area doesn’t affect your overall security.
Everyday Ways to Use Surfshark’s Alternative ID
Using Surfshark’s Alternative ID opens up a range of practical applications for enhancing your online privacy and security. Whether you’re shopping online, subscribing to newsletters, entering contests, or simply trying to keep your inbox free from spam, Alternative ID offers a versatile solution to keep your identity private. Here are some common scenarios where this feature proves invaluable:
Online Shopping and Subscriptions
When shopping online, using your real email address can lead to a flood of promotional emails and potential spam. With Surfshark’s Alternative ID, you can use disposable email addresses for each purchase or subscription. This keeps your primary inbox clean and ensures that your real email remains private, protecting you from marketing overload and potential data breaches.
Signing Up for Newsletters
Newsletters are a great way to stay informed, but they often come with the downside of cluttering your inbox. By using a disposable email from Alternative ID, you can sign up for multiple newsletters without worrying about spam. All emails get forwarded to your primary inbox, but you can easily filter or discard them if they become overwhelming.
Registering for Contests and Giveaways
Entering contests and giveaways often requires providing an email address, which can then be used for unsolicited marketing. Using an alternative identity, including a disposable email, ensures that your real details are protected. If the disposable email starts receiving too much spam, you can simply discard it and create a new one.
Avoiding Spam and Maintaining a Clean Inbox
One of the primary benefits of Alternative ID is the ability to maintain a clean and organized inbox. By using disposable emails for various online activities, you can significantly reduce the amount of spam and irrelevant emails that reach your main email address. This not only keeps your inbox manageable but also reduces the risk of phishing and other email-based threats.
Testing New Online Services
Before committing to a new online service, it’s wise to test it out using an alternative identity. This approach allows you to evaluate the service without exposing your real email and personal details. If the service turns out to be unreliable or starts sending unwanted emails, you can easily dispose of the email address and avoid any negative consequences.
Get Started with Surfshark’s Alternative ID Today
Now that you know why you need an Alternative ID, it’s time for you to know how to do it. The process is easy and straightforward thanks to Surfshark’s intuitive interface. Below these lines we’ll help you set up the web app in just a few steps, but you can also use Alternative ID as a browser extension or an Android or iOS app.
Setting Up and Customizing Your Alternative ID via the Web App
Log In: Access your Surfshark account.
Navigate to Alternative ID tab: Find this section in your account dashboard.
Generate an Alternative ID: The Alternative ID should be ready for you to use. The email of this Identity will forward messages to your primary inbox without revealing your real email.
Use the details around the web: You can copy the information from this page and use it on any website where you don’t want to expose your identity.
Test the Email: Use the disposable email to sign up for a newsletter or online service to ensure it works correctly.
Customizing Identity Details
Navigate to Alternative ID tab: Find this section in your account dashboard.
Find the “Change” button: Scroll down and select the “Change” button by the alt persona.
Change the details: Select the specific details you want to customize, such as name, address, and age. Tip: You can also randomise this data if you don’t want to think too hard about it.
Select Country/Nationality: Adjust these fields to fit your needs for different online interactions.
Save and Use: Save your customized identity and use it as needed for online registrations and interactions. You’ll need to confirm that you’re sure.
Why Choose Surfshark’s Alternative ID?
Surfshark’s Alternative ID offers a suite of benefits designed to enhance your online privacy and security. Here’s a closer look at why you need this amazing software to keep your online and personal data always safe.
Increased Privacy and Security
By generating disposable email addresses and alternative identities, Alternative ID ensures that your real email and personal details remain hidden. This significantly reduces the risk of spam, phishing attacks, and data breaches, providing a robust layer of security for your online activities.
Customization Features
Alternative ID allows you to customize your alternative identities, including details like name, address, and nationality. This flexibility is particularly useful for users who require different identities for various online interactions, such as international services or region-specific websites.
Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface
Setting up and managing Alternative ID is straightforward, thanks to its intuitive design. Users can easily navigate the platform, create disposable emails, and customize identities without any technical hassle. This ease of use makes it accessible to everyone, regardless if they are a tech expert or just a casual user that just aims to surf around the Net.
Accessible and Cost-Effective
Alternative ID is included in the most accessible Surfshark packages, providing extensive privacy tools without the need for premium subscriptions. This makes it an affordable solution for users seeking comprehensive online protection without breaking the bank.
Enhance Your Digital Security Today
Surfshark’s Alternative ID offers a robust solution for enhancing online privacy and security. By providing disposable email addresses and customizable alternative identities, it helps reduce spam, protect against phishing, and maintain anonymity. These features, combined with its user-friendly interface and inclusion in accessible Surfshark packages, make it an essential tool for anyone concerned about their online safety.
Ready to take control of your online privacy and security? Sign up for Surfshark today and start using Alternative ID to protect your identity. With features like disposable email addresses and customizable alternative identities, Surfshark makes it easy to stay safe online.For more information and to get started, visit Surfshark’s website. Explore their blog for detailed guides and insights on how to maximize your use of Alternative ID and other privacy tools. Protect your digital life with Surfshark now!
