Tim Cook Strongly Opposes ‘Weaponization’ Of User Data


Apple CEO Tim Cook came out strongly against what he referred to as the ‘weaponization’ of user data today. Speaking at the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Brussels, he added that Apple is in full support of a “comprehensive federal privacy law in the United States.” He also praised Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR which provides consumers with greater control over their personal data collected by tech companies.

Cook said that user data is being “weaponized with military efficiency” by some companies who are using it to make money for themselves. His comments follow some recent data breach incidents that have brought this issue to light and have started a debate on whether companies should be doing more to protect user data.

“We shouldn’t sugarcoat the consequences. This is surveillance. And these stockpiles of personal data serve only to enrich the companies that collect them,” he said. Cook added that users should always know what data is being collected and what it’s being collected for. “This is the only way to empower users to decide what collection is legitimate and what isn’t,” he said.

Cook added that good policy and political will can come together to make this happen so that the rights of everyone can be protected. He reiterated the company’s support for a comprehensive federal privacy law in the United States, one that could be similar to the EU’s GDPR when it’s made.

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Quoth the Robo-Raven, “Recharge me!”

Researchers at the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering have been working on the so-called Robo Raven for years. The ongoing project resulted in the first flying drone with independent wing movement, a feature that made these U of M UAV’s closer to birds than ever before.

Now Lena Johnson, a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering, has created the Robo Raven V, an advanced version of the flying drone.

“Robo Raven has given me an entire platform to explore how engineers can take advantage of avian flight to improve drone capabilities,” she told IEEE. “As a Ph.D. student, my research is focused on achieving something new with this UAV platform that has already made aviation history by flying on wings that can move independently of each other.”

The new raven has two propellers for faster takeoff and has improved maneuverability thanks to better wing design. As you can see above, it flies like a big butterfly, lightly taking to the breeze with massive mylar wings. It’s a pretty – and clever – version of the typical flying drone and it will be interesting to see how far Johnson can take the technology.

Galaxy S10 3x models and price points aim for iPhone XR, Xs

The cheapest Samsung Galaxy S10 model with a release date in early 2019 will have an internal storage size of 64GB. This information was leaked today alongside word that the Samsung Galaxy S10 will, indeed, be launched in at least three variants. The Samsung Galaxy S10 will therefore be coming at Apple’s latest collection of smartphones hard. A Galaxy S10 … Continue reading

The Urban Legend About Scattering Human Ashes at Disney Is True, and It's Worse Than We Thought

For at least 11 years, an unnerving story has made the rounds on Disney fan blogs: people regularly scatter the ashes of loved ones at Disneyland and Disney World. Well, today, the Wall Street Journal has confirmed the urban legend. And we’re not talking about a couple of isolated cases. This happens on a monthly…

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Twitter tests status updates and ‘ice breaker’ tweets

Last month, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that one of his company’s goals is to “increase the health of public conversation” on its platform. And it’s a talking point Twitter has come back to throughout the y…

Naya Health, once a promising breast pump startup, now leaving customers in the dark

With their loud noises and hard plastic flanges, breast pumps are the bane of many a new mother’s existence. Founded in 2013, Naya Health is one of the most notable tech startups working on a better pump. But the company’s support site is now shutdown and it’s stopped updating its social media accounts. In a report today, CNBC spoke to several customers who said their pumps, which cost $1,000 and aren’t covered by insurance, had stopped working, and Naya Health had not provided them with adequate support or replacement parts.

While the Naya Health breast pump’s price tag is significantly more than most competing devices, customers were willing to give it a chance because of its unique flange design, which used silicone and water instead of plastic cups to recreate a nursing baby’s mouth.

Users have left a series of complaints on Naya Health’s Facebook page since May about performance issues, poor customer service, and long shipping times or non-delivery of pumps they ordered months ago. A Kickstarter campaign created for Naya Health’s smart baby bottle, which raised more than $100,000, is also filled with complaints about orders not being fulfilled (the last response from co-founder and CEO Janica Alvarez was posted six months ago).

Naya Health’s Facebook and Instagram accounts haven’t been updated since summer, even though users are still using them to post complaints, while its Twitter account has been set to protected mode. As CNBC noted, many customers have begun turning to the Better Business Bureau’s site to post complaints after saying their messages and calls to Naya Health went unanswered.

An email sent to Alvarez, who co-founded the company with her husband Jeffery Alvarez, Naya Health’s CTO, received an auto-reply. TechCrunch has also contacted Naya Health investors Tandem Capital and Bojiang Capital, the co-leads of its seed round, for comment. The company has raised $4.6 million in angel and seed funding, according to Crunchbase.

OnePlus beat Apple and Samsung in India, again

For the second quarter in a row, OnePlus sold more phones in India than any other brand. That includes Apple, and it includes Samsung too. They’re doing this by focusing on local trends, including cashback and EMI (equated monthly installment) offers. OnePlus is also has local India-based manufacturing, allowing the company to sell their smartphones without high import duties. OnePlus … Continue reading

Google Made It Less of a Pain in the Ass to Clear Your Search History

You’ve probably cleared your local browser history before. Maybe you did it just moments ago. Perhaps you didn’t want your partner, roommate, or coworkers to see what kind of weirdness you’d been searching for. But clearing the activity data that’s on Google’s servers has never been especially easy—deterring many…

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Spotify lets all artists submit songs for playlist consideration

Spotify is now ready to give any artist a shot at stardom through its well-known playlists. After a beta test in the summer, the streaming music service has opened its playlist submissions to all musicians. An up-and-comer now has a real chance of…

Ted Cruz Jokes Beto O’Rourke Can Share A Prison Cell With Hillary Clinton

The Texas senator joshed around with a supporter who yelled “Lock him up!” at a campaign event.