Arizona

Arizona lawmakers give nod of approval to harsher penalties for AI crimes

Published

9 months ago

February 22, 2024

Arizona lawmakers give nod of approval to harsher penalties for AI crimes

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — A Scottsdale mother’s fight to stop scammers from using artificial intelligence is gaining traction among Arizona lawmakers. Legislation, Senate Bill 1599, could make punishments more severe for people who use AI to commit crimes, and at a recent committee hearing, it received unanimous support.

Last year, Jennifer DeStefano received a phone call from a scammer who used AI to clone her 15-year-old daughter’s voice and fake a kidnapping. “She goes, ‘Mom. These bad men have me. Help me. Help me. Help me,’ and starts pleading and crying and sobbing in a voice very familiar that I’ve known for 15 years,’” DeStefano said.

The ransom demand started at a million dollars. That wasn’t possible, so the scammers dropped the price to $50,000. “Not only did they want it in cash, but they also wanted to come pick me up in a white van, put a bag over my head and transport me to my daughter with all the money. And if not, we both were dead,” DeStefano told Arizona state lawmakers. “As I’m making these arrangements, my 13-year-old daughter is listening, thinking she’s lost her sister and now she’s going to lose her mother.”

There was no kidnapping, but for a few minutes, it all felt so real. “I had had an interactive conversation. It was her cries, her sobs, unique to her. A mother knows her child,” DeStefano said.

On Your Side’s first report on this AI scam captured the attention of Sen. Jon Ossoff from Georgia, who invited DeStefano to testify on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers vowed action. DeStefano is grateful state lawmakers are calling for change as AI technology rapidly improves. “Unfortunately, the police were not able to do anything because there’s no laws in place to allow them to do anything,” DeStefano testified. “Unfortunately, it was considered a prank call.”

State Sen. Justine Wadsack, a Republican, introduced SB 1599, which would amend state law to make using AI in a crime an ‘aggravating circumstance’ in sentencing. Basically, it would make AI a weapon, so just as criminals could face harsher punishments for using a gun while committing a crime, criminals could also face harsher punishments for using artificial intelligence while committing a crime.

DeStefano’s daughter, Brianna, was by her side to tell Arizona lawmakers about her experience. “This scam has deeply affected my life,” she said. “As a young girl still in high school, it’s difficult being able to walk out even just walking my dogs at night. Hanging out with my friends, going to the bathroom alone, you never know where anyone could be at any point in time.”

Brianna says she is not outspoken on social media and doesn’t know where scammers got her voice to clone. But as On Your Side has reported, it doesn’t take more than a few seconds of a voice sample to get a realistic fake. “I want girls to be aware of this instance and know how to protect themselves against this problem as well as the government being able to protect them,” the younger DeStefano said.

There is opposition to the bill. The ACLU of Arizona and Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice are on the record against it. The ACLU believes it’s too broad and doesn’t describe what constitutes artificial intelligence or acknowledge that the use of AI could be incidental to a crime.

Though the bill received a unanimous vote of support in the Senate Transportation, Technology and Missing Children committee, it has not been scheduled for a vote on the floor. DeStefano is optimistic. “Arizona is being a pioneer and it’s amazing and I’m so thankful,” she said. “This is our government at play, being representatives of the people, speaking for the people and bringing forth our concerns and our needs to protect us.”

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Arizona

Residents frustrated over desert dumping in southern Arizona

Published

4 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Residents frustrated over desert dumping in southern Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Many of us love the landscape of the southern Arizona desert, but others may not care as much as scattered trash piles are becoming a new normal.

Residents living in the Tortolina area told 13 News they’re frustrated and angry over the dumping.

Clint told 13 News he brought his four kids out to the desert over the years, but it is starting to get worse.

“I don’t like it one bit,” Clint said. “My kids don’t like to see it, my friends and neighbors that come out here, we just really dislike it a lot. It’s disheartening, is a word I can say.”

One of his most recent finds was construction debris from a bathroom remodel, which included a worn-down bathtub, remnants of drywall, and torn boxes.

Clint found an address on one of the boxes. He said he and his friend went to the home and informed the owners of the trash.

He said the homeowners seemed unaware of the problem but the following day, the trash was gone.

“No harm no foul but they got caught,” Clint said. “Had they not, then it would still be sitting out there.”

Something similar happened about 10 years ago to Tucson resident Connie Coons. She hired someone to take her trash out to the dump, but the trash didn’t make it there.

“I got a letter in the mail probably a couple of weeks later,” Coons said. “It was a picture of my garbage in somebody’s alley.”

The city explained to her over the phone that the trash was cleared, but she was already embarrassed.

Coons tried to call the person she hired, but she was unable to reach them.

“I was angry that I trusted these people and gave them money to do a job, and then I did not get the job,” Coons said.

More than a decade years after the incident, trash dumping continues to be an ongoing issue. Both Clint and Coons told 13 News that they wish people would think twice before inappropriately disposing of their trash.

“It’s sad that we, as a society, are still thinking that it’s acceptable,” Coons added. “Not the vast majority, but obviously there is people that don’t have a problem with dumping garbage in the desert.”

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Arizona receives mixed lung-cancer ratings from American Lung Association

Published

11 hours ago

November 19, 2024

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Arizona receives mixed lung-cancer ratings from American Lung Association

The American Lung Association released its annual “State of Lung Cancer” report that ranks lung cancer response by state. Arizona ranked above average for rate of new cases; average for early diagnosis; and below average for survival rate, surgical treatment and, lack of treatment and, screening. (File photo by Cronkite News)

PHOENIX – The American Lung Association (ALA) graded Arizona’s lung cancer response as mostly below average Tuesday. The association releases an annual report documenting the success or failure in each state’s response to lung cancer awareness.

“The No. 1 modality (for lung cancer) is going to be smoking,” said Dr. Richard Gillespie, a thoracic surgeon at HonorHealth Heart Care – Heart and Lung Surgery – Shea. “It’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, but it’s not the only risk.”

The ALA report follows a criterion that ranks states on six factors. Arizona ranked above average for rate of new cases; average for early diagnosis; and below average for survival rate, surgical treatment, and lack of treatment and screening.

“Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer,” said ALA Senior Director of Advocacy JoAnna Strother. “It is the leading cause of cancer deaths. We’re (ALA) just trying to make more people aware that if they are eligible for screening, that they should definitely talk to their provider.”

Those diagnosed with lung cancer can get treatments or surgeries to help lessen their symptoms.

In Arizona, according to the report, 27.1% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are alive after five years, which is lower than the national average of 28.4%.

The rate of new cases in the state, 42.6 per 100,000, is similar to last year and is significantly lower than the national rate of 53.6 – ranking the state seventh among all others.

This year, the rate of new cases has improved by 19% in Arizona and 15% nationally.

Those at high risk for lung cancer in Arizona include adults between the ages of 50 to 80 who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years, are current smokers or quit within the last 15 years. About 14% of those high-risk individuals in the state received screenings for lung cancer – compared to the national rate of 16% – ranking the state at 37th.

“People are very independent out here (in Arizona); they don’t want to be told what to do,” Gillespie said. “I think people haven’t heard about screening for lung cancer. It’s a relatively new modality. We as a community need to really be letting people know that this is something that can reduce their risk of lung cancer.”

According to ALA, lung cancer takes the lives of 361 people a day in the U.S. But within the past 10 years, the lung cancer survival rate has increased by 44%.

“Those who are recent immigrants, those who are in some of the less affluent areas of Phoenix just don’t have access to health care,” Gillespie said. “We want to be a part of outreach (and) make sure that we’re providing tools that people need to be able to take care of themselves.”

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Tetairoa McMillan a 2024 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist

Published

19 hours ago

November 19, 2024

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Tetairoa McMillan a 2024 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist

Arizona Wildcats junior Tetairoa McMillan on Tuesday was among 11 players named semifinalists for the 2024 Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to college football’s best pass-catcher.

McMillan is third in the nation with 1,136 receiving yards with Arizona (4-6) still set to visit the TCU Horned Frogs this Saturday and before hosting the rival Arizona State Sun Devils in the regular season finale.

His receiving yards total trails two other finalists: San Jose State receiver Nick Nash (1,282 yards) and Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (1,170).

Also on the list is a player for the Wildcats’ upcoming opponent. TCU’s Jack Bech is sixth in the nation with 982 receiving yards so far this season.

McMillan began the year well-regarded and on the lengthy Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list, as well as the Maxwell Award watch list that will be handed out to the nation’s best all-around college player.

The bulk of his production in 2024 has come in two games: a 304-yard performance in the season opener against New Mexico on Aug. 31 and a 202-yard outing on Oct. 26 against West Virginia.

A likely first-round pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound receiver piled up 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Current Arizona Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. won the Biletnikoff trophy last season for his 1,211 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior for Ohio State.

LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze, who like Harrison were first-round NFL Draft picks, were the other finalists in 2023.

A panel of 600 college football journalists, commentators, announcers, former award winners and former receivers vote for semifinalists, finalists and award winners.

A fan vote accounts for one official vote as well.

Tetairoa McMillan and 10 more 2024 Biletnikoff Award semifinalists

Jack Bech (WR), TCU
Ja’Corey Brooks (WR), Louisville
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE), Bowling Green
Tai Felton (WR), Maryland
Tre Harris (WR), Ole Miss
Travis Hunter (WR), Colorado
Tetairoa McMillan (WR), Arizona
Nick Nash (WR), San Jose State
Xavier Restrepo (WR), Miami
Jeremiah Smith (WR), Ohio State
Ryan Williams (WR), Alabama

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