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US sues TikTok for collecting kids’ data without parents’ permission

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US sues TikTok for collecting kids’ data without parents’ permission

The Department of Justice is suing TikTok for allegedly letting kids under 13 make accounts without their parents’ permission and collecting “extensive data” on them, in violation of US child privacy law.

The DOJ claims that TikTok knowingly let kids onto its platform through its “Kids Mode,” collected their information, and failed to delete their accounts at their parents’ requests, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). When a kid under 13 entered their age on the app, they’d be prompted to enter a username, which doesn’t contain personal information, and it would create a Kids Mode account for the user. But the app wouldn’t notify parents or get their consent. Kids can’t upload videos in that mode, but they can view videos; the DOJ alleges that TikTok collected some personal information on them as part of this process, like unique device identifiers and IP addresses.

The lawsuit alleges that TikTok’s age-gating techniques “are deficient in multiple ways.” Under an earlier practice, TikTok would let users restart the account creation process even if they’d originally entered a birthday showing they’re under 13, according to the complaint. TikTok also used to let users log in through Instagram or Google, which would categorize the accounts as “age unknown,” the DOJ alleges.

The DOJ says TikTok has let millions of kids use its platform but said it’s hard to pin down the exact scale of its violations because it didn’t comply with a requirement from a 2019 injunction to keep records on its COPPA compliance. The DOJ is asking the court to prevent TikTok from violating COPPA in the future and pay civil penalties for each violation. Under the FTC Act, civil penalties can go up to $51,744 per violation, per day.

The Federal Trade Commission took credit for its investigation leading to the complaint. The agency announced in June that it had referred a complaint against TikTok to the DOJ after an investigation of potential violations under the FTC Act and COPPA. At the time, the FTC said it had “uncovered reason to believe” TikTok was “violating or are about to violate the law.”

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TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek said in a statement that the company disagrees with the DOJ’s claims, “many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed. We are proud of our efforts to protect children, and we will continue to update and improve the platform. To that end, we offer age-appropriate experiences with stringent safeguards, proactively remove suspected underage users, and have voluntarily launched features such as default screentime limits, Family Pairing, and additional privacy protections for minors.”

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AI music startups say copyright violation is just rock and roll

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AI music startups say copyright violation is just rock and roll

Several weeks after being targeted with copyright infringement lawsuits, AI music startups Suno and Udio have now accused the record labels that filed them of attempting to stifle competition within the music industry. Both companies admitted to training their music-generating AI models on copyrighted materials in separate legal filings, arguing that doing so is lawful under fair-use doctrine.

The lawsuits against Suno and Udio were raised in June by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a group representing major record labels like Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records. Both cases accuse Suno and Udio of committing “copyright infringement involving unlicensed copying of sound recordings on a massive scale.” The RIAA is seeking damages of up to $150,000 for every work infringed.

Udio’s and Suno’s AI music generation tools allow users to produce songs by typing in written descriptions. According to the RIAA, some of these tracks contain vocals that sound identical to those by famous artists like Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and ABBA. In May, Suno said that its music generator had been used 12 million times since it was rolled out in December 2023.

In their responses, both Suno and Udio say the lawsuits highlight the music industry’s opposition to competition. “Helping people generate new artistic expression is what copyright law is designed to encourage, not prohibit,” Udio wrote in its filing. “Under longstanding doctrine, what Udio has done — use existing sound recordings as data to mine and analyze for the purpose of identifying patterns in the sounds of various musical styles, all to enable people to make their own new creations — is a quintessential ‘fair use’ under copyright law.”

In a blog post accompanying its own filing, Suno said that major record labels had misconceptions about how its AI music tools work, likening its model training to “a kid learning to write new rock songs by listening religiously to rock music” as opposed to just copying and repeating copyrighted tracks. Suno also admitted to training its model on online music, noting that other AI providers like OpenAI, Google, and Apple also source their training data from the open internet.

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“Learning is not infringing. It never has been, and it is not now.”

“Much of the open internet indeed contains copyrighted materials, and some of it is owned by major record labels,” Suno said in the blog. ”Learning is not infringing. It never has been, and it is not now.”

In a statement to Music Ally responding to Suno’s and Udio’s filings, the RIAA said that the companies failed to obtain appropriate consent to use copyrighted works before bringing their tools to market, unlike competing services like YouTube. “There’s nothing fair about stealing an artist’s life’s work, extracting its core value, and repackaging it to compete directly with the originals,” said the RIAA. “Their vision of the ‘future of music’ is apparently one in which fans will no longer enjoy music by their favorite artists because those artists can no longer earn a living.”

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Building-in-a-box transforms into a portable tiny home in minutes

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Building-in-a-box transforms into a portable tiny home in minutes

Are you a camper looking to upgrade your camping space and explore the great outdoors in comfort? Or perhaps you’re seeking a mobile office solution that can be set up anywhere? Or maybe you’re an emergency responder in need of quick, reliable shelter in disaster zones? The CMAX System just might be for you.

This innovative “building-in-a-box” transforms from a compact, easily transportable unit into a spacious portable shelter in just minutes. It is designed to provide a home-like experience wherever your adventures take you. So, whether you’re setting up camp in the mountains or providing emergency shelter after a disaster, CMAX has got you covered.

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Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

Unpacking the CMAX: What’s in the box?

Imagine a structure that’s 19.6 feet long, 7.4 feet wide, and 7.2 feet high. Now, picture that entire thing folding down into an approximately 400-pound box that can fit in the back of your pickup or on a trailer. That’s the CMAX for you. It’s a solid-floored unit that’s also an easily relocatable temporary building.

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Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

 THE BEST TRAVEL GEAR FOR 2024

From box to building in 11 minutes flat

This isn’t some flimsy pop-up tent. The CMAX is a robust structure that two people can set up in just 11 minutes without any special tools. It’s raised off the ground with 20 height-adjustable feet, making it stable on most relatively flat surfaces. The telescopic legs can handle height differences of up to 5 in from one end to the other. It expands from a 3-foot storage space to a 14-foot living space that is able to comfortably sleep eight people.

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Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

BEST TRAVEL ADAPTERS OF 2024 

Versatility is its middle name

The CMAX System is a jack-of-all-trades. It can serve as a temporary storage unit, a mobile medical clinic or laboratory, or even provide a luxurious glamping experience. Its rigid central structure allows for some serious upgrades.

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Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

The latest in the CMAX lineup, the CX20 units, are taking portable living to the next level. With high ceilings, cross ventilation, and a spacious feel, these units are designed for comfort without sacrificing functionality.

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cmax 5

Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

You can add solar panels for off-grid power, install air conditioning for those hot summer days, and even include a water treatment unit for clean water anywhere. It also comes with a motion sensor and lockable door for security.

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Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

TOP 6 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A VPN WHEN YOU TRAVEL

Tech-savvy shelter: The future of CMAX

CMAX isn’t just resting on its laurels. They’re developing a SmartCmax mobile app that will connect to your iPhone and other iOS devices using Bluetooth. This will allow you to control your portable shelter from your smartphone.

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SmartCmax app (CMAX System)

The price tag: Too good to be true?

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The CMAX System is priced at $8,000. But don’t go rushing to their website with your credit card just yet. The buying process is a bit… unconventional. When you try to buy a CMAX, they might try to sell you shares in the company instead. Odd? Yes. But don’t worry, you can still get your hands on one without becoming a shareholder. Just be prepared for a unique shopping experience.

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Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

More than just a product: The CMAX Foundation

Here’s a heartwarming twist  for every 10 CMAX units sold, one is donated to the CMAX Foundation for use in refugee camps or disaster sites. Your glamping adventure could help provide shelter for those who really need it. The CMAX Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, focuses on natural disaster relief and refugee support.

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Compact box unfolds into spacious shelter. (CMAX System)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The CMAX System is undoubtedly an innovative solution to portable housing. Its versatility, ease of setup and durability make it an attractive option for a wide range of uses – from casual camping to emergency disaster relief. The high ceilings, cross ventilation and potential for add-ons like solar panels and A/C units set it apart from traditional portable shelters. 

Whether it’s the future of portable housing or just a really cool concept, one thing’s for sure – the CMAX System is pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible in portable shelter design. From its tool-free assembly to its potential for high-tech upgrades, CMAX is redefining what it means to have a home away from home.

How might the concept of easily deployable structures like the CMAX System change the future of travel, or even remote work? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs get two additional years of warranty coverage

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Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs get two additional years of warranty coverage

Intel is committed to making sure all customers who have or are currently experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors are supported in the exchange process. We stand behind our products, and in the coming days we will be sharing more details on two-year extended warranty support for our boxed Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors.

In the meantime, if you are currently or previously experienced instability symptoms on your Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop system:

For users who purchased systems from OEM/System Integrators – please reach out to your system manufacturer’s support team for further assistance.

For users who purchased a boxed CPU – please reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance.

Intel is also investigating options to easily identify affected processors on end user systems and will provide additional guidance as soon as possible.

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At the same time, we apologize for the delay in communications as this has been a challenging issue to unravel and definitively root cause.

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