October 2019 - nexa - server-nexa.polito.it

Tom Morello Pens Op-Ed Decrying Facial Recognition Tech at Music Fests – Rolling Stone
by Alberto Cammozzo Oct. 26, 2019

Oct. 26, 2019

“We have a chance to stop the proliferation of surveillance technology that rivals nuclear weapons in the threat that it poses to the future of humanity. The clock is ticking” <https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tom-morello-facial-recognitio…> Tom Morello has co-written an op-ed warning of the civil danger that facial recognition technology poses on society as well as the efforts made by activists to ban the technology from music festivals. “Imagine showing up at a music festival or concert and being required to stand in front of a device that scans and analyzes your face,” Morello and Fight for the Future deputy director Evan Greer wrote for Buzzfeed News. “Once your facial features are mapped and stored in a database, a computer algorithm could then decide that you are drunk and should be denied entry, or that you look ‘suspicious’ and should be flagged for additional screening. If you make it through security, facial recognition technology could then be used to track the minute details of your movements once inside.” While this software accumulated at festivals could be used for ” strictly commercial purposes like showing you targeted ads,” there also lies the danger that “festival organizers could be forced to hand this trove of sensitive biometric data over to law enforcement or immigration authorities.” Morello and Greer note that Ticketmaster had invested in companies like Blink Identity, a facial recognition software startup created by defense contractors who have already assisted the U.S. military’s efforts in Afghanistan. With the specter of facial recognition software and digital surveillance looming over music festivals, a petition was launched – successfully – to push organizers of the biggest U.S. fests to ban the technology from their respective events. “Over the last month, artists and fans waged a grassroots war to stop Orwellian surveillance technology from invading live music events. Today we declare victory,” Morello and Greer wrote. “Our campaign pushed more than 40 of the world’s largest music festivals — like Coachella, Bonnaroo, and SXSW — to go on the record and state clearly that they have no plans to use facial recognition technology at their events.” At press time, dozens of major festivals – including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Governors Ball, Stagecoach, all Electric Daisy Carnival events, Austin City Limits and SXSW – have pledged they “won’t use” facial recognition technology at their festivals. However, Las Vegas’ Life Is Beautiful, Burning Man, the iHeartRadio Music Festival and Outside Lands are among those that “might use” the software, according to the Ban Facial Recognition site; artists like Taylor Swift and venues like New York’s Madison Square Garden reportedly already employ the technology. “Surveillance profiteers who hope to make a lot of money selling facial recognition software to governments and private interests are now on high alert. They’re watching closely for public reactions, running tests to see just how much intrusive monitoring we’re willing to put up with,” Morello and Greer warned. “We have a chance to stop the proliferation of surveillance technology that rivals nuclear weapons in the threat that it poses to the future of humanity. The clock is ticking.”

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Piattaforme per la partecipazione politica
by Giulio De Petra Oct. 26, 2019

Oct. 26, 2019

Per chi fosse interessato, Il 30 ottobre alle 17,30, nell’ambito dei lavori di IGF Italia 2019 che si svolgerà al Politecnico di Torino (www.igfitalia2019.polito.it) ci sarà un workshop sul tema: “Costruire piattaforme per la partecipazione politica in Italia” Segnalo in proposito questo contributo di Guido Vetere, che è tra gli organizzatori del workshop https://www.agendadigitale.eu/cultura-digitale/politica-e-social-i-partiti-…

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Research Associate / PhD Position/ Postdoc
by Agata Lo Tauro Oct. 26, 2019

Oct. 26, 2019

Vi inoltro questo bando sperando di fare cosa gradita. Buon week-end a tutti, agata https://it.linkedin.com › agata-lo-tauro-6723257b <https://it.linkedin.com/in/agata-lo-tauro-6723257b> At TU Dresden, Faculty of Computer Science, Institute of Theoretical Computer Science, the Chair of Knowledge-Based Systems, invites applications for a Research Associate / PhD Position/ Postdoc (subject to personal qualification employees are remunerated according to salaray group E 13 TV-L) within the Collaborative Research Center CRC/TR 248 „Foundations of Perspicuous Software Systems“ starting as soon as possible. The position fixed-term to 31st December 2022. The period of employment is governed by the Fixed Term Research Contracts Act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz - WissZeitVG). The position is suitable for PhD Students and for Postdocs and offers the chance to obtain further academic qualification (e.g. PhD or habilitation thesis). The Computer Science CRC/Transregio 248 lays the scientific foundations for the cyber-physical systems of the future, enabling them to explain their functionality and behaviour (so-called *Perspicuous Systems*). We are researching a foundational and applicable theory of explanations for all facets of system behaviour, as well as visual and verbal elucidation methods for diverse user groups. More information can be found at www.perspicuous-computing.science. As a member of the Chair of Knowledge-Based Systems you will be part of a successful team of experienced researchers of many nationalities and backgrounds. You will work in the vibrant scientific environment of the CRC/TR 248 and TU Dresden, one of the leading German research universities. Dresden is a highly livable city with a rich cultural life and beautiful nature. Tasks: As a member of the project teams in sub-projects E3 and A4 of the Collaborative Research Center, you will be researching new methods of intelligent information processing based on understandable rules. You will be working on one or several of the following tasks: - Design of understandable development environments for rules; - Development of efficient algorithms for evaluating logical rules; - Implementation of prototypes and their empirical evaluation. The position is focussed on foundational research. Publication and presentation of research results at international venues is an important part of the work. Requirements: We are looking for motivated and talented staff members with a very good university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in computer science or a related area, if applicable a PhD, and with specific background knowledge or prior experience in one or more of the following topics: - Artificial intelligence, especially knowledge representation and reasoning - Databases and efficient processing of large datasets - Design and implementation of Softwareprototypes, including user interfaces Postdocs should have made significant research contributions to one of the above areas. Candidates should be independent in organising their work, keen on working with teams of experts across other projects, and fluent in English, oral and written. Applications from women are particularly welcome. The same applies to people with disabilities. Please submit your comprehensive application (including CV and statement of research interest) by 29.11.2019 (stamped arrival date of the university central mail service applies), preferably via the TU Dresden SecureMail https://securemail.tu-dresden.de by sending it as a single pdf document to secretary_wbs(a)mailbox.tu-dresden.de or by mail to: TU Dresden, Fakultät Informatik, Institut für Theoretische Informatik, Professur für Wissensbasierte Systeme, Herrn Prof. Dr. Markus Krötzsch, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden. Please submit copies only, as your application will not be returned to you. Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed. Reference to data protection: Your data protection rights, the purpose for which your data will be processed, as well as further information about data protection is available to you on the website: https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis

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Facial-Recognition Software Was Able to Identify Patients From MRI Scans - WSJ
by J.C. DE MARTIN Oct. 26, 2019

Oct. 26, 2019

Facial-Recognition Software Was Able to Identify Patients From MRI Scans Study calls attention to a privacy threat that is set to grow as technology improves and medical-imaging data increases https://www.wsj.com/articles/facial-recognition-software-was-able-to-identi… (Sent from my wireless device; please excuse brevity and typos (if any))

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Why Technologists Fail to Think of Moderation as a Virtue and Other Stories About AI - Los Angeles Review of Books
by J.C. DE MARTIN Oct. 26, 2019

Oct. 26, 2019

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/why-technologists-fail-to-think-of-mode… (Sent from my wireless device; please excuse brevity and typos (if any))

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Re: [nexa] Fwd: [ARCS news] Seminario Prof. Alessandro Vespignani su "Data Science, , Models, and Forecasts", 7/11/2019, ore 10:00
by J.C. DE MARTIN Oct. 25, 2019

Oct. 25, 2019

ma certo, l’unico requisito è che la segnalazione sia in tema! (Sent from my wireless device; please excuse brevity and typos (if any)) > On 25 Oct 2019, at 21:25, cristina <cristina(a)cossuavv.191.it> wrote: > > > Ringrazio infinitamente. > Posso diffondere? > > ..da tempo pensavo..Nexa potrebbe promuovere incontri anche in città/Fori/Università limitrofi? > > Grazie ancora. > C. > > > > > > Inviato da smartphone Samsung Galaxy. > > -------- Messaggio originale -------- > Da: "J.C. DE MARTIN" <demartin(a)polito.it> > Data: 25/10/19 18:03 (GMT+01:00) > A: Nexa <nexa(a)server-nexa.polito.it> > Oggetto: [nexa] Fwd: [ARCS news] Seminario Prof. Alessandro Vespignani su "Data Science, , Models, and Forecasts", 7/11/2019, ore 10:00 > > Inoltro volentieri l'annuncio di questo seminario all'Università di Torino, > aggiungendo l'informazione che il Prof. Alessandro Vespignani > sarà anche al Festival della Tecnologia sabato 9 novembre, > https://www.festivaltecnologia.it/sessioni/perche-e-difficile-prevedere-il-…. > > juan carlos > > -------- Forwarded Message -------- > Subject: [ARCS news] Seminario Prof. Alessandro Vespignani su "Data Science,, Models, and Forecasts", 7/11/2019, ore 10:00 > Resent-Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2019 17:19:38 +0200 > Resent-From: d004620(a)polito.it > Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2019 17:19:13 +0200 > From: Giancarlo Ruffo <ruffo(a)di.unito.it> > To: arcs-news(a)di.unito.it > > > Gentilissim*, > > ho il piacere di annunciare il seminario che Alessandro Vespignani, direttore del Network Science Institute, presso la Northeastern University, terrà presso il Dipartimento di Informatica dell'Università degli Studi di Torino giorno 7/11/2019 alle ore 10:00 in sala riunioni (primo piano). > > Maggiori informazioni in fondo alla email e al seguente link: http://arcs.di.unito.it/2019/10/25/alessandro-vespignani-on-data-science-mo… > > La partecipazione è libera. Chiederei però a chi volesse partecipare di farmelo sapere per poter eventualmente trovare un'aula di dimensioni adeguate. > > Grazie per l'attenzione, > Giancarlo Ruffo > > ---------- > > > Title: > Data Science, Models, and Forecasts > > Abstract: > The data science revolution is finally enabling the development of complex systems models offering predictive tools in domains ranging from health threats and disaster management to conflict and elections. Analogous to meteorology, large-scale data-driven models provide real- or near-real-time forecasts and risk analysis. These models are also because they provide rationales and quantitative analysis to support policy making decisions and intervention plans. At the same time, the non-incremental advance of the field presents a broad range challenges: algorithmic (multiscale constitutive equations, scalability, parallelization), real time integration of novel digital data stream (social networks, participatory platform, human mobility etc.). I will review and discuss recent results and challenges in the area, ranging from applied analysis in the public health practice to foundational computational and theoretical challenges. > > Bio: > Alessandro Vespignani is the Sternberg Family Distinguished University professor at Northeastern University. He is the founding director of the Network Science Institute and lead the Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems. Vespignani is elected fellow of the American Physical Society, member of the Academy of Europe, and fellow of the Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences at Harvard University. He has received the John Graunt award for extraordinary achievements in population sciences, the Senior Scientific award of the Complex Systems Society for outstanding contributions to Complex Systems & Network sciences, and the Aspen Institute Italia Award for scientific research. > > -- > Prof. Giancarlo Ruffo, Ph.D. > Dipartimento di Informatica > Universita’ degli Studi di Torino > > Corso Svizzera, 185 - 10149 Torino > skype: giaruffo > twitter: @giaruffo > web: http://www.di.unito.it/~ruffo > research: http://arcs.di.unito.it > > tel. +39 011 6706771 > fax. +39 011 751603 > -- > Prof. Giancarlo Ruffo, Ph.D. > Dipartimento di Informatica > Universita’ degli Studi di Torino > > Corso Svizzera, 185 - 10149 Torino > skype: giaruffo > twitter: @giaruffo > web: http://www.di.unito.it/~ruffo > research: http://arcs.di.unito.it > > tel. +39 011 6706771 > fax. +39 011 751603

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Fwd: [ARCS news] Seminario Prof. Alessandro Vespignani su "Data Science, , Models, and Forecasts", 7/11/2019, ore 10:00
by J.C. DE MARTIN Oct. 25, 2019

Oct. 25, 2019

Inoltro volentieri l'annuncio di questo seminario all'Università di Torino, aggiungendo l'informazione che il Prof. Alessandro Vespignani sarà anche al Festival della Tecnologia sabato 9 novembre, https://www.festivaltecnologia.it/sessioni/perche-e-difficile-prevedere-il-…. juan carlos -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: [ARCS news] Seminario Prof. Alessandro Vespignani su "Data Science,, Models, and Forecasts", 7/11/2019, ore 10:00 Resent-Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2019 17:19:38 +0200 Resent-From: d004620(a)polito.it Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2019 17:19:13 +0200 From: Giancarlo Ruffo <ruffo(a)di.unito.it> To: arcs-news(a)di.unito.it Gentilissim*, ho il piacere di annunciare il seminario che Alessandro Vespignani, direttore del Network Science Institute, presso la Northeastern University, terrà presso il Dipartimento di Informatica dell'Università degli Studi di Torino giorno 7/11/2019 alle ore 10:00 in sala riunioni (primo piano). Maggiori informazioni in fondo alla email e al seguente link: http://arcs.di.unito.it/2019/10/25/alessandro-vespignani-on-data-science-mo… La partecipazione è libera. Chiederei però a chi volesse partecipare di farmelo sapere per poter eventualmente trovare un'aula di dimensioni adeguate. Grazie per l'attenzione, Giancarlo Ruffo ---------- Title: Data Science, Models, and Forecasts Abstract: The data science revolution is finally enabling the development of complex systems models offering predictive tools in domains ranging from health threats and disaster management to conflict and elections. Analogous to meteorology, large-scale data-driven models provide real- or near-real-time forecasts and risk analysis. These models are also because they provide rationales and quantitative analysis to support policy making decisions and intervention plans. At the same time, the non-incremental advance of the field presents a broad range challenges: algorithmic (multiscale constitutive equations, scalability, parallelization), real time integration of novel digital data stream (social networks, participatory platform, human mobility etc.). I will review and discuss recent results and challenges in the area, ranging from applied analysis in the public health practice to foundational computational and theoretical challenges. Bio: Alessandro Vespignani is the Sternberg Family Distinguished University professor at Northeastern University. He is the founding director of the Network Science Institute and lead the Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems. Vespignani is elected fellow of the American Physical Society, member of the Academy of Europe, and fellow of the Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences at Harvard University. He has received the John Graunt award for extraordinary achievements in population sciences, the Senior Scientific award of the Complex Systems Society for outstanding contributions to Complex Systems & Network sciences, and the Aspen Institute Italia Award for scientific research. -- Prof. Giancarlo Ruffo, Ph.D. Dipartimento di Informatica Universita’ degli Studi di Torino Corso Svizzera, 185 - 10149 Torino skype: giaruffo twitter: @giaruffo web: http://www.di.unito.it/~ruffo research: http://arcs.di.unito.it tel. +39 011 6706771 fax. +39 011 751603 -- Prof. Giancarlo Ruffo, Ph.D. Dipartimento di Informatica Universita’ degli Studi di Torino Corso Svizzera, 185 - 10149 Torino skype: giaruffo twitter: @giaruffo web: http://www.di.unito.it/~ruffo research: http://arcs.di.unito.it tel. +39 011 6706771 fax. +39 011 751603

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Vatican's wearable rosary gets fix for app flaw allowing easy hacks - CNET
by Alberto Cammozzo Oct. 25, 2019

Oct. 25, 2019

Qui serve un e-Sorcista! <https://www.cnet.com/news/vaticans-wearable-rosary-gets-fix-for-app-flaw-al…> The road to internet-connected salvation is paved with cybersecurity issues. The Vatican discovered that Thursday, after a security researcher disclosed a severe vulnerability with the "Click to Pray" eRosary app. On Wednesday, the Vatican announced its $110 wearable rosary, an internet of things device that syncs with an app from the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network. One advantage of IoT devices is that they open up a new way for people to interact with resources. With the eRosary, the Vatican said, people can get different prayers every day, as well as reminders on when to pray. The downside of IoT devices is that they're ripe for security issues. Lawmakers in the US have consistently called out poor security practices on connected gadgets, warning that they could lead to a flood of vulnerable devices. French security researcher Baptiste Robert found a significant flaw in the Vatican's app within 15 minutes. The vulnerability would have let a hacker take over a person's account, just by knowing the potential victim's registered email address. "This vulnerability is very severe as it allows an attacker to take over the victim's account and get his personal information," Robert said in a message. The Vatican didn't respond to a request for comment. Robert said he reached out to the Vatican on Wednesday and the security issue has since been fixed. The flaw worked because of how the app handled login credentials, Robert said. When you register for the "Click to Pray" app, you sign up with an email, and instead of setting a password, the app sends a PIN code to your inbox. You log in like this every time. Before the fix, the app was sending out requests to its server to email you the four-digit PIN. The issue was that PIN code itself was also sent on the network. Anyone analyzing the network traffic could have seen the response with the PIN sent. Robert demonstrated this vulnerability with an account we created on the app. Every time he gained access to the account, the app logged me out, telling me I was logged in on another device. It also sent an email with a new PIN code I didn't request. Once he had access, Robert was able to do anything I could on the account. He saw what I set as my gender, height, weight and birthday, as well as the cat photo I used for my avatar. He also deleted my account and was able to access a second account that I had made right after. The app logs other personal information as well, like how often someone prays, and it works as a fitness tracker. The rosary keeps track of how many steps a person takes throughout the day and distance traveled. The Android app also asks for access to location data and permissions to make calls.

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Churchbook, la rivoluzione della comunicazione digitale della Chiesa
by don Luca Peyron Oct. 25, 2019

Oct. 25, 2019

Farsi delle domande sulla scia di un’intuizione, mettere a fuoco un’idea e cominciare un lavoro certosino e difficile che offre però, a chi oggi guarda “Churchbook #quando la fede si fa social”, uno sguardo del tutto particolare sulla comunicazione digitale del Vaticano. Curiosità e non solo d'oltre Tevere Buona lettura dl https://www.vaticannews.va/it/vaticano/news/2019-10/vaticano-comunicazione-… _________________________ www.universitari.to.it via XX settembre 83, Torino tel. 011 5156239

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How computer algorithms help spread racial bias in U.S. healthcare - Los Angeles Times
by J.C. DE MARTIN Oct. 25, 2019

Oct. 25, 2019

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-10-24/computer-algorithm-fuels-r… (Sent from my wireless device; please excuse brevity and typos (if any))

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